Miss Bower Conciliatory

MISS BOWER CONCILIATORY

Miss Emma E. Bower, Great Record Keeper of the Great Hive L.O.T.M. of Michigan, writes the Argus that the Supreme Hive was instituted, not at the instance of the Great Hive but by the Supreme Tent, a male organization of the order. She says:

"The Supreme Hive was instituted by the Supreme Tent, a man's organization, as an auxiliary to that body, in October, 1892, four years after the institution of the Great Hive, and the women appointed as executive officers were holding like positions in the Great Hive. Use of the ritual of the Michigan order was made by the Supreme Hive in their work outside of the state.

"The officers of the Great Hive have no personal feeling against the Supreme Hive, but believe there is room for both organizations in the states and territories and in beginning their suit it was to protect the order when it took up its work outside of the state, as threats had been made on the part of the Supreme Hive that a suit would be begun against the Great Hive in every state it saw fit to enter. The Great Hive is only defending its interests and has no desire to injure or interfere with the Supreme Hive in any way, but feels that a larger territory is now necessary for the perpetuity of the order, it having now reached a membership of over 63,000 members in Michigan."