The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-05
THRONG IN CLASS
 ARE INITIATED INTO
 ORDER OF MOOSE
Membership of Bridgeport Lodge Now Is Above Five
 Thousand Mark.

tention to securing a building and clubhouse of their own. Dictator Charles L. Dennis now has an option on valuable Main street property To- cated near the center of the city After the state convention meets here l June IS, 16 and IT, the matter of se- i curing this property and building a Moose home will be taken up. In the meantime Dictator Dennis has an nounced that the charter will be kept open for some time longer and he ex- poets by January 1 the Bridgeport lodge will have 10000 members.
 The Casino in State street, where the class initiation took place yester- day. was filled. About 1. 500 members of the lodge witnessed the initiation of the 1,20O candidates. The obliga- ton was administered first to all can didates by Dictator Dennis and then the beautiful and impressive ritual istic ceremony in full form was work ed on one. candidate. The interior of the Casino was gaiIy decked with flags and the stages and officers sta tions banked with big bouquets of flowers, palms and potted plants Overhead were suspended many col ored lights and the bright uniforms of the degree team and the costumes of the officers as they moved about in the degree work made a beautiful kaIafdescopic picture.
 Both the officers and the degree team were highly eonplinated for the efficient manner in which they per formed the degree work. The officers were 1etter-perfect in their parts and the ceremony was carried through without a break. After the initiation the degree team under command of Major HOulihan gave an exhibition drill. The candidates were instructed in the signs and passwords of the or der by Dictator John E. Fitzgerald of Yonkers lodge.
 A new song called Moose Heart composed by Charles Penze of this city, and dedicated to James, J. Davis. founder of the order, was sung for the first time. It is sung to the tune of 'sWGen You and I Were Young Mag gfe'' It is proposed to make it one of the songs to be used in the ritual istic work. The words follow: ''Ive been thinking and dreaming of That bright star that has risen on
 high,
 As think of the prospects before us, There's a home, brother Moose. for
 you and I.
 There's a home for the widow and
 orphan,
 And a home for the aged Moose. too, y
 behind you,
 But take her to Moose Heart with
 you.
 Chorus:
 "oh. Moose Heart, your fame is
 spreading
 Far over the land and the sea; I'm glad when I've grown old and There's home out at Moose Heart
 for me.
 Each day we grow older and older. And the days of our youth quickly
 fly,
 When you're old if you have no friends
 to aid you,
 To the poorhouse they will send you
 to die;
 But Moose when he is old and
 feeble,
 Of the future he has naught to fear, For he knows there's a place out in
 Moose Heart,
 And home waiting for him out
 there.''
 At Moose Heart, H., the Loyal Or der of Moose owns 1000 acres of land where homes for aged members and their wives and for the orphans of members have been erected. The, in stitutions there are being rapidly ex- tended and workshops and schools are to be built. The singing yesterday was under the direction of Charles R. James, assisted by William Flint, Fred Fl. Helbig was accom- panist. Before the limitations MT. James sang ''SiIver Thread Among the GoId' and "A Perfect Day. c. G. Clifford, a member of the order and former guide in the Yellowstone National Park, gave an exhibition of rope and gun spinning. His nine year old son, Roy, won much applause by his per act.
 After the initiation, speeches were made by Henry w. Mace, supreme treasurer of the order, and vice-dic- tator of Philadelphia lodge; also by John Ryan, secretary of Philadelphia lodge This is the largest sinble branch of any order in the world It has 19, 900 members and owns club house worth $3oo,oO0.
 Following the initiation yesterday the members of the order headed by the degree team marched to the club rooms in Main street, where a lunch con was served.
 Arrangements are now being made for the reception of the delegates to held in Bridgeport June Is, 16 and IT. There will be a field day and parade on the 17th, all lodges in the state having been invited to take part and it is expected there will be 1O,- 900 men in line. The parade will be followed by athletic events and big carnival, to which admission will be free and which will be held on the old circus grounds in Fairfield avenue in the West End
 FIRMS
 TO SEND EMPLOYES