The Aims and Objects of the Order
This article comes from a 1910 Knights of Pythias manual written by Capt. Hugh Goold Webb P.C, P.G.R..
“The elevation, the happiness, the betterment of mankind.”
The aims and objects of the Order of Knights of Pythias are beautifully stated in the "Declaration of Principles" adopted by the Supreme Lodge at its meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, in the year of 1877, recognizing the universality of the brotherhood of man, and which can be found here.
The Order of Knights of Pythias is an American institution, founded by an American, made up of American citizens, and has an American government; and it was founded for the purpose of spreading out among all mankind the principles of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence. This is done by means of lectures, charges and practical lessons given to all who enter the portals of its Castle, in the ceremonies of its initiations, as well as by the example of its members, and by the work and business executed in the lodge room.
Within its portcullis, all members, high and low, rich and poor, Republicans and Democrats, Methodists and Catholics, all meet on an equality; for nothing of a religious or political character is allowed to be brought into its halls. All religions are tolerated. Obedience to the laws and loyalty to the government of the land in which the Order may be instituted are its chief teachings and principles.
Friendship, in all the fullness of its meaning, as exemplified in the story of Damon and Pythias, and upon which our noble Order has been founded, is the cornerstone upon which all the teachings of the Order are built. And thus it becomes the bounden duty of every Knight to visit and cheer those in distress and to do all in their power to help and sustain them; to look after and care for as far as is possible, those who are sick or disabled; to take charge of, and bury the dead when requested so to do, and when, otherwise, they would be left to the cold charity of the world; to care for the widows of the departed brothers, and see that they do not suffer; to educate their orphans; to exercise that charity towards those who have done wrong, that they may see their error and amend it; and to make men better and better, and the world more and more beautiful, by the exercise of Fraternal Love. "If fraternal love held all men bound, how beautiful this world would be."
Is this too great an undertaking for human nature to strive for? Is it too lofty an ideal to aim at? Although there are in the Order many who do not take the proper view of their duties, there are also many, yes, very many, who do; and looking at the Order as a whole, it will be found that these aims and objects are being carried out to the letter. Can we not see and hear in many a widow's home, the "sweet music of fraternal love," rising in joyful thanksgivings for the thought that the Supreme Chancellor of the Universe had instilled into the mind of the Founder of our Order such aims and objects? The world itself, with its coldness, greed and carelessness for the comforts of others, may not see these things, and care nothing for our rites and ceremonies; but we know of them and rejoice; and in spite of those few among us who would. for selfish purposes, act towards the unfortunate as do the outside world, the good work still goes on, and will go on "as long as friendship fills the heart of man."
Our aim is high and noble, and as no man can stand in his own strength, however great and lofty his principles, the members of the Knights of Pythias have banded themselves together that each may receive strength and encouragement from the others, in striving more and more for "the betterment of mankind" and himself. That these objects may be carried out in a systematic way, a proper form of government has been organized and instituted.
The foundation upon which this government rests is the Subordinate Lodge. For the standing of every Knight, no matter how high he may be in the Order, even as Supreme Chancellor, rests with his being in "Good Standing" in his own Subordinate Lodge; if he loses that, he loses all his higher honors. The highest rank in a Subordinate Lodge is Past Chancellor, to obtain which a Knight must have served in the chair of the Chancellor Commander one term. The rank, however, can only be bestowed by the Grand Lodge.
The Grand Lodge is made up of delegates who must be Past Chancellors from the Subordinate Lodges, and is governed in a similar way; the highest rank of which is the Past Grand Chancellor. These delegates meet once a year, choose their officers and make the laws governing the Grand Domain to which they belong. (These Domains coincide with several States). The rank of Past Grand Chancellor is bestowed by order of the Supreme Lodge
As the Grand Lodges are made up of delegates from the Subordinate Lodges, so the Supreme Lodge is made up of the delegates from the Grand Lodges, the members of which must be Past Grand Chancellors. Its officers are chosen as in the lower Lodges, and its meetings are held once every two years.
Until a Grand Lodge is organized in any new Domain, the Subordinate Lodges are under the direct charge of the Supreme Lodge.
A Knight, to be in good standing in the Order, must have all his dues, assessments, and all other claims regularly paid up. It remains, however, with the By-Laws of his Subordinate Lodge as to how long he may remain behind in these payments to deprive him of any benefits his Lodge provides. This is generally from three to six months. If he allows himself to go behind in the amount of twelve months' dues, then he is liable to be suspended from the Order; this can only be done by the vote of his Lodge, and until he is thus officially suspended, he is entitled to all privileges of the Order except benefits. In visiting other Lodges than his own, he must produce his official receipt to show his standing, and if upon examination he can give the permanent pass word and prove knowledge of the ritual, he will then be admitted as a brother of the Order.
The following "Declaration of Principles" was offered to the Supreme Lodge, and although not officially adopted, have been generally used as Principles of the Order :
"Pythian Knighthood had its conception in the exemplification of the life test of true friendship existing between Damon and Pythias. Friendship, or mutual confidence, being the stronghold of union between man and man, and only existing where honor has an abiding place, is adopted as a foundation principle. As the ideal Knight of olden times was the personification of all the highest and noblest attributes of man's nature, the candidate for Knighthood had to prove himself worthy of acceptance by those who valued friendship, bravery, honor, justice and loyalty. The Order of Knights of Pythias, founded in Friendship, Charity and Benevolence, which it proclaims as its cardinal principles — strives to gather into one mighty fraternity worthy men who appreciate the true meaning of friendship; who are cautious in word and act; who love truth; who are brave in defending right; whose honor is untarnished; whose sense of justice will prevent to the best of their ability, a personal word or act injurious to the worthy; whose loyalty to principle, to family, to friends, to their country, and to the constituted authority under which they enjoy citizenship is undoubted, and who at all times are prepared to do unto others as they would that others should do unto them."