Ladies of the Maccabees

[2] In 1982, the Ladies of the Maccabees Building, in Port Huron, Michigan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The quarrel between the two grew out of the differences arising between the Supreme Tent and the Great Camp of Michigan.

The plan of extending its jurisdiction to outside States was the paramount question before the fourth biennial review held in June, 1902.

It appears that the former had filed a bill in equity, the purpose of which was to enjoin the Supreme Hive from using the official name, ritualistic work, paraphernalia, etc.

In April, 1902, the circuit court handed down a decree which virtually granted the prayer of the Great Hive.

The women began as a local club, or "Hive" in Muskegon, Michigan, but made application to form a statewide auxiliary at the 1886 Knights of the Maccabees Great Camp convention; they were denied.

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.

The sixth biennial review, held in 1906, authorized their removal to the Modern Maccabee Temple, in Port Huron, where they were located ever since.

[2] In 1892, there was a schism within the auxiliary and a new group was formed called the Ladies of the Modern Maccabees (LOTMM).

[6] The LOTMM were later led by schoolteacher Bina West Miller[4] who wanted to help build a fraternal insurance society for women, and she was quite successful.