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.
 
 

Free masonry has its rights and ceremonies founded upon the traditions of the building of King Solomon's Temple, and some of its devotees claim for it a continued existence among skilled operative Masons from that time to the present date, but its origin may be said to have been lost in remote antiquity. It is undoubtedly an ancient and respectable institution, embracing among its members men of every rank and condition of life, and stands prominent among the institutions established for the inprovment of mankind. It is said that ancient Master Masons met at York, A. D. 926, and at least one Scottish lodge has written records extending back to 1599. Elias Ashmole in 1664 gave in his diary an account of his initiation into the society. Twenty years later after the great London fire, Sir Christopher Wren, then grand master of the order in that city, secured prompt financial aid for the suffering Masons, and the society flourished, accepting from time to time princes, potentates and rulers, as honorary members, who had not been proficient in operative work. In 1702 St. Paul's lodge, of London, then the only active Masonic lodge in existence, dropped the operative restriction and agreed to accept as a candidate any man, free born, of mature age, moral character, sound body and under the tongue of good Masonic report. In 1717, four lodges united to form the Grand Lodge of England, and from this the advent of speculative Free Masonry may be properly dated. it soon spread to France and other countries of the continent, and in 1733 was introduced in America. Washington organized and conducted American Union Lodge, No. 1, in the Colonial army. At present there is no country on the civilized globe in which it has not gained a foothold, and its membership exceeds 3,000,000, numbering in its ranks many of the most celebrated men of the age, covering all shade of religious and political belief.

Muskegon Lodge, No. 149, was chartered Jan. 16, 1863. The present membership is about 180. Meets first Monday of each month. P. O. Holthe, W. M.; Alb. Waldron, S. W.; N. P. Lofblad, J. W.; C. C. Billinghurst, Treas.; Wm. McComb, Secy.

Lovell Moore, No. 182,  was chartered Jan. 11, 1866. The present membership is about 205. Communications are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Wm. B. McLaughlin, W. M.; D. A. Miner, S. W.; C. B. Cross, J. W.; O. C. Williams, Treas.; B. O. Franklin, Secy.

Muskegon Chapter, No. 47, was chartered Jan. 8, 1867, and has about 18o companians. Thos. Monroe, H. P.; P. P. Misner, King; N. P. Lofbind, Scribe; C. C. Billinghurst, Treas.; Geo. D. Smith, Secy. Convocations are held on the first Thursday of each month.

Muskegon Council, No. 54, Royal and Select Masters, chartered Jan., 1882, has about 85 members. regular assembly, second Friday of each month. Geo. D. Smith, T. I. M.; C. C. Billinghurst, Treas.; Wm. McComb, Rec.

Muskegon Commandery, No. 22, Knights Templars was chartered June 3, '68, and has about 150 Sir Knights. regular conclaves are held on the first Tuesday of each month. Jas. Gow, E. C.; Chas. S. Dodge, Gen.; J. R. Bennett, C. G.; Wm. McComb, Rec.; H. D. Baker, Treas.
 
 

A society of the Ancient and Honorable Loyal Odd Fellows was formed about the beginning of the present century, and from its fantastic and convivial charachter was probably originated as a burlesque on the Free Masons; but in 1812, some of the brotherhood at Manchester, England, conceived a plan for the continuance of the order on noble and lasting principles- prompt attendence and disbursement of funds to a sick brother, administrations to the needs of widows and education of the orphans- fellowship, love and truth. April 26, 1819, Thomas Wilder, of Manchester, and some others, organized the first lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the United States at Baltimore, Md., naming it Washington Lodge, No. 1. Eleven months later a second lodge was located at Boston and December 26, 1821, the third society was organized at Philadelphia. The Sovereign Grand Lodge of America was formed at Baltimore, June, 1823, and from that date the order made a rapid growth in the new world. There are some 50 grand lodges on this continent, with 6,800 subordinate lodges and a membership of over 650,000. The membership in Europe is approximately the same, aggregating about one and one-fourth millions of Odd Fellows.

Muskegon Lodge, No. 92, was organized in 1865, and has a membership of 190. Meets every Friday evening. Daniel James, N. G.; Thomas Richer, V. G.; P. McEacheren, P. S.; W. F. Wiselogal, Treas.

Germania, No. 179,  was organized Jan. 25, 1872,,, and has a membership od about 60. Frank Kolbe, N. G.; All(unreadable) Mundt, V. G.; Adam Kersting, P. S.; Jon G.  Behnke, Treas. Meets every Thursday.

Canton Muskegon, No. (unreadable), was organized in Oct., 1885, and meets every second and fourth Mondays. N. P. Lofblad, Comdt.; E. P. Watson, Lieut.; Peter Lansiff, Acct.; Peter McEacheren, Clerk; D. James, Ensign. The membership is 47.

Davis Encampment, No. 47,  was organized in 1869 and the present membership is about 75. Ole Hough, C. P.; O. E. Rasmus, H. P.; Daniel James, S. W.; Wm. Fleisher, J. W.; Albert Gerst, S.; Peter Lansiff, Treas. Meets first and third Tuesday.

Daughters of Rebeka Gem, No. 124,  was organized June 1889, and meets second and fourth Tuesdays in I. O. O. F. Hall, having a membership of 136. Mrs. Susan McEacheren, N. G.; Mrs. Chas. Hills, V. G.; Miss Mattie Britton, R. S.; Mrs. J. L. Clark, F. S.; Mrs. H. B. Smith, Treas.
 
 

Temperance organizations were formed early in the present century and exerted a beneficiary influence all over the country. The Good Templars were organized in 1856 and since that time the order has had more than 10,000,000 initiates, the present number, in good standing, being about 600,000.

Muskegon Lodge, No. 288, was organized Dec. 20, 1880, and has a membership of 75. Meets eveery Tuesday evening in Good Templars' Hall, Odd Fellows Block. Alex. Sutherland, C. T.; Mabel Hunt, Sec.

John B. Finch, No. 907, meets every Friday evening in Good Templars' Hall, and was organized Nov. 1887. B. O. Franklin, C. T.; Miss Myrtie Green, Sec. Its present membership is 33.
 
 

The order of Knights of Pythias was conceived from the play of "Damon and Pythias" by an actor, Justice H. Rathbone, of Washington, D. C., who organized the society Feb. 19, 1864. It is of a chivalric or semi-military character, teaching with striking force the principles of bravery, charity, humanity, benevolence and unselfish friendship. The order  now has a membership considerably above 375,000. It has an endowment or beneficiary rank with over 30,000 members.

Muskegon Lodeg, No. 32, was chartered in 1877, and has a present membership of 150. John A. Tinholt, C. C.; Geo. Schehr, V. C.; Walter VanArkel Jr., K. of R. S. and M. of F. Meets every Tuesday evening in Mason Block.

Muskegon Division, No. 2, U. R.,  was organized in 1880 and meets the first Monday of each month at hall in Mason Block. W. J. Farr, Capt.; Geo. Schehr. First Lieut.; John Tinholt, Second Lieut.; Wm. Peer, Rec. The membership is about 40.
 
 

This organization was founded in 1866 in Illinois, and has a present membership of about 450,000. it is composed exclusively of men who served in te late war against the states which seceeded from the Union, is a patriotic organization designed to cherish the memories of the fallen comrades, assist and fraternize living soldiers and dispense charities to the widows and orphans of the deceased. The order has probably reached its acme, as it has incorporated in its ranks the majority of those from the late war who are still living, and the death rate must now necessarily be about now as large as the increase from those who are eligible that still remain outside its folds. Under tyhe present constitutional requirements it can be but a few years at most until the order must succomb for the want of material, and the Sons of Veterans has been organized as a society to perpetuate the memories of the fathers.

Phil Kearney Post, No. 7, Department of Michigan, was chartered July 25, 1879, and meets evry Monday at G. A. R. Hall. the membership is 215. W. F. Wiselogel, C.; Wm. Reynolds, S. V. C.; J. W. Tayer, C.; Geo. H. Gillett, Adj.; Albert Towl, Q. M.

Women's Relief Corps, No. 105, meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, at G. A. R. Hall. It was organized Mar. 1887, and has a membership of 32. Mrs. L. M. Tayer, Pres.; Minnie E. Lewis, Sec; Mrs. A. G. Ward, Treas.
 
 

The above order is the oldest of its kind in the United States, having been established at Meadvillle, Pa., October 28, 1868, and now having a membership of over 300,000, which is largely in excess of any other beneficiary organization. The A. O. U. W. is now annually paying to the relatives of deceased members over $5,000,000, and is carrying insurance risks aggregating over $600,000,000 The full $2,000 has in all cases been promptly paid, without litigation, upon proper proofs of the death of any brother in good standing and the order has a record of reliablility not excelled by any beneficiary organization. It is not, as its name would seem to imply, a fraternity of workingmen, but strictly a mutual insurance and fraternal society composed of all phases of business, social and religious preferences.

Muskegon Lodge, No. 133,  was organized Apr. 24, 1888, and has a present membership of 368. Meets every Wednesday evening in A. O. U. W. Hall, Riffenberg Block. W. H. McKinstry, P. M. W.; Jacob Jesson, M. W.; Frank Joslyn, Res'd; A. W. Bell, Fin.; A. N. Holthe, Rec.
 

This beneficiary insurance organization was commenced in New Jersey in 1874, its plans having been somewhat remodeled about ten years since. The present headquarters, are at Toronto, and the business is conducted upon a sound and economical basis. A surplus of over $500,000 has been accumulated, to be used when needed, to keep the assessments on an equable basis at times when epidemics or accidents produce an extra heavy mortality rate. The insurance ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, for which a low regular monthly assessment is made, regardless of the current number of deaths. This order has a membership of over 45,000.

Court Iron, No. 899, was organized Aug. 11, '91, and has a present membership of 42. G. T. McComb, C. R.; W. F. Chrystal, V. C. R.; R. F. Drake, R. S.; E. E. Kraai, F. S. and Treas.; D. W. Rose, Court Deputy. Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at Odd Fellows' Hall.
 

This fraternal beneficiary order was organized under Massachusetts laws in November, 1877, and has all the popular features of modern society insurance. Organized but 15 years ago this society now has about 1,500 Councils with an aggregate membership of over 140,000. Its present annual payments to beneficiaries is over $3,000,000, and by its careful selection of riskds has maintained the lowest average mortality rate of any organization approximately as great.

Muskegon City, Council No. 114, was organized Nov. 18, 1878, and has a present membership of 92. James P. Fallon, R. H.; H. L. Partrick, V. R.; John W. Yates, Treas.; Howard Shaw, Sec. Meets every Thursday in A. O. U. W. Hall.
 

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.

Muskegon Tent, No. 56, was organized Oct. 1882, and meets every Tuesday at K. O. T. M. Hall, Gustin's Block. The membership is about 225. G. T. McComb, C.; J. W. Pettibone, F. K.; M. Renner, R. K.

Victory Tent, No. 166, was organized May 25, 1886, and has a membership of 64. J. W. Tayer, C.; Geo. A. Hirding, R. K.; H. C. Madson, F. K.; meets every Wednesday at Scandinavian Hall.

Scandinavian Tent, No. 175,  was organized in Dec. 4,, 1886. Present membership about 200. Meets every thursday at Scandinavian Hall, 49 E. Western ave. Peter O. Holthe, C.; John Castenholtz, R. K.; Ole Hough, F. K.

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.

Davis Tent, No. 302,  was organized in 1881 and meets every Thursday at K. O. T. M. Hall, 8th ward. Geo. L. Dickinson, C.; C. J. Anthony, R. K. ; J. A. Johnson, F. K.; membership 207.

Union Tent, No. 379, was organized Jan. 20 '91, and has a membership of about 215. Meets every Tuesday in A. O. U. W. Hall. Rolla R. Payne, C; W. J. McIntyre, R. K. ; J. G. Williams, F. K.

Junior Camp, No. 2, U. R., was organized Sept. '91 meeting every Friday at K. O. T. M. No. 56 Hall, and has a present membership of about 60. John R. Bennett, C.; W. D. Cathcart, J. C.; Geo. T. McComb, J. R. K., Thos. Stewart, J. F. K.
 

The L. O. T. M. originated in Muskegon, Mrs. A. G. Ward having been the first Commander. It is the only beneficiary order in the country organized and conducted exclusively by ladies, and although considered as an auxiliary to the K. O. T. M., it is a distinct institution and is governed entirely by its own membership. It was started in March, 1886, and a Great Hive was organized in Michigan, May, '90. The membership of the order is now nearly 12,000, of whom more than two-thirds are in Michigan.

Muskegon Hive, No. 1, was organized March 24, 1886, and meets every Tuesday afternoon at K. O. T. M. No. 56 Hall. Mrs. Emma LaFayette, L. C.; Mrs. Eecta Dorman, L. R. K.; Mrs. thomas Gregory, L. F. K. Present membership about 35.

American Hive, No. 4, was organized Jan. 1891,, and has a membership of about 40. Mrs. Avis Payne, L. C.; Mrs. May Richardson, L. R. K.; Mrs. Emma Andrus, L. F. K. Meets every Tuesday afternoon at A. O. U. W. Hall.

Davis Hive, No. 5, was organized Dec., 1889. Meets every Thursday afternoon at K. O. T. M. No. 302 Hall and has a membership of about 70. Celia Anthony, L. C.; Mrs. Hattie Moyer, L. R. K.; Alice Etstes, L. F. K.

Scandinavian Hive, No. 7, was organized Feb. 12, 1890, and has a present membership od 27. Annie Holthe, L. C.; Mrs. Louise Iverson, L. R. K.; Mrs. Helen Carpenter, L. F. K. Meets every Thursday afternoon in Scandinavian Hall.

Germania Hive, No. 35, was organized January 12, 1891. Meets alternate Monday afternoons in Scandinavian Hall, and has a membership of 21. Mrs. Matilda Krieling, L. C.; Mrs. Ellen DeWald, L. R. K. J.; Mrs. Mary Rick, L. F. K.
 

Catholic Mutual Benefit Association is composed exclusively of adherents to the Catholic faith and has the full endorsement of the Church and clergy. This fraternal insurance society has gained a well merited popularity. It was first organized at Niagara Falls, N. Y., December 1876, and now has a membership of over 42,000. This organization disbursed in 1892, over $600,000, to the relatives of deceased members.

Branch 6, was organized in 1879 and has a membership of 80. Michael Hoban, Pres.; Albert Quinn, V-Pres.; Christopher Stewart, Sec.; Richard Meade, F. S.; Jos. Marcoux, Treas. Meets second and fourth Tuesdays at St. Mary's School building.

Branch 56, (French) was organized Sept. '90, and meets first and third Tuesdays at St. Jean Baptiste church. Present membership is 40. C. Blais, Pres.; Thos. Lecompt, V-P.; Jos. Groleau, Sec.: Thos. Hamblin, F. S.; Jos. Lambert, Treas.

St. Joseph's Branch, No. 60, (German) was organized March '91. Present membership 38, and meets every second and fourth Mondays at German Ctaholic School house. Chris Engels, Pres.; Mark Spliedt, V-Pres.; Wm Fortenbacher, F. S.; F. B. Drexeler, R. S.; Nicholas Schmidt, Treas.

Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 1, was organized in 1885 and has a membership of about 40. James Fallon, County Delegate; Phillip Buckley. Pres.; Maurice Drinan, V-Pres.; John Donovan, R. S.; Richard Meade, F. S.; T. J. O'Conner, Treas. Meets every Wednesday evening at St. Mary's Catholic School.