Dear Dedicated Members for Change,
In the world of Odd Fellowship the highest law and authority can be found in the Ritual. That Ritual supersedes Bylaws, Constitutions, even the Codes. At every formal Lodge meeting, the members recite the Valediction, contained in that Ritual. Each of us has said the words of the Valediction, dozens (perhaps, hundreds) of times. But have we really focused on the words?
The Valediction calls upon us, among other responsibilities, "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan" in order "to build a better world." What does your Lodge do to comply with these precepts of our Order?
In the 1800's visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying the dead, and educating the orphan were certainly important and necessary principles of our Order. Diseases were rampant, people were often unemployed, government and social services were minimal, and as a result of these factors, including wars, the needs of ordinary people were substantial. Odd Fellowship in the early days stepped up to build and staff hospitals and cemeteries, to provide financial support to members who were out of work, and to assist the widows and orphans of deceased members. The landscape of North America was once dotted with Odd Fellows Cemeteries, Odd Fellows Hospitals, and Odd Fellows Orphanages. These needs continued into the 1900's as we wended our way through two world wars.
But is there still a need in 2025 "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan"?
Some might say that these admonitions are outmoded in the modern world. Personally, I believe that they have evolved and changed - but they are certainly not outmoded. Importantly, they are part of our IOOF tradition and they are still included in our Ritual. So, I ask again, what does your Lodge do to comply with these requirements of our Order? It might be a worthwhile exercise at a future meeting of your Lodge to initiate a discussion on that question.
I cannot speak about what other Lodges do or don't do in this regard, but I can mention what my own Lodge does. It might provide some food for thought for others. We certainly have a Visiting Committee that checks in with members who may sick or in distress, and makes sure we send them flowers or a plant. Years ago, a "Zoltar" machine was dedicated to our Lodge. (Zoltar was popularized in the Tom Hank's movie "Big.") Visitors to the Lodge put dollar bills into the machine and the mechanical Zoltar speaks to them and gives them a fortune card. The funds raised by Zoltar are used to provide meals, or even to pay dues for members who are temporarily facing financial challenges. While my Lodge doesn't maintain an Odd Fellows Cemetery, we assist our local cemetery district in organizing an annual Veterans Day program and an annual Memorial Day program for the community. We also participate in the annual Indigent Burial ceremony, conducted by the County Public Guardian, for residents who pass away without family. And while we don't have "orphans" in this state, we certainly have plenty of children in foster care programs. My Lodge has a yearly event called "Breakfast with Santa" where we raise money through sponsorships to provide financial support to foster children, as well as young adults who have recently "aged-out" of the foster care system. We also have established a grant, with the assistance of a major U.S. corporation, to provide college scholarships to highly motivated and academically successful former foster children.
Let your imagination be your guide - and your Lodge can continue "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan" into the 21st Century.
F - L - T
Dave Rosenberg
Past Grand Master
Jurisdiction of California
