Chapter 3 – The Eagles Charade
[Working Draft, Nov. 1, 2009]

   Chapter 1 introduced the Fraternal Order of Eagles as an adult fraternity. This chapter explores another characteristic of the organization – its religious side.

Eagles Mission Statement

   The Eagles describes its mission as “an international non-profit organization, unite[d] fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills, and by promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.” [1] Very laudable. Conspicuously absent, however, is any mention of religion.

The Dark Side of the Eagles — Overwhelming Evidence of a Religious Purpose

   But there is a dark side of the Eagles — it’s an unspoken purpose to promote Christianity. The evidence is incontrovertible:

1. Belief in a supreme being is required for Eagles membership.


2. The Eagles “are united to preserve liberty, insist on truth, demand justice and promote equality. We do things for home, for country and for God.”


3. The Fraternal Order of Eagles distributed tens thousands of Ten Commandments prints in the 1950's to schools and courthouses, and sold them to the public.


4. Between 1955 and 1985, more than 150 Eagles Ten Commandments monoliths were dedicated in 34 states and Canada -- many to cities and states for display on public property. (See Ten Commandments Project Impacts Lives.)


5. In 1958, the Eagles printed 250,000 copies of the 96-page proselytizing comic book On Eagles Wings and distributed them to Boy Scouts. (See Appendix 7 - F.O.E. Comic Book On Eagles Wings) The following quotes are examples of the proselytizing text found throughout the comic book:


• “In worship we give ourselves to God and He gives Himself to us... Jesus taught us that.” (Page 31.)
• “By living the way God wants you to. You know the rules now. And the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who live by them. That was Christ’s promise to us.” (Page 93.)
• “Today Gods words are again being written in stone. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is erecting granite monoliths as shown on the inside back cover [page 97]. This is being done as a reminder to all Americans that obedience to God's will is a man’s only assurance of peace and happiness.” (Page 95.)
• “These ten basic rules for right living must be observed by everyone.” (Page 95.)
• “The Commandments are the bedrock foundation of every American’s faith in God. Peace and freedom cannot endure unless every American governs his life by God’s law.” (Page 96.)


6. The Eagles tout the distribution of Ten Commandments monoliths and fight to keep the Commandments in public places as one of its major accomplishments.


7. In 2006, the Eagles worked with local government leaders to keep “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.


8. The Eagles currently sponsor a God, Flag and Country Public Speaking Program.


9. Aeries currently have, or did have, an official position of chaplain to facilitate the religious aspects of initiations and programs.


10. The Eagles added this Self-Pronouncing Edition of the Holy Bible to their museum collection in 2000.

   “Still not convinced. Here’s one more piece of evidence from none other than Judge E.J. Ruegemer:

Man made thousands of laws. God made only 10. They should suffice. And if mankind would heed those 10, it would be a better world in which to live.

   “Those were the words of Judge E. J. Ruegemer when he was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1992. Ruegemer helped institute the F.O.E.'s Ten Commandments project in 1951 by overseeing distribution of 7,000 small prints of the Ten Commandments,” according to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. [2]

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Endnotes:

1. Mission Statement is available at http://www.foe.com/about-us/mission.aspx.
2. Http://www.foe.com/about-us/ten-commandments.aspx