Odd Fellows, Independent Order of, is one of the major fraternal and benevolent orders in the United States. The order was founded in England. The date of its founding is not known, but Odd Fellows’ groups probably existed in the early 1700’s. The members founded a system of benefits and helped one another in time of misfortune. Branches called lodges grew up in the various English cities, but each branch refused to admit the superior rank of any other. Adjustments were finally made, and in 1814, the Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized. Today, this organization has branches in various countries, but it has no connection with the order in the United States.
The American order.
In 1819, the Washington Lodge of Odd Fellows was organized in Baltimore. The next year, Washington Lodge became a subordinate lodge in the Manchester Unity. Other American lodges were established later and assumed a like position.
In 1843, the American lodges separated themselves from the parent order in England. The United States grand lodge became the head of the order in America and reserved for itself the right to found new lodges in Europe. The Canadian branch operated under a separate charter until 1852. In that year, the society in Canada was merged with the grand lodge of the United States.
Purpose and organization.
The chief purpose of the Order of Odd Fellows is to give aid, assistance, and comfort to its members and their families. It also does local charitable and volunteer work. It has its own system of rites and passwords. The three links in its symbol represent friendship, love, and truth.
A local lodge can confer three degrees of membership upon an Odd Fellow. When a member has reached the highest of these three degrees, he is ready for membership in an encampment. The encampment also has three degrees of membership, the Patriarchal, the Golden Rule, and the Royal Purple. The Patriarchal is an English degree. Since 1884, there has also been a military or uniformed degree called the Patriarchs Militant.
The Rebekah lodges in Odd Fellows are chiefly for women, although some men belong. Rebekah assemblies were organized in 1851, and they continue to provide much volunteer work for the order. The headquarters of the order are in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
