Knights of Pythias?

[Staci (Fargo ND)]

Found this strange thing at an old ghost town...says "FCB" in a triangle, with two axes and what looks like a sword. It seems to be iron, and the design has been pressed into it. The fron has paint or thin pieces of stone on it for color. I was able to find something similar on Google, but wondered what everyone here thought anyone know anything about these Knoght os Pythias and what they would be doing in North Dakota?

First photo is mine, about 2" by 2" and the second is the thing I found online at http://www.mall911.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=kopfobs

I also posted some pics of these wierd religious things I found near by, not sure if they would be linked but anyone have an idea what they might be? There are two, about 4 feet apart and probably 5 feet high.

 

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[silverswede]

Really don't know, Staci, but along with the Knights connection the whole works looks Catholic influenced. Like maybe the stone structure is an altar that would have contained the Madonna and Child figures. Your find seems more Masonic and the amount of daggers and battle axes has to be a clue. Sorry, not much help but some neat detecting and research on your part. Way to go.

 

[greengorilla]

The Knights of Pythias were an organization similar to the masons. They sponsored orphanages. In Springfield MO. there is the Pythian castle. It has been mostly restored and a very interesting place. I know this doesn't answer a thing about your relic just thought I'd pass it on!!

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

That would be called a shrine!

 

[Mobes]

Well the bottom two pics look like they were designed to hold statues of maybe Mary, Joseph, or some religious figure. The top item that you found I'm sorry but I am of no help there. Cool find though.

 

[Mackaydon]

"These were the lodges.-nine in number,-together with four lodges existing
in that portion of Dakota territory which now constitutes the state of North
Dakota, which through their representatives, in the city of Huron, on April 30,
1885, met and organized the grand lodge Order of Knights of Pythias for the
domain of Dakota territory. "
http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/usgenweb/sd/social/pythias.txt

The letters "FCB" stand for Friendship, Charity and Benevolence or Fraternity, Charity and Brotherhood--depending on the source.
Don....

 

[Montana Jim]

Also this...

"The Order of Knights of Pythias is an international, non-sectarian fraternal order, established in 1864 in Washington, DC, by Justus H. Rathbone and was the first fraternal order to be chartered by an Act of Congress.

Domains of the Order exist in most states and provinces, and subordinate lodges are located in many cities and towns across the United States and Canada."


http://www.pythias.org/

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

That would be called a shrine!

Yes, I believe they are Catholic shrines. Someone, at sometime, may have found this location to be important and people would have prayed to statues of Jesus, Mary or a Saint.
http://www.catholicshrines.net/

They may also be related to Santeria.

 

[Mackaydon]

"Heraldic shields and coats of armor on a tombstone are often a sign that it marks the spot of a fallen Knight of Pythias. You may also see the skull and crossbones within a heraldic shield, a knight's helmet or the letters KP or K of P (Knights of Pythias) or IOKP (Independent Order of Knights of Pythias)."
Maybe you have discovered a grave or graveyard of K of P members--with that shrine or altar nearby.


http://images.google.com/imgres?img...prev=/images?q=Pythias&start=40&gbv=2&ndsp=20

 

[Staci (Fargo ND)]

Very interesting information! From what I found this morning, the knights of pythias must believe in a "superior being" of some kind. Possibly there was one in this town or possibly even a club, and they were catholic?

I never realized there were such things as Catholic shrines, my thoughts were leaning toward a possible cult-type religion as I found a few bones near the shrines. No offense intended, Catholics here! I just had no idea.

The town population was over 170 by 1905, just 10 years after being plotted. It was the county seat for quite a while, so I'm guessing the population went quite above that number. It's a second generation ghost town, and the only buildings remaining were built in the 50's and abandoned in the 70's. There are a lot of stone foundations in the area, and the badge was found about 5 feet from one. The two shrines were about 25-30 feet away across the road.

I also found a large slug, an old window latch, a play gun, a trigger for another play gun, and a harmonica reed among other things (will post later in today's finds). I didn't find any religious items, but the shrines seem to be a major thing. Possibly the building nearby (now a stone foundation) was a church.

I can't find much about this Order of Knights of Pythias...is it just a fraternity, or a secret society as well?

 

[Mackaydon]

During the year (1886) the lodges at Casselton, Fargo and Huron became defunct.
During the year (1888) Damon Lodge, No. 5, at Fargo, had been reorganized .
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sdday/pythias.htm

 

[Angelo]

They are also called GROTTOS

Tony

More than likely a statue of St. John (masons patron Saint)

Doubtful that it was Catholic as Catholics are forbidden to join the Masons I believe.

 

[Staci (Fargo ND)]

cleaned up the badge (??) or whatever it is...looks like something was attached to the back. Maybe a ribbon badge thing?

 

[Monty]

Knights Of Pythias are not a Masonic order. They claim to be non-sectarian, but the only members I ever knew were Catholic. They also are not a Cult. The shrine would have contained a statue of the Virgin Mary, perhaps holding the baby Jesus. Sorry to be short, but it seems every time something weird comes up someone says it is Masonic. There is nothing mysterious or cult like about Free Masonry. It is merely a fraternal order of men who believe in the supreme order of the universe, or an Almighty God who meet to do good works for the community, the country, each other and those less fortunate. M nty

 

[greengorilla]

Monty, I agree with you, as I said in my earlier post on this forum the Knights of Pythias sponsored orphanages. Quite noble. The Masons are the same way, good people getting together to do good. From what I have read this organization is not strictly catholic, that is only the Knights of Columbus.
These are great finds and I'm sure the Grottoes are there to honor someone from this organization.

 

[Staci (Fargo ND)]

Thanks for the info I just wondered about the "secret society" stuff because the Knights of Pythias were called a secret society in a few websites I found.

Would it be normal to have something like this in a town of possible 500 or more people?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Any small shrine that I have seen has been Cuban or Spanish. Usually the statue would be of Mary. And they have all been Catholic. Do you have any Spanish immigrants in your town?

What kind of bones did you find? Chicken bones and shrines with those colored beads may be related to Santeria. Animal offerings are part of this Carribean religion. Did you see any candles? Normal for Miami but in ND seems out of place. http://cancelthebee.blogspot.com/2008/06/photos-of-santeria-display-at-miami.html

 

[Mackaydon]

There is also something called "The Altar of Pythian Knighthood" (pic sourced below) that I thought might be connected to these found structures--but I'm unable to find the connection.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS289&sa=N&ie=UTF-8

 

[gods country girl]

Don't know much about the Knights of Pythias , other than is was a fraternal order , of some kind.

posting some pics of K of P items i found in the bank of a lake while fishing some years ago.and yes i looked all over and could not find anymore items.

 

[Tubecity]

Doubtful that it was Catholic as Catholics are forbidden to join the Masons I believe.
================================================================

Although the Knights of Columbus are strictly a Catholic fraternity & also do many good
deeds for the community, there are also many Freemasons that belong to the Catholic
religion. There are Masonic Lodges in many European countries with Catholicism as the main
religion that date back into the 1700's . Also in the mid to late 1800's there were many new
fraternities founded, it seemed to be a 'fad' of the Edwardian & Victorian periods.