WHO ARE THE ODDFELLOWS ?

 

Over the years, many members have asked me several questions about Oddfellowship and I have submitted my own opinions freely and openly.

 

Questions often asked are;

• What is a Friendly Society ?

• What is an Oddfellow ?

• Who can become an Oddfellow ?

• What special qualities do you need to become an Oddfellow ?

• What do Oddfellows do ?

The answers to these questions are wide and varied. There are writings of the Oddfellows dating back to 6th century Portugal. Even the Egyptians give mention to Oddfellows in their early scriptures.

 

However, what of modern day Oddfellows: 

• How was Oddfellowship started and why?  

• Why the strange name which, in today’s society, can mean something  entirely different ?

Firstly, I have to point out that even today, things are very much different than when I joined the Society,  “The Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society ”, some 30 years ago.

 

The Manchester Unity has always, and still is, the largest Branch Friendly Society in the world, with affiliations in the U.S. of A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, The Caribbean, the West Indies, South Africa and most European countries at one time or another.

 

So, What is a Friendly Society ?

A Friendly Society is a self help organization, non profit making and until very recently, under the jurisdiction of the Registrar of Friendly Societies.  This does not mean that we do not make a profit from our Investments though.  It simply means that all profits are ploughed back into the Societies Funds to provide non - contractual benefits to the members.  It also enables individual branches to assist local charities within their boundaries, as well as the national charities, such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research and Kidney Research etc..

 

At the end of this article, I list some of the many worthy projects the Society has assisted, with all branches assisting in raising the funds. 

 

As our readings teach us, nothing is sweeter than knowing that you have been able to assist others in less fortunate circumstances than our own. I truly believe this.

 

So how were Friendly Societies set up and for what purpose ?

The story of the Oddfellows society, like that of Freemasonry with which it is often associated, is lost in the haze of the past.  However, two orders of Oddfellows are known to have existed on an organised basis as early as 1736 and were know as the Ancient Order and the Patriotic Order. Very little is known of them today other than that they represented the two Political parties of the day.

 

Of these Orders, there are records of the Aristarcus Lodge No. 9  1748 which met at the Oakley Arms in Southwark, the Globe Tavern in Hatton Garden, or the Boars Head in Smithfield,  whichever the Chairman directed.

 

At around 1780 these two Orders combined to form the Union or London Order.

                                           

Records show that the St Mary Overbury Lodge, which met in Tooley Street, was later dissolved owing to the participation of some of its members in the Gordon Riots. 

 

In the closing years of the 18th century, we begin to find reference to Lodges outside the metropolis.  The Grand Union Order have in their possession a Dispensation dated 1798 issued to a Lodge in Sheffield by the Union Order from the Bohemian Tavern in the Strand.

 

Throughout the next few decades, Lodges sprung up all over the country and, whilst Manchester rightly claims to be the Birthplace of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows in 1810, London is justly entitled to regard itself as the Birthplace of Oddfellowship.  In 1838, the number of Lodges within the London area was such that dispensation was granted to create a North / South divide which still exists today, with the North London District having at one time in excess of 100 Lodges and many thousands of members.

 

Now, let us go back to the original questions.
 

What is an Oddfellow and why that name ?

 

Firstly, an Oddfellow is a member of a Society of that that name.

No trace has been left in the early archives as to the reason that influenced the first Oddfellows to choose their name and, many fanciful suggestions have been put forward and yes, the name really does seem odd.  If however, you realise that the meanings of words in the English Language have a tendency to change in the course of time, and remember that it originated over 200 years ago, the explanation is fairly simple,

 

The word “ODD”  originally meant “noted”,  “remarkable” or “out of the common”. 

 

The word “FELLOW” has not changed at all, it still means a member of a Society or Fraternity, where persons are banded together for their common good or their common interest.

 

It is to be found in “Fellows of the Royal Society” and suchlike; therefore, we are only Odd in being remarkable for having risen out of the common rut and banded ourselves together for praiseworthy motives.  In other words, our name means that we are Fellows or Members of an uncommonly good fraternity.  Many Lodges tended to be formed by persons sharing the same or similar occupations.

 

Originally, the members of the Pride of Islington Lodge were all Master Builders.

 

In today’s practice, a persons career is not a factor for membership.

 

Another more fanciful explanation was that many craftsmen, such as Silversmiths, Goldsmiths, Watchmakers etc., all had their own Guilds which were numerous. The less professional workers were the Odd Ones Out, the Odd Fellows.

 

Who Knows.

 

For obvious reasons in those days, it was necessary to guard these Lodges against intrusion by undesirables, such as debt collectors or tax collectors. Furthermore, it was often the case that men were too embarrassed to reveal their straightened circumstances to all the members.

 

To overcome these problems, a system of signs, grips and passwords were devised to enable communication between members without the utterance of words.  Even today some Lodges still carry out these practices on certain occasions to remind members of their humble beginnings and maintain some of our history. 

 

For this reason, it is very easy for non members to confuse us with “Secret Societies”.   Quite simply, we are not a secret society.

We are a Society with secrets, but no more so than every individual. Each of us has our own personal matters that we keep to ourselves because it is our own business and should remain so.

 

Our Society openly invites members of the public to join our Fraternity and from the very first day, our business becomes their business.

 

So what is our business and what is Oddfellowship?

 

Oddfellowship is a Society of people just like yourselves. We are interested in each others well being, particularly in times of need. 

 

We have a motto which is,

 

Amicitia Amor et Veritas, which means  Friendship Love and Truth.

 

It is the means by which an individual, through their own prudence and forethought, can cater for the unexpected happenings in life, such as sickness, death or unemployment etc..

 

Whilst recent changes brought about by government legislation has seen the decline of many of our financial products, there are still very many benefits offered by the Society that are non contractual, but none the less essential.

Our Business is the care and welfare of  all our members, whatever age, creed  colour or religion.  We are all Brothers and Sisters.

                  

Today, the Society operates a National Membership Scheme, but nonetheless, the Pride of Islington Lodge No. 3994 of the North London District, still retains its unique situation of family membership from far and wide. We have members living in most parts of the world and all confirm their desire to retain membership of this Lodge. Even new members request membership of this Lodge though often living many miles from our meeting rooms. We are proud to have them among us.

 

As previously stated, the Oddfellows is a non political and non sectarian Society whose aims are to bring people together who are willing to help themselves and above all, to help those who are not able to help themselves.

 

Political or Religious disputes are never suffered in any Lodge, and though our teachings are founded on Christian belief, it offers nothing contrary to the allegiance we owe to ourselves, our families or the Sovereign of the Realm.

 

It is also worth remembering that the initial charge of many years ago is still the basis of our existence today, and that is,

“To visit the sick, Relieve the Distressed, Educate the Orphan & Bury the Dead ”

 

In conclusion, I must point out that all details contained in this report are as explained to me over the years and as I interpreted them.

                                                  

 

 

 AMICITIA  AMOR  ET  VERITAS

 

 

 

Printed below is an up to date list of the charities that have benefited from the

 

 

 

H A Andrews Memorial Fund.

 

			£
1971	Brain Scanner	Manchester Royal Infirmary	6,798
1975	Kidney Research	Manchester Royal Infirmary	10,000
1981	Respiratory diseases in new born/underweight babies	Kings College Hospital	10,000
1983	Downs Syndrome Research	Aston University Birmingham	10,000
1985	Arthritis Research	Charles Salt Research Centre	10,000
1987	Diabetes Scanning Densitometer	Hammersmith Post Graduate Medical School	22,000
1989	Asthma Research	Southampton General Hospital	23,147
1991	Treacher Collins Syndrome	Hearing Research Trust Manchester University	102,000
1994	Alzheimer’s Disease Research	Alzheimer’s Disease Society London	50,000
1997	Motor Neurone Disease Society	Victoria Hospital, Newcastle	69,000
1999	Meningitis Research Foundation	Oxford	51,387
2002	Prostate Cancer Charity	Hammersmith Hospital	54,795
		Total	£419,127