Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-24
AsussDI HUSBANDS.
An Organization for their Mutual Protection
and Itelief-The MyHtIc Circle.


An Organization for their Mutual Protection
and RelIef-The Mystic Circle.
The most extraordinary society ever or
ganized in this country has Just found
stamping ground In this city. Its title
is THE Order of the Mystic Circle" Its
objects are the protection and the relief
f unfortunate husbands Only those
men are eligible to membership who have
had difficulties with their wives. The
difficulties. to pass muster. must be Of
serious character. A member once ad-
mitted ceases to be IN good standing
when his marital difficulties cease. The
patching up of a household truce is
cause for suspension and investigation.
The meeting place of the new order is
S07 Sansoni street. a safe and inviolate
retreat has been secured in the topmost
floor Of that building. Stalwart guards
have been provided to protect the ap-
proaches. Unknown faces are proscrib-
cd. a failure to accomplish the most
intricate grip evolved by secret societies
deteTs eyen member in good standing
from admission. Possibilities Of surprise
and exposure have been made almost as
remote as with Masonic lodge,
It was only a few nights ago that the
initial meeting at S07 Sansom 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
hymenial trouble. In an incredibly brief
time 200 damaged husbands knew that
there was balm in Gilead. They attended
the meeting, They listened to the ua.
folding of the scheme. They approved
Of it. They elected their officers, formed
their committees and paid in their first
installments.
The husband who had the worst case
and possessed the most implacable wife
was unanimously elected to the chief cx-
ecutiye Office. There was no suspicion
of sarcasm when he was conducted to
the chair at the head Of the house and
received the degree Of ''grand master"
Husbands who occupy distinguished po-
sitions in business and official circles re-
ceiyed the distribution of Offices. The
leading executive committee Of the Or
ganization was composed of men whose
family affairs were involved beyond
question and their adjustment outside
the bonds of probability. They are dis
tinguished by the title of the ''grand
jury" There are twenty-five of them.
The first duty of the grand jury, as
Explained at the preliminary meeting, is
to receive and vigorously examine in
private room an applicant who claims
the protecting privileges Of the order.
Among the injunctions laid upon the
applicant are these: He must prove by
documentary evidence or by witness that
some intangible difficulty exists between
himself and his worst half, and that his
existence in consequence is miserable.
He must produce photograph Of his
wife, which is to be filed in the picture
gallery of the order. After the examina-
tion Of the applicant the grand jury de-
bates the question of his eligibility and
reports to the grand master.
If successful, an initiation fee ranging
from 81 to s., according to the degree 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 month.
The society binds itself to pay all counsel
feesin cases of law suits, and to contribute
alimony if divorce takes that unfortu-
nate course. For this purpose the men,
bers are assessed weekly.
The detective committee, composed Of
three. is designated to hunt up evidence
in the husbands behalf The black bot
tie committee administers consolation.
They predict membership of 5000 be-
fore they get their charter. er.-Philadelphia
Times.