The Ante Room: Ep 5, The Odd Fellows’ Primer (extended cut from The Three Links Odd Cast)

On this episode: Extended Interview from the S2Ep4 of The Three Links Odd Cast. Brother Toby Hanson leads the discussion about the exciting book that Michael Greenzeiger and Ainslie Heilich created together.

Musical Heritage of Odd Fellowship -by Toby Hanson, Sovereign Grand Musician

As Odd Fellowship was a visible part of 19th Century daily life, there was no shortage of popular music written by and for Odd Fellows. There were marches, rags, waltzes, two-steps, and other popular forms of the day, all written to commemorate members, lodges, or entire jurisdictions.

New Arrangements of the Odes- by Toby Hanson, Sovereign Grand Musician

I have prepared fresh arrangements of the opening and closing odes for the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, and Encampment. They are written in a clear, accessible style that will be easy for pianists to read and singers to follow. There are introductions to each ode so that singers can find the key and know when to begin singing. Knowing that there is a greater diversity of musicians in Odd Fellowship than just pianists, I have also included a melody line with chords so that guitarists and players of other chordal instruments can easily read along and accompany singing.

IS Odd Fellowship Worth While?

As man has become more and more advanced in his civilization, there has developed in him a knowledge that a selfish life, though it may be rewarded with much of this world’s goods, is, after all, a narrow and useless life — a life but poorly lived.

Reflections on Being an LGBT+ Odd Fellow.

I would like to think that part of my personal growth through that transition could be attributed to the philosophical lessons our Order teaches and how they can be used as a member of the LGBT+ community. At the end of this piece you will find my interpretation of the Degrees through the lens of the LGBT+ experience.