The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded
in Washington, D.C., 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. 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 the center of the order.
The order has over 2,000 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. History
Early in the group's history, when a man was inducted into the Knights of Pythias
he received a ceremonial sword. Such swords might be given to a Pythian by
family members, business associates, or others as a token of esteem. In recent
decades, rather than require each member to own a sword, the local chapter
maintains a collection of swords for use by its members. Long, narrow swords are
generally used in public during parades and drills, while short swords are used
in displays. Markings on swords varied widely. Most
swords were inscribed with the acronym "FCB," which stands for the Pythian
motto. Images on swords were also somewhat common, and included: A man,
woman and child; a man looking out of a building, with a group of people below;
a man between some pillars, pulling them down; or various types of weapons. A
full Knight of the Pythian order often inscribed his sword with the image of a
knight's helmet with a lion on the crest. Many also carried the image of a
sprig of myrtle or a falcon. Organization
The structure of the Knights of Pythias is three tiered. The local units used to
be called "Castles", but over time came to be called "Subordinate Lodges". State
and provincial organizations are called "Grand Lodges" and the national
structure is called the "Supreme Lodge" and meets in convention biennially. The
officers of the Supreme Lodge include the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor,
Prelate, Secretary, Treasurer, Master at Arms, Inner Guard and Outer Guard.
The order's auxiliaries are the Pythian Sisters, and two youth organizations:
the Pythian Sunshine Girls and the Junior Order of Princes of Syracuse for
boys. The Knights of Pythias also has a side
degree, the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, which itself has a
female auxiliary, the Nomads of Avrudaka. Finally, members who have
obtained the Knight Degree may join the Uniformed Rank, which participated in
parades and other processions. Swords owned by a member of the Uniformed Rank
might be inscribed with the acronym, "UR," a dove, or a lily.
Membership Membership has historically been open to
males in good health who believe in a Supreme Being. Maimed individuals were
not admitted until 1875. Members are accepted by blackball ballot.
In the early 1920s the Order had nearly a million members. By 1979, however,
this number had declined to fewer than 200,000.
Ritual The degrees of Pythian Knighthood in a
subordinate lodge are: Page
Esquire Knight
In 1877 the Order adopted an optional fourth degree, called the Endowment
Rank, which provided fraternal insurance benefits. In 1930 this department split
from the Knights of Pythias and became a mutual life insurance company, later
known as the American United Insurance Company.
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. The oath taken by members:
I declare upon honor that I believe in a Supreme Being, that I am not a
professional gambler, or unlawfully engaged in the wholesale or retail sale
of intoxicating liquors or narcotics, and that I believe in the maintenance of
the order and the upholding of constituted authority in the government
in which I live. Moreover, I declare upon honor that I am not a Communist or
Fascist; that I do not advocate nor am I a member of any organization that
advocates the overthrow of the Government of the Country of which I am
a Citizen, by force or violence or other unlawful means; and that I do not seek
by force or violence to deny to other persons their rights under the laws of
such country. Philanthropy
The Order provides for "worthy Pythians in distress" and has given aid to
victims of national or sectional disasters. It runs camps for
underprivileged youth and homes for aged members. It has sponsored scholarship
funds, blood drives, highway safety programs and the Cystic Fibrosis
Research Foundation. Other Pythian organizations
= Knights of Pythias of North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa =
After a black lodge was denied a charter by the Knights of Pythias' Supreme Lodge
meeting in Richmond, Virginia on March 8, 1869, a number of African-Americans
who had been initiated into the Order formed their own Pythian group, the
Knights of Pythias of North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. By
1897 the KPNSAEAA had 40,000 members, with Grand Lodges in twenty states and
other lodges in the West Indies and Central America. It distributed $60,000
worth of benefits annually and had a woman's auxiliary and uniformed rank.
Canada The Grand Lodge of Ontario was
instituted on April 8, 1872. Rowena L. Rooks composed "K of P grand march [for
piano]", which was dedicated to Collin H. Rose, Grand Chancellor, and the
officers and representatives of the Grand Lodge K of P of Ontario, Canada.
The march sheet music, which was published in London, Ontario by C. F.
Colwell, c. 1876, was illustrated with the Knights of Pythias emblem and Latin
motto, 'Amico Fidus ad Aras', or in English, 'True friends are a refuge'.
= Improved Order, Knights of Pythias = In 1892 the Supreme Lodge ruled that the
work of the order would only be conducted in English. This upset some
members who were accustomed to using German. After this ruling was reiterated
at the Supreme Lodges of 1894 and 1895, a number of German speaking Pythians
split off and formed the Improved Order, Knights of Pythias at a convention in
Indianapolis in June 1895. The new order was reportedly not very popular, and
there was a movement toward reconciliation a few years later.
Notable Pythian Knights Noble Drew Ali, Prophet and founder of
the Moorish Science Temple A.A. Ames, Mayor of Minneapolis.
Hugo Black, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clifford Cleveland Brooks, member of the
Louisiana State Senate from 1924 to 1932 from northeast delta parishes
William Jennings Bryan, U.S. Secretary of State and presidential candidate
Robert Byrd, U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardozo, U.S. Supreme Court
Justice J. J. Carter, state representative,
mayor, school board member, and parish police juror from Webster Parish,
Louisiana Leopold Caspari, member of both houses
of the Louisiana State Legislature Robert Houston Curry, member of the
Louisiana House of Representatives from 1888 to 1892 for Bossier Parish
Brevet Major Augustus P. Davis, founder of the Sons of Union Veterans of the
Civil War U. T. Downs, sheriff of Rapides Parish,
Louisiana, 1924-1940 John W. Grabiel, Republican
gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas in 1922 and 1924
Leroy Milton Grider, California real-estate developer
Warren G. Harding, U.S. President Hubert Horatio Humphrey, U.S. Vice
President Bob Jones, Sr., founder of Bob Jones
University, prominent evangelist Peter T. King, U.S. Congressman
Claud H. Larsen, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
W. Matt Lowe, mayor of Minden, Louisiana 1916-1920, parish police juror
Richard Irvine Manning III, Governor of South Carolina
Freddie Martin, musician, band leader John Ellis Martineau, Governor of
Arkansas, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas
William McKinley, U.S. President Sun Ra, jazz musician, composer, and
band leader Nelson A. Rockefeller, U.S. Vice
President Joe Rollins, Texas Attorney General,
Houston Asst. City Attorney, prominent private practice attorney
Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President, who joined in 1936, during his
presidency. Charles Schumer, U.S. Senator
William Green Stewart, Louisiana farmer and school board president
J. Millard Tawes, Governor of Maryland Lee Emmett Thomas, Mayor of Shreveport,
Louisiana and Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Lew Wallace, author, Territorial Governor of New Mexico, Major General,
diplomat Francis E. Warren, first governor and
longtime senator of Wyoming Anthony Weiner, U.S. Congressman
James E. West, first professional Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of
America Frederick Hinde Zimmerman, banker,
businessman, and founder of the Grand Rapids Hotel.
Notable Pythian buildings (by state then city)
Knights of Pythias Building, NRHP-listed Pythian Castle, in Humboldt County,
California, NRHP-listed Pythias Lodge Building, NRHP-listed
Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall, NRHP-listed
Knights of Pythias Building and Theatre, Greensburg, Indiana, NRHP-listed
Knights of Pythias Lodge, NRHP-listed Knights of Pythias Temple, NRHP-listed
Pythian Opera House, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Eagle Harbor Schoolhouse, Eagle Harbor, Michigan, NRHP-listed - where Justus
Rathbone developed the idea of the Order Pythian Home of Missouri, also known as
Pythian Castle Knights of Pythias Building
Pythian Temple Pythian Temple and James Pythian
Theater, Columbus, Ohio Pythian Castle, NRHP-listed in Lucas
County Knights of Pythias Pavilion, Franklin,
Tennessee, NRHP-listed Knights of Pythias Temple, also known as
the Union Bankers Building Knights of Pythias Building, also known
as Pythian Castle Hall Pythian Castle, NRHP-listed
Pythian Temple, NRHP-listed Pythian Castle Lodge, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, NRHP-listed See other
William Hood House Richard Irvine Manning III
Notes and references External links
Official website