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Knights
of Pythias
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Friendship
Charity Benevolence
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Our purpose is to help preserve the rich and colorful history
of The Order of Knights of Pythias.
To accomplish this, we rely on our brothers, sisters, historians
and Pythian friends to send us
information and web links about past events, former members
and related historical subjects.
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The
Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias
of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceanica
Florida
Grand Lodge, Florida - Website
District 1 John Evans - Riviera Beach, Fl
District 2 Jeff Robinson - Orlando, Fl
District 3 Emmett McCallister - St. Petersburg, Fl
District 4 William W. Anderson - Jacksonville, Fl
District 5 John Franklin - Tallahassee, Fl
Adrian Andrews - Havana, Fl Ronald Spencer - Tallahassee, Fl
Dennis Borders - Panama City, Fl
The
Calanthe Sisters
The first
Lodge organized in the State of Florida was by Dr. Thomas W.
Stringer at Pensacola in 1881.
http://knightsofpythiasfl.com/history
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History Information and Links
Dr. T.W. Stringer
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The Order of Knights of Pythias is a great international fraternity,
which was
founded in Washington, DC, February 19, 1864, by Justus H.
Rathbone.
The first African American Pythian lodge was organized in
Vicksburg, Mississippi, April 1880,
by Dr. T.W. Stringer, and known as Lightfoot Lodge No. 1.
The primary object of fraternal organizations is to promote
friendship among men and to relieve suffering. It bases its
lessons and builds it ritual largely on the familiar story
of the friendship of Damon and Pythias. Strict moralities,
absolute truthfulness, honor and integrity is thoroughly instilled
in the
minds of its membership.
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In
1894, the white Knights of Pythias in Georgia filed suit against
the Colored Pythians. They alledged that the Colored Pythians
were wrongfully using the name “Knights of Pythias” in their
attempt to incorporate themselves
in that state, and were fraudulently using the titles, orders,
insignias, emblems, and other paraphernalia of the white Knights
of Pythias. The case was eventually heard by the Supreme Court,
which ruled in 1912 that the Colored Pythians were entitled
to use the name and accoutrements of the Knights of Pythias
(see Creswill
v. Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of Georgia , 225 U.S. 246
(1912)).
The white Pythians eventually dropped their racial membership
requirements in the 1950s, but the Great
Depression had done irreparable damage to both of the Pythian
lodges. Both organizations exist today in
extremely reduced numbers, with the Colored Pythians the less
numerous of the two. In some cities where the Knights still
exist, the two groups have combined in an effort to perpetuate
the existence of the organization.
Taken From: A
Knight unlike any other: John Mitchell & The Knights of Pythias
- 12/16/2015 – By Sarah Nerney
2019 - Webmaster Note: Today all Lodges, Temples, Courts
and auxiliaries are open to all. |
| Mississippi,
Vicksburg, Mississippi - April 1880 |
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