The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
dress of the Doakes resembles in many ways that of the Shriners. For their public
appearances, the Knights of Pythias had a special rank:
In public parades and processions some members of the society, similar
to the Masonic Knights Templar and the Patriarchs in the Independent
Order of Odd fellows, are clothed in the military costume of the
Uniform Rank. This rank is under the control of the Supreme Lodge,
and only members with the rank of Knight are eligible. 1592
Another, not so positive parallel between Freemasonry and the Knights of
Pythias is the question of admitting colored people. We have seen the problem of
recognition of Prince Hall Masonry. In the fraternity of the Knights of Pythias,
"[m]emebership is open to any white man in good health, if he accepts a
Supreme Being. Black applicants were denied membership (Supreme Lodge
sessions of 1869 and 1871) [...]." 1593 In 1870 an amendment was passed that
allowed maimed persons to become members. The race question was left over to
appropriate committees when some members expressed the whish to delete the
wording "white male" during the Supreme Lodge session of 1964. However, the
matter failed to appear on the agenda of a later convention. 1594
The high pretensions of van Valkenburg, however, "Soon our Pythian banner,
with our motto of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence inscribed upon its ample
folds and waving lines of beauty, will be kissed by the breezes of every land
beneath the circuit of the sun." 1595 , have not been fulfilled. It remains an
American peculiarity, with reclining membership in the course of time. At their
peak, the Pythian Knights had several thousand lodges spread across every state
of the U.S. and Canadian Province, with a membership of nearly one million. 1596
The K.O.P. fraternity is similar to Freemasonry, there also being a Grand
Lodge at state level, and Subordinate Lodges at local level. The outer form of the
ritual has many features in common with a Masonic ritual, and the stations of the
officers resemble those of a Masonic lodge. Further, the candidate receives a
lesson on death and is confronted with a coffin, like in Masonry and Odd
Fellowship. As in Masonry, there are Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well
as three advancing ceremonies, comprising the rank of Page, Esquire, and
Knight. There are also ceremonial directions included in the ritual for official
visits (p. 26-28). The vocabulary, instead of belonging to the art of stonecutting,
this time is taken from knighthood. Military orders are given, such as "Attention!
Give the Grand Honors." (p. 28), "Recover! [...] Return swords!" (p. 28), or
"Attention! Lower your visors." (p. 19). The signs are also emblematic of
chivalry:
1592 Ibid.
1593 Ibid, p. 38.
1594 Cf. ibid, p. 39.
1595 Van Valkenburg, Preface, p. vii.
1596 Cf. http://www.missouripythians.org/