Glass
26th October 2013, 06:51 PM
anyone heard of these guys? Until yesterday I had not.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a global altruistic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruistic) and benevolent fraternal organization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraternal_and_service_organizations) derived from the British Oddfellows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oddfellows) service organizations of the 17th century.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1) There are a number of explanations of the origin of the name – for example:
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".[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
The Order is also known as "The Three Link Fraternity", referring to the Order's "Triple Links" logo - three links contain the letters F, L and T, (Friendship, Love and Truth).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
The word "Independent" in the organization's name was given by the English parent organization as part of the chartered title of 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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Unity_of_Odd_Fellows) in England.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
Odd Fellowship became the first fraternity in the U.S. to include both men and women when it adopted the "Beautiful Rebekah Degree" on September 20, 1851. This degree is based on teachings found in the Holy Bible, and was written by the Honorable Schuyler Colfax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuyler_Colfax) who was Vice President of the United States during the period 1868-1873. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first U.S. fraternal organizations to establish homes for senior members and for orphaned children.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
In Australia it known by it's Manchester links from what I can tell. It's clear from the wiki that there are masonic themes in this organisation. It looks like a differently branded branch of the masons. While doing research on the family tree, we have been chasing down various branches of the family to pick their brains about our ancestory. It seems there has been maybe 4 different research efforts over the past 2 -3 decades by various branches.
Extensive work done by the branch I am in was passed around Australia for people to add to or correct. No one knows where that info is now but it represents about 4 years research and much travelling around the world to dig through church and county records going back centuries. I have been trying to push people to build on this work amd we are now trying to find who has all the research that was already done.
It is becoming possible that there has been a very long association with these certain groups in my family for centuries and I am getting the feeling possibly since the very begining.
I have tried to highlight important thing in the above quote. Can you see the point of that?
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a global altruistic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruistic) and benevolent fraternal organization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraternal_and_service_organizations) derived from the British Oddfellows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oddfellows) service organizations of the 17th century.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1) There are a number of explanations of the origin of the name – for example:
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".[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
The Order is also known as "The Three Link Fraternity", referring to the Order's "Triple Links" logo - three links contain the letters F, L and T, (Friendship, Love and Truth).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
The word "Independent" in the organization's name was given by the English parent organization as part of the chartered title of 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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Unity_of_Odd_Fellows) in England.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
Odd Fellowship became the first fraternity in the U.S. to include both men and women when it adopted the "Beautiful Rebekah Degree" on September 20, 1851. This degree is based on teachings found in the Holy Bible, and was written by the Honorable Schuyler Colfax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuyler_Colfax) who was Vice President of the United States during the period 1868-1873. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first U.S. fraternal organizations to establish homes for senior members and for orphaned children.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows#cite_note-aboutus-1)
In Australia it known by it's Manchester links from what I can tell. It's clear from the wiki that there are masonic themes in this organisation. It looks like a differently branded branch of the masons. While doing research on the family tree, we have been chasing down various branches of the family to pick their brains about our ancestory. It seems there has been maybe 4 different research efforts over the past 2 -3 decades by various branches.
Extensive work done by the branch I am in was passed around Australia for people to add to or correct. No one knows where that info is now but it represents about 4 years research and much travelling around the world to dig through church and county records going back centuries. I have been trying to push people to build on this work amd we are now trying to find who has all the research that was already done.
It is becoming possible that there has been a very long association with these certain groups in my family for centuries and I am getting the feeling possibly since the very begining.
I have tried to highlight important thing in the above quote. Can you see the point of that?