p. 88The Odd-Fellows

The Cyclopædia of Fraternities enumerates the following Orders of Odd-Fellows: Albion Order of Odd-Fellows; Ancient and Honorable Order of Odd-Fellows, Kent Unity; Ancient Independent Order of Odd-Fellows; Ancient Noble Order of Odd-Fellows; British United Order of Odd-Fellows; Derby Midland United Order of Odd-Fellows; Economical Order of and Independent Order of Odd-Fellows; Grand United Order of Odd-Fellows; Improved Independent Order of Odd-Fellows; Independent Order of Odd-Fellows; Household of Ruth; Independent Order of Daughters Militant of Odd-Fellows; Independent Order of Daughters of Rebekah of Odd-Fellows; Independent Order of Imperial Order of Muscovites of Odd-Fellows; Independent Order of Patriarchs Militant of Odd-Fellows; Independent Order of Manchester Union of Odd-Fellows; Kingston Unity of Odd-Fellows; Leeds Unity of Odd-Fellows; Leicester Unity of Odd-Fellows; Loyal Union of Odd-Fellows; Ancient Imperial Independent Nottingham Order of Odd-Fellows; Patriotic Order of Odd-Fellows; Staffordshire Order of Odd-Fellows; United Order of Odd-Fellows; Odd Ladies; Odd Sisters, and West Brunswick Order of Odd-Fellows.

Odd-Fellowship as an order dates back, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, to the year 1745, when the first Lodge was founded at Southwark, England. In 1819 the first Odd-Fellow Lodge was organized in the United States at Baltimore, Maryland; and today the order claims to have the largest membership of any benevolent Fraternal Order.

Neither in this, nor in any subsequent description of an Order, do I deal with the beneficiary or the financial doings thereof, but confine myself to proving the religious character, which will be evident from a careful perusal of the extracts I make from the rituals.

Rev. A. B. Grosh, the author of “Odd-Fellow’s Improved Pocket-Manual,” says: “Our institution has instinctively, as it were, copied after nearly all secret associations of religious and moral character. … In Egypt, the most ancient among the ancient Kingdoms, an institution of this kind existed from the earliest period.” On page 27 of the Manual he tells us “the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man are its foundations of precept and of practice.”

On page 109 a. f., we are told: “The internal, truly living spirit of Love and of universal fraternity, pervading all our rituals and ceremonies, recognized in emblems, colors, and regalia; using every adjunct for strengthening its influence on the soul; speaking to ear and eye in every lecture, charge, sign, and token, and to the touch in grip and pressure; and manifesting itself silently like rain, and sunshine and electricity, in beneficent organizations and institutions; this soul of all its teachings and workings of Odd-Fellowship, the hidden name in the white stone, which he knoweth best who most truly possesses it. The Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of Man, then, are the great principles of our Order, embodied in the mottoes thereof, ‘In God we trust,’ and ‘Friendship, Love and Truth.’”

“… The most important uses and aims of Odd-Fellowship are: The imbuing of the minds of our brethren with proper conceptions of their powers and capabilities, giving them just and practical views of their duties and responsibilities, exhibiting their dependence upon God, and bringing them to a knowledge and practice of the true fraternal relations between man and man. … To one whose generous heart delights in well doing, and admires our principles, and desires to find means for increasing his usefulness to suffering men, our Order presents the strongest inducements. We open for him a field beyond the limits of his party or his church, as well as within it, needing his labors and offering joyous recompense for his toils. No church in its present state is extensive enough in its fellowship to embrace many good men who need the ministration of kindred spirits, nor far-reaching enough to reach even its own members when distant from it, and needing aid and protection.”

In the “North West Odd-Fellow Review” of February, 1895, we find this: “Our own and kindred associations would never have been called into existence if the churches had done their duty, and, as a matter of fact, our prosperity is mainly due to the great want felt for such institutions. And, when I call to mind the vast amount of work which has been accomplished by our Order, how it has alleviated the sufferings of humanity, has nourished the widows and orphans, and given new life and hope to many a fallen brother, and contrast it with the havoc which has from time to time been wrought, the lives that have been sacrificed, the bloodshed and indignities heaped upon mankind in endeavoring to uphold some church doctrine which in all probability will cut no figure whatsoever when we meet at the final tribunal; I incline to the belief that the strong hand of Providence will continue to guide and sustain us in the work which we have undertaken, no matter what the rule of any church may be to the contrary.”

In the May number of the same Review for the same year we read: “The teachings of Odd-Fellowship tend to liberalize the mind, broaden the lives, deepen the springs of action and give us a clearer conception of our duties to ourselves, to our fellow creatures, to our country and to our God.”

“The principle of our Order is one divine in origin, universal in application and elevating to all who embrace it. … No home can be an ideal one unless the principles of our good and glorious Order are represented therein, and its teachings made the rule of life.”

The Past Grand, in his charge to candidate, says: “Odd-Fellowship is founded upon that eternal principle which, recognizing man as a constituent of one universal brotherhood, teaches him that as he came from the hands of a common parent he is bound to cherish and to protect his fellow-man. It thus presents a broad platform upon which mankind may unite in offices of human benefactions. Under its comprehensive influence, all the nations of the earth may concentrate their energies for the good of the common race. Based upon certain truths which are like axioms among all nations, tongues and creeds, its sacred tolerance presents a nucleus which, by its gentle influence, gathers within its orbit antagonistic natures, controls elements of discord, stills the storm and soothes the spirit of passion, and directs in harmony man’s effort to fraternize the world. This is the great first principle of our fellowship, which we denominate fraternity, a universal fraternity in the family of man.”

“… We seek to improve and elevate the character of man, to imbue him with proper conceptions of his capabilities for good; to enlighten his mind, to enlarge the sphere of his affections; in a word, our aim is to lead man to the cultivation of the true fraternal relations designed by the Great Author of his being.”

The meetings open and close with prayers. At the opening the Chaplain shall say:

“Thou King eternal, and invisible, the only wise God, our Saviour, Thou art the Sovereign of universal nature, the only true object of our best and holiest affections. We render Thee hearty thanks for the kind Providence which has preserved us during the past week, protecting us from the perils and dangers of this life; and for permitting us now to assemble in Thy name for the transaction of business.”

“We humbly beseech Thee, our Heavenly Father, to preside over our assembly, to breathe into our hearts the spirit of love and of a sound mind; and may each and all be governed by an anxious desire to advance Thy glory and ameliorate the condition of mankind.”

“Let thy blessing rest upon our Order, upon all the Lodges, Grand and subordinate, belonging to our entire family of brothers. Let Friendship, Love and Truth prevail, until the last tear of distress be wiped away, and the lodge below be absorbed by the glory and grandeur of the Grand Lodge above. This we ask in humble dependence upon, and in most solemn adoration of Thy One mysterious and glorious Name. Amen.”

About Initiation, the Rev. Grosh has this to say:

“Every Odd-Fellow should keep clearly impressed on his mind and heart the lessons taught at initiation. They are a guide to understand properly all that follows after—an epitomized summary of the great principles and objects of the Order. They contain the germs which after instruction and his own practice should develop and mature into blossoming and fruitfulness. In one word, what regeneration by the word of truth is in religion, initiation is in Odd-Fellowship.”

The Degree of Friendship is based on the history of David and Jonathan as related in the First Book of Kings.

“Odd-Fellows of the First or Friendship Degree should maintain their feelings and friendship to a brother under the most severe tests. Let David be true to Jonathan, and Jonathan be true to David.” (Odd-Fellow’s Monitor and Guide, by Rev. T. G. Beharrell).

On pp. 55, 56 and 57 of the same, he says: “The Degree of Brotherly Love brings before us the inimitable parable of the Good Samaritan, and all the impressive teachings of the degree on the principle of brotherly love can be called to our remembrance as we read:”

“‘And a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead.’ (He lies by the roadside weltering in his blood, and, though conscious, he is unable to help himself. His money is stolen, his raiment is taken off and carried away, while his wounds are gaping and bleeding, and death is staring him in the face).”

“‘And by chance there came down a certain priest that way, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side’ (Here was a functionary of the Jewish church who heard the groans of the wounded man and saw him in his helplessness, but had no sympathy awakened in his breast).”

“‘And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked at him, and passed by on the other side.’ (There was another who assisted in the services of religion, but his feelings were not enlisted; he asked no questions of the sufferer).”

“‘But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him he had compassion on him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence and gave it to the host, and said unto him, ‘Take care of him, and when I come again I will repay thee.’ Here was a man who had broken over party prejudice and distinctions, and showed that his religion was not devoid of compassion. This is brotherly love. This is genuine kindness—all that is beautiful and lovely combined. Self and prejudice is sacrificed on the altar of humanity, goodness and mercy. The ties of our brotherhood are not easily broken, and this parable gives us an answer to the question, Who is my neighbor? and we readily see that the Good Samaritan was a neighbor to him who fell among thieves. We accept the injunction of the great Teacher, ‘Go thou and do likewise.’”

When the candidate is admitted to this degree he is asked what he wants, and the Vice-Grand answers: “Admit him, that he may be instructed in the divine lesson of humanity.” When the candidate has taken the usual obligation, he is told “Heaven has witnessed your vows, and the Common Father has smiled on that compact.”

In the third or highest degree of Odd-Fellowship, in the Subordinate Lodge, the Noble Grand is dressed as High Priest during a certain part of the performance.

Says Rev. Beharrell, page 59: “When the mysteries of this degree are given, he (candidate) graduates, and in the use of his knowledge goes forth to a practice of what he has learned—an exemplification in his life of the principle of our Order. He is now to represent the ministers of God at the sacred altar in the performance of their work and office.”

The candidate who applies for admission in this degree of Truth is asked “why does he seek to obtain this degree?” and the answer is: “Because Truth is the Imperial Virtue.” Noble Grand: “What does he expect from the Truth?” Conductor: “That it will teach him his duties to God and to his fellow-men.”

The candidate is dressed in a white robe and a stole put around his shoulders. The symbols and emblems of the order are then explained to him. When this is done the Noble Grand, dressed as High Priest, will say: “My brother, you are now admitted to the Third Degree, known as the Priestly Order. You have already been informed that it is dedicated to the principles of Truth. You were prepared for admission by having placed on you a white robe. This was intended to represent the purity of truth. But the emblematic color of this degree is scarlet, implying that truth is an Imperial virtue. The pure white robe is an external symbol, representing that your lips should speak the truth, and at all times be ready to administer words of affection to a brother requiring consolation. You are now placed in a position among us to gain rank, and the highest in the lodge. It, therefore, becomes your duty to enforce, by example as well as precept, the tenets of our Order. Its mysteries are confided to your charge; you are to preserve them inviolate; duty and honor, your own solemn vows, all require that you be faithful, and that you also guard your brethren against any breach of fidelity. Be true and steadfast in this as well as in all things, and thus demonstrate that merit constitutes the great title to our privileges, and that on you they have not been undeservedly conferred.”