Founded in England among working men sometime before 1650, and brought to the North American continent by Thomas Wildey in 1819, Odd Fellowship is one of the world's oldest voluntary societies for mutual aid, community betterment and personal growth. The motto of the Order is "Friendship, Love, and Truth," and its objective is "To improve and elevate the character of man." The four traditional duties of an Odd Fellow are to: • visit the sick, • relieve the distressed, • bury the dead, and • educate the orphan. The work of Odd Fellowship also includes traditional rituals of initiation, which teach the ethical lessons of the Order; a proud legacy of community service; and a lot of fun! All of this heritage is a living part of our lodge. For more information, check out our main website for the Orcas Island Lodge at: www.oiof.org |