Tomb Trekker- New Orleans' Graveyard Rabbit
Photos and stories about New Orleans' cemeteries
Knights of Pythias, Crescent City
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It took awhile to track down just what this marker was commemorating:
It took finding the Kavanaugh tomb in Greenwood with a similar (but clearer) insignia to discover the Knights of Pythias:
The Pythians are (per their website):
The Fraternal Order of Knights of Pythias and its members are dedicated to the cause of universal peace. Pythians are pledged to the promotion of understanding among men of good will as the surest means of attaining Universal Peace. We believe that men, meeting in a spirit of goodwill, in an honest effort of understanding, can live together on this earth in peace and harmony. We seek those who agree with this belief, and have a belief in a personal Supreme Being, to join our ranks in an effort to reach "Peace Through Understanding".
The order was founded at the close of the U.S. Civil War, with the goal of helping to heal the rift amongst countrymen- a wonderful goal that was tarnished by the group being open to whites only. As pressure was applied in the 1870s, many of the chapters chose to close rather than admit other races. Paradoxically, the New Orleans chapter was initially exclusively black (integrating in 1900) and called themselves "Temple of The Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias, North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa." Their lodge was in the 200 block of Loyola Ave, now a series of parking lots and support buildings for City Hall and local clinics. The FCB on the insignia stands for "Friendship, Charity, Benevolence," and although it's not specifically referenced on their site, the Knight with the dove perched on his head would have to stand for "peace through strength," although I suppose it just might test their devotion to charity once the bird relieved itself up there. (and, as a bird owner, I can tell you it would. :)) I'll be keeping my eyes open for more of these around town.
Comments
Also, what you said about the Knights of Pythias being all black until 1900 contradicts what I read on the New Orleans Knights of Pythias site last year. The site appears to have been taken down since then as I was told by the national chapter that the New Orleans chapter closed and the records were put in storage. Anyway, what I had read on their site before it shut down was that their chapter was open to men of all races and ethnicities and that during the Civil War, some residents in New Orleans began to put pressure on them because blacks, whites, asians and hispanics were all allowed as members. I read that the chapter in New Orleans then folded and that years later it reformed as an all black organization--eventually allowing whites and other races back in. Considering that my great-great grandfather is listed on "confirmed" census records as being white and was a member of the organization "before" 1900 (he died in NOLA in 1899), they must have had white members "before" 1900.
Found out last year that my great-great grandfather Thomas Jefferson Powell was likely a member of the Knights of Pythias in New Orleans, as his obituary mentions them and states that they are invited to his funeral in McComb, Miss. where he was buried. (He lived the last five years of his life in New Orleans -- where most of our relatives on both sides have lived for generations; however, he was born in and lived most of his life in McComb, Miss. in Pike County.) I just recently found a copy of his headstone on FindAGrave.com and it has some type of crest on it with a sword through it. However, it looks a bit different than the pics you have of the other Knight crests, as the sword handle is in the upper right corner and the point in the lower left corner. It seems to be the opposite on the pic of the crest you posted. Is it possible that the various chapters had different crests in different states/cities and that his crest is different because he was buried in Mississippi? Anyway, his memorial page number on FindAGrave.com is 86613212, in case you'd like to take a look at the photo of his headstone. Tried blowing it up in Photoshop but the resolution is low so it gets distorted.