The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-27
If citizenship; men are social beings: to


your historians and your artisans. They
are the aggressive agents of a higher and
better civilization.
I Time proves all things and so we
challenge those who find fault, who
criticise, who denounees, as immoral
and unhOly in their tendencies. secret
/ societies. We say to them. if they be
not for good in the larger sense, why is
it that through all the years of persecu-
ton and of trial by fire and sword, by
scourgings and torturings they have not
been everlastinglY destroyed and blotted
out of existence?
/ Another: Morality, honor, purity.
/ They heard the dual command which
! to-day is sounding on land and sea, in the
I palaces of the rich and the homes Of
/ the lowly. Love the Lord thy God and
| thy neighbor as myself"
What influence have these upon the
! homes and respect to womanhoOG2
/ Every man here in this presence is by
the highest rights of knighthood unless
perchance, a deceiver, a haggler,
Judas Iscariot hath arrived, the protec-
tor and loyal knight of his own home
! and also the exempler and loval protec-
tor of his brothers home, in holding
/ sacred and defending the honor, the
purity of womanhood. Where is the man
among you who could endure the ready
/ finger Of scorn and condemnation of his
brothers who would betray his fellows
and bring shame to knighthood?
! Good women, remember, as from
week to week your loved ones enter the
| seclusiOn of their castle halls, that re-
| gard for woman, care for her weakness,
/ tJIn1Iaa tipro For hor hCnnr ho nhaioar+
of all her flowers, is the brightest of
all the jewels which deck the triumphal
| garlands or sparkle of the diadem of the
modern Knight. The browning glory
| of modern knighthood as well as ancient,
| is Its devotion to woman. Woman owes
to chlvalrY the first great step to equal
ity. Under its influence she became
her husband S equal, and she became as
chivalrouslv true, pure and high in her
aims and purposes. She Scorned riches
| and only looked for manhood, truth and
valor in him who sought her hand and
! heart. Individual merit is regarded
above all else. The object of the order
is to make your husband a good hus
| band, good father, a good nelghhor,
and 2 good citizen. i erdeavors to put
behind virtue strong protector, behind
human rights brave defender, behind
social order vigilant guardian, behind
| civil law a mighty administrative
power.
Men do make themselves: their char
acters are their own by nature; but
these may be nodded and shaped for
good or Tor evil, may be led into honour
able lives .or fashioned into vessels of
dlshonor.
Here and there are men who have
risen above the social influences that
were brought to bear upon them, but
those are the exceptions in mans his
| tory. Not only do men aid in shaping
or forming the characters of their fell
low men, but this is also by the natural
surroundings.
The sky, the rugged mountain peaks,
the ocean in all its mighty powers beat
ing on the shore, the valley and plain,
the river and lake, are also many edu-
Gators or fashioners of the lives of men.
How well did the founders build. They
at once took Gods revealed Word to
man as their Book of Laws" Listen
! to their declaration of principles.
Recognizing the universally of
human brotherhood, its organization is
designed to embrace the world in its
rsdlction-lntended only and solely to
disseminate the great principles of F.
c. B. Nothing of g sectarian, or polti-
cal character is permitted within its
portals.
federation in religion, obediance to
law and loyalty to the Government are
its cardinal principles. Misfortune,
misery and death being written in fear
ful characters on the broad face Of
creation, our noble order was instituted
to uplift the fallen; to champion human
ity; to be his guide and hope; his refuge.
shelter and defense; to soften down the
asperities of life; to subdue party spirit;
and by the sweet and powerful attrac-
tions of the glorious trinity +. c. B. to
bind IN one harmonious brotherhood,
men of all classes and all opinions.
The brightest jewels which it gar
ners are the tears of widows and or
Dhans; and its imperative commands
are to visit the homes where lacerated
hearts are bleeding; to assuage the
sufferings of brother; bury the dead;
care for the widow; educate the orphan;
to exercise charity towards offenders;
to construe words and deeds in their
least unfavorable light. granting homes
ty of purpose and good intentions to all
others. and protect the principles of
knighthood unto death.
Its laws are reason and equity; It's
cardinal doctrines inspire purity Of
thought and life, and love and truth,
and loyalty to the Government under
which we live. Its intention is peace
on earth, and good will to men.
1t is on the foregoing platform that
the order now rests, and bv these prin-
cples it will stand or fall Run ming
throughout the order you win find all
its forms, all its diversions or parts and
it's mottos grouped together in tripli-
Gates, viz: three ranks. three mottos.
three signs, the triplicate obligation,
the tricolored banner, and the triangle
forms the mystic body.
This number among all races of men
and in all ages, has been held in pecu-
liar veneration. So mans are three,
to his God, to himself. and to his neigh
Dor, while the tests of loyalty are three,
to God, country, and tribe.
By the cultivation of this principle of
friendship and the very first that is
taught on entering the Pythian Castle,
and is carried through all the ranks,
we are led into higher life, developing
the finer sensibiIities of the soul, purify
ing our natures, bringing them into
rrroofox ho NTH oil tb,+ .