When 500 Knights Paraded Through Seattle: The 1893 Pythian Bash
The Knights of Pythias marked their 30th anniversary with a grand parade, a ball for 1,500 at Armory Hall, and a secret ritual—while scouting land for a proposed Pythian home.
By all means the largest part of the week's news has been furnished by the Knights of Pythias. The thirtieth anniversary of the order, which strictly speaking should come today, was celebrated on Friday and yesterday by a round of parade, demonstration and pleasuring. From the first moment of the formation of the parade, at 11 o'clock on Friday, until the close of last night's secret work at Ranke's hall, the celebration was one of great interest. Distinguished members of the order from all over the state were present: Grand Chancellor Agatz; Maj. J. C. Stratman, pioneer Knight of the Coast; Mitchell Harris, of Olympia, grand master of exchequer; A. Reamer, of Sprague, grand keeper of records and seal; A. A. Smith, of Port Angeles, grand outer guard; Col. M. D. Smith, of Spokane, of the staff of Maj. Gen. Carnahan, commander of the whole military portion of the order; W. H. Fletcher, of Tacoma, grand master-at-arms. All were here and participated in one way or another. The parade of Friday had in it 500 Knights of the civilian and uniform branches of the order. The mayor participated and made the address of welcome to the Knights, though Gov. McGraw's absence was generally regretted. The address of Judge C. R. Graves of Ellensburg at the Armory on Friday afternoon was printed in part in the Post-Intelligencer of yesterday. On Friday evening the entertainment and ball at Armory hall was one of the most successful of its kind ever given in the city. Over 1,500 persons attended. The numbers on the programme were interspersed with dancing, which proved an agreeable innovation. The singing of Madame Crivelli, Mrs. McAlpin and Miss Grace Koch was excellent. Friday's weather, too, capped the climax and made that day a success from beginning to end.
Yesterday the excursion on the lake left from the foot of Yesler avenue, on the C. C. Calkins, about 1:30. Owing to the rain and chilliness prevailing, but few attended. One purpose of this visit was to inspect the grounds at East Seattle and Madsen's bay, which have been considered in connection with the proposed Pythian home. The committee is composed of William Kierski, chairman; F. V. Wilcox and N. H. Gordon. After cruising around the lake for about two hours the party returned.
Last night Ranke's hall was filled with a company of Knights to see the exemplification of the new ritual by a team under the leadership of Col. E. P. Edsen. The work was of course secret. The new ritual is pronounced highly satisfactory by the Knights.
“From the first moment of the formation of the parade, at 11 o'clock on Friday, until the close of last night's secret work at Ranke's hall, the celebration was one of great interest.”
In 1893, fraternal orders like the Knights of Pythias were the social networks of their day—part mutual aid society, part secret club. Their anniversary celebrations were among the biggest civic events of the year, drawing politicians, judges, and hundreds of members from across the state. The proposed Pythian home was an early form of fraternal philanthropy, a reminder that before modern social services, these organizations often provided the safety net.
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