Evening star. [volume], June 14, 1931, Page 6, Image 88

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
6
Knights of Pythias Founded in Capital
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Justus H. Rathbone, founder of the
Knights of Pythias.
BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR.
WHEN the* student of economic
and political history takes his
pen in hand to write of the
people of the District of Co
lumbia, and, as we naturally
assume, takes into considera
tion the great handicap under which we live
and have our being, he will undoubtedly say
that the residents of the Capital City of the
American Nation are the greatest and most re
sourceful people on the face of the globe.
Knowing our own conditions so much better
than does any one else, naturally to us it is
tragic to hear some outsider say that we do
not know what to do with our resources; how
to take advantage of our opportunities; how
to dispose of the things we manufacture; nor,
perhaps, hew to induce visitors to come here
that we might show them our beautiful city,
and# maybe, sell them our houses and lots and
our merchandise.
Some people do not realize that the affairs
of the District of Columbia are controlled di
rectly or indirectly by the Federal Govern
ment; that all money collected fer taxes is
turned into the United States Treasury, and
released therefrom only by congressional
act; and that, however remarkable as it may
seem, even under these circumstances, the
people of Washington are now selling nearly a
hundred million dollars’ worth of products
which they manufacture annually.
If the territory in close-by Maryland and
Virginia were included —and it is largely occu
pied by District people—even this big amount
would be considerably enlarged.
It is not strange that the non-resident
should lack information about our city, but it
is strange when, apparently without that
knowledge, he fails to give us full credit lor
all we have done in the past; for what we are
doing today, and what we are planning to do
in the future.
Some folks hardly realize that many of
the most formidable projects of all time were
launched right here. Some of the greatest
patriotic and fraternal organizations known to
civilization get their start in Washington, and
the greatest armada of flying machines the
world has ever known —recently witnessed on
the Potomac River—would not have been pos
sible had It not been for the pioneer work in
aviation of Samuel P. Langley, conducted in
this city years ago.
OF the organizations, the Daughters of the
American Revolution, with the present
membership of 173,000, was started here, and
so was the American Red Cross, with Us
4,100,000 contributing members—established
as the result of the persistency of that noble
character, Clara Barton, who came into the
District of Columbia in 1054, and accepted a
clerkship in the Patent Office. The National
Geographic Society, whose magazine is read
in all parts of the United States and abroad,
and whose roll includes an army of member's,
is but another of many similar enterprises
that can be traced to the progressive spirit and
business ability of the people of the District of
Columbia.
Os the fraternal organizations started here,
one which became a world factor, and which
is still in a healthy condition, is the Knights
of Pythias. Bom during the days of the
great struggle between the North and the
South, its early days were not without trouble
and friction, and some of the lodges estab
lished, including its very first (me, surrendered
their charters or became merged with other
subordinate bodies soon after being organised.
But the order thrived here arid elsewhere, and,
by December 31, 1868, had » total enrolled
membership of approximately 34,628. At one
time in its history It had almost a minion
members.
Looking back over the records of this well
known organization, the writer finds that the
original meeting—referred to as simply a
friendly conference, at which the formation
only was discussed— was held in the room of
Robert A. Champion, 369 F street northwest
(old numbering), on February IS, 1864, and
that there were present, at that time, J. H.
Rathbone, Robert A. Champion, D. L. Burnett,
THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHIHCTOW, K C. TUNE », tm. '
Fraternal Order, With Members in Various
Countries, Was Launched in the Year lß64.
JustusH. Rathbone, Chief of Organizers,
Lived Here Many Years—Some of
Early Members Who Gave
Valuable Service.
Early members of the Knights of Pythias. Photograph taken in front of the
Anacostia Engine House in 1903, where Franklin Lodge, No. 2, was instituted
April 12, 1864. Front row, left to right: Amos J. Gunning, John B. Daughton,
Edward Dunn, Richard Goodhart, John W. Thompson. Standing, left to right:
John M. Kline, John W. Bradbury, Edward C. Gill, David L. Burnett, Abraham
D. Van Derveer.
E. S. Kimball and W. E Burnett. Those who
attended the meeting of February 19, but not
mentioned here, were also invited to this
meeting.
Not having handy the city directory for 1964,
the writer looked in the following year, 1865;
but Mr. Champion’s name not appear,
though he did satisfy himself on one particular
point, namely, that 369 F street was the site
of the old Herndon House, then being conducted
by P. G. Murray. The number of the Model
House, opposite—S. W. Kipp, proprietor—at that
date was 368 F street, and it stood where the
old Masonic Temple Is now located.
It was in the Herndon House where a part,
at least, of the Lincoln conspiracy was hatched.
After being remodeled, this old hotel was
turned into office quarters and called the St.
Cloud Building. On this corner now stands
the handsome granite building of the Wash
ington Loan 4c Trust Co. All those mentioned
as being in attendance on February 15, with
the exception of Robert A. Champion, were
members of an old singing society then much
in demand and known as the Arkm Glee Club.
"THE natal day of the order occurred four
1 days later, on February 19, 1864, in the
building known by many of us as Marini’s
Hall, still standing at 914 E street northwest,
but which at that time was called Temperance
Hall, because it was erected by the Freeman’s
Total Abstinence Society, the corner stone be
ing laid in July, 1843, and the building first oc
cupied four years later. George Savage was
the president of the temperance society, Darius
Clagett, treasurer, and J. L. Henshaw, financial
secretary, and the lot upon which the building
was erected was donated by John P. Van Ness.
At this meeting “after the usual vocal re
hearsal” of the dub, we are told, “Mr. Rath
bone produced his ritual and a small Bible.
Each of the gentlemen above named was ob
ligated upon this Bible, not to reveal that
which was about to be imparted to them, and
immediately afterward Mr. Rathbone began the
reading of his work.” William D. Kennedy, In
his Pythian History, prints a facsimile of the
minutes of this initial meeting which read:
“Washington, D. C„ Peb’y 19th, 1864, at
Temperance Hall, Friday evening.
“Upon agreement a number of Gentlemen
met and after some conversation upon the sub
ject, they were called to order and upon motion
of Mr. Rathbone, a chairman of this meeting
was proposed and Mr. J. T. K. Plant was
unanimously called to the chair and D. L
Burnett was nominated as secretary. After
organizing as above the object of the meeting
was stated by Mr. Rathbone to be the founda
tion or organizing of a society. Its business
and operations to be of a secret character, hav
ing for its ultimate object Friendship, Benev
olence and Charity. Before proceeding further,
those present were requested to subscribe to the
oath as hereinafter laid down in the initiation,
and afi present having signified their willingness
to do so, the same was administered to them
bp readme the same, by J. H. Rathbone. Alter
of the oath, on motion It was resolved
that this order be styled the Knights of Pythias.”
Those who thereupon took the oath and ac
cordingly became charter members, or to other
words became the first members of this organi
sation, were: Justus H. Rathbone, clerk in
Surgeon General's Office; Joel R. Woodruff,
clerk in Quartermaster General’s Office; Joseph
. 1
John M. Kline, past supreme represent
ative.
T. K. Plant, commissioner of deeds; David I*
Burnett and his brother William H. Burnett,
clerks in the War Department; Robert Allen
Champion. Edward S. Kimball and George R.
Covert, clerks to Surgeon General’s Office;
Charles H. Roberts, clerk In Medical Purveyor’s
Office; Aristide Roderique, hospital steward to
Surgeon General’s Office; Matthew H. Van
Derveer, clerk to Surgeon General’s Office;
Abraham Deyau Van Derveer, clerk to Adjutant
General’s Office, and E. A. Driver.
FMROM the beginning, it Is said, the original
I Intention was to admit to membership only
clerks employed in the several Government de
partments, . and, with the exception of Joseph
T. K. Plant, this seems to have been true of
the charter members.
Fortunately for those still active in this body,
an effort was nude to get together the history
of the order before all of the original members
had passed away, and through the efforts «f
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IT. P. Westwood, past supreme chan*
cellor.
Mr. Kennedy, assisted materially by John M.
Kline, we., of this city, quite a completed and
authentic mass of material was gotten to
gether some years ago. Here is what one of
the charter members, W. H. Van Derveer, had
to say in 1897. regarding the formation of the
order:
“My brother (M. H. Van Derveer) and I be
came acquainted with Justus H. Rathborve
some time in the year 1863, and we, being
of a musical turn of mind, were often thrown
in each other’s company and became upon
very intimate terms with (Harry as he was
called) Justus H. Rathbone. I think some
where between the first of February, 1864, and
the fifth, I met Brother Rathbone. Then he
spoke to me about a secret order that he de
sired to organize, at the same time taking
some papers from his pocket (which was the
ritual), and told me that there would be a
meeting of gentlemen at Mr. Plant's house on
D street (giving the number) and wanted ma
to be present. He also interviewed by brother,
I think perhaps the day before, and showed him
the ritual which he (my brother) read in pert.
X cannot give the date of the meeting at Plant's
house, but think It was on the evening of the
fifteenth or Sixteenth of February, 1864. No
business of any importance was transacted.
We who were present were merely notified to
be present at the Temperance Hall at 7:30
o'clock on Friday evening, February 19, 1864.
The time came and the gentlemen who were
invited were on hand and while a general con
versation was going on Brother Rathbone sung
out 'Lock the door' —the order was obeyed—the
door was locked.
“Brother Rathbone called the gentlemen to
order and stated in a fitting manner for what
purpose we were called together—l wish I could
recall his words, for they were full of kindness
and love. I will here state that the night was
very cold and the temperature uncomfortable;
having no fire new heat of any kind in the
hall. Some of the gentlemen were restless,
but as they became interested, they wanned up.
Brother Rathbone then asked Joseph T. K.
Plant to take the chair and D. L. Burnett
was nominated for secretary.
II A PTER thus organizing. Brother Rathbona
'' arose and made a further statement that
the purpose of this meeting was for the organi
zation of a secret order, having for its object
friendship, benevolence and charity. Then the
necessary oath was read by Brother Rathbone
and administered to them —I well recollect
this scene—l almost imagine I can see them
now, all in their different positions—Brother •
Plant in the chair on a raised platform—*
Brother Rathbone standing on his left, D. I*.
Burnett on his right, and the balance of the
gentlemen in a semi-circle in front of the
platform, all with upraised arms—after the ad
ministering of the oath, it was resolved to name
the order ‘Knights of Pythias.’
“Brother Rathbone immediately after reported
a ritual for the opening and closing, which
had been prepared by hin some weeks before,
and after being read by Brother Rathbone
was adopted. Then came the election of of
ficers. which resulted as follows: Justus XL
Rathbone, worthly chancellor; Joel R. Woodruff;
vice chancellor; Joseph T. K. Plant, vener
able patriarch; David L. Burnett, worthy scribe;'
Abraham Deyau Van Derveer, worthy banker;
Robert A. Champion, worthy assistant banker;
George R. Covert, worthy assistant scribe, Mat
thew Henry Van Derveer, worthy guide; Aria
tide Roderiqae, inside steward. After adopting
one or two committees, the ‘Choral Knights’
rendered some beautiful music and then ad
journed until the evening of February 33, 1864.
Pfew, if any of us present on that memorable
occasion, pictured to their minds what would
be the result, but now, my dear brother, nearly
500,009 grateful hearts harken to the story
of that eventful night.”
It has beat said that the ritual was written
some yean prior to 1864, while Mr. Rathbone
was teaching school in Michigan, but this
seems not to have been the case. On this
point, particularly, Mr. Kennedy’s statement
is worth quoting. He says:
"It is true that it has been claimed that
the ritual was written some time during tho
period between 1957 and 1860, bade in tba