Philadelphia bustled and tumbled with the 39th convention of the Loyal Order of Moose—membership, 650,000; slogan, "Pap." Some 50,000 delegates attended, together with 1,200 women auxiliaries who were last week admitted to a men's session for the first time.
The mood of the convention was described by Editor Donald F. Stewart* of the Mooseheart Magazine (monthly circulation, 763,000). "The most significant aspect," he said, ". . . is that it marks the end of... shoulder-slapping, grips and passwords and the beginning of a new fraternalism at work on a concrete program of social service for the welfare of the entire community."
Nevertheless, shoulder-slapping, grips and the password, "Howdy, Pap!" were not entirely laid aside before the Mooses sat down to discuss their concrete program. The word "pap" does not connote, to Mooses, a bland sort of mush or gruel fed to infants. When Moose greets Moose he merely pronounces the initials of "Purity, Aid, Progress." There was, of course, a gorgeous parade, which rain could not discourage, through streets which the Philadelphia Moose lodge (the largest, with 30,000 members) had spent some $35,000 to decorate becomingly with moose statues on pedestals, an arch of loyalty, flags, bunting, etc.
U. S. Secretary of Labor James J. Davis, director general of the order, made an oration to the effect that men should not be "scrapped" at 50 but preserved by society for a useful old age. He described Moosehaven, the order's Florida home for aged Mooses, as a place "to live, labor and love" instead of "to loaf, linger and die." He went on for two hours—when a page brought him a note from his wife that it was time to stop.
The man whose secretary Mrs. Davis (Jean Rodenbaugh) was before her marriage, Rodney H. Brandon, Moose executive secre- tary, explained the order's new concrete program. "Let's broaden our horizon!" he declared. "Let's remember other people's children as well as those who are children of Moose!" To do so, thought Mr. Brandon, would stamp out crime.
At Mooseheart, Ill., is a home for orphaned Moose boys and girls. They are taught trades, educated through high school, afforded college scholarships. Director General Davis suggested that Moose children may be admitted in future at the death of their mother only, provided their fathers pay tuition.
Sir John Daniel, "Biscuit king of Great Britain" and Cardiff shipbuilder, headed a delegation of Welsh Moose; handed Director General Davis a gavel made of wood from the house where Mr. Davis was born, in Tredegar, Wales.
To succeed Norman G. Heyd of Toronto as Supreme Dictator, the Moose elected Ethelred M. Stafford of New Orleans.
Black Elks