Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-07-30
THE STORY OF
THE MOOSE
Organizer of The Loyal Order Of
Moose Now in DecOrah to Organ
iZe Lodge Gives Some
Particulars About the
Order
We HALF MILLION
MEMBERS, 1000 LODGES
. " er Was First Organized I'm
"a Group of Workmen
i Themselves Into
IN Organization
.nan, the genial organizer


Mr.. S nan, the genial organizer
of the Loyal Order of Moose did
certainly get busy Monday. ASKING
him for particulars he gave us the
Following:
In 1888 a group of workingmen
affiliated themselves into an organi-
zation, which they called the Loyal
Order of Moose. They based it on
the fraternal idea but they dedicat-
ed it to service. They hoped and
dreamed that their idea of service
would be help and benefit to man
kind. From 1888 until 1906 little
progress was made in the order. 1t
developed slowly and membership
was restricted. In 1906 James j.
Davis Of Pittsburg, Pa, was desig-
mated as Director General of the
order. Since then the progress has
| been rapid, almost miraculous. Today
II years later, it is composed OF
over half million men organized in
Ito , ore than 1900 lodges.
y he original ideas of service that
| predominated at the organization of
the order have continued. The domi-
mating thought of the order, as it is
today, is the help that it may give
to the individual. 1t pays benefits,
perhaps not so large as some, GER
tainl.r not so small as others-but
enough to serve. The one dominating
feature that has prevailed in the
Moose since it's inception has been
1 the thought: Am 1 My Brothers
Keeper?
Every loyal Moose believes that it
is his duty in life to aid and assist
brother in distress. So dominating
has been this thought and so exten-
sive has been it's growth, that today
the Loyal Order Of Moose has in It
the heart of the central west the
greatest shrine of brotherhood ever
built by man.
emplify the idea of service. as car
ried out by the order. It's service
goes further than the member only.
1t is extended to the wives and chill
dren of the members of the order,
who have unfortunately been called
away before their time. Moosheart is
home in every sense Of the word
for the children of deceased Moose.
1t is NOT an orphan asylum and the
MOoseheart are not objects of chari-
ty. Mooseheart is their heritage, pro-
;vided for them by their fathers when
they became affiliated with the order
By the virtue of membership there
fathers secured for them the right
of an education and trade such as is
now being taught to over 700 boys
and girls at Mooseheart. Mooseheart
is hard to believe. 1t seems almost
too good to be true. Yet everything
that is claimed for Mooseheart is
actually there. 1t is not dream. To
really believe Mooseheart one must
see it-see the wide acres and ex-
panses of ground, the splendid build
ings erected for the comfort, health
and Improvement of these children,
and finally the happy smiling faces
Of the children themselves.
There is no discomfort In Moose
heart for there is no occasion for it,
Mooseheart children are happy be-
cause everything possible IS done Ito
make them happy. They live in the
great outdoors. They eat food, the
greatest proportion of which is pro-
duced at Mooseheart, and they do
the things that every red blooded
American boy and girl wants to do.
They are taught both academically
and vocationally in buildings as good
and as well equipped as any in the
world. Besides, the thousand and
more acres, the herds of cattle, swine
and horses; the gardens, green hous-
es and shops are all school houses 10
them. Advised by experts they choose
1, that lifework for which each Is best
fitted. In the construction of Moose
heart, the best facilities for swim
ming, boating and reconstruction
were provided A lake covering 20
acres was built and acquatic sports
are maintained under the supervision
OF. an expert.
Those people whose duty it is to
teach these children at Mooseheart
are selected with the greatGst care,
for their ability to thor "ghly under
Continued on las 'ase.