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The Order is truly a family organization. Its lessons teach that the
first obligation is to home and loved ones.
Pythian
Sisters, for wives, sisters and mothers, was founded in 1889 and is
recognized as an official auxiliary of the Order. Activities of the
Sisters closely parallels those of the Knights.
Dramatic
Order Knights of Khorassan, popularly known as the "dokeys", is the
playground of the Order and is dedicated to the principle of enjoyment
of life, while firm in character.
Junior
Order, for boys 12 to 18 years of age, provides an opportunity for
training as future Knights.
Uniform Rank
The Uniform Rank, Knights of
Pythias, grew out of various drill corps units that had been organized in
the various lodges after the order was originated in 1864. Bear in mind
that many of the members of the Knights of Pythias were men who had been
active in the Civil War and who enjoyed the disciplined way of life.
In 1876, under the leadership of James R. Carnahan of Lafayette, Ind.,
there grew a movement to consolidate these various drill corps into a
separate but attached organization. In 1878, the Uniform Rank of Knights
of Pythias came into legal being by action of the Supreme Lodge. The
membership mushroomed. The URKP was organized completely along U. S. Army
lines into Companies, Bridgades, Regiments, etc. Named as Major General or
Commanding officer was James R. Carnahan. The emblem chosen for the
organization was that of the Lilly and the URKP became known as the
“Army of the Lilly”
Although actual numbers are not available to me at this time, I believe
that there were more than 100,000 members at its height. As the veterans
of the Civil War began to pass on, there was a declining interest in the
Uniform Rank, and the membership began to quickly drop after WWI.
This writer helped to form one of the last Companies ever organized in
about 1950 and attended one of the last national encampments ever held.
Shortly after that time, the Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias removed
the Uniform Rank as an official auxiliary of Pythianism.
About 1995, after retiring from business life, I undertook to find if
there were any companies left in existence. I found one Company in
Maryland that supposedly was still in existence. I exchanged one letter
with a member and thereafter there was no response.
On January 1, 1999, as one of the only persons still alive who had
actually belonged to the “Rank”, I proclaimed it revived as a memorial
group so that the memory of this fine fraternal group might not be lost to
the memory of present day members of the Knights of Pythias. I have taken
no further steps to carry it further but have in my possession a number of
papers, what is probably the last Book of Laws that was ever published,
and two copies of the ritual.
Brig. Gen. Robert E. Price, Commanding
The National Brigade, U.R.K.P.
P. O. Box 102
Connersville, IN 47331
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