The Advantages and Surroundings of Muskegon, Mich.

Published Under the auspices of Muskegon Board of Trade 1892

Part 6

SOCIAL SOCIETIES, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.

While the educational and religious features of a place have due weight with the intelligent prospective settler, the secret societies, or other social attractions, are a matter to which much importance is attached by some persons, and we shall herewith show some of Muskegon's advantages from a social and moral aspect.
The Crusaders, or Knight's of the Temple which was organized in 1096 with the avowed intent of wresting Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the hands of the Turks, was the earliest modern secret society of which we have authentic record. This organization assumed a military character and many thousands of lives were sacrificed in what was considered to be a religious cause.

KNIGHTS OF THE MACCABEES

The order of the Knights of the Maccabees originated in 1878 at London, Ontario, but the inequality of assessment basis, caused it to re-organize as a Michigan beneficiary order in 1881, under direction of Maj. N. S. Boynton. At that time there was about 700 members in this state, and the order has since been extended into many of the northern states, now having a membership above 100,000 of which nearly half are in this state.

Germanian Tent, No. 191, was organized in 1889, Meets Monday at Scandinavian Hall, and has a present membership of 85. August Luhman, C.; Gus. Lewandowsky, R. K.; Fred Mrosowski, F. K.