The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-22
Committee on Castle Will Be Named
 Today. uet,r,ng Executive Officer Says it Must Be Located in Montgomery or Hfrming ngham--D. B. Cobbs Wins In Race for Grand
 Outer Guard.

Mobile. May a1.-tspecial ,)-,A thousand Knights of Pythias, gath cred from all the lodges of the state of Alabama, with many visiting rom nearby States, and even rom ,r diso , tance, gathered in the Lyric Theatre this morning for the first session or the Grand Lodge of Alabama
 One thousand Pythians represent ing the as s nfst ihS%sht of n pythan a l % the commerce and society in the state; 1000 Pythians gathered to discuss the der in the past and to plan the spread of the doctrines of fraternity broth erhood and charity.
 Sharply at o'clock the paraae, as. pembled at the Pythian Castle Hall on St. Francis Street. with Major Ed ward M. Robinson acting as the grand marshal, his aides being c; R. Bricken of. Luverne and G. J. Hub, bard of Troy. The parade followed
 Route of parade: Form on St. Fran cs Street t Pythsn sa Jadsscn as f3elas 5seR son to Dauphin, Dauphin to Royal, Royal to St. Michael. St. Michael to Water, Water to Dauphin. Dauphin to Royal, Royal to Government, Govern
 Counter march-Government to Jackson, Jackson to Cont. to Lyric Theatre for reception.
 
 head of the parade reached the Lyric Theatre, the meeting place of the Grand Lodge in its annual session. Following the N inyocasion ssrs wsrs Dy aoNs Rens happy remarks of introduction to the general sessions made by M. M. Marsh, after which the regular set program of welcoming addresses and responses was taken up. The address of welcome on behalf of the city was made by Mayor Pat J. Lyons, as fol- lows:
 The Mayors Address.
 Gentlemen--I embrace with pleasure the opportunity offered me of greeting, on behalf of our people, this reunion of Alabama Pythians, who are so numer ous in our State, and who are so well and favorably known in our midst.
 I, myself, feel that I have a special interest in your order. have been with you on many occasions. Among others, at the laying of the corner stone of your home here; at the exer- cises marking its completion, and with the rest of our citizens, l appreciated your addition of another handsome building to those of our city; and also profited by the object lessons you gave in the value of fraternal unity and concerted effort.
 However, to yourselves each new accomplishment is but another instance of the effect of adherence to the prin- 4ciples on which your order Is founded; one more example of the results to which Pythianism leads. The Pythians have long since passed the experiment tai stage. It is evident that the princi- ples on which the order is founded are ennobling in their effect, beneficent in their influence and represent honor, truth and virtue in themselves. I have heard of many kindly acts performed by your order and it's members. which go to show that you are striving to put in effect practically the doctrinees you teach and while I realize 1t is not your present purpose to wander through the world like knights errant to suc- cor the poor and the needy and the good work you are doing here in our midst makes your order one deserving of the respect and admiration of men.
 Aside from the good accomplished by the various fraternal orders in this country along special lines on which each is conducted. in my opinion, noth- ing contributes more towards the al- laying of racial animosity, religious prejudices and the perfection of Amer ican citizenship than the broad and liberal principles on which our frater- nal orders are founded, and by which they are governed. Nothing is call culated to better promote the spirit of true democracy than the practices of these organizations which are willing to incorporate in their membership for manly purposes, all men of decent char acter banded together on lines of fra ternal equality. In the future such or ganizations will continue to grow and increase their scope and influence; and they will ever constitute the great leavening influence, the ever ramifying means by which the elements of our composite citizenship. no matter of what race or religion, will be brought to know each other better, help each