Comments on the Vision of the Future by Billy Sanderson

As current members, we should be aware of skepticism by some “youth”
about all things old or traditional or fading away (like many see the
Order). It was not until I turned 50 that I sought out what I thought I was
missing. I asked many questions. The members I asked were patient
with me. Eventually, I found what my lodge and I could give each other.

Carry the Light of Friendship, Love, and Truth- by Ainslie Heilich

Here is a new motivational/inspirational image I made. Please feel free to share it in anyway you like! In FL&T Ainslie Heilich Tuscola #316

APATHY

For years, I wanted to belong to a fraternal order. I’d researched several and settled on Odd Fellowship. It took a couple of years of trying to contact people before someone eventually replied, and so my journey to Jericho began. The journey has been difficult, but not without diamonds found along the way. My first […]

The Odd Fellows and Freemasons: Different Paths to the Same Goal

That’s what I wanted to introduce into our meetings at Homer Lodge—some deeper discussion into the self-improvement aspects of Freemasonry, the history, the esoteric teachings, and the symbolism found in our ritual traditions.

It occurred to me while I was scheduling speakers and topics for discussion, that there might be lessons the Odd Fellows and the Freemasons could learn from each other.

Being Cheap vs Being Frugal – by Seth Anthony

Submitted by Seth Anthony Triune Lodge #307 Middletown, PA When I first joined Odd Fellowship, a wise veteran member let me in on a secret. “The F in FLT doesn’t stand for friendship. It stands for frugal.” Oh, how right he was. When I returned to Odd Fellowship after a several year hiatus, I was […]

Part II Odd Fellows, Stoics, and Marcus Aurelius

Read Part I Stoicism was a popular philosophy of personal ethics in ancient Greece and Rome. It was popular until around the third century AD. It has been defined as “a moral philosophy that emphasizes the discipline and mastery of the emotions in order to reach a wiser, rational, and peaceful mindset.” There is an overlap with […]

Friendship Time!

On Finding our Value and Potential Place in Contemporary American Society – by Michael Greenzeiger

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I have recently read a book entitled Secret Ritual and Manhood in Victorian America by Mark C. Carnes. This book is an academic treatment of the role our Order along with several others played in the United States during the 19th century. Although I do not agree with every conclusion that […]

Odd Fellows, Stoics, and Marcus Aurelius Part I

Stoicism was a popular philosophy of personal ethics in ancient Greece and Rome. It was popular until around the third century AD. It has been defined as “a moral philosophy that emphasizes the discipline and mastery of the emotions in order to reach a wiser, rational, and peaceful mindset.” Recently, Stoicism has seen a sort of […]

REPRESENT

Are you representing the Order? I heard a podcast about IOOF the other night where someone estimated that we have fewer than 50,000 members left in the United States. I believe I read information from the Dedicated Members for Change where they estimated we have even fewer members left in the US. I know my […]

Empowering Others by Michael Greenzeiger

Empowering Others By Michael Greenzeiger http://www.siliconvalleyoddfellows.org/ http://supremeamos.org/ I’ve had the privilege of belonging to several different lodges and of visiting a number of others all across the country. There are truly many different ways to be a good leader and to run a successful lodge. One commonality I have observed among all those who are […]

Recutting the Gem that is Odd Fellowship

Odd Fellowship is a unique gem cut from the sacred cave of wisdom. When you take a rough gem you then have to carefully cut the shape and facets using years of experience. We achieved our beautiful form of our philosophy in the 1800s and in it we set this jewel in the shining setting […]