The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-09-11
HUSBANDS PROTECTED.
ORGANIZATION oFTHE SECRET OR
DER OF THE MYSTIC CIRCLE.

ORGANIZATION OF THE SECRET Or
DER OF THE MYSTIC CIRCLE.
A Combination.Aeainst Wives-A Society
That LENDS Financial Aid in Domestic
Difficulties and It's Singular Regula-
tons.
PHILADELPHIA, September 6.-The
most extraordinary society ever Or
ganized in this country has just found
stamping ground in this city. Its title
is 1.-The Order of the Mystic Circle" Its
object sare the protection and the relief
of unfortunate husbands.
Only those men are eligible to member
ship who have had difficulties with their
wives. The difficulties, to pass muster,
must be of a serious character. A mem
Der once admitted ceases to be in good
standing when his marital difficulties
cease. The patching up of household
truce is a cause Of suspension and in
vestigation.
The meeting place of the new order is
S07 SAMSON street. A safe and invio
late retreat has been secured in the top
most floor of that building Stalwart
guards have been provided to protect
the approaches. Unknown faces are
prescribed. A failure to accomplish the
most intricate grip evolved by secret so
cieties deters even member in good
standing from admission. Possibilities
of surprise and exposure have been
made almost as remote as with Ma
sonic lodge.
1t was only a few nights ago that the
initial meeting, at 807 SAMSON street,
was held, and a temporary organization
effected. The fame of the new order
had spread. The half dozen originators
of the design had communicated their
inspiration to those of their friends
whom they knew to be in the throes of
hymeneal trouble. In an incredibly
brief time two hundred damaged hus-
bands knew that there was balm IN
Gilead. They attended the meeting
They listened to the unfolding Of the
scheme. They approved of it. They
elected their officers, formed their COM
mittees and paid in their first INSTALL
ments.
The husband who had the worst case
and possessed the most implacable wife
was unanimously elected to the chief
executive office. There was no suspicion
of sarcasm when he was conducted to
the chair at the head of the heuse and
received the degree of "Grand Master"
He is a well known Republican politician
and a leading official of the Custom
House.
Husbands who occupy distinguished
positions in business and official circles
received the distribution Of offices. Both
the rank and file of the membership
proved to be select and exclusive
Among the most enthusiastic circles
were number of special officers and
patrolmen. Several saloon keepers and
cigar sellers proved their. eligibility and
were sworn in.
The leading executive committee OF
the organization was composed Of men
whose family affairs were involved be-
yond question and their adjustment
outside the bounds of probability. They
are distinguished by the title Of the
''Grand Jury" There are twenty-five of
them.
The office of the grand jury is the
most important and the most laborious
ore of the order. 1t composes the re-
sponsible body which tests and passes
upon the eligibility of applicants for
membership. 1t exercises supervision
over the sub committees chosen to carry
out the secret work of the order. The
most important and responsible of these
subsidiary bodies are the black bottle
committee and the detective committee.
The first duty Of the grand jury, as
explained at the preliminary meeting, is
to receive and Vigorously examine in a
private room an applicant who Claims
the protecting privileges of the order.
Among the lnjunctions laid upon the
applicant are these: He must prove by
documentary evidence or by witness
that some intangible difficulty exists be-
tween himself and his worse half, and
that his existence, in consequence, is
miserable. He must produce photo
graph of his wife, which is to be filed IN
the picture gallery of the order. After
! the examination OF Lle dppllcaut ue -
dismissed, the grand jury debates the
question of his eligibility and reports to
the grand master.
If successful, an initiation fee ranging
from 81 to SIS, according to the degre,
of hopelessness in the case, is imposed
upon the new member. This is followed
by regular payments into the exchequer
of the order of twenty-five cents Il
month. The society binds itself to pay
all counsel fees, in cases of law suits,
and to contribute alimony if divorce
takes that unfortunate course. For this
purpose the members are assessed
weekly.
The detective committee, composed of
three, is designed TO hunt up evidence
in the husbands behalf. The black
bottle committee administers conso-
| lation
The Mystic Circle has decided to por-
cure charter and to conduct its busl-
ness on a profoundly legitimate basis.
One or two lawyers are in the order.
The charter is expected in three weeks.