Central Texas fraternal organization working with the community with Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence
The Knights of Pythias, a charitable, benevolent, and fraternal order, was established in Temple, Texas with the installation of Lodge No. 50 on March 18, 1883, only 11 years after the first lodge of the order had been established in in Texas and 19 years after establishment in Washington, D.C.
The Grand Lodge of Texas was instituted at Houston on April 6, 1874, with ten lodges participating. Alexander Ewing of Houston was named the first grand chancellor. On April 30, 1895, the Knights of Pythias was granted a charter by the state. The zenith in number of lodges was attained in 1910 with 378, and in number of members in 1922 with 30,507. In 1942 there were 105 lodges with 9,553 members.
Since 1909 the organization has maintained the Pythian Widows and Orphans Home, three miles east of Weatherford. An auxiliary order, the Grand Temple Pythian Sisters, has been in operation since the mid-1890s. Throughout the twentieth century the order continued throughout the state to operate halfway houses and other community homes. In Dallas, for example, the Knights of Pythias operated a senior citizens' home and a credit union.
Promote Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence within the communities that each Knights resides by:
Promoting cooperation and friendship between people of good will.
Knowing one way to happiness is through service to mankind.
Believeing that friendship is an essential ingredient in life.
Making Benevolence, Kindness, Generosity and Tolerance a reality in their lives.
Placing home ties at the top of their priority list.
Having interest in public affairs on the local, state or province, national and international levels.
Enhancing the communities in which they live.
Respecting and honoring the law of the land in which they live.
Seeking to expand their circle of influence by association with people of like interests and energy.
