Founded Oct. 6, 1913, Warsaw Moose Lodge 1423 will celebrate its 100th anniversary this weekend. “It’s a fraternity that does community service, takes care of and supports orphans at Mooseheart in Aurora, Ill., and the elderly at Moosehaven in Jacksonville, Fla. It takes them really from the cradle to the grave,” explained Dan McClone, 30-year Lodge administrator. McClone’s grandfather, Henry Secor, was a charter member of the Moose. Moose Lodges in each state support their state house at Mooseheart. The Warsaw Lodge helps support the Indiana house. There are six to seven orphans per unit and each unit is raised like a family, McClone stated. Mooseheart has its own school, and the church, The House of God, hosts seven denominations. “This church is so impressive,” McClone said. The Moose stands for “Purity, Aid and Progress,” he noted. The Warsaw Moose has done community service for all of its 100 years, McClone said, and has held funeral dinners. It supports Little League and bowling teams. It is a non-smoking fraternity. All of its fundraisers are Lodge oriented, McClone said, with no solicitation of the community. The Loyal Order of the Moose was founded in Louisville, Ky., in 1888 by Dr. J. Wilson. The first Lodge was in Cincinnati, Ohio, and originally was designed to be a white man’s Lodge. In 1973, this rule was changed and now the Lodge accepts members without regard to race, ethnicity or religion. Today, there are Moose Lodges all across the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Famous Moose members include Larry Bird, Tony Stewart, Evan Bayh and Neil Armstrong. Armstrong actually took his membership card to the moon with him, and when he returned dedicated it to the museum at Mooseheart, McClone said. According to past Governor and Pilgrim Glen Robinson, there are three degrees of membership in the Moose. The Legion of the Moose is the first degree and is earned just by paying dues. Members wear a red jacket. The second degree is the Fellowship, and members earn a blue jacket through Lodge work. The final degree is the Pilgrim, and those who earn that status get a gold jacket. Robinson said that is earned by time of service. This year, only seven Moose members in Indiana earned the Pilgrim degree, with just 147 out of the total 1.4 million membership earning the degree. In the Warsaw Moose history, only six have ever attained that level. Robinson said that at any one time, there are only about 2,000 members holding Pilgrim degrees. Until 1967, the Moose was in downtown Warsaw on the corner of Indiana and Market streets in the “Opera House,” across from the Times building. The building began as a public hall in 1873, and people like poet James Whitcomb Riley would come to dance with the ladies. Then, on Friday, Oct. 13, 1967, a fire destroyed the Lodge and several other businesses. It was considered the largest fire in Warsaw up to that time. For a few months afterward, the Moose held its meetings in various locations. The organization tried to move out to where John Wong’s restaurant is now, but they couldn’t transfer their liquor license because it was in a different township, Plain Township. Ed Shaffner then sold the Moose its current location at 1815 W. Lake St., where it’s been ever since, McClone said. The Warsaw Moose is in the Second District, which includes seven other Lodges. There are 10 districts in Indiana. Most districts have 10 to 12 Lodges. Currently, the Warsaw Moose has about 400 male members. The local Lodge dropped the Women of the Moose charter, but about 300 local women belong to Chapter 3000 from Mooseheart, McClone explained. It has open membership, and is not a service club, McClone said. Applications are available at the Lodge for men and women. Members must be 21, but children can come in with family until 9:30 p.m. Dinners are held Friday nights, and Fridays also are Family Nights, with entertainment like karaoke. To celebrate the 100th anniversary this weekend, several events are planned. Trustee Marty White said band Short Term Memory will play at 7 p.m. Friday, with Random Play performing at 7 p.m. Saturday. There will be a supper on Friday, and finger foods on Saturday. Door prizes will be awarded. Corn hole starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, with a bake sale Friday and Saturday. All the events Friday and Saturday are open to the public, White said.
