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Post by generatics on Aug 19, 2009 16:41:31 GMT
Anyone here a member? My family's involvement in this organization goes back nearly 200 years yet I know next to nothing about them other than what is publicly available. I don't think I have any living relatives who are members and don't know of anyone locally. The OF lodges where I am are very sparse.
I'd be curious to know; what is the general focus of the OF initiation? Is it alchemical/hermetic etc like Freemasonry, or something completely different?
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Aug 20, 2009 4:15:12 GMT
Albert Pike was an Odd Fellow  |
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Post by magusmasonica on Aug 20, 2009 6:40:41 GMT
Anyone here a member? My family's involvement in this organization goes back nearly 200 years yet I know next to nothing about them other than what is publicly available. I don't think I have any living relatives who are members and don't know of anyone locally. The OF lodges where I am are very sparse. I'd be curious to know; what is the general focus of the OF initiation? Is it alchemical/hermetic etc like Freemasonry, or something completely different? I have almost joined the IOOF on at least three occasions ;D I like them very much. They are almost identical to "Blue Lodge" Freemasonry. There three "Craft" degrees are Friendship, Love and Truth. They in style are close to Preston Webb. They have a Royal Arch as well as a chivalric order called The Knights Millitant. they even have their own version of the Shrine but I don't remember what it is called. Love and Light, |
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Post by hugo on Sept 20, 2009 2:01:21 GMT
they even have their own version of the Shrine but I don't remember what it is called. The "Large Fellows." In the Northern rural community that my parents were raised in, there was much crossover between Masonic and IOOF Lodges, until a really strange point in the early 50's- a time they call "the Year The Alfalfa Wept." To this day, I have no idea what that means. But, legend has it, things changed. People took sides, and subtle hostility grew between the IOOF and the Masons. Uncle Paul would cheat Pastor Bob on his wheat. Cousin Nicky would slap Cousin Frank at the slightest provocation. Aunt Gertie shoved a homemade shiv between Grandma's ribs at the corner market. And so forth. Today, it's become slightly less hostile, but my thoughts often turn to the troubles in that town, and, indeed, between our two Grand Fraternities, and my fervent prayer is that one day we will be reconciled. Selah. |
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Post by happyzealot on Sept 21, 2009 8:14:42 GMT
Bro, you speak like a prophet.
BTW, I have a cousin named Hugo. I'm sure of it. Not sure if his papers are in order, tho... in fact they probably aren't.
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FireMist
Member
Then rally boys, and hasten on.To meet our Chiefs at the Green Dragon.
Posts: 293
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Post by FireMist on Oct 1, 2009 0:04:55 GMT
BC magusmasonica has it about right.
My maternal grandfather was one, and a mason.
I think it is encampment or something like that.
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Post by generatics on Oct 1, 2009 6:35:25 GMT
yes i think it is Encampment. looking thru the circa early 1800's Monitor i inherited there are a few names and dates with "Enc." scribbled after them, probably referring to my relatives on the dates they received that degree. i need to cough up some cash and get this old book restored. wasn't aware of the "beef" between Masonry and OOF! my grandfather was a member of both, and that would have been somewhere in the 1950's thru 60's. my grandmother was also a member of Rebekah and OES at the same time.
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Post by lauderdale on Oct 1, 2009 10:16:38 GMT
There is an Oddfellows Meeting Hall in Reading, Berkshire. I don't know how active they are, but it has been there for decades. Ironically there is not a Masonic Temple in Reading although is a large town, almost a city, with about 130,000 of a population. There used to be one but it was sold many years ago and a Sainsbury's Supermarket stands on the site. The Reading UGLE Lodges moved to an new meeting place in Berkshire some miles from Reading at a place called Sindlesham. I have to say that it was the worst Masonic Centre I ever attended, a souless and uninviting place.
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Post by magusmasonica on Oct 2, 2009 0:13:04 GMT
There is no "rift" between Masons and Oddfellows. The Oddfellows offer everything mainstream Freemasonry does in my opinion. Including the retirement homes and burial plots  |
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Post by generatics on Oct 2, 2009 7:43:10 GMT
There is no "rift" between Masons and Oddfellows. The Oddfellows offer everything mainstream Freemasonry does in my opinion. Including the retirement homes and burial plots during the past whole year without visiting Lodge (much to my disappointment) i've met with and spoke with a pretty substantial number of Masons, Co-Masons and so on from a number of Orders and i've kind of come to the conclusion that the "give and take" of Freemasonry lies largely upon the individual Lodge, and even more so, upon the individual Brother. i found and joined MFOL in a time of personal conflict regarding my own Masonic path. can't say enough good about this place btw. and since, i've voiced my fair share of complaints about my own Lodge. likewise, i've heard others agree and disagree with my concerns from every conceivable corner of Freemasonry both online and off. after an entire year of just sitting back and sharing and collecting, i'm pretty convinced that every-single-Lodge is different and every-single-Brother is equally unique. that might be stating the obvious to some. but coming from a standpoint of someone looking for answers and trying to find the "perfect" spot for me, or even a spot where i'm comfortable, it's sinking in heavily that Order and Lodge are banal compared to the calling within. Bro. Brad's comment just got me thinking and brought that out of me and i'm a stream-of-conciousness kind of dude i guess. love y'all to the max. |
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