O

ne of the basic precepts of the Loyal Order of Moose is that "no institution that labors for self and self alone can remain great and mighty, and serve posterity." Therefore, the two highest degrees conferred on members of the Moose Fraternity are bestowed as a reward for devotion and service to the philanthropic programs of the Order. These are the Fellowship Degree and the Pilgrim Degree of Merit.

When a man is enrolled into the Loyal Order of Moose, he automatically becomes a member of the first degree, and becomes eligible for advancement to the Second Degree, the Moose Legion.

Once enrolled as a Moose Legionnaire, he is eligible to wear the maroon Moose Legion blazer, striped tie and lapel pin, and to participate in the celebrations and other activities of his Moose Legion Unit.

If a member has demonstrated his leadership ability by giving of his time and effort to serve on various Lodge and/or Moose Legion committees and by being a loyal, enthusiastic and active member of his Lodge and Moose Legion, he may be granted the honors of the third degree--the Fellowship Degree of Honor.

He is then able to wear the Fellowship regalia and the Fellowship lapel pin. Conferral of the Fellowship Degree takes place at the International Moose Convention and at state and provincial association conventions and authorized special meetings.

The first full week in December is set aside each year as "Fellowship Degree Honor Week," and all Lodges throughout the Moose domain are requested to conduct appropriate activities to pay tribute to their members of the third degree.

The highest and most coveted degree of the Order, the Pilgrim Degree of Merit, is conferred on roughly between 150 and 200 Moose members each year, and only in a solemn and impressive ceremony held in late May or early June in the House of God on the Mooseheart campus.

Only those who have compiled an outstanding record of meritorious service to the Order over a period of many years receive this distinction. Pilgrims are entitled to wear the gold Pilgrim jacket and tie, and the Pilgrim lapel pin.

One of the most colorful rituals in the Moose is the Pilgrim regalia presentation ceremony. When a new Pilgrim is named, his home Lodge sponsors a ceremony in which Pilgrims in the area convene in their regalia to invest him with his Pilgrim apparel. Some larger Moose Associations have received permission to "present" all of their year's Pilgrims at one time, in a statewide ceremony.

The regalia of the Moose Legion, Fellowship Degree of Honor, and Pilgrim Degree of Merit can be worn at any authorized Moose function--but must be worn in their entirety; it is improper to wear a degree jacket without its correlating necktie, or vice versa.

Members of the Fellowship Degree and Pilgrim Degree are recognized throughout the Moose organization as fraternal leaders because they have earned the respect of their brother Moose by their service to the Order.

MOOSE LEGION TRIVIA

The Moose Legion has been known as: Mooseheart Legions of the World, Legion of the Moose and Moose Legion.

The Moose Legion was created in 1913, first by the delegates of the Moose Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio in June, with the final approval granted by the Supreme Council at their November 1913 meeting.

From 1913 until 1931, members of the women's organization were part of the Moose Legion.

The first regalia of the Moose Legion was the Fez, similar in style to the Fez worn by Masonic Shriners, and was later changed to the Tah, which became history in 1992.

The initial purpose of the Moose Legion was to raise a one million dollar Endowment Fund.

The Moose Legion has always been known as the "Degree of Service".

Various titles associated with the Director of the Moose Legion have been: Grand Regent, Grand Recorder, Grand Herder and Director.

Various titles associated with the highest office in the Moose Legion have been: Grand Commander, Grand Governor, Grand North Moose and International President.

In the past, both the Moose Legion and Women of the Moose have used the words 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity' in their Rituals, and until 1992 the official emblems were almost identical, utilizing the red heart and pyramid.

For a five year period, the Headquarters of the Moose Legion was located in Washington, DC.

The Moose Legion financed the initial dairy herd at Mooseheart.

The Moose Legion financed the construction of and addition to the Museum of Moose History on the Mooseheart campus.

The Moose Legion financed the construction of the metric track at the Mooseheart Stadium.

The Moose Legion finances the annual cost of operations for Mooseheart's Camp Ross.

Quarterly meetings of the Moose Legion have been known as: Meeting, Conclave, Jamboree, Frolic, Ceremonial and Celebration.

The highest office in a Moose Legion has been known as: Great North Moose, North Moose and President.

The two words which were included on the official Moose Legion emblem until 1992 were: "Alces Machlis". (Alces, meaning, 'large wild beast'-such as moose and Machlis, meaning 'leader'.)