The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-28
FIGHT MARKED
CITY BIRTH OF
K. OF P. LODGE
First Two Argued Many
Years Over Which. Is
Oldest; Strife Recalled.

6eIOrc Iflc hnlgnbS OF RyLnlaS
were fifteen minutes old in Indian
apolis they had started a fight.
The story of the argument is part
Of Pythian history here. Older
members pride themselves on hav-
ing known many charter members.
The national organization was
founded in Washington, Feb. 10,
1854, and the Marion Lodge No.
and Olive Branch Lodge No. 2 were
founded in Indianapolis, July II,
1862
Both lodges gathered twenty-one
men together and held separate SEES
sions. They raced to see which
group would be instituted first.
There is a certain point in the
ritual which will fix definitely the
exact time Of a lodges institution,
and Marion Lodge claimed to have
reached this point fifteen minutes
before Olive Branch, and called it.
self mo. l."
Fight Is Revived
But Olive Branch made a counter
claim that it was instituted thirty
minutes before Marion Lodge.
The fight for the honor grew and
diminished and then flared up
again. Many times some old men,
Der revived the war The exact facts
OF the case never were known, and
problem and is now "just good
story that all Pythians know"
The same year, three lodges we're
started in FIT. Wayne. Later, more
were founded in Indianapolis and
one in Richmond.
From the original membership of
twenty-one, the order has grown to
have more than $4,000 Indiana
members in 432 lodges. Subordinate
lodges assets are fixed at $3,054,647.
Grand lodge property is valued at
$1,161 $3.50, and the newly opened
Pythian home at Lafayette is
valued at $3.50, 503.93.
Democratic Principles
The national order has grown
steadily since 1864. THE knights of
Pythias is a social fraternity. It's
principles are based on the story of
Damon and Pythias," says Harry M.
Love, supreme keeper of records and
seals.
"All of its influences are for NOR
atty, education and obedience to
law. We discourage exclusiveness;
we eliminate caste; we admit men
on the broad platform of good
morals and right living; the son of
toll stands the peer of fortunes fav-
ored, learning the lesson that man
hood is supreme"
The order is comprehended in
fltty-six grand lodges with about
$500 subordinate lodges. The prin-
cipal strength is in the United
States, where there are forty-nine
grand lodges and $500 subordinate
lodges. Other lodges are in Canada,
Alaska Canal Zone, Hawaii and the
Philippines. Total assets are $685.
100000.
Pythian SisterhOod Grows
The knights of Pythias is said to
be the first order to exclude saloon
keepers from the membership, and
the first to rule that its ritual could
be printed only in the English Ian
guage.
The two departments and two
auxiliaries to the order are the in
slTance department, military de-
partment, Pythian Sisters and
knights of Khorassan.
The insurance department is I'M
der direct control of the supreme
lodge, and only members are ELI
gible. More than $60,0O0,O00 has
been paid in claims since its Or
ganization, and it has more than
.S122000,000 insurance in force.
The military department is COM
monty known as the uniform rank
and has a membership of more than
$4,000. 1t is under the command
of the supreme assembly and has
a major general commanding.
Bright Future Seen
Pythian Sisters number more than
100000 Dramatic Order Knights of
pxhorassan is the play ground Of the
order, and its members frequently
are referred to as sunshine boys"
1T is governed by the Imperial
Palace.
Pythian homes are open in nine
teen grand domains, and most of
hhe other domains are building Or
planning homes. The homes are
valued at about 100000 and house
more than 1900 Pythian widows and
orphans
In addition to other benevolences,
the order spends about 100000 a
year for relief. The D. o. K. K. has
a 100000 educational fund which is
being added to each year.
with a background such as the
knights of Pythias has enables us
to forward work during 1923 in In
diana" says Carl R. Mitchell, grand
keeper of records and seals in In
diana.