The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-09-23

tained in such a splendid city as.
Fairmont is known totbe. On every,
hand the spirit of fratcrnalism is in.
evidence. The city was never more
beautifully decorated, the business
houses throughout the business Sec
tion present a gala attire as well.
as many private residences, and ev-
erywhere the Pythian coiors, red,g
yellow and blue, are swinging proud
Iy by the side OF Old Glory.
The Knights of Pythias have ex-
pcrienced a remarkable and I'M
p%reccdented growth during the past
year under the progressive and ag-;
grcssive leadership of our fellow
townsman, Grand Chancellor Sam R.
Nuzum, and his Grand Lodge staff.
of officers. MFR. Nuzum has devoted.
practically all OF his time to the up
building OF the order during the past
year. He has visited every section
of the state and during his term of
Office 81 new lodges have been insti-
tuted and a gain of membership of
1899 is the proud record the outgo-
ing Grand Chancellor and his CO.
{ workers submit as evidence OF u trust
well administered, and the Grand
Lodge cannot but say We'll done
thou good and faithful servants"
At the beginning of the term of
Mr.. NuZum the membership vas
something over $1,000 in the state
and now the total membership has
reached the gratifying figures OF
49,
Mr.. Nuzunl may well be proud Of
this splendid showing under his able
Leadership and the knights Of Pyth-
las will long remember his admins
tration rs n setting a new pace
land a record which it will Il
work Of devotion for future Grand
Chancellors to emulate and as well
as an inspiration to exceed.
But behind the untiring efforts OF
the Grand Lodge officers to build up
the order there is still a greater
force which is pushing it forward
and that is the principles upon
which it is founded. It's work of
lcharity and its devotion to the bcnev-
, %olencc of true fraternalism are the
nourishing principles which give it,
life and activity.
The history Of Pytlianism dates
, back almost to the foundation of
this state. The order was founded
about six months after West Virgin
la became n state, In February, 1864,
at Washington, d. c.. by Henry
I'Iaathbone. Mr.. Rathbone conceived
tho idea of founding the order in
1861, while he vas teaching a coun-
try school and the story of Damon
and Pythias was his inspiration. At
tho breaking out Of the Civil war ne
enlisted and did not complete his rit-
ual and organize the first lodge I'M
til after the unpleasantness was
ended. 1t was in the early recon
struction days that the work Of the
construction of the order OF Knights
of Pythias was commenced. 1t me-.
some encouragement in the begin
ming and some OF the first lodges or
ganizod disbandcd, but the principles
lived and grew and spread until 1t
now covers the United States, Cana
da and British Columbia and num-
bers about three-quartcrs OF a mil
| lion members.
Five years after the beginning In
Washington, the first lodge was or
ganized in West Virginia by Rev.
| William Gerhardt, a Lutheran min
lister, at Nrartinsburg, W. Va. Since
that time the growth of the order
has been steady and rapid, and its
work has been most far reaching and
beneficial in effect.
The order has distributed nearly
! two millions of dollars in relief 81
| 5000 lodges, besides individual ben
| evidences which will swell the total
very materially. Homes have been
made brighter, mortgages have been
lifted, and yer thfrty-seven millions
OF dollars have been paid to widows
and orphans through the insurance
department Of the order.
The West Virginia Grand Lodge
is now making preparations to dc.
more effective and efficient charity
work by the establishment of a
Pythian home for the state, and this
will be the most important question
to be considered by the Grand Lodge
ut this session. The Pytllian Home
Board has visited many sections of
the state looking for a suitable loca-
tion and this board headed by o. j.
Jennings Rife, of Mt. Jewel Lodge
No. 81, has been untiring in its eff
forts to locate the home where it will.
be Of the greatest benefit to all the
Pythians of the state.
The men who are devoting their
time to this Grand Lodge work, tho
delegates and Grand Lodge Officials
are imbued with the true spirit of
l~iraternalism which inspires them 70
leave their homes and business to
travel hundreds of miles to carry out
1.-THE noble purposes Of the order.
1t will be the pleasure of the offi5