When residents of New Tacoma and Old Tacoma organized in 1881 to establish a Pythian brotherhood in their communities, national membership reached 110,903 and lodges scattered across the United States, extended into Canada and the Island of Hawaii. Between 1880 and 1862, 20,000 new members were recruited. James B. Carnahan referred to this period as the Pythian “revival” in his book Pythian Knighthood.
The need to establish a new fraternal organization in Tacoma arose when Tacoma began to gr
ow at a rapid rate in anticipation of the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Leaders from both Old and New Tacoma organized :1 the summer of 1681, to establish a pythian lodge in their community. Three founding; members and organizers of the new lodge were Knig
hts from other Pythian lodges–E. O. Fulmer and H. A. Bigelow belonged to Harmony Lodge No. 5 in Seattle and George J. Farley had been a member in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The dispensation was granted by the Supreme Lodge on September 6, 1881. A grand celebration, in this small town of wooden buildings and rough dirt roads, followed. At 5 o’clock on the evening of October 30, 1881, the steamer Josephine pulled up to the New Tacoma Dock with 32 members from Seattle Lodge No. 5 aboard. They were met by the Tacoma Cornet Band and Tacoma’s 61 charter members. Together they marched in a parade up the hill to the large and elegantly furnished new Pythian hall at 1015 Pacific Avenue which they had rented from A. J. Baker. Their meeting hall was located next door to the new Alpha Opera House. The initiation ceremonies continued for 13 hours with a midnight supper break held in the decorated rooms of the Halstead House.
On that evening in October, 1881, Commencement Lodge No. 7 was formed. Its new officers and Board of Trustee’s included H. A. Bigelow, George J. Farley, E. O. Fulmer, G. W. Martin, Stephen D. Baker, Charles Sprague, George W. Mattice, G. N. Talcott, A. A. Christie, Robert Thompson, George Bachman, and W. B. Kelley. The membership was impressive, yet diverse. Clerks, carpenters, printers, machinists, blacksmiths, and moulders were among those attracted to the new Order. Prominent among the charter members were Howard and Anthony B. Carr, Tacoma’s first settlers; W. P. Bonney who would later write three volumes on the History of Pierce County Washington; Charles B. Halstead, owner of the Halstead House; E. O. Fulmer who was elected New Tacoma’s first City Marshall; and, James H. Junette whose membership in Commencement Lodge would span almost 50 years. He reached the rank of Major General of the Uniform Rank and played an active role in most of the major issues and accomplishments of the Lodge during that time. From its inception, Commencement Lodge has been well organized and well managed. The Order’s financial well-being and longevity can be attributed to the continuous successions of strong, intelligent, and dedicated individuals who personify the principles of Pythianism.
Five additional lodges formed in Tacoma between 1886 and 1912 as Tacoma’s population swelled. The Knights of Pythias attracted John S. Baker, one of Tacoma’s major contributory entrepreneurs; William J. Fife, responsible for establishing the Tacoma Guard and Executive Officer for the Washington Regiment; prominent merchants and grocers A. J. Rhodes, Morris Gross, and Charles T. Uhlman; A. V. Fawcett, Mayor of Tacoma; noted photographer Marvin Boland; Alfred Lister, City Controller and President of Tacoma Savings and Loan; Sidney A (Sam) Perkins, newspaper publisher; and architect Frederick Heath. Over the years, the strength and significance of Commencement Lodge sustained while the five neighboring Tacoma lodges disbursed and consolidated with Commencement lodge.
From its beginning, the Knights of Pythias Commencement Lodge No. 7 has been dedicated to caring for its members and responding to the needs of its community. Throughout the 103 years of unflagging history, the minute books of the Lodge convey these concerns.
From: Tacoma Pythian Temple, National Historical Register
Our Charities:
Pythian art – Donations can be given to defray the cost
American Cancer Society – Our Grand Chancellor’s charity
My Sister’s Pantry – Our official Commencement Lodge charity
Preservation – We owe this to the City of Tacoma and our community at large
Commencement Lodge #7 | Knights of Pythias 