Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-18

from all of the seventeen
Knights of Pythias lodges of the county
worked long and earnestly on the part
assigned them, and are deserving of a
large amount Of credit for the sue
cessful results attained.
The float depicted the scene of
Pythias, who was on the point of being
executed instead of his friend Damon,
for whom he had been accepted as a
hostage. Pythias lay bound with his
head upon the block The headsman's
ak was raised, but the blow was stayed
as Damon had returned. The setting
of the scene with the various figures
was excellently portrayed.
There are now about 100000 members
of the knights of Pythias in the United
States, which order was founded by
Justus II. Rathbone February 10, 1864,
at Washington, d. c., when war was
in the heart of man and sorrow in his
home" Rathbone saw in Grecian his
tory the germ of an order that should
prove a power in dispelling the warmth
of sectional strife and restoring the
hearts Of men to a basis of universal
brotherhood.
The reign of Dionysius, the elder,
marked an era of selfishness in the
worlds history. Following the example
of the tyrant his adherents in the Isle
of Sicily We'd in oblterating from the
tablets of their memory every vestige
of that noble principle of mankind
which recognize mans fealty to his
fellow
Damon, n senator of Syracuse. by mis-
opposition to Dionysius in his attempted
usurpation of power, was placed under
sentence of immediate DEATH Pythias,
the time-tried friend of Damon, be-
sought the tyrant to grant him re-
spite that he might bid a last farewell
= l, Of
trust caused Pythias, who well knew
the honor of his friend, to offer himself
as a pledge for Damon's return, agree
ing to pay the penalty with his own life
should Damon prove false. Dionysius
accepted the proffered hostage and
placed Pythias in darkness and chains,
while his friend hastened to his home,
where loved ones dwelt His earthly
affairs are speedily arranged, the last
fond embrace is given, when Damon
finds that his slave has slain his steed.
Syracuse is leagues away. Crazed with
the thought of honor lost and his friend
sacrificed he seized a passing steed and
flew on toward Syracuse and certain
death.
AS the last moment is called and the
eXecutioners AK is uplifted over the
head of Pythias, who was willing to die
for a friend he loved, Damon returns.
He rushes through the gates, springs
on the scaffold, redeems his honor and
saves the life of his friend. This dis
play of manhood and true courage led
captive the tyrants heart, who, re-
hitting the death sentence of Damon
sought admission to their friendship.
To the dissemination of the principles
of fraternity-Friend Charity and
Benevolence-is the chief aim of the
knights of Pythias; to encourage men
in upright living and to gather men in
one great fraternity who are brave in
defending right and who are loyal to
their friends, family and country and
to the constituted authority under
which they enjoy citizenship.
OF all the various bodies of marching
men in the four-mle long parade of
Friday the ones that presented the ap-
pearance of soldiers were the Uniform
Rank of knights of Pythias. The COM
panies comprising the Third regiment,
California brigade, we're all from South
ern California and evoked much en-
thusiasm in their precise movements
and neat uniforms. The regiment and
knights generally are elated over an
nexing the $3.50 prize for having the
largest uniformed body in line Brig
Cen. ]. A. Driffill led the body, assisted
bv col. Kenton A. Miller, commander
of the Third regiment, and staff Of
ficers