Officers of Jonathan David Lodge #580 of the Knights of Pythias, 1956
Officers of Jonathan David Lodge #580 of the Knights of Pythias, 1956. Courtesy of David Essrow.
Organizations / Jonathan David Lodge #580, Knights of Pythias
The Jonathan David Lodge #580 of the Knights of Pythias, was founded in 1927 for mainly Jewish men in Buffalo, NY.
Overview
The Jonathan David Lodge #580 was founded in 1927 for mainly Jewish members in Buffalo, NY. Its most active years were in the early to mid-twentieth century from the 1930s-1960s. Many of its members identified with Conservative and Reform Judaism, and in the early days, they included American born second generation as well as new immigrants.
Jonathan David Lodge #580 was one of several local WNY lodge of the national fraternal organization Knights of Pythias that was originally founded by Justus H. Rathbone in Washington, DC, on 19 February, 1864, as a fraternal organization and the first to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. In the early 2000s, the Order had over two thousand lodges in the United States and around the world, and a total membership of over 50,000. The aim of the Knights of Pythias is to aid the poor and the sick and to comfort those who are dying. For members, they will ensure last rights according to their religious identity and care for remaining members’ of the family, especially a widow or orphan. The order is driven by the values of love and charity, friendship and truth, as well as a commitment to peace on earth and goodwill towards all people. The group has a number of related, but independent auxiliaries, including a women’s auxiliary, the Order of the Pythian Sisters, organized nationally in 1888. Other auxiliaries include the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, The Nomads of Avrudaka, and two youth organizations – the Pythian Sunshine Girls and the Junior Order, Knights of Pythias for boys.
There are no know records for the local complementary, and independent women’s auxiliary, the Order of Pythian Sisters.
Website
Academic Scholarship
Discover More
- Material Jonathan David Lodge are scattered across multiple collections as well as in private hands.
- Finding Aid for Individual and Community Memorabilia Collection, 1890s-2016 (Ms 200.33)
- Ferne Mittleman Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY
- Knights of Pythias, George Essrow, Private Collection
Gallery
Officers of Jonathan David Lodge #580 of the Knights of Pythias, 1956. Courtesy of David Essrow.
Officers of Jonathan David Lodge #580 of the Knights of Pythias, 1956
Acknowledgements and Thanks
Our thanks to David Essrow for access to his extensive family collection initiated by his father George Essrow. Our thanks to the Cofeld Judaic Museum, of Temple Beth Zion for materials relating to the Knights of Pythias located in the Ferne Mittleman collection.