Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-15
FORTY YEARS OLD
Pythians to Observe Anniversary
of Their Society Pres.
emit Week.
STORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
Initial Steps Taken by Five Men Who
Met in q Hall at Wash.
ingtOn.

Preparations have been made
throughout the country for the cele-
braticn Friday Of the 4th anniversary
of the founding of the order of the
Knights of Pythias, the largest fra
ternaI and benevolent organization
having a purely American member
ship.
1t was Feb. 10, 1864. that five men
met in Marini's hall in Washington
and took initial steps toward the
foundation of the order. The five
men were Justus Henry RathbOne,
who conceived the idea, Robert \.
Champion, DIR. f. 5. Kimball. David
l.. Bennett and William II. Bennett.
Messers. Kimball and ID. L. Bennett
are still living and are active MEM
hers of the fraternity.
Rathbone Actual Founder.
Justus Henry Rathbone is famous
as the actual founder of the order,
and the person to whose dramatic in
spiration is due the most beautiful
features of the Pythian ritual. He
submitted the first draft of the ritual
based on the story of Damon and
Pythias to members of the old Arion
club. musical organization which
existed in Washington in the later
years of the civil war. From this
small beginning sprang Washington
lodge. No. l, X. of p, afterwards merg-
ed into Franklin lodge No. 2, which is
still i'm evidence. This latter lodge is
is the faithful mother of 5000 Pythian
lodges now fiourishing in 81 grand do
mains, and carrying upon their roster
an aggregate of nearly 100000 MEM
bers. There are also about $4,000 of
the knights who belong to the uni
formed or military branch of the or
der, which is known as the Army of
the Lily"
Gets Id. a While Teaching.
1t has long been supposed and gen
orally believed in this fraternity that
the idea of a great society based on
the immortal story of the friendship
of Damon and Pythias first came to
Mr.. Rathbone while he was teaching
school at the copper town of Eagle
Harbor on the Keewenaw peninsula,
Lake Superior i'm 1s6O-61. Later Mr.
RathbOnc removed to Washington and
became a clerk in the surgeon gen
erals office. He was a vocalist and
rituaiist of note, and his skill was dis
played in many ways. but in none
more notably than in his first draft of
the Pythian ritual, which is recognized
as remarkably beautiful and effective
Mr.. Rathbone died at Lima, Ohio, i'm
the residence of Past Supreme Chan
cellor Walter b. Richie about thirteen
years ago.
According 10 Pythian history the
ritual was read and the first steps to-
ward organization were taken just
40 years ago tonight, when Mr..
Rathbone and his friends met at
the rooms of Robert \. Champion,
the occasion being a rehearsal of the
Arion club. Later in the same week
another meeting was held and the
preliminary organization completed.
Supreme Lodge Formed In 1868.
The supreme lodge was organized
i'm 1868 and Incorporated by congress
June 20. 1894 Once founded, the fra
ternity grew marvelously, and today.
while one of the youngest of such or
ders it is one of the largest and most
fiouris hing from every viewpoint. In
addition TO the grand lodges in every
state and territory of the United
States the order has jurisdiction in
British Columbia. the Maritime Prov
inces. Manitoba. Ontario, Hawaii. Alas
ka and Cuba.