The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-06-27
REV. WILMOT WHITFIELD DE-
LINERS MEMORIAL SERMON
FOR LOCAL PYTHIANS.
Attended Divine Services at
Methodist Church.

Sunday evening in the presence of
large congregation and the members
of Columbia lodge. No. s, knights of
Pythias, Rev. WilmOt Whitfield, pastor
| of the First Methodist church, deliv-
cred the annual Pythias memorial SER
mon. choosing his text from John XIV
| s. Lord, Show us the Father in part
| the reverend gentleman said:
Very early in the history of the
world a secret society was organized
| in the east, that spread throughout
Assyria Syria, Babylonia, Asia Minor.
| Egypt, Greece, Rome, and later into
ether countries. Most writer's speak of
| il as beginning in Assyria but Heroda-
tus claims that it originated in Egypt
The truth probably is that the idea
! originated in Egypt, but was worked
out and embellished in Assyria, so
| that the latter country became the
great center from which it radiated
| throughout the then civilized world.
I L
We're the fatherhood of God and the
| brotherhood of man. 1t evidently began
among the priests, but as it grew, wild
cred in its scope and came to include
men of standing and of learning out
side of the priesthood.
! They claimed for themselves
knowledge of all mysteries and We're
regarded by their fellows as wise men,
| Their teachings are frequently re-
ferred to in our sacred scriptures, par
ticularly by the prophets Ezekiel. Jere-
miah, Amos and Lachariah and in the
new testament by Paul, who several
| times uses language which shows that
he was familiar with their doctrines
and usages and laid hold of them to
| illustrate OF enforce some thought that
| he wished to present. And on one oc-
casion Jesus used language which in
dicates knowledge of their peculiar
sayings.
| The order of the knights of Pythias
| is of very modern origin, but the prin-
ciples which it inculcates are the same
/ as those of the former days.
First, the belief in the one Supreme
| Being, without which no one can be
come a member; secondly, mans rela-
ton to his felloWman as set forth in
the story of Damon and Pythias which
| is used to show just what mans rela-
when you add to this the
! teachings of the order in regard to
tcharity and benevolence you have an
enlarged view of what those of old
taught and it approximates very close
| ly to ST. Peters ideal. when he says,
| Add to your faith. virtue, and to vir-
tue, knowledge, and to knowledge,
| temperance, and to temperance, pa
| thence, and to patience gOdliness, and
to godliness, brotherly kindness, and
to brotherly kindness, charity
The then corner stones on which the
structure rests are excellent.
| "Friendship cannot be too highly ex-
allied; and charity is likened by the
graet Christian apostle to precious
stones and benevolences brought the
Son of Man to tread the wine
press alone that he might help
the erring, lift up the fallen
and rescue the perishing. Yes,
beloved these are great and true
corner stones on which to build up
| character, but there is another which
was rejected by the builders of old,
but has become the chief of the cor
ners. 1t has on it's eastern fact in
letters of light Love to God and on it's
northern in letters of gold, Love to
man.
| See to it my brother that you do
not neglect the fourth Nebuchadnezar
when they there came forth these was
rot the smell of fire upon them, so let
love to God and love to man be linked
arm in arm with friendship, charity
and benevolence and the fire of adver-
sity will only bring them out the
brighter"