The Washington times., 1905-09-25
PYTH|AN KNIGHTS
BEGIN CONVENTION
Supreme Council of I'm
proved Order Meets Here.
HIGHEST DEGREE CONFERRED
twenty-five Members Initiated at
at Morning Assembly-Large
Growth Reported.

The Improved Order of Knights of
Pythias assembled in the eighth biennial
convention this morning, at o'clock, in
the quarters of the organization, 623
Louisiana avenue northwest.
The supreme lodge will be in session
three days. The election and installing
of officers will be held on Wednesday,
the last day
Capt. j. L. Bieler. of Indianapolis.
Ind. supreme commander OF the organi-
zation. called the council TO order. Aft
er the prescribed ceremony of opening
the session of the convention, the dele
gates settled to business. Reports were
made of the growth of the different
lodges throughout the country. Sub
stantial gains were shown in almost
every case. The candidates for the SUI
preme council degree then presented
their credentials, and were initiated.
Twenty-Five members received this. the
highest degree. At u o'clock adjourn
ment was taken for luncheon.
AT 1:30, the afternoon session begun.
Friends of President.
Captain Bieler. supreme commander.
and E. F. knodel. grand secretary. are
both from Indianapolis. They have al
ways taken prominent part IN the re-
ceptions given Vice President Fairbanks
there and were also on the reception
committee of that city when President
Roosevelt visited indianapolis short
while ago. Captain Bieler Is personally
acquainted with the President and was
introduced to the Chief Executive In this
city by Vice President Fairbanks.
The most prominent members OF the
order are in attendance upon the con-
vention and all the officers are present.
They are as follows:
Supreme commander, J. L. Bieler, In
d.anapolis. Ind; supreme vice COM
mander. Otto Mueller. Baltimore, Nd.
supreme recording and corresponding
scribe, E. f. Knodel. Indianapolis. Ind.
supreme treasurer. Charles Kamm, Bal
! timore. Nd; supreme sergeant-at-arms
/ Wolfgang Bauer. Syracuse, N Y; su-
prcme medical examiner. DR.. C. r
! Sehaefer. Indianapolis. Ind.
Founded in This City
The Improved Order OF knights OF
! Pythias is a branch OF the regular or
| ganization of the Knights of Pythias
| The first order of the knights was
In the United States Government here
J in Washington. shortly before the close
of the civil war. for the purpose OF
reconciling the white brethren of the
| North and South
! During the reconstruction period The
organization nearly dissolved. but or
| invitation the Germans in this country
became interested, and many German
! lodges were added TO strengthen the
order.
The ritual of the Knights was trans
lated into the German language and
the order becme popular among thai
! SrSople.
In 1892. at a session OF the knights
held in San Francisco. ii was decided
| that the ritual was to be printed only
| in English. This was the cause oi
| forming the new order of the knights
OF Pythias known as the Improved or.
Ger OF the knights Of Pythias. anC
composed mostly Of Germans. The I'm
proved Order had an uphill fight unit
1897, when the first thoroughly delibera
tive convention was held in Baltimore
! Since then successful and biennial con
! ventions have been held in Indianapolis
] Chicago and INDIANAPOLIS