Douglas Island news., 1914-02-18
Golden Tubilee Celebration

 Pythias, of Douglas, will celebrate to morrow tThursday) evening the semi. centennial of Pytbiau Knighthood. A proclamation of Thomas J. Carling, supreme chancellor of the Order of Knights of Pythias callsu upon all lodges and all members of the order to join in celebrating this Golden Jubilee. For the purpose of making this observance uuiform throughout the order, there has been prepared a special ritualistic service, which service has been officially promulgated. North Star, Lodge will use this service as a part of the cele. bration Co be held tomorrow night.
 It was on Friday evening, the l9th day ot February, 1864, in Washington, the capital city of the United States of Ameuca, chat Justus Henry Rathbone first gave to the world the thought and conception with which he was inspired bv the ancient Greek story of Damon Co and Pytbias, by reading twelve of bis friends who had met with him, a ritual be had written, wherein be had made Friendship, as exempli6ed by these two Grecian characters, the basic and underlying principle Tbat little gath ering was so impressed that each of them assumed the obligation of the ritual, and then and there formed an organization which they named, "Kuights of Pytbias."
 In bis proclamation to the members of the order, Supreme Chancellor Carl ing says;
 aAmong the marvellous achievements that. during the past half-century, have signalized the progress of the world, none have been more significant and. at the same time, more beneficial to mankind, than the development Of fraternity among men-teacbing les sous which will inspire manhood, at its highest and best, Co uobler eGo'ts in the direction of making this good, old world, brighter and better.
 aIn the broad field of fraterual on. deavor, uo institution has been iaureled with eiauder achievements, or has st- taiued to a more glorious fruitiou, than has tue Order of Knights of Pythias- whose golden escutcheon is proudly borne upon a million breasts, and whose mission and influence for good has eo-hriued the hearts and homes of hundreds of thousands of earnest men during ;he hslf century of its existence. The career and progress of Pythier Kuigbthood, truly and iudeed, has been Che marvel of Che worlds greatest "frsteruai age" and jts mission oe ~Peace ou Earth, Good Viii to Men" stauds pse eminent at this tbe uoon- eide ol civilization, iu Che annals of fraterual endeavor,
 "Iu houor of the eeni-centenuial of the founding of this order-our Golden : Jubilee epocd.-i5 is exceedingly apprc- priate that we give earnest ot our iraternal pride and qualification, 5y attiuqly commemoyatiug the moet im> portaut milestone thps far iu Che ! life of Pythiau Kutshthood-aud tbUt, upon this Golden Anniversary we pledge anew our love for, and loyalty Go the exalted principles Of Friendship, Charity and Beuevoleuce, by testifyiug that the eternal truths upon which this order is founded, are firmly established in the hearts of our membership, aud also in the respect and appreciation of a grateful people, who are familiar with the Pythian contributions for the bet terment and happiness of the world"
 The principles of the order arc of. fclslly declared as follows;
 "Pythiau Knighthood had its coucep tiou in the exemplidcstiou of the life test of true friendship existing between Damon and Pythias.
 "Frieudship, or mutual confidence, being the strongest bond of union be- tween man and man, and only existing where honor has an abiding place, is adopted as a foundation principle.
 GAS Che ideal knight of olden time was the personifcation of all the higher aud noblev attributes of mans nature, the candidate for kniGhthoOd had to prove himself worthy of acceptance by those who valued friendship, bravery, honor, justice and loyalty.
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