Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09

r. Notion. va: r.. H. n. Murray. Ohio;
Daniel Murray. D. c.; Arthur c. Newman.
dleton, Fla; C. ]. Pickett. H.: p. B. g.
Pinchback. La: w. L. Pollard. d. c.; w. II.
Richards Tenn; Edward D. Scott. D. C.;
F. J. Shadd. d. c.: Fred Sims, N. Mexico:
w. J. Singleton. Neb.; H. p Slaughter, KY:
Joseph H. Stewart, Mich; Robert II. Ter
rell, D. c.; r. w. .Tompkins, D. c.; Charles
/. West. D. c.: George II. White. ~. il g.
Laing Williams. ILL.,: Edward d. Wiltston,
N. c.; w. HI. Wright, KY.
The colored press win be represented by
w. C. Chase. D. c.: John W., Cromwell. ID.
c.; Edward E. Cooper, Ind; w. H. Stew
ard, Ky.
The Davenport, Iowa. Times. lately pab-
lished the following paragraph: Living
in Rock Island Is q man who has been In
the ranks Of the knights of Pythias since
is the only one living whose name was on
the first charter. Richard Wareham was
a charter member Of Franklin Lodge OF
Washington, d. c., which gave birth to
Pythianism."
Accompanying this statement was an in
terviaw with Mr.. Wareham in which he
said: "Since losing my sight 1t seems that
others of my faculties have been impaired.
and one of them Is my memory. l cannot
recall incidents, but the continuity Is de-
stroyed and it is an effort for me to get
things Strengthened out in my mind. Any
how. forty years is a long time to remem-
Der details, especially when l have passed
over them without the thought OF being
called up to recite them nearly half CEN
fury later
Franklin Lodge was organized in WASH
ington. D. c., in February OF 1884, the first
of it's kind in the world. There were only
seven names on the charter. Immediately
following came the lodges OF New York
and Philadelphia, and then little disagree
ment threatened the lives of all Of them
1t is unnecessary to relate the particulars
49, kl.1kk hA froI
partially over the numbers to be given to
each. These two lodges and one at Ba!ti-
more combined against Washington and de-
manded Nos. /, 2 and 3. The following April
Franklin dropped back and TOOK NO. ~.
"A number Of us withdrew from Franklin
and organized Syracuse Lodge on April Il.
1864, 200 joining the first night. And from
that time on the order experienced won,
derful growth. The Pythian spirit spread
like wildfire especially in Pennsylvania,
which seemed to be full OF new lodges. The
organization was bound westward ana at
the close Of the year 1854 only the written
records could follow them. And since the
settlement of the little disagreement at the
birth of the order it has experienced a har-
monious existence. Franklin Lodge dropped
out Of the ranks years ago. and, as 1ar as
know, am the only one living who signed
it's charter. I have tried to trace some OF
the others, but have never been aple u
locate any of them"
Past Supreme Representative William D.
Kennedy, commenting on this interview
with the old Washingtonian. says:
"As a matter of real fact. not single
one of these assertions is correct. Taking
them up in succession and answering them
in short meter:
THE first lodge was Washington No. 1.
We have the entire original minutes-no
such name appears among Its charter mem
bers or at any time from Its opening.
Franklin Lodge was instituted on April
IL. 1864. and 1t happens that 1t was the sec
ond of its kind.
Lodge there are thirteen names, none OF
which are spelled Wareham.
mo such trouble arose nor was there any
controversy regarding anything OF the kind
Such controversy never took place, and as
a matter of fact Lodges 1, and 8, In the
District of Columbia, were In existence four
years before any lodge was formed IN New
York.
Franklin Lodge is still alive. has had a
continuous existence. is still No. and
never changed
There never has been any Syracuse
Lodge In the District of Columbia. In Feb
ruary, 1868, Syracusians Lodge No 10. was
organized but. on the occasion Of its insti-
tuition, there was no such fiocking to 1t, as
the number he speaks of.
ut will be news to the good old olks In
Franklin Lodge, which has had continuous
existence since April IL, 1854, to learn that
it dropped out of existence years ago. 1t
is today the mother lodge of the order. and
the lodge which. by its constancy and 10y
atty, saved the order from oblivion. There
stituted. that 1t has not been active. virile
and strong Pythian organization"
The last issue of the Pythian Tribune Of
Chicago contains a page sketch OF the life
of the late Richard Goodhart, the eminent
Pythian, who recently died in this city. 1t
says Of his notable record in the first years
of the existence Of this now extensive fra
ternity:
He was the grand chancellor of the
District Of Columbia during 1S71-1S72. This
was the time which tried mems souls.
Shortly after birth of the order there
sprung into existence, as the outgrowth of
personal anlmosities between the founder
on the ono side and Supreme Chancellor
Read and Clarence M. Barton. grand re-
cording and corresponding scribe, on the
other, an organization known as the Su-
preme Pythian Knighthood.' This took the
form Of what were called 'conclaves.' and
the membership of it was composed only of
past councillors Of Knights of Pythias-
at first 1t was so-called higher degree
The evident purpose was. by restricting 1t
to past councillors. thus to control the
grand lodges as they were formed. Broth
ers Read and Barton had. 1t is said fallen
down at the ballot box Of Conclave No. l.
Then the row began. and from advocates
the latter two became its open foes.
Brother Read opened the bombardment
with a view to the annihilation OF the g.
p. K By this time 1t was well intrenched
in the District OF Columbia, Maryland and
New Jersey.
Then came the convention Of the Supreme
Lodge in 1870 and with 1t the adoption OF
the obnoxious o. B. NJ. the symbolic term
for q special obligation that was adopted
there intended to destroy the 8. p. K, ana
which. according to the legislator, was to
be required of every new member, and also
to be forced upon the old members whether
belonging to the 8. p. K. or not. In con-
nection with this. the District of Columbia
was the storm center. From every lodge in
Washington there split of q number OF
members. and these organized lodges with
the same names and numbers as those they
left. This resulted in two lodge rosters
there. with the same names and numbers.
Then a second Grand Lodge was formed. so
that, In the District Of Columbia, there was
a roster of what was known as the o. B. N.
Cor loyal Lodges, with their own Grand
Lodge, and another roster composed of the
anti-O. B. N. Tor protesting) Lodges, who
had also an anti-O. B. N. Grand Lodge
Then there was one lodge Rathbone Lodge,
No. 14) that stood alone, q sort of free
lance with hand reached over to the anti
o. B. N. people. Between these factions
the war waxed warm. Richard Goodhart
was the grand chancellor of the Loyal
Grand Lodge.
Then came the Supreme Lodge session of