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'People Helping People'
The History of the Eagles
It was over 100 years ago on February 6th, 1898 the FraternalOrder of Eagles was founded by six theater owners sitting on a pile of lumber inMoran's shipyard in Seattle Washington. Competitors in the theater industry,they met to discuss a musicians strike. After deciding what to do on that issue,they decided to bury the hatchet and form an organization dubbed 'The Orderof Good Things'. The first meetings were held on the stages of various local theaters andafter the business was settled a keg of beer was rolled out and all enjoyed afew hours of social activities. A few weeks later as their numbers grew theychose the Bald Eagle as their official emblem and changed the name to 'TheFraternal Order of Eagles.' The membership formed a Grand Aerie in April1898, secured a charter, drew up a constitution and by-laws and elected it'sfirst president, John Cort. Most of the first Eagle members were connected with the theatre, actors,stagehands, playwrights, etc., and as they went on tour they carried the storyof the new order with them across the United States and Canada. This is thereason the Eagles grew so quickly and all the way across the country. Manycities in the east have low Aerie numbers such as New York #40, Philadelphia #42and Buffalo #46. The idea spread like wildfire. The order was unique in it's concept ofbrotherhood and it's early success has been attributed to it's establishment ofa sick and funeral benefit (no Eagle was ever buried in a 'Potter'sField'), along with provisions for an Aerie physician and other'fringe benefits', unknown in other fraternal organizations up to thattime. As the Eagles grew, so did its responsibilities to it's members. Its firstConstitution and By-Laws were merely copied from those previously used by adefunct fraternal organization and it took later members like Frank Hering - the'Father of Mothers Day,' and long time editor of the National EaglePublication - to revise the By-Laws and make them unique from any otherorganization. Hering, a member of South Bend Aerie No. 435, who had been Notre Dame'sfirst Athletic Director and a great football quarterback and baseball player,wrote the order's funeral service. When he died in 1943 his stirring words wererecited over his own body by Grand Worthy president Lester Loble. It was menlike Hering who kept the Eagles from going under during the difficult days atthe turn of the century and built the solid foundation it rests on today. Over the years, the Eagles have fought and won many bitter battles for aWorkman's Compensation Act, Mothers and Old Age Pensions, Social Security lawsand 'Jobs After 40' and are still fighting to liberalize presentsocial benefits along with combating vicious diseases plaguing mankind throughtheir sponsorship of the Art Ehrmann Cancer Fund, Max Bear Heart Fund, JimmyDurante Children's Fund, 'Doc' Dunlap Kidney Fund and the DiabetesFund. Many great social and political leaders have belonged to the Eagles. President Theodore Roosevelt was one of the many who joined and praised theorder for its humanitarian accomplishments, as did a later Roosevelt - FranklinD. President Harry S. Truman often reiterated that the Eagles were histype of organization - one founded by, and for the common man. As you learn about our history, you will see we are just like you. Proud, Caring, People Helping People, that understand that the needs of the many will always outweigh the needs of the few.
THE STORY OF THE EAGLES is a story of fraternal crusading. There issomething about the Fraternal Order of Eagles that is different, distinctive,something not to be found in any other Order,' Since February of 1898, when the Order was founded by six theater owners in aSeattle waterfront shipyard, the Eagles not only welcomed the average man as amember, but fought for his right to a life of dignity and self-respect. To callthe roll of early Eagle crusades -- for Workmen's Compensation Act, Mother'sPensions, Old Age Pensions and Social Security Laws - is to know what theHoosier Congressman Louis Ludlow had in mind when he said of the Order, 'Itreaches out and tries to help in solving the distressing and difficult problemsof human relief.' As the late Franklin D. Roosevelt suggested they be, Eagles' crusades arecontinuing. 'The pen I am presenting to the order is a symbol of my approval ofthe Fraternity's vision and courage,' said Roosevelt when he signed theSocial Security Act on Aug. 14, 1935, and gave the pen he used to the Eagles.'May its possession inspire your members to rededicate their efforts andthose of the fraternity to the insuring of such economic and politicalconditions as well being a greater degree of happiness to our people.' February 6 -- The anniversary of the founding of the Eagles -- is a roadmarker, pointing the way to the future as well as commemorating the progressthat we have made. To Eagle programs for Old Age Security, Cancer Research,Youth Guidance and Inter-Faith Brotherhood must be added resolute Eagle supportfor making democracy work and helping freedom ‘ring round the world. ForEagledom, more than anything else, is a dream -- the dream that ordinary men andwomen everywhere are entitled to and shall enjoy the right to life, to libertyand to the pursuit of happiness with some reasonable chance of catching up to itin their lifetimes. Fraternal Order of Eagles Milestone ofEagle Progress1904 On February 7th Frank E. Heringmade the first known public plea for a nationwide observance for Mother's Day. 1923 25th Anniversary 1925 The Society of American WarMothers proclaim Frank E. Hering 'The Father of Mother's Day'. 1948 50th Anniversary 1950 Financed the entrance of The Chapel of the FourChaplains. 1973 75th Anniversary 1974 Established 'Jimmy Durante Eagle House' inManagua, Nicaragua. 1998 100th Anniversary 1998 International Convention takes place. $1,000,000 given to Charities at Grand Aerie Convention.
Last update 01/27/2013 |