Nerd Culture and Odd Fellowship

Nerd Fellows Untie! I’m a nerd, and proud of it! If I weren’t, I never would have found the Odd Fellows or even considered joining. After spending some time in the Odd Fellows and getting to know its members, I once suggested to myself that “Nerd Fellows” might be a more fitting name. “A nerd […]

“Fairness in Focus: The Veil of Ignorance and Fraternal Wisdom”

“You must know that when power is vested in humanity, prejudices often prevent them from doing justice. A human’s decisions are warped by selfishness. Remember, if you are called on to judge between two members of the Order in the execution of our laws, seek to divest yourself of all prejudice and partiality.” – 1797 […]

Dialogue Should be an important part of Lodge life

Dialogue should be an important component of lodge life. Without it, your lodge may have problems making decisions, creating and following through with events, elections, and floor work. Dialogue is using conversation to gain insight into other people’s lives and beliefs. Thinking creatively with other people is the strength dialogue offers us in lodge. Dialogue […]

16 COOL GUIDES FOR ODD FELLOWS

Here’s a list of “cool guides” for various topics you might find interesting. I can’t vouch for all the information, so use your own best judgement. SUB GENRES OF CYBERPUNK: Scott Moye is an award-winning history educator and author of the book Think Like An Odd Fellow, Wisdom and Self-Improvement In 21st Century Odd Fellowship […]

Preparing Your Lodge for Life After Covid-19

The scourge of a pandemic is a lesson none of us will ever forget. How it affects life in our lodges remains to be seen. But in the midst of all this, there are lodges still being formed–the allure of Odd Fellowship is persistent even through a deadly pandemic. I conducted research online searching the […]

So, I Wrote A Book…

The book title is Think Like an Odd Fellow, Wisdom and Self-Improvement in 21st Century Odd Fellowship. You can find it on Amazon, but here’s a quick link: Below I’ll detail more about what’s in the book, but first I wanted to discuss 3 reasons I chose to write one. First, I’ve had dozens of […]

IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES: A lesson in the Golden Rule

THE GOLDEN RULE The Golden Rule dates from at least the Confucious times (550-479 BCE), and can be phrased a few different ways: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Treat others as you would like others to treat you. Do not treat others in a way that you would not […]

Your job, Volunteering, and the Halo Effect

“I used to care a lot about my work, but I don’t care as much as I used to.” “I feel like my mind has gotten bored and I’m not learning anything new.” Sometimes in life we become stuck, our jobs seem dull or maybe we feel like we’ve stopped mentally progressing. But, by stepping […]

Is It Time For An Online Virtual Lodge?

Should Odd Fellowship consider starting Virtual Lodges using online video conferencing? A Virtual Lodge is a lodge that meets exclusively online using a video conferencing platform. These platforms, used worldwide by business, governments, and other organizations, allow people to check into a virtual room with other people to conduct their business. When I was first […]

17 Songs That Make You Think About Odd Fellowship

Matisyahu, Tim McGraw, Drake, Michael Franti, singers from the musical Rent, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Rage Against the Machine, Queen, Luminaries, Black Eyed Peas, Craig Morgan, White Stripes, Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Swedish House Mafia, Bob Dylan. OK folks, these are music videos that can get you thinking about being an Odd Fellow. Some are […]

Diagram of the 1797 Lodge Layout of the Patriotic Order of Odd Fellows

First, the link below should bring up a diagram of a lodge of Patriotic Odd Fellows in 1797: Patriotic Order of Odd Fellows Lodge Layout The documentation I used to support the making of this diagram is the description of the lodge found in the 1797 ritual book. In looking at the diagram of the […]

Following Yourself On The Jericho Road

What if the story of the Good Samaritan is about YOU and your personal suffering? Taken as a whole, The Good Samaritan story can be about your own “inner suffering.” Those nights you are alone and cry yourself to sleep. Your anguish at not being able to achieve your goals, or that nagging addiction part […]