Year: 1872

Anniversary Celebration at Clarendon Last


Evening.


The knights of Pythias in this celebrated the
first anniversary of the Introduction of the or
der in this State, last evening at Clarendon,
the residence of the late Maj Campbell Wal
lace.


AT this time a brief allusion to the origin of
the fraturnity may not be devoid of interest
We grope not amid the fading traditions and
musty legands of the far distant past to find its
beginning. On the 10Th day of February, 1864,
in the city of Washington, the first knights of
Pythias Lodge was instituted. Eighteen hun
dred and sixty four 1t was time of dread of
doubt, of darkness and of desolation For four
long and weary years terrible civil strife had
been waged in our beloved country.


In such time, when passion and lawleSsness
ruled the hour; when the news of battle and of
blOodshed was born upon every breeze the or
der of Pythian Knighthood was born, having
for its aims relief and brotherly love, and for
its motto the mystic f. G. B. How suggestive
the period of its birth; how noble the aims
how appropriate, both then and now, its triple
motto


As in the physical world the thunder clouds
will sometimes scatter away and permit us to
see the beautiful evening star, beaming in
brightness above us, so there, in that first
knights of Pythias Lodge, in the city of Wash
ngton, the black clouds of war and of hate were
rolled away and the star of friendship shed its
radiance upon band of brothers. So strangea
spectacle at such a time soon had its effect.
sations and for membership, and thus began
growth which is unparalleled IN the history of
any similar order.


Only eight years have passed there are now
one huddred thousand brave Knights united as
a band of brothers by the enduring bonds of
fri 6cbf aa1 o6xyaY q
ments warning to rush to each others relief.
over thirty States have knocked at the door and
peen admitted into the mysteries of our most
honorable order. In our own State the order
10 nas o1 nao no period Of uncertainty and bids fair
10 equal II not outstrip some of the other secret
soeletes IN the rapidity Of its growth and the
extent OF lts usefulness an order which sprung
from the purest motives of the human heart, and
Wnose AIMS are as grand, as good and as noble
| A large party was present on the occasion and
the occasion was highly enjoyed by ali. =
After the Mechanics band had plaved soma
three or four pieces, Maj. A. S. Prosser took
the rostrum and made very eloquent speech
tracing the Order from its origin up to the pres
ent day. He stated that there were twelve
Lodges, with total of eight hundred members
in the State of Tennessee, three hundred thou
sand in the United States and the Canadas
He was followed by Capt Alex. Allison, who
made short but very beautiful Grafton, which
commenced and continued until some gem
tlemen asked the guests to gather in a circle
and partake of all things good, especially wa
termelons After this the dancing was recon-
mcnced and kept up till an early hour OF the
morning,


The affair was a complete success, and the
Knights are deserving of great credit for MAX
ing the evening pleasant to everybody.
-~<B<


Boots and Shoes repaired in good style at
oof-