Tell me about the Oddfellows

[leviathanstaar]

Of all people for this to happen to, my parents are joining them.

I dont want to taint what people might say by showing what ive learned first.

All I will say is the overview seems to be they are like freemasons for poor people when looking google style.

The same people who came to meet my parents were parked out front the other day as out tennant (my parents referance to the lodge) and as Im walking by I hear him say

"this months mission is to get as many innoculated as possible before this thing hits"

When he seen me turn around and look disturbed (hes overheard me talking to my brother about many things)
He said goodbye and my name, as though that would be the reason I'd keep walking , heh.

This is going to get interesting. Especially if he thinks he's/they're going to have talks with my parents about getting innoculations right in my home ect.
haha.

[stevepenny]

Of all people for this to happen to, my parents are joining them.

I dont want to taint what people might say by showing what ive learned first.

All I will say is the overview seems to be they are like freemasons for poor people when looking google style.

The same people who came to meet my parents were parked out front the other day as out tennant (my parents referance to the lodge) and as Im walking by I hear him say

"this months mission is to get as many innoculated as possible before this thing hits"

When he seen me turn around and look disturbed (hes overheard me talking to my brother about many things)
He said goodbye and my name, as though that would be the reason I'd keep walking , heh.

This is going to get interesting. Especially if he thinks he's/they're going to have talks with my parents about getting innoculations right in my home ect.
haha.

Hi,

The Oddfellows is a fraternal organisation aimed at the elderly. It is supported by organsations such as Age Concern. It is I suppose akin the Ancient Order of Gardeners that seeks to do the same thing.

[barney_rubble]

Hi,

The Oddfellows is a fraternal organisation aimed at the elderly. It is supported by organsations such as Age Concern. It is I suppose akin the Ancient Order of Gardeners that seeks to do the same thing.


Here in Canada the minimum age to join the OddFellows & Rebbekahs is 18, and they have a "Junior OddFellow group as well for ages 10 - 18 (8 - 18 in some areas).

So it is not necessarily an old persons brother/sisterhood - the same has been said of Freemasonry which as we know is not true.

FYI the North American OddFellows have been around since the early 1800's (circa 1820) and they had their roots in England (Manchester I believe).

Source: Before I joined the Freemasons I was considering the Oddfellows. This is what I can remember from my early research.
Funny my mother lodge (Freemason) an the Oddfellow lodge are one block apart.

[leviathanstaar]

Our free mason lodges around here are normally either right beside (as in my town) or literal stones throw from the newspaper.

There was a Oddfellows meeting for southern Ontario in which some kind of regional director or head hanco for the area was visiting.

My parents played a music show for them.

The person who got them involved showed up in suit.
Decided to strike up conversation.
Said he and the rest are very exited about the head hancho for the area coming.

I stood emotionless and said quietly "That would make sense , yes"
haha.

[grandsecretary]

Please do not make fun of the Oddfellows which IS a perfectly respectable mutual aid society.

[onlycrazy]

Yes I have been doing a little research on Oddfellows and find myself confused about
a couple of things, would be grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Are the Oddfellows and the Shriners the same ? Also are the jesters (ROJ) a well accomplished, higher ranking subgroup of the shriners ?

Thanks....

[grandsecretary]

No it is not connected with the Shriners.

Shriners and Jesters are peculiarly American organisations, thank goodness. Consequently you may expect virtually anything to happen so long as it makes a few bob.

[sofa king]

Yes I have been doing a little research on Oddfellows and find myself confused about
a couple of things, would be grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Are the Oddfellows and the Shriners the same ? Also are the jesters (ROJ) a well accomplished, higher ranking subgroup of the shriners ?

Thanks....



No they are not the same.

The Oddfellows are a fraternal group all on their own. Like the Masons, Elk, Moose, Lions, etc

The Jesters are not the Shriners but fill a similar role. That of being the social club. The Shriners were founded as a place for Masons to enjoy levity and social outings without the pomp of masonic ritual. The Jesters are similar in that regard.

[onlycrazy]

Ah this explains a lot, thanks so much to you both for that clarification, I am rather relieved they are not associated with each other.

OCG

[analog]

Of all people for this to happen to, my parents are joining them.

I dont want to taint what people might say by showing what ive learned first.

All I will say is the overview seems to be they are like freemasons for poor people when looking google style.

The same people who came to meet my parents were parked out front the other day as out tennant (my parents referance to the lodge) and as Im walking by I hear him say

"this months mission is to get as many innoculated as possible before this thing hits"

When he seen me turn around and look disturbed (hes overheard me talking to my brother about many things)
He said goodbye and my name, as though that would be the reason I'd keep walking , heh.

This is going to get interesting. Especially if he thinks he's/they're going to have talks with my parents about getting innoculations right in my home ect.
haha.

As far as I know, they are something to do with lost-cost Medical Insurence.

[kadosh]

.... The Jesters are not the Shriners but fill a similar role. That of being the social club. The Shriners were founded as a place for Masons to enjoy levity and social outings without the pomp of masonic ritual. The Jesters are similar in that regard.
The Royal Order of Jesters - colloquially known as "Jesters," local "courts" are limited to 13 initiates yearly. Whereas most Masonic bodies are dedicated to charity, The Royal Order of Jesters is a fun "degree", with absolutely no serious intent. The motto of ROJ, 'Mirth is King,' is sufficient to give voice to the purpose of the organization. The Royal Order of Jesters feel that there are times, after our hard work and dedication to family and mankind, everyone should remember to laugh and appreciate the good work you have done. The original meeting resulting in the formation of ROJ was held on February 20, 1911, by Shriners on a pilgrimage to Aloha Temple, Hawaii, in the Captain’s office of the “S.S. Wilhelmina.” Noble A. M. Ellison of San Francisco, California, was responsible and the original cast included a Director and 13 members. It was organized June 25th, 1917, at an informal meeting. Jesters are made from members of the AAONMS in good standing, membership is by invitation only, not application. There are about 23,500 Jesters organized into "courts" that correspond to the 191 Shriner temples located across North America.

Likewise the Order of Quetzalcoatl - colloquially known as the "Q", is a Shriners sub group mostly in the West and Southwest of the US. It is heavily involved in philanthropy, and its main contribution is towards transportation funds for Shriners hospitals. The Order is independent from Shrine Temples, however, membership is based on requisite membership in the AAONMS. Membership in the Order is a high privilege and by invitation only. The Order derives its terminology from Nahuatl, and its rituals are loosely based on Aztec ritual, including the use of the teponaztl war drum and the sacred drink, pulque. The Order was founded on March 14, 1945 by Arthur J. Elian, takes its name from the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Its chapters (called Teocallis, Nahuatl for "house of god") are located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama. All members of the Order—called Artisans or Coates (Nahuatl for "twin brothers") - must be Shriners in good standing in their Shrine Temples.

[armoured_amazon]

Seems no one (especially men) ever grows out of the need of a crew to roll with. :rolleyes:

[thelonious]

Are the Oddfellows and the Shriners the same ? Also are the jesters (ROJ) a well accomplished, higher ranking subgroup of the shriners ?

Thanks....

The Oddfellows have no technical connection to Freemasonry, while the Shriners do have that connection.

The Jesters could be considered a subgroup of the Shriners, as only Shriners can be invited to membership. Recently, some groups of Jesters have engaged in questionable, and apparently criminal, activities. Several Masonic Grand Lodges are investigating the Jesters, and as of the moment, several individual Jesters have been expelled from the fraternity.

Just for the record, I am a former Shriner, never a member of the Jesters.