Fraternal Art Symposium

Famous American Odd Fellows of the Mid-1800s Digital Painting

by Ainslie Heilich Several months ago I was commissioned by Louie Blake Saile Sarmiento to create an image depicting a specific list of famous American Odd Fellows of the mid-1800s for his upcoming book on the Odd Fellows. This was no simple task and was definitely a labor of love. Thankfully, with the use […]

I.O.O.F. Certificates: A Lost Art by Scott Robinson

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is steeped in traditions and a rich history. Being one of the oldest surviving Fraternal Orders in the United States, it is a fascinating study of “lost arts.” What do I mean by “lost arts”? One only has to examine our own fine documents to see skills and pride that our modern society has all but forgotten about.

Part II: Bro. Page of SC GUOOF Shares His Journey

Again FLT to Bro. Ainslie for allowing me the opportunity to ultimately get the word out about Oddfellowship as a whole! I joined the Grand United Order of Oddfellows for a multitude of reasons. I did not join because of family ties nor did I join for notoriety as the Order almost “secreted itself to […]

Bro. Page of SC GUOOF Shares His Journey

(Editor’s note) To learn more about the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows please check out GUOOF.org and guoofamerica.com -Ainslie When Bro. Ainslie asked me to post it came as an honor to be included amongst the rest of the great articles on the blog !!! (Thanks and flt) I’m not sure quite where to begin so […]

The Odd Fellows as a Business -by Scott Robinson

The Odd Fellows as a Business As a new member to the Odd Fellows (February 2017), it never ceases to amaze me that when I talk to someone about the IOOF, I always hear, “wow, I didn’t know they are still around.” Believe me, I talk to a lot of people about the IOOF! So […]

Odd Interview: Peter Sellars GM of California

Peter Sellars is the 2016-2017 Grand Master of California and he is the first in hopefully a series of member interviews with the aim of capturing a diverse group of experiences and ideas about the Order. Enjoy! -Ainslie Your name, and a little about yourself/who are you outside of Odd Fellows? Peter V. Sellars. I am […]

The Scythe: Cutting Remarks

The Scythe: Cutting remarks Here’s a video with remarks to follow: One of Odd Fellowship’s most recognizable symbols is the scythe. As you saw above, it can cut grass, but its most important job is to harvest tall crops like wheat. To understand the rural imagery of the scythe it is important to understand its […]

Pondering the Three-Fold Mystic Chain

This poem appears on page 35-6 in the 1846 edition of “The Odd Fellows’ Offering”, a book published annually from 1843-1854 of collected literary submissions by members. It has poems, stories, speeches, and more, all relating to Odd Fellowship in some way. Be it highlighting a profound experience or analyzing the smallest thread of […]

Three Link Plan by guest contributor Scott Robinson

Three Link Plan Progress – The Certificate Lewisburg Lodge No. 96 One of the “Links” of our Three Link Plan is to embrace our rich history and heritage that guide our purpose. In order to reach back to our roots, our history, and heritage, we examined an original blank membership certificate that we have […]

A Lifeboat Challenge

Odd Fellowship has four commandments: Bury the dead, relieve the distressed, educate the orphan, visit the sick. The concept is to do good works in our communities. But is it that simple? Let’s look at an ethical situation. Pretend for a moment your lodge was on a ship that sank to the bottom of the […]

The Making

Taken from The Patriotic Odd Fellows, 1790’s, initiation: My son, the days of man are of short duration, and it is our duty with the help of God, to endeavor, even when the afflictions that attend advanced age press on us, to do our best for mankind although no longer able to bear the burden […]