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Last Thursday night marked the 50th anniversary of the birth of the order of Knights of Pythias. The event was celebrated by Millersburg Lodge, which is one of the nearly 8000 lodges in existence in the United States and Canada. On this occasion every Pythian Lodge in existence had the same ritualistic service, prepared under the direct ion of the Supreme Lodge. On the evening of Feb. 19, 1864, in Washington, D. C., Justus H. Rathbone, the founder of this noble order, met with twelve of his friends and read a ritual he had prepared, which had for its inspira tion the exemplification of friend ship as embodied in the lives of Damon and Pythaias, the two Grec ian characters. This ritual so im pressed his friends that all signed and adopted it and this marked the beginning of the greatest American fraternal order in existence. From this handful of men the order grew rapidly until now: its membership numbers over 850,000. In point of membership, Indiana stands second, with over 70,000; Ohio first and Il linois third. While the Knights of Pythias is primarily an American institution and comparatively young beside some of its sisters, its influ ence is world-wide for the members are scattered to the four points of the compass. Millersburg Lodge No. 328 was instituted Aug. 31, 1891, nearly 23 years ago, with 28 charter mem bers. The ceremonies were presid ed over by members of the Ligon ier Lodge. KE. E. Gary was then a member of the Ligonier Lodge and S. L. Thomas a member of a lodge out west. These two knights were particularly active in getting a lodge instituted here. The 26 oth ers who joined with them were: W.H. Stouder J. H. Mathews J. W. Wert Joel Potter J. F. Musselman Ira Hostetter Fred Stiver S. B. Blue J. F. Stroup O. C. Vernon Solomon Keim C. E. Freeland C. A. Stiver W. B. Jacoby D. E. Christie J. H. Miller R. E. Bollinger M. E. McCann Valentine Stiver Ed Bartholomew J.I. Gangner’ C.C. Method J. A. Snapp A. J. Mays E. F. Larimer A. B. Garman we Thirteen of the above number still retain their membership in the order. E. E. Gary was the first past chancellor and S. L. Thomas the first chancellor commander of Millersburg Lodge. During its career Millersburg Lodge has initiated around 135 members, of which 81 are in good standing. The list follows: B. D. Miller Henry Eaton John Keim J. C. Smith John Hawks W. F. Unrue W. Q. Harper George Stamets T. W. Gary John Simpson Bert Rariden W. H. Stouder Allen Troyer Charles Roach S. L. Thomas John Penrose Henry Simpson Bert Roach Fred Stiver H. M. Lambert Valentine Stiver Noah to Chas. Robinson Joel Potter F. T. Miller ER. F. Larimer Fire AVe ATLAIGL A. E. Nowells James A. Miller E.A. Musselman Charles Miller Shirl Musselman G. M. Brown J. J. Method — Co. C. Method A. J. Mays George Long Peter Lecount Wesley Juday L. F. Juday Ira Juday AA. U. Dive James A. Juday Chas, Banger E. E. Gary. Henry Butt C. E.Gary Ed Bartholomew Ernest Foster Co. W. Butler Jasper Crothers B. W. Butler James Crothers e R. Garman W. H. Culp B. Barnard Chance Chrisman John Stabler R. E. Bollinger ,A. B. Garman J. N. Friend John Hall Joseph Garber Frank Gary ‘O. GC. Vernon Albert Gehrett _Vern Vance - G. C. Scott -L. H. Johnson J. c Stroup George D. Foster aT Ue Charles “Everhock G. W. Mason Warren Miller Millan TO x winees TI ~ ale Ura BOUL A oO Dr... = Twelve members havel died within the twenty-three year’s existence of Millersburg Lodge. . Hundreds of dollars in sick and funeral bene fits have been paid out during this period. _ Millersburg Lodge lost is all in the memorable conflagration © of 1909, but arose Phoenix-like from the ashes, and builded better than ever. A beautiful brick block, worth around $ 5,000, stands as a monu ment to its ‘enterprise, Millersburg Larry DeUK M. S. Bickel John Bickel. A D Boomershine rue Man Lodge K. of P. was the first to take heart after the disaster and declare its confidence in the future of the blessed town. The structure which now marks the site of the origin of the fire is the result of that con fidence. This move gave heart to others and within a short time the burned district was reclaimed. The The K. of P’s. may thus be classed as a great factor in the material as well as the moral welfare of this community. About 150 persons were present at this Jubilee celebration to wit ness the ritualistic service. Past chancellors of the lodge presided: C. R. Garman filling the post of chancellor commander; Rev. A. B. Garman, prelate; S. L. Thomas, vice chancellor; W. B. Barnard, master of exchequer and G. E. Stamets, master at arms. The colors, blue, yellow and red, were displayed by lanterns. The service, which was very impressive, told of the objects of the order. C.R. Garman gave an historical sketch of the Millersburg lodge. He was followed by Rev. A. B. Garman, of Auburn, one of the charter members who delivered an able peroration on the order which thrilled every member and prompted the revival of the spirit of its teachings. At the conclusion of the regular program Rev. Garman took up the task of raising funds for the first payment on a piano which had been placed in the hall the day before. The response was liberal and had the full membership been repre sented and the contributions as liberal in proportion the entireé sum would probably have been raised. In this connection, it might not be amiss to suggest to the absent members that it is not yet too late two “‘come across’ with a dollar or two for the piano fund. Make remittances to G. W. Mason, M. of F. The money to pay for the piano will be raised: “‘on the side’’’ and not taken from the lodge funds. The instrument is an acquisition to the lodge furnishings that will be greatly appreciated by all. The prospect for Millersburg lodge taking on a_— substantial growth is very bright at this time. It is up to the members to get an active hustle on them and bring in the additional timber.
Newspaper Details
Millersburg Grit
Millersburg, Indiana, US
Thu, Feb 26, 1914
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Foster B.
CA 29 Jan 2026
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Millersburg Grit
