The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-02-19

i 49, - NV JOoAo bhot A6NO Aul0Tttueu
the fraternity has grown until it is
now rapidly approaching the million
mark in membership, and, according
to officials, that-goal is not far dis
tant. The order has followed the
flag and now has lodges In Hawaii
Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines
Alaska and Panama.
| The founder of the order was JUS
tus H. Rathbone, a department clerk
to whom the thought first came OF
organizing a fraternal society, espec.
tally for the social advantage of the
great army Of clerks and employees in
the several government departments
in the city of Washington. This was
in the midst of the civil war, and all
surroundings seemed favorable to in
shutting such body.
During the fall of 1853 Rathbone
came into possession of a copy of
John Bamin's play of Damon and
Pythias," and this so impressed him
with its adaptability for the cere-
monial work Of fraternal society.
that he at once commenced the prep
aration of a ritual for a body to be
known as the knights of Pythias."
Just at that time-through a pc
culiar chain Of circumstances-he
had abundant leisure for the work,
and, as result, by the end of 1863
the first ritual for the degrees of
page Of this order was ready.
For few years after the installa-
ton of the first lodge in this city, the
new order had hard struggle, and
several of theearly lodges failed. At
ter several close brushes with abso-
lutte failure, the Pythians spread into
several states, and a new impetus
was given the life Of the order. In
few years the Supreme Lodge was
established in Washington and things
were put on a firm footing. The first
supreme chancellor, Samuel Read. of
New Jersey, was great organizer,
and did much to promote the growth
and perfect the details and improve
general conditions in the order. The
troubles of the Knights of Pythias |
were not all over, however. Like the
two friends in old Syracuse, they
found they must bear many trials to- |
gether to prove the "mettle of the |
pasture" When affairs were suppos-
ed to be moving smoothly it was
found at a Richmond convention that |
the supreme commanding scribe was |
defaulter, and financial collapse
was narrowly aVerted. So for two |
conventions representatives had to |
pay their own expenses, and the or
had hard shedding. Final
~ through the energy and indomi-
liable courage of the workers, i'm
proved conditions came about, and |
life stretched out in a smoother, more |
promising path before them.
No secret order has a higher ideal |
han that which the knights of Pyth-
ans expect each member to realize
I is that of love for ones fellow-man
20 great that 1t will transcend all less
n things, and leave self-love forgotten.
The sentiment is a very old and a
Tery sweet one. 1t goes back into the
'ourth century before Christ, and
ouches the lives of two students who
we're followers of Pythagoras, and who
we're members Of a secret society that
in and taught his doctrines.
Damon and Pythias were their names
and in the stress of political strife
lone city, they found need of a close
They were men of high
deals and unblemished honor, and the
corrupt political atmosphere incident
o the rule of Dionysius was not plaes-
ng to them. Pythias publicly denounC-
ID the tyrant and was imprisoned for
lis temerity, and condemned to death.
lie asked permission to go home and
orange his private affairs and know
ng the love of Damon to be strong, Of
cred him as hostage against his re-
urn. Damon willingly came and stay.
ID in prison, and when Pythias, after
overcoming many difficulties that be.
ct his return journey, arrived at SYRIA ,
'use Just In the nick of time to save ,
Damon from execution, Dionysius was ,
10 touched by such devotion that he $
'ardoned the offender. He even asked 7
o be admitted as a third into so LOYAL I
and devoted a brotherhood, but the
riends refused him.