Our objective is to improve and elevate the character of mankind.

In 17th century England, it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called "Odd Fellows".

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded in North America in Baltimore in 1819.

In 1851, we became the 1st national fraternity to include both men and women.And we were the first fraternal organization to establish homes for senior members and for orphaned children.

Our motto is "Friendship, Love and Truth."

Our emblem is three links with the letters "F, L and T." These links symbolize the chain that binds our members together and illustrates that a fraternity is strongest when joined together.

The "F" irepresents "Friendship", the strongest bond of fraternity that teaches goodwill and harmony.

The "L" represents "Love", the basis for all life's ambitions, service to others and family.

The "T" represents "Truth", the standard by which we value people and the foundation of our society.

Odd Fellows and their sister Rebekahs number almost a million members working to serve mankind from more than 16,000 lodges in seventeen countries.

The Odd Fellow's Valediction

I am an Odd Fellow!

I believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man;

I believe in Friendship, Love and Truth as basic guides to the ultimate destiny of all menkind;I believe my home, my church or temple, my Lodge and my community deserve my best work, my modest pride, my earnest faith, and my deepest loyalty, as I perform my duty, "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan" and as I work with others to build a better world, because, in spirit and in truth, I am, and must always be, grateful to my Creator, faithful to my country and fraternal to my fellow man.

I am an Odd Fellow!