Rathbone worked as a citizen nurse in the United States Hospital in Germantown, PA where he met Robert A. Champion and read to him the ritual of our order. Robert Champion offered to help create the first Lodge. On Feb 15th, 1864, Brother Rathbone called Robert A. Burnett, Edward S. Kimball together and administered the obligation to them using his pocket Bible which was given to him by his mother
. He then performed the ritual which was in manuscript form. Justice H. Rathbone instituted the first Lodge of the order as Washington Lodge No.1 in Washington D.C. four days later on February 19th, 1864, with thirteen Charter Members. They adopted Brother Rathbone's ritual with only minimal changes. The next important step in the history of the order was the organization of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia on April 8th, 1864. The Supreme Lodge organized on August 11th, 1868, after two preliminary meetings. Its first small group of members took the vows of the new order with their hands placed upon a pocket Bible that had been given Mr. Rathbone by his mother. Many thousands have been privileged to become members using this treasured relic of the Order. A ceremony using this treasured Bible is known as a "Rathbone Bible Class". The Building where the first Knights of Pythias Lodge was Instituted (Marinis Hall 1876). Every sentence has a meaning, and every paragraph filled with a beautiful and inspiring lesson in the Order's ritualistic work. The flag of the country has an honored place at every meeting. The Holy Bible is the supreme Book of Law. The Order does not seek to shape any man's creed, but Pythianism is the practical application of religious and charitable principles to everyday life. We have a heritage of which we are proud, and our precepts and teachings lead men to higher ideals of life. We invite like-minded men of good character to join us in making these ideals the dominant factor in modern living. The Order of Knights of Pythias is an international, non-sectarian fraternal order, and was the first fraternal order to be Chartered by an Act of Congress. Today in addition to Supporting our Military, Atlantic Lodge No.98 does Charitable work, Sponsoring events, Scholarship programs, Trivia and Game nights, Lodge visitations, Fundraising events, and more!!
