Life of Justus Henry Rathbone - Founder of the Knights of Pythias - Part 2

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

After the congratulations of the officers and members of the Supreme Lodge (see Part 1), Brother Rathbone presented to the Supreme Lodge the Bible upon which the original members of the defunct Washington Lodge No. 1 took their obligation. At the next convention (1877), Brother Rathbone was made Supreme Lecturer, in which office he continued until his death. He travelled round through all the jurisdictions giving his lectures, the principal ones of which were entitled "True Pythianism." and "The Mission of Our Order." Brother ValKenburg says that "these lectures are elegant in diction, sublime in sentiment, beautiful in rhetorics, and in every respect worthy of their eminent and distinguished author."

At this convention (1877), also a "medal" to be worn by the Founder was chosen and ordered made, and on December 6, the same year, it was duly presented to Brother Rathbone at Mount Vernon Lodge, to which he had been transferred on July 11th. In this connection Brother Kennedy says : "The presentation took place in the presence of a large number of the members of the Order, belonging to the several Lodges in the District of Columbia, and, in reporting the fact. Brother Taxwell says: The occasion was one long to be remembered, all present seemingly much interested and rejoiced that the Founder had at last been fully and officially recognized by the Supreme Authority of the Knights of Pythias of the World.' "

The next year he was transferred from the Corresponding Department of the War Office to that of the Adjutant General, where he remained for the next ten years. He was then, on account of ill health, obliged to resign. In the meantime, in 1878, he moved from Washington to Lanham, Maryland, where he instituted and became a member of Sicilian Lodge No. 97. He continued his visitation of Lodges throughout the different Domains, receiving hearty welcomes wherever he went. In 1884, however, Brother Rathbone became to some extent financially embarrassed, probably caused by sickness, and other unavoidable circumstances. This became known to the Order at large, and the Supreme Chancellor, Brother J. Van Valkenberg, issued a circular letter to the Grand Lodges asking for help. Over five thousand dollars was subscribed which relieved the straits under which he was suffering. Shortly before this Brother Rathbone received a severe shock by the death of his wife, which occurred on December 31st. 1887. She was buried in the cemetery at Utica, New York. He did not long survive her.

His death occurred during a lecture tour through Illinois, Nebraska, Indiana and Ohio. He had reached Lima, Ohio, on November 16th, where he stopped to deliver a lecture. As mentioned above. Brother Rathbone had to resign his post in the Adjutant General's office on account of ill health. He had been troubled for some time with a carbuncle on his left side. His suffering was so great when he reached Lima, that two doctors had to be called in, and who decided that his condition was such that it was impossible for him to continue his journey. On Monday, the 18th, an operation was performed, but so serious was his condition, that the doctors could give no hopes of his recovery. Lima Lodge did everything that was possible for his relief; nurses were provided, and the doctors were with him constantly. Another operation had to be performed, on account of the spreading of the disease, and this so reduced his system that he died on December 9, 1889. His body was embalmed and taken to the Castle Hall. Besides members of the local and Supreme Lodges, there were with him, when he died, his sister, Mrs. Pease, and his two daughters.

The Castle Hall of Lima Lodge, in which the body of Brother Rathbone lay guarded continuously by three members of the Lodge, was beautifully draped, and on the evening of the 10th, the day after his death, memorial services were held. Beside the members of the Lodge, there were in attendance several of the Supreme Officers and Representatives, General Carnahan, and Brother Rathbone's sister and daughters. Among the speakers were Rev. A. L. Fraser, Past Supreme Representative Walter B. Ritchie, Past Supreme Chancellor H. Douglass and General J. R. Carnahan. The address of Brother Ritchie was beautiful and pathetic. Brother Kennedy says "He spoke eloquently and with deep feeling, saying, in part :

"Today's page in Pythian history is bordered by the darkness of the line of death. The hearts of 250,000 brave and gallant men are tonight bowed down. An army of the brightest and best of America's sons tonight mourn the loss of the Founder of the Order. Brother Rathbone was human and in his humanity our Order had its birth. It was because he was human and appreciated the value, worth and need of the friendship of others ; because he saw the necessity of charity for the faults of others, because he saw the need of benevolence, that he took the old Grecian story of Damon and Pythias and made every word of it a flower, every line of it a gem, and every page a jewel. He made it so that tonight it is as dear to 250,000 men as the songs our mother sang when we sat at her knee.

The day has been busy and the wires have been warm with messages of condolence and sympathy from every part of this country. Hearts have been touched, the Founder of this noble Order sleeps in death.

As it was decreed that he must be removed by death, this Lodge has a sacred memory in Pythian history. It was given to you and your members to surround his bedside and by the fact of his death here the name of Lima Lodge will be inscribed and have a sacred history in Pythian chronicles. Republics may rise and fall, but the Order of the Knights of Pythias will still live. Centuries may roll away, but still Lima Lodge will be remembered as the death place of one who has done more to unite the friendship of more men than any other man of the present century.”

Immediately after the service the remains were taken to a special train for Utica, New York. Beside the members of his family that went on board, there was an escort consisting of several officers of the Supreme and Grand Lodges, and five members of Agamemnon Division of the Uniform Rank. A stop was made at Cleveland and the members of the Order there viewed the body. On arriving at Utica the train was met by the Supreme Chancellor and a number of others of the Supreme and Grand Lodges, and delegations from numerous cities in the State. The funeral procession was headed by Austin Division of the Uniform. Rank ; the hearse, accompanied by the members of Agamemnon Division came next, followed by Bander Division of Fort Plain ; then the carriages of the family and members of the Order. The services were held in the First Presbyterian church ; after which the remains were taken to Forest Hill Cemetery and buried with Pythian rites, by the side of the wife, who died a few short years before.

Valkenberg describes Brother Rathbone as a man of five feet ten and a half inches in height, weighing about two hundred and twenty pounds, and of having dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was possessed of great ability, and this connected with a thorough education, enabled him to be eminently successful in his office work, and other clerical positions. Of his personality, Brother David L. Burnett, who was his intimate companion, and one of the Original Five, says: "He was of a peculiar temperament; something of a genius, impulsive, warm hearted and sensitive to a degree. He had his disappointments; he would not have been human were it not so. With his genius and sensitive nature, he was often so strong and so indignant that it was not to be wondered that he has been considered erratic. His writings were almost entirely on Secret Orders ; besides the Ritual of the Knights of Pythias, he wrote the Rituals for the Uniform Rank, and Endowment Rank; the Supreme Pythian Knights, the Order that so nearly caused a split in the ranks of Knights of Pythias; the Monks of Arcadia ; the Mystic Order of Seven ; and a musical burlesque called "Pocahontas in Black." He was an excellent musician, both vocal and instrumental, and composed several excellent pieces. Among these compositions are the tunes for the opening and closing odes, the installation, and all other odes used in the ceremonies of the Order; he also composed for the three ranks a grand march, besides numerous other successful pieces. The words also of some of the odes are of his composition.

The Grand Chancellor of the Domain of New York visited the grave of Brother Rathbone January 31st, 1893. He found that no stone had been put up to mark the grave, and that the grave itself was in a neglected condition He reported this to the Grand Lodge, and the Grand Lodge took it upon itself to look after the grave and to endeavor to have a suitable monument placed thereon. This was reported to the Supreme Lodge, which was asked to take such action in the matter as it might see fit. The final result was the soliciting of subscriptions from the Subordinate Lodges, through their Grand Lodges, for a Rathbone Monument Fund. Such was the success of this appeal that on July 26th, 1899, a handsome monument was dedicated on 10,000 square feet of land presented to the Supreme Lodge in the New Forest Cemetery. This cemetery adjoins that of Forest Hill, and this transfer was found necessary on account of the exceeding high price of the ground in the original burying place. The monument is thus described by Supreme Representative Young in handing over the monument to the Supreme Chancellor :

"The plan of the monument is triangular in shape, emblematic of the Order, representing the Subordinate, Grand and Supreme Lodges; the three steps and the bronze statues at the buttress of each arch represent the different ranks of the Order. On one buttress is placed the statues of Damon and Pythias, clasping the hand of friendship. On another one the statues of the widow and orphans, and on the third is a Knight in uniform. On the pedestal in the center are the globe and the arms of the Knights of Pythias. On the front of the die is the seal of the Supreme Lodge, and on the keystone stands the statue of Justus H. Rathbone, the Founder of the Order. The monument is 40 feet high. Its cost was $11,500. The lot, 100 X 100 feet, and containing 10,000 square feet, was given by the New Forest Cemetery Association. The funds for its erection were contributed by the members of the Order throughout the Supreme Domain. The total receipts are $13,722.01.

By action of the Supreme Lodge the grave and monument were handed over to the Grand Lodge of New York for perpetual care, and which charge was formally accepted by the Grand Lodge at its annual convention on July 29, 1902.

THE DEDICATION OF THE RATH BONE MONUMENT Charles A. Lee, Supreme Representative

Founder and Friend

Who from the ancient story wove The modern version bright and treasure-trove ; When war the country  filled with fratricidal strife And youth and manhood met in conflict rife, Thou didst within thine heart its precepts grasp And taught thy countrymen their hands to clasp In reconciliation sweet ; and thenceforth strove To span the gulf of hate with bridge of love. Strong be our Order, remember 'd by thy name Who lit the torch of Friendship's everlasting flame.

True friendship is a bond divine, Ordained our natures to refine ; Our bosoms to expand by love Responsive to the throne above. Much like the blooming of a rose That with pure fragrance overflows. Our friendships form the golden chain To link us to the angel-train, Receiving and imparting good, As members of a brotherhood. Like stars, that deck the arch of night, Diffusing life-inspiring light. Without a friend how dark and lone ! What all earth's music but a moan! A direful exile that would be. Cut off from all men 's sympathy!

But, with friends, redoubled life With precious consolations rife. In friendship's circle what delight —Hearts beat to hearts, tho' hid from sight; Soul blends with soul as only one, And joys through every service run. So in their purpose friends agree To live as in one family. The Saviour calls his followers friends — A fellowship that never ends; An education here below For other worlds to which we go, Where all true friendships sure will meet To make felicities complete. So let us dedicate this shrine As holding somewhat the divine ; A fit memorial of a friend Who toiled pure friendship to extend ; And on its face the legend bind — He lived to love and serve mankind.    

From "Pythian History."