BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF PYTHAGORANS
The Order of Pythagorans was organized in the State of Ohio through the aggressive efforts of Grand Master Charles F. Casterman on April 11, 1945. That same year saw the opening of the first chapter, Lake Erie #1, when 45 boys were initiated into this youth organization in Cleveland, Ohio. How fitting it was to have as the first Master Counselor, Glen Stringer, s descendant of the first Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ohio, Most Worshipful Brother Thomas Stringer and the son of one of the founding fathers of the reorganized Advisory council, Brother Foster Stringer.
This reorganization of the whole statewide Order was spearheaded by R.W. Director of Youth Activities, Brother Russel L. Jefferson in 1954 and came to fruition under the leadership of Brothers John W. Payne, President; James Horn, Vice President; Carl V. Hicks, Secretary; and George Carter, Treasurer. The Ohio Pythagoran Order was then deemed sovereign and under the sponsorship of the M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge Of Ohio only.
The newly formed Ohio Pythagorans enjoyed their Grand Session on July 23rd and 24th, 1955 on the campus of Central State university in Wilberforce, Ohio. Their theme was" Youth Can Mold The Future". Beta Chapter opened the session and Lake Erie Chapter closed it. The following year the Grand Session was held at the same location and the Girls Assembly were invited to join. Thus the first combined Grand Session was held on July 21st and 22nd, 1956. The theme chosen that year was "Youth Faces Tomorrow's Challenge". The first Most Valiant Grand Master Counselor was Edwin McGee of Lake Erie Chapter.
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Ohio Chapters in 1956 |
Present Ohio Chapters |
|
Lake Erie #1 Cleveland |
Lake Erie Cleveland |
| Miami #2 Dayton | Eleven Letters Dayton |
| Tyree #3 Columbus | Henry Sims Columbus |
| Howard T. Green #4 Steubenville | Brotherhood Warren |
| F.A.B. Hall #5 Cincinnati | Prince Hall Cincinnati |
| Lloyd W. Clark #6 Xenia | L.W. Clark Xenia |
| Trinity #7 Portsmouth | J. Shackleford Newark |
| Wesley Smith #8 Cincinnati | Star of David Cincinnati |
| Mack Wallace #9 Cincinnati | Mack Wallace Cincinnati |
| Chas. E. Nelson #10 Springfield | Coley Adams Sandusky |
| Beta #11 Zanesville | Wm. T. Crawford Alliance |
| P.L. McKinney #12 Elyria | Oliver V. Crisp Elyria/Lorain |
| Pride of the Valley #13 Lockland | B.A. Mitchell Middletown |
| Dave Thomas #14 Mansfield | Dave Thomas Mansfield |
| Hardin #15 Kenton | Samos Akron |
| Pythian #16 Youngstown | H.G. Emerson Youngstown |
| Pride of Hilltop #17 Columbus | Geo. E. Webster Canton |
| Central Star #18 Oberlin | Edward R. Fields Oberlin |
| Comazon Toledo |