The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-08-06
PYTHIANS IN DENVER
Supreme Lodge Convened Today and
Will be In Legislative Session
For Over Week.
GENERAL ELECTION THURSDAY.

Denver, Colo, Aug. 6.-Charged
with the duty of legislating for the
fraternal interests of nearly three
quarters of a million members, the
supreme lodge of the knights of Py-
thias assembled for it's biennial meet
ing here today and will continue in
session about ten days.
The meeting promises to be the
most important eyer held by the gov
erning body of the order. Much in
terest centers around the general
election Thursday. 1t is conceded
that the present supreme vice-chan-
cellor, Thomas c. CARING of Macon,
Ca, will be elevated to the office of
supreme chancellor in succession to
George NJ. Hanson of Maine. The
principal contest will be for the office
of supreme vice-chancellor, for which
there are five candidates.: Benja-
min L. Salinger of Iowa, B. S. Young
of Ohio, William Ladew of New York,
Charles S. Davis of Colorado and
John j. Brown of Illinois.
A number of important legislative
matters will come before the supreme
lodge for consideration and action.
Some minor changes in the ritual
probably will be made and action
will be taken on proposals to reduce
the age limit for members from
twenty-one years to eighteen and to
extend the order into foreign lands.
The grand lodges of Ontario, Mani
toba and British Columbia have
asked that the order be extended
to the mother country" and it is
probable that the request will be
granted
Another topic that will engage the
attention of the supreme lodge will be
"Pythian Education" the extension
Of the knowledge of Pythian Knight
hood and it's work. Supreme Chan
cellor Hanson will speak at length
on this subject and it is expected
that the body will give much thought
full consideration to the plans pro-
posed.
The meeting will discuss prelim-
mary plans for the proper observance
of the golden jubilee of the order
two years hence. 1t is proposed that
the anniversary shall be celebrated
with great meeting of the member
ship in Washinton, D. c., where the
first lodge of the order was Instituted
Feb. 19, 1854, by Justus H. Rathbone
and about dozen associates. From
this modest beginning the knights
of Pythias has increased it's member
ship to total Of 711,0OO, distrib-
uted among 1900 local lodges in all
parts of the United States and Cana
da and in Mexico, China, Cuba, Ha-
Waii, Panama and the Philippines.
A unique feature of the weeks
program will be meeting at which
representatives of three of the great
fraternities, representing an aggre-
gate Of more than 100000 members,
will emphasize the place and power
OF fraternity in individual and ma
tional life. The speakers will be
John B. Corkum of Indianapolis,
Grand Sire of the 100000 Odd Eel
lows and Rebekahs; George B. Griggs
OF Houston, Texas, Great Incohones
of the 100000 Red Men land Judge
Hanson, representing the I'll 900 Py-
thians. AL lare members of the Py-
THAN order and each man belongs
to the other orders represented.
During the sessions of the supreme
lodge the regular biennial meetings
will be held by the several organi-
cations affiliated with the knights
OF Pythias. These will include the
supreme temple of the Pythian Sis
ters, representing nearly 100000
members, of which Mrs. Sarah I.
cotton of Weatherford, Texas, is
supreme chief; the association of
grand keepers of records and seals,
OF which w. T. Hollowell of Colds
boro, N. c., is president, and the Py-
THAN editorial association, of which
II. M. Quin, speaker of the Missis-
slppi house of representatives, is pres
ident.
The program of entertainment and
special features prepared for the week
is as follows:
Tuesday evening at
Brown Palace hotel.
Wednesday evening-Page Rank at
Auditorium.
Thursday evening and
knight Ranks.
Friday evening-Grand ball and
lecture on the history of Pythiaism.
Saturday Excursion trip to Corona.
Sunday fternoon-Supreme Lodge
memorial services.
Marriage Licenses Issued. -