A Fraternal History of Marin County California

Woodmen of the World (WOW)

In Marin County, California, there were at least three Woodmen's Lodges: Mira Monte Camp No. 359, Woodmen of the World (San Rafael); Red Hill Camp No. ?, San Anselmo, and Sausalito Camp No. 660, Woodmen of the World.

Mira Monte Camp No. 359, Woodmen of the World (January 1922 installed at the Odd Fellows Hall in San Rafael, jointly with Red Hill Camp of San Anselmo). Mira Monte Camp was charted in approximately 1897 on March 13th, with 13 candidates; they camp lost its key to the Odd Fellows Hall and had to crawl through a rear window to get in. It celebrated its 25th anniversary and was still meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall in March 1922. Charter members included Neil McPhail, August Bodin, E.W. Smith, J.W. Schlosser, Martin Madsen, and E.E. Bogle. Installed in 1923. There is a small (now neglected) section of Mira Monte Camp's member's graves in the Tamalpais Cemetery (San Rafael) which are marked with cement tree stumps decorated with various symbols of the Woodmen of the World; sadly, many of these are toppled and/or overgrown.

Sausalito Camp No. 660, Woodmen of the World, installed officers in January 1906.

Woodmen of the World - Background, History, Ritual and Emblems

Modern Woodmen of America

Modern Woodmen of the World Modern Woodmen was founded in 1883 by Joseph Cullen Root in Lyons, Iowa. Root was an enthusiastic joiner: he was or had been a member of the Freemasons, Knights of Pythias, and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He dreamed of a fraternal benefit society, one designed to provide financial security to families from all walks of life.

Root had envisioned a self-governing society whose members came from local camps (lodges) across America. The Woodmen of America was not without its own semi-military "Uniform Rank." It was called the Woodcraft's Uniform Rank - Foresters Department, described as "The Soldiers of Woodcraft."

Three disaffected members of the original Modern Woodmen organization organized the Woodmen of the World in 1890.

The motto of the society was "per autre vie," "for the life of another." The lodge system, which remains in effect today, nurtures community spirit by bringing families together for wholesome, social, recreational and service activities.

Woodmen of the World provided funeral benefits to members: Tomb stones in the shape of a tree stump, split with a wedge, decorated with beetle, axe and sledge, and bearing the motto "Dum Tacet Clamat" ("though silent he speaks") can be found in most cemeteries.

The emblems associated with the Woodmen are: The axe, wedge and beetle (Modern Woodmen's working tools signifying industry, power and progress); the log and maple leaf (Modern Woodmen's shield of protection and brotherhood); a palm, five stars and a shield (representing peace, light and safety); and the Modern Woodmen goat. Colors included red (life and action), white (innocence and purity of intention) and green (immortality).