The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs are two of the oldest world wide Fraternal Orders. Although some books claim to trace Odd Fellowship back to Roman times when members of the Roman Legions in England were called "Fellow Citizens", what is said to be the earliest printed record of an Odd Fellows Lodge appears in a reference to a lodge meeting at a Globe Tavern in England, in 1748. The Lodge was number nine, so apparently there were at least nine associated Odd Fellows lodges at that time.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows became active on this continent, on April 26th, 1819 in Baltimore, Maryland. Thomas Wildey started the lodge with four brothers from England. Odd fellowship is a mutual assistance Order in which men and women are banded together as Brothers and Sisters, pledged to assist each other whenever the need arises.
Odd Fellowship conducts a Pilgrimage each year to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, where, in the Trophy Room, hangs our highest jewel of merit, the Grand Decoration
Of Chivalry, bestowed upon the Unknown Soldier by permission of the Federal Government. We are the only non-military organization given the honor of bestowing an award upon the Unknown Soldier.
The Odd Fellows were the first organization that organized lodges for women. Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the United States under President Ulysses S. Grant, was the force behind the movement.
The Odd Fellows were the first group to form Homes for their aged members, the first such home was in Pennsylvania. We also have lodges for boys and girls, Junior Odd Fellows and Theta Rho. We also have youth camps and aid for education through Scholarships. Many odd fellow lodges also maintain cemeteries and mausoleums.
An Odd Fellow or Rebekah may visit any one of the Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodges in their Jurisdiction. All you need is your membership card. That entitles you to attend any meeting in your state. With the Annual (Traveling) Password, you may visit any Lodge in the country and many in Europe.
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