Lodge, Club or Aerie?
Lodge, Club or Aerie?
What are we? And WHY?
Our organization was formed February 8, 1898 known as the “Order of Good Things”. On the 29th of April 1898 we were incorporated as the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. February the 27th 1905, Senate Bill No. 234 was submitted by Senator Moore to the State of Washington, Ninth Regular Session, to change the name to Grand Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles, Limited. On the 23rd day of July, 1906 the name was changed to “Grand Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles”. We are no longer a Lodge.
The Random House dictionary has twenty-five (25) definitions of the word club, of which only three have anything to do with charitable organizations. The word has a broad range of meanings, in some areas of the country it is associated with gangs. It is unfortunate that there are Aeries that operate as clubs and have little to do with what the “Fraternal Order of Eagles” stands for. Those that do are truly clubs and not Aeries.
In the Funk and Wagnall's dictionary there are only two (2) definitions.
1. The nest of a predatory bird, as an Eagle on a crag.
2. The brood or young of such a bird. We as members of this great organization are the brood.
We know that we do not operate as a Lodge. Most Aeries operate under a club license
which is either issued by the State, County, City or Town in which they preside. That could be the explanation why many call it a club. Why are we not as well known as the other organizations such as the Elks or Moose? We feel it is because we do not promote the word Aerie when we talk about our organization. How many times have you heard or used the phrase Eagles club when you talk about the Eagles? If we were to use the word Aerie more, then if anyone should question us about it, it would give us the opportunity to explain who we are. The word Aerie is what separates us from every other organization. As for us, we're very proud to belong to this great fraternity and will always promote its ideals.
Anyone can belong to a club; only Eagles can belong to an Aerie!
We belong to an Aerie, not a Club or Lodge!
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