Lady Maccabees Meeting in the Ironville Neighborhood House - DPLA - 54173caa00b00e4f55a6ec9a0655ab55 (cropped)

The Ladies of the Maccabees (L.O.T.M.) (renamed in 1892, Ladies of the Modern Maccabees (L.O.T.M.M.); in 1915, Women's Benefit Association; in 1966, North American Benefit Association) was the female

auxiliary Auxiliary may refer to: * A backup site or system In language * Auxiliary language (disambiguation) * Auxiliary verb In military and law enforcement * Auxiliary police * Auxiliaries, civilians or quasi-military personnel who provide support of ...

of the

Knights of the Maccabees Knights of the Maccabees was a fraternal organization formed in 1878 in London, Ontario, Canada. Most active in the U.S. state of Michigan, the group's fraternal aspects took a backseat to providing low-cost insurance to members. In the societ ...

. It was the first fraternal benefit society operated exclusively by women. This was an insurance benefit society which grew to 80,000 members by 1913 and had paid out over $50 million in endowment benefits. The

Ladies of the Maccabees Building The Ladies of the Maccabees Building is a fraternal organization building, located at 901 Huron Avenue in Port Huron, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. History The Knights of the Maccabees, a fraternal o ...

, in

Port Huron, Michigan Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...

was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1982.

Early history

Second Great Hive Office, Muskegon, Michigan (Builders of Fraternalism in America, 1924)

Third Great Hive Office, Saginaw, Michigan (Builders of Fraternalism in America, 1924)

Fourth Great Hive Office, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Builders of Fraternalism in America, 1924)

On March 25, 1886, nine ladies met at the home of

Adelphia Grace Ward Adelphia (from the Greek for "brotherhood", ''αδέλφια'') may refer to: *Adelphia, New Jersey *Adelphia (album), ''Adelphia'' (album), a 2009 album by A Skylit Drive *Adelphia (moth), ''Adelphia'' (moth), a genus of moths *Adelphia (plant), '' ...

(aka Mother of the Order, Past Great Commander) to establish the order of the Ladies of the Maccabees (L.O.T.M.). She became known as "Mother Ward" throughout the length and breadth of Maccabeedom. The women began as a local club, or "Hive" in

Muskegon, Michigan Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expa ...

, but made application to form a statewide auxiliary at the Great Camps 1886 convention; they were denied. They tried again at the 1887 convention and were turned down. In 1888, permission was given to create a "Great Hive" for the state. Laws were drawn up and officials elected and the Great Hive of Michigan was chartered in May 1890. Great Hives were founded in other states such as Ohio and New York, and a "Supreme Hive" was established on October 1, 1892. In 1892, there was a schism within the auxiliary and a new group was formed called the Ladies of the Modern Maccabees (L.O.T.M.M.). The L.O.T.M.M. were later led by schoolteacher

Bina West Miller Bina West Miller (1867-1954) was an American businesswoman. She was a leader of the Ladies of the Maccabees. Biography Sabina ("Bina") M. West was born in 1867, in Columbus Township, St. Clair County, Michigan. Beginning her career as a teacher ...

who wanted to help build a fraternal insurance society for women, and she was quite successful. By December 1, 1896, there were Great Hives in half of the states in the Union as well as Canada and membership was up to 66,000, with 33,000 in Michigan alone.

20th century

The L.O.T.M.M. became the Women's Benefit Association in 1915 and the North American Benefit Association in 1966. In 1915, the L.O.T.M. had 179,719 members. The Ladies of the Maccebees merged into the Knights in 1926. By the early twentieth century, the group had 100,000 members and by the late 1920s over 250,000. It still had 80,000 members in 1994.

Notable people

M. E. C. Bates M. E. C. Bates (, Cram; August 25, 1839 – March 23, 1905) was the pen name of Martha Elizabeth Cram Bates, an American writer, journalist, and newspaper editor. She was widely known throughout the Grand Traverse County, Michigan, Grand Traverse ...

(1839-1905), honorary member of Traverse Bay Hive *

Marion Babcock Baxter Marion Babcock Baxter (April 12, 1850 – November 18, 1910) was an American lecturer and author. At twenty years of age, she delivered her first public address at Jonesville, Michigan. It attracted wide and favorable attention, and fixed her vo ...

(1850-1910), deputy supreme commander * Emma E. Bower (1852–1937) Great Record Keeper; published ''The Lady Maccabee'' *

Frances E. Burns Frances E. Burns (May 2, 1866 – November 19, 1937) was an American social leader and business woman. She served as Great Commander for Michigan of the Ladies of the Maccabees. She was the first woman executive of an American fraternal congress t ...

(1866-1937), Great Commander for Michigan * Dr. Mary M. Danforth, Supreme Medical Examiner * Eva C. Doughty (1852-1929), committee on credentials *

Lillian Hollister Lillian Hollister (September 8, 1853 – August 4, 1911) was an American temperance and church worker. Hollister served as Supreme Commander of the Ladies of the Maccabees. Early years and education Lillian Bates was born in Milford, Michigan, Se ...

(1853–1911), elected Great Commander of the Ladies of the Maccabees, 1893 *

(1867-1954), L.O.T.M.M. leader

Gallery

Alice E. Boyd (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Alice E. Boyd Bina M. West (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png,

Carrie M. Davis (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Carrie M. Davis Ellen E. Downer (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Ellen E. Downer Emma D. Cook (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Emma D. Cook Emma E. Bower (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Emma E. Bower Emma R. Neidig (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Emma R. Neidig Eudocia S. Moffatt (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Eudocia S. Moffatt Eva D. Doolittle (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Eva D. Doolittle Frances E. Burns (The Fraternal Monitor, 1922).png,

Grace H. Meredith (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Grace H. Meredith Helen M. Truesdell (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Helen M. Truesdell Kittie C. Warner (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Kittie C. Warner Lillian M. Hollister (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png,

Liota B. Maxwell (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Liota B. Maxwell Lydia R. De Groate (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Lydia R. De Groate Mary J. Tyler (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Mary J. Tyler Mary M. Danforth (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Dr. Mary M. Danforth Rachel A. Bailey (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Rachel A. Bailey Susie S. Graves (Peterson's Magazine, 1896).png, Susie S. Graves

References

{{authority control 1886 establishments in Michigan Women's organizations based in the United States