The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is one of the oldest and largest fraternities in the world comprising over 10,000 lodges in 25 countries. We are non-political and non-sectarian and are actively involved in a variety of civic and philanthropic efforts on local, national and international levels.
Membership is open to all regardless of sex, race, religion, political affiliation and social status – all bound by the desire to improve ourselves and the calling to live and promote the principles of Friendship, Love, & Truth.
The earliest printed record of an Odd Fellows Lodge appears in a reference to a lodge meeting in England in 1748. During this period when it was commonplace to think only of ones self, the Odd Fellows arose to fill a need where society had failed. It was very unusual, or “Odd”, as the term was used in those days, to describe a group of individuals that formed a fellowship for mutual help of the less fortunate members in our communities. Thomas Wildey formed the first lodge in this country in 1819 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) that grew to 10,000 lodges in 25 countries.