An inside look at the Knights of Pythias

Opinion by Larry E. Swanson

Upon entering the back storage room of the Knights of Pythias Nogales Lodge No. 13 building, on the corner of Bayze and Kino Boulevard, just kitty corner from the Nogales cemetery, one can’t help but notice the collection of old ledgers and leather-bound books stacked on the back shelf.

Other boxes contain ritual paraphernalia used by the lodge members for lodge ceremonies. Old, dusty ledgers, receipts, journals dating through the decades; one trunk contains an ancient “painted glass” slide projector, manufactured in the 1880s, used for many years in lodge initiation rituals.

Many of the items continue to be used and have been since the lodge was founded. One ancient leather-bound ledger, dated Sept. 17, 1891, oldest of the books, identifies the date the Nogales lodge was first chartered. Glancing through the names listed in the ledger is a treasure chest of early pioneer family names and city fathers, whose names are on city streets, buildings, ranches and arroyos in Nogales as well as Santa Cruz County.

In a glass case with other lodge antiques is a sword, with the name Jas B Mix, inscribed, the first mayor of Nogales. The membership ledgers are filled with the names of prominent and well-known members of early Nogales history; newspaper men, lawyers, bankers, lawmen, miners, ranchers, railroad men, Customs and Immigration officers, merchants, barbers, and men of every background and profession are listed.

Abraham Lincoln supported the Knights of Pythias.

The Fraternal Order, Knights of Pythias was born on Feb. 19, 1864, when Justus H. Rathbone wanted to heal the hatred caused by the Civil War. Inspired by the ancient Greek story of Damon and Pythias, whose friendship for each other transcended death, the Knights of Pythias soon grew into an international order known for its moral content, friendship and works of charity.

One of only two organizations chartered by Congress, at the request of President Abraham Lincoln, the order spread across the United States and the first lodge in Arizona was opened in Tucson in 1884.

Nogales member, Raoul Lopez, a KP member since 1994, and a past Grand Chancellor for the state of Arizona stated, “Our lodge has a rich history, we have good times and bad, During the early 1920s was the most active for the Knights of Pythias, however, over the years many lodges in the state have disappeared, Bisbee, Ray, Flagstaff, Globe, Copper City, Hayden, just to name a few, have all vanished. I guess we, Nogales, are like Tombstone, ‘too tough to die!’ We have seen changes in our membership, the lodge was very strong a few years ago, but as members die or move away, it’s getting harder and harder to replace them. Right now we have around 30 members, but only a handful will show up for meetings. If we continue to lose members, I just can’t see how we can stay open.” Lopez warns.

Too many

people with

active lifestyles

The most common complaint heard, from not only the Knights of Pythias, but as well, from other Nogales organizations, such as; the Elks, VFW, Masons, Knights of Columbus, Lions and Kiwanis, is the difficulty in attracting new members, lack of members participating in the meetings, and keeping the members that they have.

“People, nowadays, are just not interested in belonging to fraternal organizations anymore,” says George Biggs, 83, a member of several fraternal organizations; Elks, VFW and the KP. “They are too busy with other things, they don’t have the time. It seems everybody wants your time �- computers, internet, digital cable, high definition TV, movies, sporting events and, of course, the family wants your time, school events, bowling or golf, everywhere, someone wants your time. It seems their active lifestyles leave them with no time to be involved in lodge activities.”

The Knights of Pythias, Grand Lodge Chancellor, Keith Almand of Tempe, said the reason fraternal lodges are losing membership is quite simple. Forty years ago the lodges were a way for the man of the house to get out every couple of weeks to spend time with the guys.

Back then, it was a simpler time, the average household had one bread winner, usually the father and the meetings were his get-a-way time from the stress of home and work. Another reason, the KP, like other fraternal groups, sold life insurance, uncommon for the average man, plus members helped other members during hard times.

Will the Knights

of Pythias order fade away?

Historically, members today have many different reasons to belong to a fraternal order then those that were members 50 years ago. Current members join for different reasons, said Tucson No. 9 member, Robert Herman, 63, a past Grand Chancellor, 33-year member and a Grand Trustee, “today’s members enjoy the brotherhood, but equally enjoy a means for them to pay back to their community. Many of our members do volunteer work and organize fundraisers for local charities; all of our lodges in Arizona are involved in community projects.” When asked if the KP will end up like many other vanished fraternal organizations, Herman replied, “We may be outdated like pay phones or Kodak film, but we aren’t ready to disappear yet �- we still have a need and purpose�-. you bet, we will still be around!”

It’s a case of

finding those

who still care.

The torch of the Knights of Pythias fraternal order may seem to be dim and flickering some, but it is certainly not out claims William “Toby” Dowling, a retired school administrator and longtime Knight who organized and started a lodge in Green Valley, He contends that there are many people out there that feel the need to be part of their community, to share in developing programs, to assist in providing assistance and needs, that exists in our community. The Sahuarita No. 85 lodge, for example, raises money to help support an orphanage in Naco, Sonora, Mexico, as well as support for the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.

Whether it be a commitment to youth organizations, local food bank, sending young people to camp, supporting Scouting, supporting Santa Cruz County Foster Care Families, the Nogales lodge No. 13, has dedicated its efforts to do its part in supporting the many needs in Nogales and Santa Cruz County. We are looking for members who are out there that feel a need to help support their community, or just to have new group of friends.

Our Fraternal Order, Nogales No. 13, has been in existence for just about 118 years of continued community involvement. We at Nogales No. 13 extend an invitation to join our lodge, the month of February marked the 145th anniversary of our international order and we plan to make an all-out effort to attract new members.

For info on the Knights of Pythias, go to www.knightsofpythias.com or www.azpythians.com or contact Larry E. Swanson at (520) 841-3427 or swansonlarry47@hotmail.com.