Independent Order of Odd Fellows

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The I.O.O.F. Hall at the corner of Yonge and College in Toronto, Ontario
The I.O.O.F. Hall at the corner of Yonge and College in Toronto, Ontario
There are various Orders of Odd Fellows world wide, usually chartered geographically, tracing their origins back to the parent Oddfellows service organizations (despite name changes) dating from the 1700s in England; this article is about the North American organization and fellowship.
For IOOF, the Australian investment company see IOOF (company)

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) is an altruistic fraternal organization derived from the similar English Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 1700s, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were far less common.[1] The word "Independent" in the organization name was given by the English parent organization as part of the chartered title in the new North American chapter:

“ The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. This lodge received its charter from Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England.[1] ”

[edit] History

Contents

In England, the official oddfellows organization name, "The Patriotic Order" was followed by successors during a period of merger and re-organization by the "Union of United Orders" and then "The Loyal Order", and finally the "Union Order".[citation needed] In 1813, various lodges of the Union Order organized the "Manchester Unity of Oddfellows" which chartered the I.O.O.F in North America in 1819.

While several unofficial lodges had existed in New York City before, because of the charter relationship, American Odd Fellowship is regarded as being founded in Baltimore in 1819, by Thomas Wildey and some of his associates[1], and the following year affiliated with the Manchester Unity. Within a few years the new American Lodges separated from the English Orders and formed the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Its ladies' auxiliary is known as the "Daughters of Rebekah" (aka the Rebekahs).[2] Both the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs have higher branches known as Encampments and Patriarchs Militant.

Today, some branches of the order (i.e. some countries) allow women to join the Odd Fellows itself, leading the Rebekahs to have declined in importance. Also, the higher branches and their degrees are, in some countries, becoming regarded as being of less importance or too time-consuming, and (in those countries) are gradually being abandoned.

[edit] Symbols, lodges, officers, positions and degrees

The most widely encountered symbol of the Odd Fellows - on signage and gravemarkers - is the three-link chain ("the Chain With Three Links", the "Triple Links") with three initials, 'F', 'L' and 'T', one each inside each link, signifying Friendship, Love and Truth.

The Odd Fellows have three levels of "Lodge": the Subordinate Lodge, the Encampment, and the Patriarchs Militant. In addition, there is a private club named The Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS).

[edit] Subordinate Lodge

The Subordinate Lodge is where it all begins, and is Odd Fellowship's equivalent of the Free Mason's Blue / Symbolic Lodge. The initials of the subourdinate lodge are "FLT" (Friendship, Love and Truth). Once one has made their way through all the degrees and has had the 3rd degree (truth) bestowed upon them, they are entitled to hold an officer position in their lodge, and are also eligible to go on further in Odd Fellowship through the higher degree branches such as the Encampment and the Patriarchs Militant (aka the Canton).

Subordinate Lodge Officer Positions (in no particular order)
  • Chaplin
  • Inside Guardian
  • Outside Guardian
  • Warden
  • Conductor
  • Color Bearer
  • Musician
  • Right Scene Supporter
  • Left Scene Supporter
  • Right Supporter to the Noble Grand
  • Left Supporter to the Noble Grand
  • Noble Grand (the equivalent of the Masonic "Worshipful Master")
  • Past Grand
  • Right Supporter to the Vice Grand
  • Left Supporter to the Vice Grand
  • Vice Grand
  • Treasurer
  • Recording Secretary
  • Financial Secretary
Subordinate Lodge Degrees

0 Initiatory
1 Friendship
2 Brotherly Love
3 Truth

[edit] Encampment

The Encampment is the Odd Fellows' equivalent to Freemasonry's "Scottish Rite", as they both offer the most degrees outside the Subordinate Lodge. Unlike Freemasonry, where one can choose either the Scottish or York Rite branches, in Odd Fellowship one must go through the Encampment first before seeking entrance into the highest branch the Patriarchs Militant. Once one has accomplished the 3rd degree of the Encampment, one is eligible to hold an officer position in the Encampment and is also eligible for the Patriarchs Militant.

The initials of the Encampment are FHC which stands for Faith, Hope and Charity. The Encampment's seal is a purple tent with golden trim, the triple links above the tent door and crossed shepherds crooks. One must retain his membership and remain in good standing within his own subordinate lodge while in the Encampment.

Encampment Degrees

1 Patriarch
2 Golden Rule
3 Royal Purple

[edit] Patriarchs Militant

The Patriarchs Militant (PM) is Odd Fellowship's equivalent of Freemasonry's "York Rite", and is the branch which offers the highest degree of the IOOF. There is only one degree, the Chevalier degree. Upon completion of this degree, one is entitled to hold office in the Canton. Sometimes the Patriarchs Militant is referred to as "the Canton", due to the Canton being the name used in lieu of "Lodge". The seal of the PM is a gold and jeweled crown, within which is a shepherds crook crossed with a sword and the triple links of Odd Fellowship connecting the two at the bottom. One must retain their membership and remain in good standing within both the subordinate lodge and Encampment while a member of the PM.

Patriarch Militant Degree

1 Chevalier

[edit] The Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS)

This is the Odd Fellow's equivalent of Freemasonry's Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (or Shriners). It is not an officially recognized body within Odd Fellowship; it is a private club to which only those who are Odd Fellows may belong. A brother who holds the third degree and is in good standing within his subordinate lodge (i.e. he has not been expelled or in arrears of dues, etc.) is eligible to make an application to join.

The brothers who belong to the AMOS, much like the Shriners, wear a red fez, but the tassel which hangs from the fez is of different colors depending on the degree attained or the office held. The seal of the AMOS is an owl sitting upon a pyramid. Above the owl are the words "WE NEVER SLEEP"; at the base of the pyramid is the word Xerxes, and below the pyramid is the Arabian sword called the Scimitar. The word Xerxes alludes to the password of the first degree of the AMOS.

The Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS) Degrees

1 Humility (or Samaritan) [Red fez with a yellow tassel]
2 Perfection (or Sheik) [Red fez with a red tassel]

[edit] Grand United Order of Odd Fellows

The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal organization founded in 1843 for black members.[3] Created at a time when the IOOF was primarily a white-only organization the GUOOF obtained its charter directly from the Manchester Unity in Great Britain so the American IOOF organization had no control over it. Although still in existence the membership in the US has declined, due to the mainstream IOOF no longer being segregated and also due to the decline in fraternal membership in general.

[edit] External links

[edit] Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Lodge buildings bearing the IOOF emblem stand in many small American towns. (Rockfield, Indiana shown.)
Lodge buildings bearing the IOOF emblem stand in many small American towns. (Rockfield, Indiana shown.)
IOOF History
Americas
Australiasia, Oceania
Europe

[edit] Oddfellows (UK)

See the Oddfellows article for more information about individual UK Lodges.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c I.O.O.F. background from homepage. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. “
       In 17th century England, it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called "Odd Fellows". Odd Fellows are also known as "The Three Link Fraternity" which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth.
        The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. This lodge received its charter from Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England.
        Odd Fellowship became the 1st national fraternity to include both men and women when it adopted the beautiful Rebekah Degree on September 20, 1851. This degree is based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible, and was written by the Honorable Schuyler Colfax who was Vice President of the United States during the period 1868-1873. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first fraternal organization to establish homes for our senior members and for orphaned children.    ”
  2. ^ Barry, Dan. "A Grand Gathering, but One With a Solemn Note", New York Times, August 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. "As with most matters of Odd Fellowship, nearly every aspect of the annual convention of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows must adhere to protocol. The dais for the officers’ banquet, for example, must be two-tiered and able to accommodate 50 people, important on the bottom, really important on the top. Seats for the sovereign grand master, the deputy sovereign grand master, the sovereign grand warden, the sovereign grand secretary and the sovereign grand treasurer. Seats for the leaders of the two uniformed branches, the Patriarchs Militant and its Ladies Auxiliaries. A seat for the president of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, established when the Odd Fellows long ago recognized “the need for a woman’s touch.”" 
  3. ^ Black Fraternal Orders at nathanielturner.com. Retrieved 2007-09-15.