Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-25
orlqIn of PythIan Knights

origin OF Pythlan Nni9hts
To Justin H Rathbone of Washington
belongs the honor of having established
the Order of the knights of Pythias. an
interesting fact in connection with It's
founding being that It was organized at a
time when the north and south were en-
gagged in mortal combat. Rathbone was
in the hospital service of the United
States government and was stationed In
Washington. Sickened by the continual
strife which threatened TO disrupt the ma
tion, Rathbone founded the order on Feb
ruary 10. 1864 Impressed with the story
of Damon and Pythias, he determined to
found an order that should have for its
purpose the banding together of men into
one great brotherhood for the purpose of
intoxicating this true Pythian fidelity.
In accordance with this idea Rathbone
and several friends instituted Washington
lodge No. l. Possibly owing to the fact
that it was instituted in war times, the
lodge did not prove great success at
first Interest in the order was stimulated,
however, and members of the Volunteer
fire department of Philadelphia, then
about to be disbanded, became interested
in the fraternal organization, membership
in which, they thought would help to
hold them together as body.
On February 49, 1867, just three years
after the founding of the order in Wash
ington, the Excelsior lodge was estab-
lished in Philadelphia. Clarence M. Bar
ton of the District of Columbia took the
first steps toward the extending of the or
der to Pennsylvania. Barton succeeded IN
interesting Wilbur H. Myers and several
men living in the northwestern section of
the city in the project, and the new lodge
was a success from the start. The MEM
bership was largely recruited from among
the volunteers of the Mechanics Fire En-
CINE company, then situated on Brown
street below Fifteenth, and the employees
of the Baldwin locomotive works.
The following officers were installed:
Wilbur H. Myers, venerable patriarch;
Fred Coppes, worthy chancellor; John j.
Fisher vice chancellor; G. B. Pugh, re-
cording scribe; w. H. Whartman, finan-
cial scribe; William A. Porter, banker; j.
w Mercell, guide; James McDevitt, inner
guard, and Joseph Herman outer guard.
So rapidly did the order spread that at
the close of 1867 there were thirty-one
lodges in Philadelphia with more than
1000 members. The order continued to
grow with great rapidity and spread out
over the state until on January 1, 1907,
there were four hundred and sixty-four
lodges in Pennsylvania with member
shin of 51,555. Since 1867 81, sos, ,914 has been
paid out in relief. Invested and in the
treasury of the subordinate lodges in
this domain to be used for friendship,
charity and benevolence, is the sum OF
81, ,376, ,691.26.
Great success has also followed the or
ganization of companies Of the Uniform
Rank of the order, and fourteen were es-
tablished during the last year. This re-
suit has been attained by the combined
efforts of the commander of the Uniform
rank, Brgadier General Thomas, his staff,
together with ardent Pythians who recog-
nize in the Uniform rank the culmina-
ton of patriotism and Pythianism. The
grand lodge In annual convention at
McKeesport, made very liberal appro-
priation for the display of the Uniform
rank this year.
Among the most notable members Of the
order in Philadelphia Is George Hawkes.,
who, with the exception of James White
house of Maryland, stands today the
longest in continuous Pythian service as
clerical officer of his grand lodge. On
January %. 1871, the tecond day of the an
nual session of the grand lodge OF Penn
sylyania he was declared elected the
grand correspondent and recording scribe
of that body, and has continuously been
reelected to that post. the title of which
was changed in 1874 to grand keeper of
records and seals.
Mr.. Hawkes. was born in New York.
July g. 1895. and has resided in Philadel-
phia since 1898. He was initiated in Key
stone lodge No. 2 of that city December
g. 1868, but withdrew to organize Gin
cinnatus lodge No. 126, which was insti-
tuted on January 10, 1869. He has retained