Evening star., 1921-03-22
PRESIDENT EXPECTS TO ATTEND
BIG K. OF P. INITIATION HERE
Sixteen Lod ges In District Plan Great Cele-
bration-Many Leaders In Order
to Be Present and Speak.

|, the District of Columbia, "Our Order
at Home.
Perry p. Patrick, supreme repre-
sentative. "The Founders at the
Founding"
Edward Dunn. past supreme chan
cellor. "Reminiscences"
Benjamin F. Shaffer, past grand
chancellor of Maryland. will Damon
Return
John c. Wilson,, EARLY Days of
Webster Lodge"
Col John Temple Graves, "Frater-
nalsm."
are at the Pythian Temple. 1912 9Th
street northwest. There are sixteen
lodges in the District of Columbia.
Oden B. Gray, Webster Lodge, No. I,
is grand chancellor. and William A.
kimmel. Calanthe Lodge, No. H. is
grand keeper of records and seal The
representatives to the Supreme Lodge
are John b. Dickman, Webster Lodge,
No. 7, and Perry p. Patrick. Franklin
Lodge, No. 2.
The inspiration to establish this
order was given to its founder. JUS
tus H. Rathbone,- native of New
York state. then a school teacher at
Eagle Harbor, Mich, by reading the
famous play of Damon and Pythias.' -
which was written by John Banim,
an 1riShman, in 1921, and which
since has been played by all the lead
ing actors of England and the United
States. In the winter of 1S59-60 Rath-
bone wrote in brief a three-degree
ritual based upon the friendship of
Damon ~and Pythias as portrayed In
the play. which he laid aside until a
more favorable time should arrive in
W n order
AfteH serving some time in the
medical department of the Army in
Philadelphia. he was transferred to
Washington in July. 1868, as a clerk
in the surgeon generals office. which
W. then located on the second floor
of the old Riggs Bank. at the corner
of 18th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. northwest. His musical and dra-
matte ability soon made him host
of friends. and the Arion Glee Club
was the result of such friendship. Out
of this club grew the Knights Of
Pythias, founded by RathbOne and
twelve intimate friends, eleven of
whom were clerks in the War De-
partment, and all or nearly all of
whom were at the time in the Regu-
lar Army.
The founders of the order are set
down as the five friends who met at a
preliminary meeting Monday even
ing. February -. 1854. These five
were JuSluS H. flalnDOne, w lillian IL
Burnett. David l.. Burnett Robert A
Champion and DR.. Edward s. Kim ball
the latter being the only living found
er. who now resides at the Portner
apartments.
Permanent organization was ef-
fected at old Temperance Hall. 914
T. street, on Friday evening. February
10. 1864, with the following present
who constitute the "original thr-
teen; Justus Henry Rathbone, clerk
surgeon generals office: David L.
Burnett. clerk. paymaster generals
office; William II. Burnett, clerk
War Department; Robert A. Cham
pion. clerk. surgeon generals office:
Edward S. kimball, clerk, surgeon
generals office; Abram D. Van Der
Veer, clerk. adiutant generals office;
Matthew II. Van Der Veer, clerk
surgeon generals office; J. T.
K Plant. United States commits
sioner of deeds: Joel r. Woodruff.
quartermaster generals office: George
r. Covert. clerk. surgeon generals
office; 'Aristide Roderihue, clerk. sur
geon generals office; Charles II. Rob
erts clerk. medical purveyor's office,
and f. A. Driver.