MOLLUS, or the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, is a nonprofit patriotic, historical and educational society dedicated to preserving and promoting the memory of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War through ongoing programs, special events, scholarship, and other activities. While membership was originally limited to Union officers of the Civil War, today’s MOLLUS is composed of descendants of Union officers (hereditary members) and others (associate members) who share the ideals of the Order.
Absolutely. While MOLLUS is a hereditary society, it also has an associate membership category for individuals not qualifying for hereditary membership. Please refer to the Membership Page for further information on becoming a member.
MOLLUS does not have a museum. The museum commonly associated with MOLLUS, founded as the War Library and Museum of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in 1888 and whose first president was Rutherford B. Hayes, was divested by MOLLUS in the 1970s. The War Library’s successor organization, the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia currently finds itself with a collection but no physical plant.
Lex Regit Arma Tuentur, the Order’s motto, is roughly translated as “Law rules, arms protect.” Its adoption as the motto in 1866 is generally attributed to Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, although the phrase was in use long before, appearing on a colonial-era three dollar note issued by the Colony of New York.
