Grand Lodge in Dallas, Texas

The Colored Knights of Pythias, also known as the Knights of Pythias, was a fraternal organization in the United States. It was established because the Knights of Pythias was segregated from its founding in 1864, so African Americans formed their own order.[1] It was established in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1880.[2]

The Grand Lodge of the Colored Knights of Pythias in Dallas, Texas (Knights of Pythias Temple (Dallas, Texas)) was designed by William Sidney Pittman. It housed offices for many leaders in the community.[3] Walter T. Bailey designed the 8-story National Lodge in Chicago.[4]

T. W. Stringer helped organize a lodge in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1880.[5] The group organized in Indiana in 1880. Chicago was chosen for a National Temple in 1906. Frank Hunter was chosen to design a Grand Lodge by the group's Indianapolis branches. It was dedicated in 1911 and remains standing at 701-703 North Senate. The Indianapolis Recorder was a tenant.[1] There were eight lodges in New York state in 1905 and 340 members. The group's second annual convention in the state was held in Brooklyn.[6]

The History and manual of the Colored Knights of Pythias N.A., S.A., E.A., A. and A by E. A. Williams, Smith W. Green; Joseph L. Jones; Knights of Pythias, Supreme Lodge.; National Baptist Publishing Board in Nashville, Tennessee was published in 1917.[7]

The former lodge in Waxahachie, Texas is now home to Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library.

History

It was officially titled The Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceanica. The Constitution and By-laws of the Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia was published in 1912.[8]

A lawsuit was filed in Georgia challenging the organization's use of the Knights of Pythias name and paraphernalia.[9][10] The suit was a focus of concern at the group's National Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri in 1909.[11] The white Pythians of Georgia finally lost in 1912 and both groups were allowed to use the name.[12]

In 1921, Constitution and Grand Statutes of the Grand Lodge Colored Knights of Phythias was published.[13]

The group had strong membership in Florida. The Florida organization required membership to pay poll taxes and register to vote. In Quincy, Florida, this drew the ire of the Ku Klux Klan and the group's lodge was burned and several members murdered.[14]

Sheet music for a minstrel song about the group on grand parade was published It was dedicated to Edward Harrigan.[15]

In 2012, The Alabama Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia; A Brief History by Marilyn T. Peebles was published.[16]

The New York Public Library has a collection of their files.[17]

Buildings

Elm Street Lodge in Dallas, Texas

Members

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Browne, Tiffany Benedict (February 11, 2016). "Then & Now: "Colored" Knights of Pythias, 701-703 North Senate".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Through Collective Effort: The Success of S. W. Green & the Knights of Pythias". September 11, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Grand Lodge of the Colored Knights of Pythias, Texas (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.
  4. ↑ https://www.artic.edu/articles/943/walter-t-baileys-national-pythian-temple-fragment-chicago-illinois
  5. ↑ "History".
  6. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2F134976147%2Fcolored-knights-of-pythias-meet-in-downt%2F&usg=AOvVaw1bGOb_I9FENpqGho-dusmg&opi=89978449
  7. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_and_Manual_of_the_Colored_Knight/W60clQEACAAJ?hl=en
  8. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Constitution_and_By_laws_of_the_Grand_Lo/zBI8tAEACAAJ?hl=en
  9. ↑ Dittmer, John (December 12, 1980). "Black Georgia in the Progressive Era, 1900-1920". University of Illinois Press – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ "CRESWILL v. GRAND LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS OF GEORGIA, 225 U.S. 246 (1912) | FindLaw".
  11. ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/40267853?read-now=1&seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents
  12. 1 2 Nerney, Sarah (December 16, 2015). "A Knight Unlike Any Other: John Mitchell Jr. & The Knights of Pythias - The UncommonWealth".
  13. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Constitution_and_Grand_Statutes_of_the_G/poGUtgAACAAJ?hl=en
  14. ↑ https://news.ucsc.edu/2005/02/642.html
  15. ↑ "The Colored knights of Pythias". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
  16. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Alabama_Knights_of_Pythias_of_North/IP_BGoXOkOUC?hl=en
  17. ↑ https://archives.nypl.org/scm/21064
  18. ↑ https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/05/26/new-grenada-hill-district-duke-ellington-ura-sea/stories/202305260065
  19. ↑ https://www.artic.edu/articles/943/walter-t-baileys-national-pythian-temple-fragment-chicago-illinois
  20. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Souvenir_Program/hc_sHAAACAAJ?hl=en
  21. ↑ "L. B. Kinchion, Sr., Grand Lecturer at Colored Pythians Will Picnic at Barton Springs Tomorrow". July 13, 1908. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/remembering-lavillas-knights-of-pythias-building/
  23. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Annual_Address_of_Grand_Chancellor_L_B_K/cAgUHQAACAAJ?hl=en
  24. ↑ https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1122321/
  25. ↑ Stutzman, Brad. "A house of history, a man of mystery". Austin American-Statesman.
  26. ↑ "L.B. Kinchion House". Clio.
  27. ↑ staff, Tex Appeal (March 29, 2020). "Villa Lu Necia: A dream home steeped in local history".
  28. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/02/22/dc-knights-of-pythias-hope-to-eliminate-color-barrier/8be38101-6d31-4696-a1ea-2f015a940f9a/
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.