The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a religiously and politically independent fraternal order of Odd Fellows founded in 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It was originally chartered by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity but has been independent since 1842. The order is also known as the Triple Link Fraternity, referring to the order's "Triple Links" symbol, alluding to its motto "Friendship, Love and Truth" or F. L. & T. The Odd Fellow Valediction Picture
You gain a new family in the members of your Lodge and a vast network of Brothers and Sisters worldwide. By joining Odd Fellows with your friends it helps to give a deeper purpose and meaning to your friendship. We are a diverse organization and have members of all faiths, races, genders, occupations and abilities with over 600,000 members in over 10,000 Lodges in 30 countries.
The historic command of the Odd Fellow is to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan.”
You get to take an active role in helping your community and the world be a better place. Local Lodges help out their communities in any way they choose and are unified together in larger projects.
Be a part of the HISTORY and the MYSTERY. As an Odd Fellow you get to be a member of one of the world’s oldest and largest fraternal Orders. Rituals, symbols, and degrees are designed to “elevate and improve the character of mankind.” By taking these lessons to heart you become a better person and in turn help to make the world around you a better place.