The Ante Room: Ep 4, Tour of Tuscola Odd Fellows Lodge #316 with Ainslie Heilich

On this episode: Brother Ainslie Heilich shows off his unusual living arrangement of sharing living quarters with an active Lodge. Take a tour of the apartment and Tuscola Lodge #316. Lots of antiques and oddities to see.

The Ante Room: Ep 3 (3/3) Odd Fellows Symbolism by Billy Sanderson

On this episode: Brother Billy Sanderson is a member of Columbia #2 in Victoria, BC. He is presenting on the symbolism of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On Part 3 he discusses the symbolism of the First Degree, the Degree of Friendship!

The Ante Room: Ep 3 (1/3) Odd Fellows Symbolism by Billy Sanderson

On this episode: Brother Billy Sanderson is a member of Columbia #2 in Victoria, BC. He is presenting on the symbolism of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On Part 1 he discusses the background and function of symbolism as it pertains to Oddfellowship. Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3!

Frustrated With Your Lodge? Start Over.

Frustration. It’s one of the key elements that can alert you to the fact that your needs aren’t being met. Have you become frustrated with your current lodge? Is the leadership not what you hoped for? Does the lodge leadership refuse to adapt to modern times, or to modernize? Is there so much infighting that […]

New Spin on an Odd Name

By forming a more diverse Lodge we are creating a real world version of the idealized 80s trope of the underdog team (often kids) who join forces and combine their unique talents to go on a great adventure and save the day. Or they overcome a great oppressor and learn more about themselves and unlock their true potential in the process. But it is always done as a team, and no one is left behind. Sounds pretty identical to what the Odd Fellows are taught in the Degrees.

Odd Fellows and Reefer Madness in 1843

Reading back issues of old Odd Fellows magazines from the early 19th century can result in a severe case of bulging eyes. Here’s an article from The Symbol and Odd Fellows Magazine, in 1843. See link below. A SUBSTITUTE FOR INTOXICATION There has been recently discovered in India, by accident in the first place we […]

An Eye For The Lack Of An Eye

You have two eyes. Would you give one of your eyes so someone in a developing nation without sight could become seeing? You have two kidneys. Would you give one up so a stranger could live a longer life? What is it that drives some of us to look beyond our own interests and the […]

Joshua Colaw’s Six Truths for Initiates.

(Adapted from the IOOF book “The Beacon Light,” by J. A. Colaw, pages 92-96) Joshua Colaw, author of The Beacon Light, identified what he believed to be six truths in the Initiatory Degree. He categorized them into two groups. A. Five preliminary truths B. One primary truth As an Odd Fellow I often feel like too […]

The Lost Symbols of Odd Fellowship

Shadowy cabals, connections to European kings and US presidents, and possibly one late 19th century rebellion in a US state, dot Odd Fellow’s history. And although we are not like Freemasonry, we are an organization that has been around since the late 1730’s, and if you spend time digging you can find a ton of mystery. […]

Hoodwink How To -by Scott Robinson

Scott Robinson Lewisburg, PA Lodge No. 96 http://www.iooflewisburg.org scottr@iooflewisburg.org I have been looking for a source of hoodwinks for some time. Originals are too fragile and expensive, modern steam punks are way too expensive and need to be custom made. While I was at Harbor Freight, I bought a set of el-cheapo welding goggles…$4.99 for […]

Part II: Using the Emblems for Reflection and Contemplation

Part II Read Part I: https://oddfellowsguide.com/2017/12/12/using-the-emblems-for-reflection-and-contemplation/ I recently decided to use the emblems of the Order in one of the ways they were intended to be used: as guides for daily life. I chose the first seven emblems, and applied one each day, starting on a Tuesday. Tuesday: All Seeing Eye: The universe knows and […]

Using the Emblems for Reflection and Contemplation Part I

“Those emblems are there for a reason.” The artwork showing our emblems is enticing– even beautiful. In fact those emblems are one of 3 things that pulled me into the Order. Before I joined the Order I used to think “What do those things even MEAN?!” The mystery behind them did the trick– I joined […]