描述

he Knights of Pythias（皮提亚骑士团）1864年成立于华盛顿，是首个取得美国会特许状而成立的兄弟会组织，最初只接受白人男性会员，在亚非等地拓展影响后开始接收有色人士。座右铭FCB ，即“Friendship, Charity, Benevolence”（友情、仁慈、慷慨）。共济会（Freemason）是世界最大神秘组织，The Knights of Pythias是共济会在华盛顿的分会。

Pythias本是希腊传说中公元前4世纪皮提亚骑士的拉丁名，被共济会骑士团沿用至今。传说皮提亚骑士和朋友Damon去雪城，无意中没冒犯了当地法律，罪该至死。皮提亚请求雪城国王让他回希腊看一眼家人再处死。国王遂将Damon扣作人质，约定截至规定时间皮提亚还不回来，就处死Damon。Damon觉得皮提亚死了比自己可惜，就劝说他远走高飞。眼看期限将至，正要处死Damon时，皮提亚回来了，他解释说希腊回雪城的船路上遇到海难，耽搁很久才赶回来。国王被两个骑士的情义感动，全都无罪释放。

事故共和国第一章第5节记：全国性的保险协会在名义上可以分为两种组织类型：一是建立在英国友联协会模式上的疾病与伤残协会，二是生命保险协会。前者–包括了秘密共济独立兄弟会、皮提亚骑士团以及红人高阶兄弟会–所关注的并不是生命保险基金，而在于兑现疾病与伤残救济金，救济的水平通常在每周2美元到5美元之间；以秘密共济会为例，其提供的暂时性伤残救济为每周至少2美元。

The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded in Washington, D.C., on 19 February 1864. The Knights of Pythias is the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. 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 the center of the order.

The order has over 2,000 lodges in the United States and around the world, with a total membership of over 50,000 in 2003. The order is headquartered in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Some lodges meet in structures referred to as Pythian Castles.