Odd Fellows Art Show!

I have seen the rose. I have seen the leaves.

Check this out through an Odd Fellow’s eyes.

Working With “Truth,” the Imperial Virtue

Working With Truth Our third degree, as everyone knows, is the Degree of Truth. Odd Fellows are told that “truth IS the imperial virtue.” But how do we know what truth is? How do we arrive at “truth?” Is there anything that can be called “THE truth?” Your Conductor’s goal here is to simply raise […]

Stick Cluster

Chains of Bigotry

Lessons and Charges From the Odd Fellows Companion, 1867, page 78-83 Updated language and syntax. Edited. Odd Fellow…go forth as a leader in the cause of the oppressed. Under such a cause, you may attack– with power and effect– the high, thick walls of Prejudice which shuts us away from our fellow humans; you may […]

Artwork: Reworking Old Images. Vol I.

Several years ago, I acquired this cast iron trivet/plaque. Despite the damage to the dove and the rough appearance I had fallen in love with this depiction of the heart in hand. It gave the appearance that the hand was giving the heart over, while still protecting it in its gentle embrace, like cradling a small bird. It is a simple yet powerful image. The bearer is both thoughtful and generous, careful yet ready to aid others. As Odd Fellows, we cannot just help anyone who comes to altar of aid.

All Seeing Eye

I won’t go into the meaning of the all seeing eye for Odd Fellows, but I will say that this symbol is everywhere these days: on clothing, as graffiti tags, as art, etc. So how is this symbol perceived by modern culture? Mostly, it seems to be seen as a representation of oppression. It represents […]

Loving People

Friendship

Odd Fellowship in Popular Culture

In a way, Heart in Hand is a reflection of popular culture. Maybe it’s obvious. It should be. While making us more aware of our past it must even more importantly make us aware of our “now,” and our future. As your Conductor began working through material for this blog, he became interested in how […]

Secrecy

SECRECY https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044105550446;view=1up;seq=578 The Symbol, and Odd Fellow’s magazine. v.3 (1844) page 554. Some people speak out against Odd Fellows because they assume there are secrets the Order will never reveal except to members. We admit that secrecy is imposed upon our lodges and we believe secrecy is necessary and no sin. If we consider secrecy […]