Knights of the Maccabees
Encyclopedia
Knights of the Maccabees was a fraternal organization formed in 1878 in London, Ontario
, Canada
. A related but separate organization, "Maccabees of the World", was also established, the two merging under the title "The Knights of the Maccabees of the World" (KOTMOTW), later shortened to the Maccabees in 1914. 2008,
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 society's early years it also provided other final-expense related benefits such as society cemeteries
.
History=
The original group named Maccabees were a priestly family of Jews who organized a successful rebellion against the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV and reconsecrated the defiled Temple of Jerusalem. "The aspects of Maccabeus's feats that appealed to the founders of the modern Maccabees were steadfastness and persistence; his wisdom in the use of power; and the fact that he seems to have been the first recorded military leader to order his soldiers to reserve a part of their spoils for the widows and orphans of their fallen colleagues, and lastly his unwavering determination to protect the particular nation and culture of his people in their ancestral land.". As a fraternal organization, the Knights of Maccabees want to emulate his example.
Motto=
The motto of the Knights of Maccabees is the latin "Astra Castra Numen Lumen" which means "The stars my camp, the Deity my light".
Organizational Structure=
The modern Knights of Maccabees accepts men and women of good moral character. The offices of a KOTM Tent are :
Degrees=
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. A related but separate organization, "Maccabees of the World", was also established, the two merging under the title "The Knights of the Maccabees of the World" (KOTMOTW), later shortened to the Maccabees in 1914. 2008,
Most active in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, the group's fraternal aspects took a backseat to providing low-cost insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
to members. In the society's early years it also provided other final-expense related benefits such as society cemeteries
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
History=
The original group named Maccabees were a priestly family of Jews who organized a successful rebellion against the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV and reconsecrated the defiled Temple of Jerusalem. "The aspects of Maccabeus's feats that appealed to the founders of the modern Maccabees were steadfastness and persistence; his wisdom in the use of power; and the fact that he seems to have been the first recorded military leader to order his soldiers to reserve a part of their spoils for the widows and orphans of their fallen colleagues, and lastly his unwavering determination to protect the particular nation and culture of his people in their ancestral land.". As a fraternal organization, the Knights of Maccabees want to emulate his example.
19th Century
- In 1878, the Knights of Maccabees was founded by Nathan Boynton in London, Ontario in Canada and was reorganized in 1883.
- The Knights of the Maccabees had a membership of 209,831 in 1896.
20th Century
- By 1920 the ladies' auxiliary, Ladies of the Maccabees, alone claimed more than 200,000 members.
- In 1926 they established their headquarters at the Maccabees BuildingMaccabees BuildingThe Maccabees Building is a historic building located in Midtown Detroit, at 5057 Woodward Avenue. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. and is currently owned by Wayne State University....
in downtown Detroit, Michigan. In 1960 the Maccabees relocated to a new building in Southfield, MichiganSouthfield, MichiganAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
- a suburb of Detroit. In 1986 they built new 251000 square feet (23,318.7 m²) office building, once again in Southfield. - In 1941 the group gained control of the Michigan Union Life Association, furthering its transformation from a benefit societyFriendly societyA friendly society is a mutual association for insurance, pensions or savings and loan-like purposes, or cooperative banking. It is a mutual organization or benefit society composed of a body of people who join together for a common financial or social purpose...
into a modern, legal-reserve insurance company. - In 1962 the group changed its name again, this time to the Maccabees Mutual Life Insurance Company.
- In the 1990s the organization was demutualizedDemutualizationDemutualization is the process by which a customer-owned mutual organization or co-operative changes legal form to a joint stock company. It is sometimes called stocking or privatization. As part of the demutualization process, members of a mutual usually receive a "windfall" payout, in the form...
and sold to the Royal Insurance Group and operated under the name Royal Maccabees Life Insurance Company. - In 1999 Royal Maccabees was sold by its parent company, Royal & SunAllianceRoyal & SunAllianceRSA Insurance Group plc , commonly known as RSA, is a global general insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has over 20 million customers in 36 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America....
Financial Services, to Swiss ReSwiss ReSwiss Reinsurance Company Ltd , generally known as Swiss Re, is a Swiss reinsurance company. It is the world’s second-largest reinsurer, after having acquired GE Insurance Solutions. The company has its headquarters in Zurich...
. Swiss Re merged it into its subsidiary, Reassure America Life Insurance Company.
21st Century
- In 2008, the Knights of the Maccabees has returned to its fraternal roots after a long history as a mutual reserve life insurance company. Some remaining members in California revived the Knights of the Maccabees no longer as a benefit insurance organization but completely as a Fraternity. It has been modernized and redesigned for the 21st century with a new focus on the fraternal character of the Order.
- As of January 2011, the Knights of Maccabees as a revived Fraternal organization has tents in Northern California and Central Florida with some members located in other States in America, Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom.
Motto=
The motto of the Knights of Maccabees is the latin "Astra Castra Numen Lumen" which means "The stars my camp, the Deity my light".
Organizational Structure=
The modern Knights of Maccabees accepts men and women of good moral character. The offices of a KOTM Tent are :
- Grand Commander
- Commander
- Lt. Commander
- Knight Commander
- Captain of the Guard
- Knight Record Keeper
- Master at Arms
- Sergeant
- Chaplain
- Inner Guard
- Outer Guard
- Sentinel
- Picket
- Members who do not hold office are called Warriors
Degrees=
- Degree of Protection - In the Degree of Protection, the candidate was introduced to the demands of Honor, Courage, and Obedience. The candidate learned the history of Maccabee household and how it protected Judea from King Antiochus during the war of independence. To prove themselves fit to "join in the cause of humanity," the tyros had to undergo an ordeal.
- Degree of Friendship - In the Degree of Friendship, the Commander takes the part of Mattathias, the Lt. Commander that of Judas, the Past Commander that of John (son of Mattathias), and the Chaplain that of Eleazar (son of Mattathias). The candidate received instruction in the nature of friendship.
- Degree of Loyalty - In the Degree of Loyalty, the dramatic work revolved around the following characters: Apelles, Mattathias, Matthathias's four sons, Judas, Soldiers, while the candidate, Sentinel, and a Knight took the parts of Jewish peasants. In keeping with the Maccabee legend of the revolt at Modin the patriarch Mattathias remained steadfast to the Jewish religion when ordered to make sacrifice to Roman gods and at great personal risk stops an apostate Jew from offering sacrifice to false gods. The lesson derived from his example was that of genuine patriotism and inculcated the duty to uphold and defend the rights of liberty and conscience when they are threatened by irresponsible power in any form. Additionally, the candidate was reintroduced to the ghost of Eleazar and finally sees the end of the rebellion.