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Welcome to the Loyal Order of Moose 765 Madison, Indiana. Thanks for stopping by, have a look around our site. We hope you
enjoy your stay.
The Moose was founded by Dr. John Henry Wilson and a group of his friends in 1888 in Louisville, Kentucky, as a social and
drinking club to rival the Elks. However, the Order fell on hard times and it was only two Lodges in Indiana that kept them
alive. In 1906 a Welshman by the name of James Davies became member No. 247. He saw potential to build the tiny Moose fraternity
into a force to provide protection and security for a largely working-class membership. To provide benefits to the wife and
children of a breadwinner who died or became disabled. Davi’s efforts soon changed the Order into a national society.
By 1926, the Moose fraternity's presence extended across the Atlantic, with the founding of the Grand Lodge of Great Britain.
While it remains essentially an American club, it changed its name to Moose International in 1991. The basic unit is the
Lodge, which follows the pattern established by Masons: the Moose have club room or rooms, plus a Lodge room with an altar.
The Moose confer an initiatory degree, and after six months membership, the member becomes eligible for the second degree,
Moose Legion. A third degree or Fellowship Degree is awarded for service to the fraternity. The fourth and highest degree,
that of Pilgrim, is honorific and is awarded to few Moose. The Moose make community service a strong component of their activities.
Since 1989, old style regalia has been replaced with Ties and Blazer Badges and Lapel pins.
The Order set up a home (city), called Mooseheart, which currently houses as many as 800 children, of all nationalities, both
members or non-members -- who are in need due to circumstances of death, divorce or despair. The dues from membership go toward
this facility as well as another facility, Moosehaven, which was opened in 1922. Another home (City) for elderly Moose members
who wish to retire at the age of 65 and who have been members for at least 15 years. www.mooseintl.org
Who Are We?
In the early 1990s, the Moose organization decided to rethink the entire idea of what a fraternal facility and its programs
need to be about in the 21st Century-de-emphasizing our Social Quarters, and placing greater emphasis on programs designed
to appeal to every segment of our members' families in facilities called Family Centers. These members - responsible men and
women and their children, make the Moose program strong and active in communities all across North America.
While our focus is changing to better serve the family at the Lodge, the commitment to the Moose fraternity's missions remain
as strong as ever. Lodges and Chapters across the fraternity contribute to Moose-sponsored programs such as Mooseheart and
Moosehaven, and also to people in their own communities through Community Service initiated by members of the Lodge.
What Is A Moose?
A Moose member is a man belonging to the Loyal Order of Moose, or a woman belonging to the Women of the Moose. These members,
over 1.5 million strong, make up the two components of the fraternal organization known as Moose International. Their membership
is held in any one of 2,000 Lodges and 1,600 Chapters throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain (for more on Moose
in the U.K. see www.mooseintl.org.uk ) and Bermuda. Moose International headquarters is approximately 38 miles west of Chicago
at Mooseheart, Illinois.
Men and women join the Order for a variety of reasons, including Family Activities, Community Service projects and member
sports programs, just to name a few. While these activities offer each Moose member a valid reason to join, the main endeavors
of the fraternity remain Mooseheart, the 1,000 - acre Illinois home and school for children in need, and Moosehaven, the 65-acre
Florida retirement community for senior members in need. These residents, entrusted to the care and support provided by membership
in the Moose, are constant living reminders of the humanitarian efforts of Moose members.
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