Life of Justus Henry Rathbone - Founder of the Knights of Pythias - Part 1

This article comes from a 1910 Knights of Pythias manual written by Capt. Hugh Goold Webb P.C, P.G.R..

Justus H. Rathbone is a Past Supreme Chancellor and Founder of the Order.

"His bequest to the world was a civic organization whose eternal principles are peace and good and goodwill" — Past Grand Chancellor Goodrich, New York.

JUSTUS H. RATHBONE was born on the 29th of October, 1839, at Deerfield, a town situated in Oneida County, State of New York. His father, Justus Hull Rathbone, was a noted lawyer practicing at Utica, New York, and his mother, Sarah Elizabeth Dwight, was a member of the celebrated Dwight family of New England, and a lineal descendant of Jonathan Edwards, a noted Presbyterian clergyman. Rathbone was baptized Henry Edward Dwight Rathbone, but when he was ten years old (1849), his parents dropped from his name Edwin Dwight, and substituted Justus, so that, in the future he was known by the name that has come down to us, Justus Henry Rathbone; a name of which Past Supreme Chancellor Valkenberg says, that "To those who have the pleasure of knowing him, is synonymous with every thing that is true and devoted in human nature."

He was educated during his boyhood days at the Moant Vernon Boarding; School. From thence he went to the Courtland Academy, where he continued his studies for some time; after which he studied at the Carlisle Seminary, finishing his education at the State University at Madison.

After leaving college, he remained at home with his parents and sister until 1857. He then left them, and they knew nothing of him for some years, when he was heard of traveling as part proprietor of a minstrel troupe through the West, and of having become stranded in the northern part of Michigan, through financial difficulties. His company was broken up, and he obtained charge of a small school as teacher, at a place called Eagle Harbor, situated in the copper regions, in the county of Houghton. Here he remained until May 1861. Besides his position as teacher, he was assistant clerk of the Central Mining Company, whose mines were in the district adjacent to the school, and, D. B. Kennedy, in his "Pythian History," says that "he was also “Dealer in Stationery, Novels, Standard Works, Periodicals and Playing Cards, etc.,” and conducted the 'Agency of the Yankee Needle Threader.' "

When the war broke out. Brother Rathbone, with others, formed a company with the intention of joining the First Michigan Regiment, but on account of some informality, the company was not accepted and the members separated and enlisted in other parts of the State.

In 1861 Brother Rathbone returned to the East, on account of the death of his father, and resided with his sister, Mrs. J. O. Pease, at Germantown, Pennsylvania, and the next year married Emma L. Sanger of Utica, N. Y. Her father was Gerry Sangers, and an old resident of that place. Of this marriage, there were five children, two boys and three girls. Three of them died in early childhood, while two of the davighters, Misses Sara D. and L. S. S. Rathbone, are still living (1909). When their father died in 1889, they were both still young and unprovided for, and the Supreme Lodge, at its next meeting (1890), to show its appreciation for the Founder of the Order and his magnificent service on its behalf, granted an annuity of $720.00 a year for their welfare and education. This annuity ceased in 1900, as one of them relinquishing her right to the appropriation, and since, there is and has been, for several sessions, appropriated to L. S. S. Rathbone $600 per year, or $1200 each Biennial Session.

Returning with his wife to Germantown, he there made his home. The rest of this year and the whole of 1862 seem to have been with him a time of rest and pursuit of his favorite themes.

He began work again on January 15th, 1863. This time in the United States Hospital Service at Germantown, either as chief clerk, as claimed by Past Supreme Chancellor Valkenburg, who was a contemporary and intimate friend of Brother Rathbone; or, as Citizen Nurse, as claimed by Bro. Kennedy, in his "Pythian History." The latter statement is probably the correct one, as the facts stated by Bro. Kennedy in his account of the Founder's life, tells us, "were first made from the private papers of Brother Rathbone, and then, through the assistance of Past Supreme Representative John M. Kline of Washington, the dates were verified by the Department records." He held this position until July 15th, when he resigned. A week later, he was ordered by the Adjutant General to report in Philadelphia for enlistment. This he did on the 21st, and was then appointed Hospital Steward at Washington, D. C. He served in that capacity until March 25th, 1865.

It was probably soon after his appointment as Hospital Steward that Brother Rathbone conceived the idea of making use of his ritual of the Knights of Pythias and on February 9th, 1864, Washington Lodge No. 1 was organized. Brother Rathbone, being one of its first members and of whom he became the presiding officer, then called the Worthy Chancellor. Soon after, finding some scheme on foot to make the Venerable Patriarch (Prelate) a past officer, thus depriving him of his undoubted right of being the first Past Chancellor, he sent the Lodge a letter resigning from the Order altogether. This was taken up in an open session by the Lodge on April 21st, 1861, and read and accepted. Thus, after only two months that the Order had been established, Brother Rathbone felt compelled to sever his connection from it. He remained out of the Order a little over two years.

After his resignation in March, 1865, from the Hospital Service, he was immediately appointed a clerk in the office of the Commissary General of Subsistence; but resigned in April, 1866, serving one year. On April 30th he made a formal application for admission into Franklin Lodge No. 2, depositing his card; Washington Lodge No. 1 having by this time consolidated with Franklin. The application was accepted, and Brother Rathbone received with the greatest of cordiality. The next day, May 1st, 1866, occurred the re-organization of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, at which Brother Rathbone was present, and was elected Grand Chancellor.

In December of this year, he was appointed to a clerkship in the Second Auditor's office, where he remained until May 1869. He then resigned to accept a position in Stetsons Publishing Company's office, and remained there until 1871 ; the company having bought out the Independent News Company of New York City, he was sent as its treasurer, and afterwards he became its superintendent, filling that position until the company broke up in 1873. He then returned to Washington, D. C In the meantime. Brother Rathbone transferred his membership, by card, from Franklin to Liberty Lodge No. 6. This was in July, 1867. He withdrew in September 1869. On accepting the position at Boston, and during his stay in that city he joined Maverick Lodge No. 39 of East Boston, Massachusetts.

At the organization of the Supreme Lodge, Brother Rathbone, being present as a Past Grand Chancellor, was elected "Founder and Past Supreme Chancellor.” But almost immediately after his return home, he removed to New York, as noted above, and applied to Maverick Lodge for a Withdrawal Card. This was granted, but for some reason the card was not issued until December, 1875. Thus for two years, Brother Rathbone was again disconnected from the Order. In the meantime, Brother Rathbone entered the service of the War Department as Corresponding Clerk, and by June 1, 1875, was promoted to the third class in the same office. The next month, he was ordered to France by the Department on a special mission, which he performed to the entire satisfaction of the War Department, and returned home about the end of the year.

Having been out of the Order for over two years, on account of the misunderstanding between him and Maverick Lodge, Brother Rathbone deposited his card, which was at last granted, in Calanthe Lodge No. 11, on January 17th, 1876; which Lodge issued to him a certificate of good standing, both in the Subordinate and Grand Lodges. This was presented to the Supreme Lodge on August 23, 1876, held in Philadelphia, and Brother Rathbone was admitted thereto. At this meeting, action was taken to put beyond question the right of Brother Rathbone to the title of "Founder." It would appear that Brother J. T. R. Plant still claimed a share in that honor. The committee, which was appointed for this purpose, made the following report, which was adopted :

"Your committee, to whom was referred the brief History as to the Founder of the Order of Knights of Pythias, beg leave to report that they had before them Brother J. H. Rathbone and also J. T. K. Plant, who has been represented as one of the Founders of the Order; and upon the statement of Past Supreme Chancellor J. T. K. Plant, your committee are fully satisfied that Past Supreme Chancellor Justus H. Rathbone is entitled to the honor of being Founder of the Order of Knights of Pythias; and offer the following resolution :

"Resolved, That the documents presented to the Supreme Lodge, purporting to be a brief origin of the Order, and Justus H. Rathbone as Sole Founder, be fully recognized as such by the Supreme Lodge of the World."

The most important of the documents alluded to in the above resolution is as follows :

"DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WASHINGTON COUNTY - to wit:

The undersigned, who were present at the first reading of the First. Second and Third Degrees of the Order of Knights of Pythias, which took place at the house No. 369 F Street, near the corner of Ninth Street, in the City of Washington, D. C, on Monday evening, the 15th of February, 1864, do make this their voluntary statement, to-wit: That Justus Henry Rathbone of the City of Washington, District of Columbia, is the sole and only originator and Founder of the Order of Knights of Pythias; that the work was complete when read to us as above; that at the committee meetings, of which we were made members, nothing was done except to re-read the work as originally prepared by said J. H. Rathbone. and endorse it. No changes were made. Mr. Joel B. Woodruff suggested an addition to the Third, or Knight's Degree, which was accepted. The impression which prevails, that Joseph T. K. Plant is the Founder, or assistant Founder of the Order, is false in every particular; the only connection he had therewith was voluntarily offering the use of his parlor for the use of the committee to hold their meetings therein. We further certify that the ritual was prepared completely before J. T. K. Plant or Joel Woodruff had any connection with the Order or were even spoken to in reference to joining Washington Lodge No. 1, K. P.

D. L. BURNETT., W. H. BURNETT., E. S. KIMBALL, M. D. and ROBERT A. CHAMPION.

Sworn and subscribed to before me on this 6th day of March, A. D. 1869.

T. DRURY, Justice of the Peace."

This was followed with the Clerk of the Court's affidavit that Mr. Drury was a duly qualified Justice.