p. 163Home Forum Benefit Order

This Order was founded by prominent members of the Modern Woodmen and of the Masonic Fraternity, and chartered under the laws of the State of Illinois, in 1892. “The Ritual finds its inspiration in Roman history. It was about the Roman Forum that Cicero, Caesar, Brutus, Anthony and other distinguished Romans met to discuss the questions of their time and form laws, and the Home Forum of to-day, adopting the old Roman name, meets to decide questions of interest to its members and impart the lesson of honesty, fraternity, benevolence, temperance, and patriotism, the initials of which are found in the angles of the golden star of the Order.” (Cyclopædia of Fraternities, pp. 136 and 137.)

From the Ritual, page 7, ff. President (to candidate): “… Will you promise … never to reveal what we shall here teach you?”

(The candidate will answer: “I will.”)

President: “Then I charge you to be circumspect. Treasure in your memory the words which shall be spoken to you, and seal your lips, that nothing may injure our Order or violate the pledge you have just made. Orator, you may now conduct our Friend to the Vice President, who will further enlighten him.”

(The Orator conducts the candidate to the station of the Vice President, who will rise. The Orator will signal and then say):

Orator: “Respected Vice President, this Wayfarer, who was lately introduced to our worthy President, has given the promise of secrecy and has been greeted as a Friend. With the charge of our President fresh in his mind, he comes to you that with your aid he may farther advance on his way.”

Vice President: “Friend, you are indeed welcome to this, the home of our loved Order. …”

“… As you entered this hall, you observed in the center of the room certain emblems, some of which are familiar to you. These objects we have adopted as symbols, and each is an embodiment of one of our fundamental principles. Each Companion when entering the Forum must advance to the Altar and turn, facing the Vice President who occupies this station, and give to him the Forum Signal, made thus (gives the signal). Having been recognized by the same signal, he may then retire to a seat anywhere in the Forum. Our Orator, who has faithfully guided you thus far, will now introduce you to the Historian. Salute him with the Forum signal and present him with this emblem (giving him the Fasces), and he will interpret for you its hidden meaning.”

(The Orator will proceed with the candidate to the Historian, signal and say):

Orator: “Venerable Historian, this Companion has just entered our Home and been welcomed at our fireside. What lessons of wisdom have you culled from ancient lore, that you may now impart to him?”

(The candidate will then give the Forum signal and tender to the Historian the Fasces, which he will accept, and then say):

Historian: “As you come bearing to me this emblem, you are thrice welcome. I greet you as a Companion, and will unfold to you the hidden meaning bound up in this Fasces. The pages of history (opening the Bible) tell of nations of old from whom we, even in this twentieth century, may learn wisdom. The massive architecture of the Pharaohs, the Proverbs of Solomon, the esthetic culture of the Athenians, and the legislation of Rome, alike excite our wonder and challenge our admiration. The artist who skillfully wrought the Parian marble has passed away, but the statue remains, a monument to his genius. The voices of the orator and the poet are stilled, but history has recorded their greatness on enduring tablets. Among these nations of antiquity, none has bequeathed to us a more perfect system of legislation than Rome. In the name of our Order, and in this Fasces, we revive the memory of the ancient Roman Forum. In the Forum the citizens assembled and discussed political affairs. Here the Tribunes, elected by the people—the House of Representatives of that early day—met and enacted laws for their government. Here Cato and Cicero, Hortensius and Caesar poured out their eloquence. Here were held the Courts of Justice, plaintiff and defendant arguing their causes in the light of day. Here were suspended the laws of the Twelve Tablets that he who runs may read. When the Justice entered the Forum to administer the law, he was preceded by a lictor bearing upright thus (illustrating) the Fasces, as an Emblem of Authority. The keen blade of the axe symbolized the majesty of the law, the bundle of rods, its power when firmly held together. When the Justice took his seat, the lictor inclined the Fasces thus (indicating), thereby acknowledging the sovereignty of the people. We have adopted this emblem, and in the hands of our President and Vice President, it signifies a ruling power which must be respected. Every Companion here has had a voice in framing our laws and in electing our officers; therefore the will of the people sustains this Emblem of Union and Power.”