Beth Israel Cemetery, Portland, Oregon
The metal medalion from a gravestone in the Beth Israel Cemetery at Portland, Oregon, marks the grave of a member of the Woodman of the World Organization.
The organization was founded by Joseph Cullen Root. “During a Sunday sermon in Lyons, Iowa, Root heard the pastor tell a parable about the good that came from woodmen clearing away the forest to build homes, communities, and security for their families. He adopted the term Woodmen.”
The influence of that sermon can also been seen in the metal marker above that has the symbols of the organization – axe, beetle (a sledge hammer or maul) and wedge – symbolizing industry, power and progress. The Latin phrase DUM TACET CLAMAT which means “though silent, he speaks” adorns the medalion.
Root wanted to make sure that after the death of the breadwinner that the family would be protected through a death benefit payout, which was one of the goals of providing insurance to the members of the society.
Gravely Speaking 
I saw this on a grave site in Flowers MS “erected by the woodman of the world” and was wondering what dum facet Clamato mean
We have a “button”, plastic and metal with a photograph of someone from my husband’s family. It has all of the traditional symbols of the Woodmens medallion. Do you know if there is a way to have this identified and/or authenticated??
Warm regards,
Julie Mealor
Julie, If you share a picture of the front of the button and the back of the button, I will see what I can find out. My email address is douglas.rife@solutiontree.com
is it worth anything= by that the words have a lot of meaning- value
Refreshing , ever constant and assuring . MK1961
In Colorado, we saw quite a few tree stump gravestones that were associated with members of the Woodmen of the World. I don’t have a picture, but I found two articles about their use of the tree stump design:
https://historichouston1836.com/woodmen-of-the-world/
https://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/2011/06/woodmen-of-world-and-tree-stone-grave.html
There was also a related organization, the Women of Woodcraft. Kind of a “ladies auxiliary”?
You are absolutely correct, Women of Woodcraft was a ladies auxiliary organization.
My great grandfather’s grave has these inscriptions. He was killed in a railroad accident in 1902 and left behind 3 children. Curious thing is I was told my great grandmother was left destitute and gave the children up. Did she really receive a death benefit or not? If not why not if her spouse was a member of the woodman if the world? Or….maybe she kept the money? FYI she remarried and is buried alone in a cemetery about 10 miles from him.
Gina
I found an aluminum “coin” with the Woodmen of the World logo and the Latin phrase Dum Tacet Clamant on one side with a bird with a small branch in its beak flying right to left above the logo. The reverse had Woodmen of the World around the edge and in the center the words “one Penny”. It was in a small box that had a number of 1940s coins it it. There were no doubt many thousands of these coins made but I am interested in this coin history. When was it made ? Was there a special purpose for it?