| The picture shows a view of all (11) Small Old Knights of Pythias Fraternal Items in this lot. Only one of these items is dated but all them are believed to be from the 1800s and early 1900s. All but the two pin back buttons are enameled. All but the two battle ax pins have the knight armor, battle axes, and ''F - C - B'' that stands for Friendship - Charity - Benevolence. The first item is a black ribbon with an enameled charm, an unusual clip at the top, and a pocket watch or watch fob chain. There are two layers of black ribbon and a bar attached that holds the charm or medallion. There is a gold bar at the top that the ribbon is draped over. The unusual clip at the top has a locking mechanism that has ''PAT. PENDING'' on it. This item is not marked. It has not been tested but the gold metal sections may be gold or gold filled. There is a cross shaped that has two chain links on the charm loop. This one may also be made of gold. The same goes for the unmarked pins. There are (5) pins, a stud lapel button and a clip on button. The two matching battle ax pins are marked ''D of P''. There are two old celluloid pinback buttons. One has a multi color ribbon hanging from it. The larger one is complete but it has cracking on the celluloid. The smaller one also has a paper insert in the back with a Union marking. It is marked on the two sides as follows: EASTERN MAINE K OF P CONVENTION
BELFAST, OCTOBER 4th, 1924
THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.
NEWARK, N.J.
BUTTONS, BADGES, NOVELTIES AND SIGNS To judge the sizes the black ribbon with clip measures 5-5/8'' long. Except for the larger pinback button, these items appear to range from excellent to mint condition as pictured. Below here, for reference, is some additional historic background information that was found on the Knights of Pythias: Knights of Pythias
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization founded at Washington, D.C. on 19 February 1864. Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress (approved May 5, 1870. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been inspired by a play by the Irish poet John Banim about the legend of Damon and Pythias. This legend illustrates the ideals of loyalty, honor and friendship that are central to the order. The order has over two thousand lodges in the United States and Canada, with a total membership of over 50,000 in 2003. The order's membership was originally restricted to white males. In 1880, an organization called ''The Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias, North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa'' was founded; it reserved its membership to Blacks and Asians. The original order sued, alleging that the new order used the name without authorization. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court which ruled that the new order was allowed to use the name. The racial requirement for membership was dropped in the 1950s. Although belief in a Supreme Being is a major element of the Pythian creed, the organization is completely non-sectarian and has never restricted membership on the basis of religion so long as one follows this belief in some form or other. In some parts of the U.S. (such as in the metro New York area), membership is predominantly (in some lodges almost entirely) Jewish. The order's ladies' auxiliary is the Pythian Sisters. An associated organization is the less serious Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan. The Knights of Pythias sponsors two youth organizations: the Pythian Sunshine Girls and the Junior Order, Knights of Pythias for boys. | 
