The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-02
A Remarkable Pythian Event.
The Mayor, full Board of Aldermen and
City Council Given the Rank of Knight.

City Council Given the Rank of Knight
Early in the winter Silver Cross Lodge,
Knights of Pythiss, conceived the idea that it
would be wonderful thing, and great bene-
fit to the order, to work their three ranks on
all the members of the city government and
committee of which Charles E Stevens was
chairman was chosen to extend the invitation.
Learning that every member of the board
would make a useful and valuable member of
the order the invitation was extended, and
accepted, and Wednesday evening, Feb. 23d, the
third and last rank. that of Knight, was con-
ferred on the Mayor, the five Aldermen and
the ten councilmen-a notable event in Pyth-
iansm, and something that we believe was
never before done by any secret society.
At $50 o'clock on the eventful night the
members of the lodge. their wives, the candi-
dates and invited guests. met in Memorial Hall
and after prayer by Rev. H. B. Sellers enjoyed
one of the best chicken suppers ever served
by the expert ladies' of Belfast The wait
ers were twelve High school girls under the
direction of Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Stevens. Mrs.
Rucklin and Mrs. Healey, and Messrs. Wright.
and attended to the carving. During the sup
per Mr.. Arthur N. johnson, accompanied by
Mrs. Louise bennett Beckwith rendered sew
eral songs, which added not little to the
joyment of all present. The hall was beauti-
fully decorated for the occasion with bunting
flags and colored lights.
At 80 o'clock the members of Silver Cross
I ol,- cd ~
their way to Castle Hall, where the beautiful
and impressive ceremonies of comforting the
third degree exemplifed by the rank
team of twenty six men. With the compile
ton of the degree work the lodge closed. and
S. A. Parker, the toast master, called upon
grand Chancellor H. P. Sawyer of Bangor who
spoke on MAINE Pythianism' and handled his
subject in a very pleasing manner. Vice Chan
cellor C. A. Richards of Damarscotta spoke
very briefly on the future of the order, and
was followed by Grand Keeper of Records E.
j. Brown of Waterville, who spoke on the
welfare of the Order" He is very pleas
ing speaker and his address much enjoyed.
Rev. II. B. Sellers then gave interesting
address on the duty of the lodge toward Bel
! fast and its welfare.
| c. E. White then gave the history of Silver
Cross Lodge from its organization in 1886
80 years ago-to the present time. He said
that the charter members consisted OF forty
representative men of Belfast made up from
all the walks of life DR., ia mes H. Sherman
was the first C. C. Through the energy of
these charter members, in less than three
!
standing. had $3.50 in the treasury and ranked
among the leading lodges in Maine Mr.
White spoke of the military branch of the
order. which at that time stood preeminent,
not only in Maine, but second to none in the
whole c. untry. These results were attained
by the expenditure of time and the untirIng
work of some of the leading members of the
order. After few years some of these work
ers who had given of their time and energy to
| the upbuilding of Silver Cross Lodge had gone
to the higher life, others had moved away or
grown too old to take an active part in the
lodge work. AS is the case with all lodges
! there time when the lodge seemed to
langush and it remained in quiescent state
until 1911, when new blood was infused and
/
| pleasing number of 1853, and has expended
more than $500 for beautiful costumes, lights
and other paraphernaa.
Mr. Jacobs, New England representative of
the endowment rank, spoke insurance, aud
Mayor Charles R. Coombs made some pleasing
remarks in behalf of the new members and
thanked the lodge for the group photographs
nv 10 lOdpa To each u1eTbpr If tho
city government.
AT l.30 a. m. this epoch making meeting of
Silver Cross Lodge closed with few pleasing
words from Mr.. Parker, who had presided as
master of ceremonies in his usual graceful
manner.
The new members, the city fathers, repre-
sent wide variety of occupations, as follows:
Leslie Gardner, councilman, born in North
Dixmont bookkeeeper; Ralph H. Howes, coun-
Gilman, born in Belfast. grocer; Virgil L. Hall,
councilman, born in Belfast, wholesale grocer;
J. o. Olson, councilman, porn in Belfast, hotel
clerk DR.. VIM. c. Libby, councilman. born in
Belfast, dentist; Fred W. Keech councilman,
born in Harpersvlle N. Y. travelling sales
man; Henry B. Laid, councilman, born in
Searsmont, teacher; Ernest c. Gross, council
man, born in Belfast proprietor garage; VIM.
K. Keene. councilman, born in Belfast, clerk
Ralph l. Morse. alderman, born in Liberty,
lawyer; Orrin l.. Wentworth, alderman, born
in Belfast, farmer; Charles R. Coombs, mayor,
born in Belfast, undertaken; Bertrand l.. Davis,
alderman, born in Searsport, clother; Glenn
ent W. Wescott, alderman, born in Knox,
banker; Arthur E. Stantial, alderman, born in
Brooks, salesman; Alton K. Braley, council
man, born in Burnham, mechanic.
SWANVILkE