New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-02-24
settlement

S the higher thought of the nation
t and It's guiding genius, the United
States were put on the road to un
precedented prosperity and infu
ence. The silent work Of Pvthiar
: benevolence and the soft hand OF
5 friendship contributed greatly tc
. those industrial and social activi
ties which to-day command the
admiration and the emulation of
every civilized government of the
globe. Having emerged victor
lously from a darkened, ominous,
WaNe-angered sea Of political agi-
tatlon, and having battled with
and successfully overcome all OBJ
structlOnS Of un-American selfish
ness and heated, blind clamor of
revenge and persecution, Pythian-
ism is still the same militant in
stltEtlon, paving the way to peace,
tranquility and happiness. The
battle is still raging. With more
complex method and more eff
cient cruelty, numberless victims
> of class and economic Injustice
meet defeat. Instead of shot and
she'll, the warrior s shout and the
vlctor's cruel trophy, we meet
s1eadfastly misery and poverty,
disease and despair, degeneration
and death artificially born by the
modern commercial moloch. the
industrial juggernaut. Our work
is only beginning. The relation
OF man to man are being strcined
and may, with more tension. snap
The link which holds the life OF
civilization. To see that each
man meets his reward, in proper
ton to the value and ex'ent of,
individual service rendered to So
cietv, value appraised 5v m
partial justice and good viii. is
a Pythian practice and rnSpons.-
bility which makes Pythianism
real, throbbing, vital agency in
the gradual uplift and betterment
of humanity.
The present social unrest; the
industrial conflict. the spiritual
confusion based on false reason
ing, present task for settlement
worthy of the best mind and at l
tention Of the Pythian. How
many Pythians are willing to
study the realities Of human life,
he sources Of discomfort, the ele-
nents of mans hope and failure
md render practical service. both
o government and citizen, in the
atfort to distribute even handed
Justice, unfettered freedom. This
ruly is our main task. We are ,
lot an elymosinary organization
We are neither philanthopists or
amaritans. We are in sense,
fraternal statesmen.
We take part in legislation, in
diplomacy, in literature and all
Exercises expressing the long
ngs, the needs, the aspirations of :
progressive. aggressive popula- 1
ion.
No organization, whether fra
ernal, economic, or moral, could
urvive the vicissitudes of a
rowded, strenuous half century
fe Of this nation, unless it could
lain credit for work and service
nat would strengthen the bull
-arks of this republic. Whether
'e merit recognition and recon-
is a matter which the
lstorian must settle and de-
,rmine. Whether we should and
an command the confidence of
I'd endorsement of Americans for
1other span of a fifty years fu-
Ire depends solely on the capac-
y, the courage, the willingness
} meet the new problems, the fu-
Ire questions, which a new age,
new cycle carries in it's ap-
'oach.
Every community, county and
ate feels the Pythian vitality
Id moral health. 1t stands for
e best, the highest in all depart
ents of life. Its encouragement
patriotism, to love Of flag and
untry, to sacrificing citizenship,
fearless manhood and spotless
omanhood, is the background for 4
e stars Of new horizon, the N
sion of broader future, the \
alization of the hope of better
lstence. N
The State Of Louisiana, the City "
New Iberia, have abundantly
,tifed to the elevating infu-
ce of the order, to the skill the
ility and devotion with which