4
lems of caring for their dependents as each such problem arose, but have, beside, built up a surplus value of two million dollars in Mooseheart. They have not seen fit, so far, to place any portion of this original cost upon those men who will enjoy Mooseheart protection in future years. By such a policy they have made safer the future of their children.
Most fraternal institutions have a big waiting list. The war and the flu will most certainly result in such a list for Mooseheart unless we see fit to make more facilities available this year. An abnormal death rate means an abnormal demand.
Note the following letter:
Milwaukee, Wis., March 4, 1919. Editor Mooseheart Magazine,
Dear Sir:	In the March number of
the Mooseheart Magazine appeared an article on “Reconstruction” by Brother Simon Merkle of Pittsburgh Lodge, which I read with much interest. “Big and startling” was the editor’s comment on it, and I agree with him. It is a good one and should not be passed up unnoticed. I for one am in favor of Brother Merkle’s idea and suggestion of a reconstruction dollar and mine is ready when asked for, and another to go with it if necessary.
A great many surprises have sprung up as a result of the war, and no doubt there are many yet to come. I think it would be a good thing to prepare to meet unforseen conditions which are sure to arise. Surely no good Moose would want to even think of the splendid progress of Mooseheart being interrupted for the sake of a dollar. Plainly speaking, any brother who would balk at that is not a good Moose. A good Moose is like a good soldier, he never looks back.
I am heartily in favor of the Reconstruction dollar idea and would like to see it adopted at the convention at Mooseheart in June.
I would suggest, Mr. Editor, that you republish Brother Merkle’s article in the April number of the Magazine.
Fraternally yours, in P., A. P.,
E. G. WOOLEVER.
Member Cleveland, 63.
This is but one opinion.
The direct question is this: Shall we allow Mooseheart to develop in a normal way and admit only the normal increase in population, or shall we note the extreme problem of the moment and make our brother know that Mooseheart will be made ready to take his child in pestilence and plague, in influenza and in war, just the same as in peace and normal times?
This is a big question. The delegates to the next convention will have to face it. Why not go into your Lodge and discuss the question now ? Why not attend every Lodge meeting from now until convention and see to it that your delegate understands fully the inportanee of the issue.
Why not write to the Supreme Secretary yourself so he may read your letter to the convention?
His Views of the Institution
“HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD”
Five simple words, a grand Doxology The multum in parvo of a life complete,
An orchestra that makes Theology A tinkling cymbal. A phrase that metes The plan of man’s salvation. A bugle call That shakes the very citadels of Hell,
A great acheivement with a record small,
An eulogy, that knows no parellel.
The Alpha and Omega of all creed. _
The sum and substance of all Christian law, A curt biography of Him who freed All men and Nations from a tyrants cause. The doctrine of the Golden Rule in Acts,
The Genesis of moral laws explained,
The title of a Savior proved by facts Man, in Divine habiliments arrayed.
The latent good in man made manifest Human superiority declared.
Mortal, transformed by the Diefic test The bridge disrupted by man’s fall repaired.
My love to all the boys and girls at Mooseheart, and best wishes to all those whose life means going about doing good.
Sincerely and cordially yours,
CHAS. H. STEPHEN.
Elgin Lodge No. 799.
MOOSEHEART MAGAZINE
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Another National Service
| rJ^HF Federal Government, ap- | preciative of the good work §§ | done last summer by Moose-■ | | heart in preparing soldiers for g 1 special engineering service in the jj
■	army, has just solicited, through | 1 the Rehabilitation Division of j 1 the Federal Board for Vocational i | Education a similar service on j | behalf of disabled returned sol— jj | cliers to prepare them for self- jj | supporting occupations. The j 1 Mooseheart Governors, conscious |j 1 of the unanimous approval in the | | Order of the previous effort, have I
■	assured the government that 1
I every effort would be made to ■' I co-operate along these lines. 1 | Within a few weeks, therefore, | I a considerable number of adult | | students will be housed at Auro— | | ra and Batavia and will be given ■ | the benefit of Mooseheart’s voca— 1 j tional courses.	J
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men is within reasonable distance so each Lodge Secretary should therefore take note: If on the first day of the quarter they do not have their blanks, get a pair from the nearest one of these officers. If their supply should be exhausted, send a telegram “collect” to the Supreme Secretary immediately.
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THE RECONSTRUCTION DOLLAR.
THE suggestion of Great North Moose Merkle of Mooseheart Legion in the March Magazine that each Moose invest a “reconstruction dollar” in Mooseheart next year in addition to his regular contribution, seeking thereby to give employment to members out of work, has raised considerable comment throughout the Order. The application of many diversified minds to the question has brought a multitude of suggestions much broader than Bro. Merkle originally expressed.
The general membership appears to feel that not enough thought has been given to the far-reaching cost and effect of the influenza-pneumonia epidemic. The direct cost to Mooseheart alone in labor, medicines and collateral expense is in excess of twenty-two thousand dollars. An estimate based upon the experience of some of our larger lodges indicates that the cost in sick and death benefits to the Lodges was near two dollars per member or at least one million dollars in the aggregate. So far practically all of the Lodges appear to be able to meet these figures, and remain financially sound (and all have paid their beneficiaries), although many were forced to withdraw much cherished investments, and some were made to borrow against future beneficiary reserves.
The big question, however, is the ultimate cost to Mooseheart in caring for the resulting orphans. No one can yet estimate the number of widows who are struggling bravely to continue their domestic establishments and who may, at any time, admit defeat and ask for Mooseheart protection. Already many cases have been accepted which would not have appeared under normal conditions.
For example, in one instance, after the mother and father of four young children had died the grandmother was called upon to care for them. Within a few days the grandmother herself succumbed to the disease. These four nttie ones are now at Mooseheart.
The progr m of Mooseheart protection—that of caring for and educating the dependent double orphans of any great m:. :f ״ erage men at a dollar a year each—is actual!?־ sound if the membership be truly average in single and married men, rich and poor, well and ill, and if the death rates be normal. The year 1918, however, was by no means normal in death rates. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. found its payments $16,000,000 greater than normal. The fraternal insurance companies admit a ratio 250% higher than calculated. In other words, the influenza-pneumonia epidemic brought about 700,000 extra deaths and most fraternal insurance orders have made extra assessments to meet their conditions.
Mooseheart protection is, from the insurance man’s viewpoint a life insurance policy for about $2,700 upon the membership, with, of course, the necessity for paying only a relatively small percentage of the insured. The average Mooseheart ward lives at the institution nine years and three
hundred dolars per year is a low estimate of expense.
Everyone knows, of course, that a $2,700 policy cannot be carried for a dollar a year if payment is to be made at each death. Mooseheart service, however, is extended only when it is needed, while the life insurance company has to pay the beneficiary regardless of his financial condition.
In general, and in normal times, the scheme of a dollar a year for such service as Mooseheart gives is adequate to maintain the dependent population which results from a normal death rate. No one would suggest, however, that it is adequate in times of war or in a period of death-dealing epidemic.
The men who have constituted the membership of the Moose Lodges from 1912-1919 have done a wonderful work. They have not only met the prob-
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The Author of “Mooseheart,” the Much Applauded Poem, Gives
Had I and my brothers and sisters, or even a few of us had the advantages that Mooseheart offers the fatherless, I think I would have made a more useful citizen, and what I failed to receive for myself, I want to see others get if possible.
When I was a kid, I loved toys, and games, and lots of room to scamper around. When I got a little older, I loved sports and good companions, and later on I learned to love the girls, and it has brought me to a place where I love men. I have now arrived at the stage where I really live. Every day is a Thanksgiving day, and every task a joy. Life means service, and that service spent in the cause of Humanity, means the realization of true manhood. It teaches us that we are here for a purpose, and that our success in life can only be measur-ed by the good we can do.
Upon the principles upon which Mooseheart was founded and is conducted, rests the assurance of of the continuance of those great ideals that must make America a Nation of humanitarians. I am a Moose just because of Mooseheart, and I expect to live to see the day when our institution shall be known all over Christendom, for to my mind it is what may be called practical Christianity. While I do not claim the distinction of being a church member, my admiration of the Christ is summed up in the words, “He Went about Doing Good,” and in closing I will write you a copy of my comments on that phrase.
Huntley, Illinois February 6th, 1919 RODNEY H. BRANDON, Esq.,
Mooseheart, Illinois.
My Dear Sir and Brother : :—
Sometime ago I received a letter from you acknowledging the receipt of my composition, “Mooseheart.” At that time you said some very nice things concerning it, and I naturally took it, that out of good heart, you wished to be complimentary. Upon receiving my January copy of Mooseheart Magazine, and discovering how beautifully you set it up, I realized that you meant all the good things you said, and I sincerely thank you for .it.
When I think of the space, prominence and set-, ting of the poem, I feel a tinge of that pride, that knows no conceit, because seven years after I was born in Wales, I was left fatherless, at the age of 12 I was compelled by circumstances to leave school and contribute to the support of a large family. I endeavored to use the little education I had received in getting more, and have susceeded to a point where one of my compositions has been deemed worthy to circulate through the homes of every State in the Union.
Having received so many benefits from thê country that adopted me has made this possible, do you wonder therefore, that my admiration for such a pure American Institution as Mooseheart, makes me a champion of the cause.