NEW ORGANIZATION
OF RATHBONE SISTERS AT SAN JACINTO
TOWN HAS THIRTY INHABITANTS
But is Noted For Its Many Strong Orders and Enthusiastic Workers
North Vernon Banner Plain Dealer - July 13, 1905
"Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well," seems to be the motto of the residents of San Jacinto and
vicinity. This is demonstrated in so many ways that it is hardly worth while to designate any particular field of endeavor as one in which they excel,
but the fact is generally known elsewhere that in all matters pertaining to fraternal secret orders they are strenuous and zealous. With a population
not exceeding thirty, this little hamlet has attained the distinction of being the most enterprising fraternal community in Indiana, if not in the
nation. There is not a person of legal age within its bounds who is not a member of one of its fraternal organizations, which consist of the Odd
Fellows, Rebekahs, Knights of Pythias and Rathbone Sisters, each of which is strong in numbers, the membership comprising many of which is strong in
numbers, the membership comprising many of the best citizens within a radius of eight miles. The Rebekahs and Rathbone Sisters are of recent origin,
and it is of the latter we have to speak. The new Order was instituted last Thursday by Mrs. Fannie Spence, District Deputy Great Chief, assisted by
Mrs. Jas. Hindman, both of New Albany, Ind., and Mrs. Wm. Patterson and Miss Ella J. Graff of Jeffersonville, Ind. Proceedings were begun in the afternoon
at 2 o'clock and concluded at 2 a.m. Friday. The charter of the new organization bore the names of 70 applicants for membership, most of whom were
present, many being prevented from appearing by the rain of that afternoon and evening. After all the prelimaries had been arranged and the officers
installed, the work of initiation was exemplified by the District Deputy and a manner that showed them to be experts, and which was highly appreciated
by all present. The ceremonies connected with the initiation are sublime and extremely impressive, and it is the feeling of the new members of the
Order that they possess something that will add to the joy and dignity of life, and of such beauty that they can never tire in extolling it. As is
usual on occasions when visitors are present, the hospitality of the community was exemplified in such ample form as to nearly prostrate the visitors-
all the good things of the season, especially fried chickens, cakes, pies, etc., being spread before them in such generous profusion and appealing so
stongly to their appetites that their was great danger of an attack of apoplexy, but by the greatest exertion of will power this calamity was averted,
and all left the tables firmly determined to return if opportunity was offered. The culinary blowout was a revelation to all who had never visited this
hospitible little burg before. The officers of the new organization are:
Past Chief, Oriella Fields,
Most Excellent Chief, Minnie Clark,
Excellent Senior, Mary Fawcett,
Excellent Junior, Eliza E. Cosby,
Manager of Temple, Eliza Fawcett,
Mistress of Records and Correspondence, Lillian Hutchinson,
Mistress of Finance, Ellinor Hand,
Protector of Temple, Temperance Grinstead,
Guard of Outer Temple, Marietta Fry.
The next regular meeting of the Temple will be on Thursday July 20, at 2 o'clock, p.m., and every two weeks thereafter. It is
known as Graham Valley Temple No. 318, Rathbone Sisters.
The following are the names of the charter members and officers;
Messrs
| Wm. H. Cosby |
Oliver H. Anderson |
| Jas. M. Hand |
Ed. D. Hendricks |
| Cary G. Fry |
Alfred W. Wagoner |
| Rufus J. Clark |
John Conboy |
| Royal Fawcett |
Eldo Fawcett |
| Ed. D. Fawcett |
Freemont Fawcett |
| J. B. Fry |
W. A. Fellows |
| Richard Cosby |
Wm. Woolman |
| T. E. Glaze |
Harvey Fall |
| W. F. Hoffman |
A. Bailey |
| J. S. Smith |
W. S. Tatem |
| F. Jordan |
C. T. Heidt |
| E. W. Sawyer |
Hno. W. Heid |
Mesdames
| E. E. Cosby |
Stella Farran |
| Alice King |
Lillie Hutchinson |
| Minnie Clark |
Henrietta Conby |
| Ellen Vestal |
Mary Fawcett |
| Eliza Fawcett |
May Fawcett |
| Rosie Glaze |
Oriella Field |
| Marietta Fry |
Jennettie Black |
| Temperence Grinstead |
Georgiana Spencer |
| Ida Fellows |
Sarah Woolman |
| M. Bailey |
Catharine Wright |
| Mary Fisher |
Deanna Anderson |
| Ellinor Hand |
Anna Smith |
| Lizzie Tatem |
R. Sawyer |
Misses
| Lucy Hoffman |
Salina Woolman |
| May Hoffman |
Rebecca Heidt |
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 origin of the Pythian auxiliaries for women is rather complicated. In 1888 the Supreme Lodge of the Knights of Pythias approved the creation of a female auxiliary with a ritual written by Joseph Addition Hill. However,
there were other women who favored a ritual written by Mrs. Alva A. Young. Two organizations were organized: the Pythian Sisterhood, using Young's ritual in Concord, New Hampshire on February 22, 1888 and the Pythian Sisters
of the World, that same year, in Warsaw, Indiana using Hill's ritual. In addition to the differences in ritual, the Concord group did not accept (male) members of the Knights of Pythias as members, whereas the Warsaw group did.
In 1894 the Supreme Lodge ruled that its members could not belong to another organization with "Pythian" in its title, so the Warsaw group changed its name to the Rathbone Sisters of the World, in order to keep its male members.
In 1906 the Supreme Lodge repealed that prohibition and the two auxiliaries merged into a new order simply known as the Pythian Sisters.