Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-07
(AMQNGTnE
y FRATERNlTlES|

Almas Temple Of the Mystic Shrine is
ready for its jamestown excursion, which
will be pulled off promptly" next Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, September 13. IA
and u.s. The advance sale Of staterooms
has been large and there will be a good
attendance, to which Boumi Of Baltimore
and Acca Of Richmond will contribute dele
cations 1t is expected to be big affair,
one of the best in year that has been full
of good things for the temple. After its
conclusion will come the following events:
Ceremonial sessions, September 80, October
81 and November 90, caravan jaunt to the
Hagerstown fair in October. the annual
session of the temple and Christmas basket
distribution in December.
Grand Secretary A. w. Johnson of the
Masonic Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter,
is absent from the city on his annual leave.
He proceeded by rail to New York and
Boston and Is to spend some time in both
cities He Is to return from Boston by sea
to jamestown. where he will indulge In the
exposition. and then return to his desk and
his duties.
David l.. Burnett one of the five founders
of the Pythian order and now a member Of
Calanthe Lodge, No. II, K of p, has had
published a neat folder, which gives some
interesting facts concerning the very early
history of this widespread fraternity. 1t
covers ground that has long been under
more or less discussion, not to say dispute.
Mr. Burnett's folder, with an added state
ment seems to remove all doubts as to the
facts Of the beginnings Of the organiza-
ton, even II 1t does not altogether stop
discussion. Many members in other do
mains have been deeply interested in the
order its founder. and the facts of the
inc In ar
are two other "originaP' members still liv-
ing here-William H. Burnett and Dr; f. >.
Kimball There were but five in all. the
deceased members being Justus H. Rath-
bone and Robert A. Champion.
The Burnett pamphlet contains portraits
of the five original members, accompanied
contains in facsimile reproduction Of the
fyleaf and title page Of the small Bible
upon which Rathbone swore his four asso-
cates February 10, 1864. Washington
the first five Pythians then became mem
bers of the first Pythian lodge. This Bible
was gift to the founder on his firth blrtn-
day from his mother At the eighth session
Of the Supreme Lodge in Philadelphia in
August, 1876. Rathbone personally present
ed this interesting volume to the body He
felt that from the associations which hang
around the little book it should become the
property and be placed in the archives of
the Supreme Lodge" By a rather singular
coincidence the Bible itself was printed In
Philadelphia tne CITY WHeTe ycoAS
afterward 1t was SO presenteds
The fyleaf Of the Bible contains the fol-
lowing in Rathbone's handwriting:
Upon this Bible the original members OF
the order of knights of Pythas were obli-
gated Monday evening, February 10. 1864;
also the original members of Washington
Lodge, No. /, Friday evening, February 10,
1854 at Washington, D. c.
presented to the Supreme Lodge Of the
world knights of Pythias. August "a, 1876,
~ ~. H. RATHBONE."
Mr., Burnett says of this evidence: This
Bible was the one holy link connecting the
childhood and manhood of the founder.
and was presented as a precious memento
to be preserved AS appears in the jour
nal of proceedings of the Supreme Lodge
of 1876, the gift was accepted Has the
proper custodian of the Supreme Lodge this
Bible in his possession? This query Is one
that sooner or later will receive considera-
ton and reply" The place where the
theme of the ritual of the order first came
to Rathbone has also been the subject or
much discussion, not to say dispute. Of
this Mr. Burnett says: "Justus II. Rath-
bone is on record in 1889, a dying or last
statement, that he was in possession OF
John Banin's play of Damon and Pythias
when he was in Eagle Harbor, Mich,
which was long prior to the time when he
is said to have had one in Washington
That he belonged to dramatic club here
is true, but that he first saw the play in
that clubroom is not true There has
never been any doubt that Rathbone re-
ceived his original inspiration from this
play
Albert ]. Campbell. ex-representative in
Congress from Montana, who died recently
in New York, where he succumbed to an
operation for appendicitis, was a promi-
nent member of the Masonic bodies, and
had been an officer of the Helena Temple
of the Mystic Shrine and exalted ruler of
Butte Lodge, B. P. o. E. He was best
known in Washington fraternal circles at
the time of the meeting Of the Imperial
Council here. Lou B. Winsor was impe-
| rial potentate, and he and the ex-represent
alive met here for the first time in many
years. although In young manhood they