The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-28
PYTH|ANS EXTEND
 CORDIAL WELCOME Supreme Chancellor Bangs Re- ceives a Knightly Greeting LODGES HAVE BIG RALLY Supreme Representative Jesse B.. Wadsworth Makes Happy Address,
 to Which MT. Bangs Replies.
 Pythianlsm Prosperina.
LODGES HAVE BIG RALLY

'
 Alex M. Garber of Talladega- grand chancellor, presided at the meeting. At the opening he made short address of welcome to the supreme chancellor on behalf of the grand domain of Alabama Grand Chancellor Garber was followed by Jesse B. Wadsworth of Birmingham, supreme representative, who said:
 MT. Chairman and Brother Knights
 "I count myself honored in no small way in being called upon this evening to introduce the chief officer of our beloved order to a Birmingham audience.
 "A stranger, judging by the reports that have gone out to the ends of the earth of big. busy. growing Birmingham, might conclude that our people are too much occupied in pursuing the almighty dollar to give much attention to matters other than utilitarian. But I am glad to inform our distinguished guest that such is not the case.
 Blg-hearted Birmingham.
 Birmingham is as big in heart as she Is in material endowment. She Is never too busy with her vast enterprises to heed the amenities of life; never so absorbed in material pursuits as to for get those human ties that underlie the social order.
  ana congenial atmosphere for the develop ment and exemplifcation of the cardinal principles of Pythianism. This young city Is made up largely of young men. This fact accounts largely for the dash and vigor of our business life. But it adds other and higher char acteristics to our municipal life. It has made the people of our Magic City to be known far and wide for the ardor of their f... S1 cit @f flatx impulses.
 Birmingham has a big. warm. human heart that delights to welcome the stran- ger within her gates, that can sink sordd considerations under the appeal of higher impulses, and that is quick and enthusias- tic to run to the belief of it's suffering fellow man.
 ''It is not to be wondered at therefore that such a citizenship should take kindly and even enthusiastically to an order whose motto friendship, charity and be- nevolenee. answers so truly to the out standing characteristics of It's social life. Birmingham fell in love with Pythian- ism in the ardor of our municipal youth, and. unlike most cases of love at first sight. the passion has waxed stronger with the growth both of the city and of the order In all of the sisterhood of fra ternal orders. so far as Birmingham Is
 
 rival.
 Numerical Strength. we have in Birmingham and suburbs ten lodges with a membership of 1200. Truly Birmingham Is the hub of Pythian- ism in Alabama
 T congratulate our local lodges on the distinguished honor of this visit by our supreme chancellor This is a high day in local Pythianism and will be marked in our annals with a white stone.
 ''The guest in whose honor we are met occupies the exalted station to which he has been called by the suffrages of his manhood. There is no disparity between the man and the station. He has won his knighthood and the leadership of his knghtly band in the lists where naked manhood without fear and without re- proach, rises clean and strong in the pre- eminence of the highest preferment. "A dark day came to Damon which brought the gallant Knight Pythias to his side.
 "A dark day came to Pythianism in Alabama and men were found who piloted the good ship back into the channel.
 "A dark day came to the supreme lodge, when it seemed that the insurance branch of our order was doomed
 "All honor to Bangs. Feathers and oth-
 
 ed courage wrested the endowment rank from the hands of those who had betrayed their trust and forfeited the confidence of their associates. These men have placed this branch of our order upon a plane where such occurrences will be impossible in the future.
 q now take pleasure in presenting the genial gentleman, the true friend, the chivalric knight, the supreme chancellor, Tracy R. Bangs of North Dakota"
 Julias M. Riggs, supreme representative, and G. c. Miles. grand keeper of records and seals both of Montgomery, also made short addresses of welcome.
 MT. Bangs Responds.
 The supreme chancellor replied to the addresses of welcome in an eloquent man ner He thanked the. members of the and the visiting grand lodge officers for the reception rendered him.
 He spoke of the growth of Phythianism in Alabama and said that he hoped to see the Uniformed Rank again organized in the near future He said the conven- tion to be held in Louisville on August 16. would probably be the largest ever held in the history of the order and urged all those present who could do so to attend. He also stated that August 22 will be Knights of Pythias day at the St. Louis worlds fair. and that he ex- pected many Phythians to be there.
 Southern Tour.
 MT. Bangs is making a tour of the southern states and will leave this morn ing for Montgomery, where he will spend the day. Tonight he will go to New Or leans. from which place He will go to Florida.
 Yesterday afternoon at o'clock din- ner was given MT. Bangs at the Hotel Hilman, at which the following were present:
 Mr. Bangs. Alex M. Garber, IT. Clay Jones. F. P. Nichols J. NJ. Riggs, J. B. Wadsworth, c. c. Miles. J. M. Arm strong. c. c. DuBose, Eli P. Smith. J. R. Carter, E. D. McCarty, w. M. Hop- son, E. s. Jones. Later an informal re- ception was rendered him in the palm room of the hotel
 After the reception the supreme chan cellor and officers of the grand lodge were given a carriage drive to points of interest about the city.
 The following were the committees hav H.