In 1914, 228 candidates joined the KP in a single class in Sedalia. During a single week in 1915, 137 members joined in Springfield, 102 in St. Louis, 222 in Moberly, 126 in Kansas City and 19 in St. Joseph, which made a total of 836 new members in just 6 classes.

In 1923, Diamond Lodge #365 dedicated their new lodge hall in Slater, MO. It was a 3-story building designed to resemble a castle, including towers. It is unknown if the building still stands today.

Three generations of the Flanigan family of Carthage, MO have served as Grand Chancellor in our Domain. Judge John H. Flanigan served in 1927 followed by his son John H. Flanigan in 1940, whose nephew, Thomas C. Flanigan served in 1997.

To understand why our membership numbers have decreased since the early 1900’s is not difficult. Like all fraternal organizations, the onset of World War I drew many of our members into military service. After the war’s end, many of those surviving members returned home and joined one or more of the numerous veterans organizations that had begun to form. World War II drew many more away from our lodges. The ‘mobile society’ began after WWII and members moved around the country, severing their ties to the Knights of Pythias. Only recently have fraternal organizations such as ours begun to enjoy a re-emerging popularity.

These are just a few of the historical tidbits that can be found in the Grand Lodge Archives, which are located at 10309 Truman Road in Independence, MO. The Archives are available for inspection by members of the Pythian Order by appointment only by calling (816) 833-4577.

Our Archives are not complete. A lot of our historical documents and paraphernalia have been lost over the years and may be in private collections. Many of these items are in the hands of the descendants of long-deceased members who kept the property when their lodges folded. Sometimes these items have been found in the basements and attics of old lodge buildings. Many items end up in estate sales and flea markets.

We are in the process of sorting the membership records in the Archives. Every member, since the inception of the Missouri Grand Lodge, has a 3X5 card with all his information on it. The antique wooden cabinets they were originally stored in were eaten up by termites and fallling apart. Many of the member cards are rotten and literally fall apart in our hands. Because they are so delicate, we cannot allow anyone to handle them. This will be an extended project that will take years to complete.

Help us complete our history. If you have any records or paraphernalia we can display, please send an e-mail to us at KPInfo@MissouriPythians.org or call us at (816) 833-4577.

UPDATED: March 15, 2002