Grand Lodge of The Knights of Pythias celebrate annual Thanksgiving Day
The Knights of Pythias have a day to remember the founding date of this older African American fraternal society.
The anniversary date is usually observed around March 26th of each year. March 26 is the date in which the Supreme Lodge was organized and by legislative enactment the Supreme Lodge has fixed this date as “Pythian Anniversary Day.
Dr. E. A. Lightfoot of Mississippi was the first Negro to receive the Pythian Knighthood, being ‘regularly initiated” by those in authority. This was early in the year 1880. The first lodge was organized in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by Drs. E.A. Lightfoot and Thomas W. Stringer and others in April, 1880 and known as Lightfoot Lodge no. 1.From this lodge of the Knights of Pythias have grown to be the greatest and most progressive organization of the race,” as quoted from The History of Universal Pythian History. The Thanksgiving Service was held on March 25, 2018. Pictured from left to right are Past Grand Chancellor Sir Knight James Parker,Grand Inner Guard Sir Knight Ernest Brailey,Grand Chancellor of South Carolina and District Deputy Grand Chancellor of South and North Carolina Sir Knight Kevin N. Brown,Rev. Donna Williams who is the Pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Pembroke, N.C.,Vice Grand Chancellor of South Carolina Sir Knight Ronnie Hill,Grand Chmn. of the Endowment Dept. and Burial Dept. Sir Knight Fernader Barr,Grand Chancellor of North Carolina Sir Knight Mychal Robinson,Grand KS and R of North Carolina Sir Knight LeRon Montgomery. The theme for the program was “Focus On Friendship,Love and Service,” John 15: 1-17. Rev. Donna Williams gave an heartfelt sermon entitled, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” Rev. Donna Williams used John 15 and verses 12-15th verses for her biblical text. “Some interesting facts are about the Knights of Pyhtias is one of the first orders to be granted a Charter by the Congress of the United States. The Knights of Pythias was the first order to raise a fund for the soldiers and their dependents in the world war,” according to the book of Universal Pythian History
