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Knight of Pythias

 
Dictionary: Knight of Pythias
 

n., pl. Knights of Pythias.

A member of a secret, philanthropic fraternal order founded in 1864.


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Wikipedia: Knights of Pythias
 
Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias membership certificate, 1890.[1]

The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society[2] founded at Washington, DC on 19 February, 1864.

The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress[3]. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been inspired by a play by the Irish poet John Banim about the legend of Damon and Pythias. This legend illustrates the ideals of loyalty, honor and friendship that are central to the order.

The order has over two thousand lodges in the United States and around the world, with a total membership of over 50,000 in 2003. Some lodges meet in structures referred to as Pythian Castles.

The order's auxiliaries are the Pythian Sisters, the less serious Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, The Nomads of Avrudaka, and two youth organizations: the Pythian Sunshine Girls and the Junior Order, Knights of Pythias for boys.

Membership requires "Belief in a Supreme Being".

Degrees of Pythian Knighthood in the subordinate lodge (or Castle) are

  1. Page
  2. Esquire
  3. Knight

Contents

Notable Pythian Knights

See other

Notes and references

  1. ^ Caption: "Friendship, Charity, Benevolence. Knights of Pythias. Founded February 19th, 1864. The Order is founded upon naught but the purest and sincerest motives. Its aim is to alleviate the suffering of a brother, succor the unfortunate, zealously watch at the bedside of the sick, soothe the pillow of the dying, perform the last sad rights at the grave of a brother; offering consolation to the afflicted, and caring, with all a brother's love, for the widow and orphan. Brotherly love and charity are the Pillars on which it rests; Friendship and Truth the bond and surety of its preservation. Peace on earth and goodwill toward men. K. of P. Record. Certificate of Membership. This is to Certify That — was initiated as Page in — Lodge N° — Located at — State of — on the — day of 18 — Charged as Esquire — day of 18 — and proved as Knight — day of 18 — . In memory of brother — born — died — aged — yrs. — ms. — dys. In memory of sister — born — died — aged — yrs. — ms. — dys. Entered according to Act of Congress in the y. 1889 by J. M. Vickeroy, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. Published by J. M. Vick[e]roy & Co., Terre-Haute, Indiana."
  2. ^ Carnahan, James R. Pythian Knighthood: Its History and Literature, 2nd Ed, Revised and Enlarged. The Pettibone Manufacturing Company, Fraternity Publishers, Cincinnati, 1892.
  3. ^ Approved May 5, 1870 [16 Stat. at L. 98, chap. 80]
  4. ^ The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, Nebraska
  5. ^ Benjamin N. Cardozo Lodge at www.cardozospeaks.org
  6. ^ The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, California
  7. ^ The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, Minnesota
  8. ^ a b c The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, New York
  9. ^ Crawfordsville Saturday Evening Journal, June 19, 1875

External links


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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Knights of Pythias" Read more