Knight of Pythias: Definition from Answers.com

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.

A member must be at least 18 years of age. He cannot be a professional gambler, or involved with illegal drugs or alcohol and he must have a belief in a Supreme Being.

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

Page
Esquire
Knight

Contents

1 Notable Pythian Knights
2 Notable Pythian buildings
3 See other
4 Notes and references
5 External links

Notable Pythian Knights

Hugo Black, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
William Jennings Bryan, U.S. Senator^[4]
Benjamin Cardozo, U.S. Supreme Court Justice^[5]
Warren G. Harding, U.S. President^[6]
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, U.S. Vice President,^[7]
Bob Jones, Sr., Founder of Bob Jones University, Prominent Evangelist Leader^[8]
John Ellis Martineau, Governor of Arkansas, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas^[9]
Richard Irvine Manning III, Governor of South Carolina
William McKinley, U.S. President,^[10]
Nelson A. Rockefeller, U.S. Vice President^[10]
Joe Rollins, Texas Attorney General, Houston Asst. City Attorney, Prominent Private Practice Attorney
Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President^[10]
Sun Ra, Jazz Musician, Composer, and Band Leader
Lew Wallace, Territorial Governor of New Mexico, Major General (U.S. Army), Diplomat ^[11]
Charles Schumer, U.S. Senator
Robert Byrd, U.S. Senator
Anthony Weiner, U.S. Congressman
Peter T. King, U.S. Congressman
Freddie Martin, Musician, Band Leader
James E. West, first professional Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America

Notable Pythian buildings

By state

Pythian Opera House, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Knights of Pythias Building (Virginia City, Nevada)
Pythian Temple (New York City)
Pythian Temple and James Pythian Theater, Columbus, Ohio
Knights of Pythias Building (Fort Worth, Texas)
Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia)
Pythian Temple (Tacoma, Washington)

See other

Notes and references

^ 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."
^ Carnahan, James R. Pythian Knighthood: Its History and Literature, 2nd Ed, Revised and Enlarged. The Pettibone Manufacturing Company, Fraternity Publishers, Cincinnati, 1892.
^ Approved May 5, 1870 [16 Stat. at L. 98, chap. 80]
^ The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, Nebraska
^ Benjamin N. Cardozo Lodge at www.cardozospeaks.org
^ The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, California
^ The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, Minnesota
^ History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 3, 940.
^ [1]
^ ^a ^b ^c The Political Graveyard: Knights of Pythias, politicians, New York
^ Crawfordsville Saturday Evening Journal, June 19, 1875

External links

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