Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-06-19
.PYTH|AN|sN
II lessons and Its Followers--Ad-
dress by Knight Elwood Holman
at Pettisyille Cemetery Memorial
Sunday June Seventh.

81 sak here for few minutes to-day
] begged to be excused on the plea
that | was one of the youngest or
pe rhaps l should say, newest mem
bers of this organization and as such
was not sufficiently posted or qualifi-
ed to give talk of this kind. How
ever my excuse was not accepted and
knowing that it was the duty of
every Knight to do whatever he was
asked to do as best he could and
knowing also, that l could depend up
on your kindness and consideration
] made no further protest. "2
And again the very fact that my
membership in this order dates back
Only few months has left it's les
sons fresh in my memory and while
/ realize that experience and service
in our work for all humanity must
make one continually more enthusias-
tic, still the first lessons that we
learn are indelibly impressed upon us
ard can never be entirely forgotten
have chosen for my subject Py-
thianism. It's Lessons and it's Fol-
lowers, because believe that herein
is the secret of the success of the or
der. Some lessons are assigned or
stated but never learned, while 9th
eTs are so forcibly implanted within
our breasts that they remain there as
continual reminders to US of our du-
ties and obligations to mankind.
In the Pythian lesson we find the
greatest words in the English Ian
guage. Fraternity, Friendship and
Brotherly Love. The last two are
LII +lo E1.c+ ca
fraternity in its broadest sense en-
bodies all that is ennobling, all that
is true and good. It is the acme of
perfection and SO broad in its scope
as to be almost beyond the power of
human understanding. All of@the
good things of this life have come
about thru fraternity, thru fellowship
and brotherly love-, While on the
other hand lack of fraternity has
caused all the dissensions and the
strifes from time immemorial down to
tie present. What has become of the
great Greecian empire built by the
mighty hand of Alexander? What
he's become of the Rome which for
merly so proudly ruled the world :?
What has become of Napoleon's
realm which stretched over the whole
Of Western Europe? All have pass
ed into oblivion and in every case the
cause of downfall has been lack of
fraternity, lack of brotherly love, and
lack of high unselfish ideals. The
spirit of fraternity has a frmer hold
upon mankind to day than ever be-
fore, not only as among individuals
brit among nations as well and when
all countries shall become thorough
ly imbued with this fraternity feeling
then truly will wars be no more 4and
they will beat the swords INTO plow-
shares, and the spears into pruning
hooks.v
But there are other Pythian les
sons which, while they might also be
included in fraternity are impressed
apart and SO become more effective.
Charity and benevolence are not only
among the lessons taught but the
practising of these have been one of
tie most potent factors in the rapid
growth and widespread renown of
tlis order millions upon millions Of
dollars have been paid in sick benefits
t. fathers deprived of the power to
e;,rn bread for their wives and chill
dfen. School and homes have been
established to care for the little ones
" no otherwise would be left destitute.
Daily, little kindnesses are being
shown and generous unself5h acts
are being done which show that the
Knights of Pythias are indeed true
examples of their teachings. Pythi-
an charity is as boundless as are the
shores Of time and we learn, there
by, to be charitable not only towards
our. fellow Knights but towards all
n lnkind as well.
The time is entirely too short for
ne to dwell separately upon all of
tile Pythian teachings. In them we
may find all of the requirements for
a noble unselfsh and successful life.
friendship, honor, patriotism, justice,
loyalty, prudence, purity, fidelity,
courage, benevolence and charity are
II e lessons, which we learn the ap-
plication of which has been the means
OF SO rapidly bringing our order to
il present high stage of develop
m ent.
But what can be said of the fol-
lowers of Pythianism? Upon them
has defended and will depend in the
future the advancement and welfare
o. 'CfllS OrgdHlZdJlOn. LII .OFuer TO De
tue Knights, in order to aid in this
great work, we cannot stand fistless-
~ by, but must take an active intar-
est in the affairs of this fraternity.
Upon the individual efforts Of you
ard of me, brother Knights, upon our
application of the lessons learned
rests the future success of Pythianism.
Cur first duty must of necessity be
t. ourselves.
"This above all, to thine own self
be true, and it must follow as the
n ght, the day. Thou cans't not then
b. false to any man." The way to do
RI ght is to be right. This is cardin-
a principle that all of US must OBJ
81 rye if we wish to be true examples
oil our own teachings. whatsoever
man thinketh in his heart, that is
h." The ideal precedes the real first
a. the thought precedes the act, and
mans character is determined by
b $ ideals and the steadfastness with