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On
March 8, 1900, some men in Burlington were organizing a new lodge.
They were becoming part of the international fraternity known as
the Knights of Pythias.
The
organization began during the Civil War, and appealed directly to
Abraham Lincoln with a mission of “friendship, charity, and
benevolence,” believing such qualities could help rebuild
America.
Lincoln
embraced their mission, telling them to appeal to the United States
Congress for a charter. They did just that, becoming the first American
order chartered by an Act of the U.S. Congress.
In
Burlington, the Knights of Pythias’ Bethel Lodge would be
lodge number 22.
Image
courtesy Images of America: Burlington Volume Two
by Mary Ann DiSpirito and David Robinson.
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The Bethel Lodge is gathered here to celebrate. This lodge
was comprised of all Jewish members, after one Jewish man
was denied acceptance at another Burlington lodge.
Bethel Lodge #22 was quite active.
Also,
a special thanks to information and assistance by the
Knights of Pythias Danville Lodge,
the only remaining lodge in Vermont.
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