Knights of Pythias Collection (MC 258)

Organizational Note

According to the Wikipedia article on the Knights of Pythias, it is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864. The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been inspired by a play by the Irish poet John Banim about the legend of Damon and Pythias. This legend illustrates the ideals of loyalty, honor and friendship that are the center of the order. The order has over two thousand lodges in the United States and around the world, with a total membership of over 50,000 in 2003. Some lodges meet in structures referred to as Pythian Castles.

The order's auxiliaries are the Pythian Sisters, the less serious Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, The Nomads of Avrudaka, and two youth organizations: the Pythian Sunshine Girls and the Junior Order, Knights of Pythias for boys.

A member must be at least 18 years of age. He cannot be a professional gambler, or involved with illegal drugs or alcohol and he must have a belief in a Supreme Being.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 13 volumes and 1 box of loose materials relating to The Columbus, Georgia lodge. It was initially known as Lodge no. 51, R. E. Lodge, or Castle Hall no. 51. By 1930 it had been renumbered as Lodge 25 and called the Stonewall-Lee Lodge. 1892-1963 2 boxes (2 l.f.)

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the Knights of Pythias Collection must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required: Knights of Pythias Collection (MC 258) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia

Provenance

Richard d. Brogdon donated the box of loose materials and 10 volumes to the CSU Archives in 2008 and Ken Thomas donated three additional volumes in 2011.

Box and Folder/Item List

Box 1

• Folder 1 - Bills, 1909 and 1918
• Folder 2 - Financial reports, 1912 and 1918-1924
• Folder 3 - Withdrawals, suspensions and transfers, 1915-1924
• Folder 4 - Applications for membership, 1915-1925
• Folder 5 - Correspondence, 1917
• Folder 6 - Correspondence, 1918
• Folder 7 - Correspondence, 1919
• Folder 8 - Blank Pythias forms, 1920s
• Folder 9 - Requisition and price list form
• Folder 10 - S. T. Jones bill for dues, 1920
• Folder 11 - Correspondence, 1920
• Folder 12 - Correspondence, 1921
• Folder 13 - Inactive members, 1921-1922
• Folder 14 - Bills, 1922
• Folder 15 - Correspondence, 1922
• Folder 16 - Rules of the organization, 1922-1924
• Folder 17 - Circulars, 1922-1924
• Folder 18 - Synopsis of grand lodge convention, 1923
• Folder 19 - Bills, 1923
• Folder 20 - Correspondence, 1923
• Folder 21 - Membership figures in Georgia, 1923
• Folder 22 - Bills, 1924
• Folder 23 -- Correspondence, 1924
• Folder 24 - Synopsis of grand lodge convention, 1924
• Folder 25 - Bills, 1925
• Folder 26 -- Correspondence, 1925
• Folder 27 - Bills, 1931
• Folder 28 -- Bills, (no dates)
• Folder 29 - "Odes of Pythian Sisters" (no date)
• Folder 30 - Pythian districts in Georgia (no date)
• Folder 31 - Miscellaneous (no dates)

Box 2

• Item 1 - (Lodge?) Ledger, January, 1892-July 1901
• Item 2 -- Minute Book # 3, Stonewall Lodge, January 1893- February 1896
• Item 3 - R. E. Lee Lodge Ledger, January 1907-December 1909
• Item 4 - Stonewall Lodge - Minute Book # 5, July 1907-July 1920
• Item 5 - R E. Lee Lodge # 51, May 1908-June 1912
• Item 6 -- R.E. Lee Lodge -- Ledger, January 1910-June 1913
• Item 7 - .Stonewall Lodge - Ledger, 1919-1925
• Item 8 - (Lodge?) - Ledger, November 1925-July 1926
• Item 9 - (Lodge?) - Ledger, January 1950-December 1963
• Item 10 - R.E. Lodge - Cash Book # 1, n.d.
• Item 11 - R.E. Lodge - Minute Book No. 2, March 9, 1898-January 15, 1902
• Item 12 - Stonewall-Lee Lodge - Minute Book, no. 9, June 3, 1936-December 31, 1939
• Item 13 - Cash Journal, 1925-1927