The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-02-26

society. The first enactment recitcd
that ''this association shall not be u
copy or imitation, ~ amy existing order,
but that II shall be instituted i~ndcpcnd
emily, aud De intensely American. 3
The obligation administered v,s not
altogether ''in FORM but proved suf.
hcient. The ritual was then read by
It's author. "'This work. snid the sur.
vivor. embodied practically all the
]tenCnts ~ the order 81 the knights
Of rythias, as now exemplihed, although
the arrangement was afterward chang
ed somewhat, aud It's principle features
elaborated The -four eager auditors
heard the dramatic possibilities which
have made the society popular, where.
ever introduced aud parted TO meet four
evenings later in Il room on r. street,
between 9th aud 10th, N. ". Each
agreed 10 invite other clerks a. be pres
cnt, 1t being Rathbone' y suggestion that
the membership bo restricted to Thu
class Of employees in the government
departments. one !. T. X. Plant was
10 be especially invited, because he
belonged to several organizations, aud
was familiar with their methods and reg.
ulntions. Washington Lodge, No. /,
was organized in Temperance Hall, Fri.
day evening, February 10, 1857 80
run the minutes. The number " mem.
beers II not stated; but, nj the close ~
the year, these had increased to 80. The
= founder was elected worthy chan.
ccllor with associate officers. Vice chan
cellor, venerable patriarch, worthy
scribe, assistant scribe. banker, assist.
ant banker, worthy guide, inside stew
ard, and four choral knights. Evident.
ly the resolution, adopted on the 18th
had not yet gone into effect. The grand
lodge of the District Of Columbia was
formed April :, 1884, with j. r. X.
Plant as grand chancellor. The other
grand officers followed the titles adopt
cd by the subordinate lodge. Franklin
ladge No. 9 was organized at Washing.
'on Navy Yard April l2, 1864, and 9th.
crs followed IN rapid succession. Then
the order wRned until August |, 1855.
when Franklin No. 2 was the only lodge
in existence; and IL was an acting grand
AS well rs u subordinate lodge. When
the year lsd5 closed, the membership
In No. . WIS nearly 80, there was "A
treasury of nearly 5000, and the "sole
survivor VIZ, in prosperous condi
tion. notwithstanding the loss of t2jj,
~ through it, banker" On MAY l..
Is66, the grand lodge was ~reorgunilcd,
and the order spread Ia other juriSdic.
tions. When the supreme lodge was
constituted May IL, 1868, the grand
lodges Of the District Of Columbia.
Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Maryland
and Delaware were represented. Through
atty within III" litigation. from this b"
ginning sprnng the great order of the
Knights OF Pythias.
The organization of the display branch
or uniform rank dates from 1873 The
rank" sprang nj once into popularity,
aud the notable parade at Ciucinatti
in lSSs served 10 induce the supreme
body 10 perfect rules aud regulations.
Before that year creditable appearances
h.l l..V, ,.ula ltf tltap fFuaYal atl
dicrs, properly ohicerrd, were ia line.
Since that time the Pythiau army has
been a regular feature Of all assemb
lagos. "Not only this, - SAYS the mai.
NJ general commanding, ''but the uni
form rank has beer most cordially wei
coined by those outside of the order.
and business and professional men, IN
our towns aud cities, take pride in their
local companies; while, in military cir
addition to the military organizations
of this continent" The ritual is EN-
phati"ally patriotic; aud the offer made
20 the United States government by this
army Of disciplined troops, for ser
lee ia the spanish. American War, /,
worthy of note. The powers of this
branch are delegated to q supreme rs
sembly, aud the organization follow
the lines of the United states army
the uniform knights using the gov
eminent tactics.
The insurance branch of the fratcrni
~ has u membership OF nearly 100000
and insurance ia force of over $3.50,
GOO. 900.