THE THREE LINKS CHAIN AND THE SQUARE AND COMPASS

By Louie Blake Saile Sarmiento

Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology; Juris Doctor

Whenever I travel, I always try to visit historic cemeteries. This is because cemeteries are actually living history books when it comes to fraternity affiliations and symbols. Cemeteries are a place where you can observe and witness a number of deceased people still proudly representing their fraternity or fraternities even after their last breath.

The “Three Links Chain” combined with the “Square and Compass” are two fraternal symbols that you can find in a number of historic tombstones. This means that the deceased was a member of both the Odd Fellows and the Freemasons.

A Freemason-Odd Fellow tombstone at Lone Fir Cemetery in South Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Holding dual membership in these ancient and historic fraternities is quite prevalent and still is common even until today. The first documented person to be a member of both regular Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship was King George IV (1762-1830), who was initiated as an Odd Fellow in 1780 and as a Freemason in 1787. The list includes Albert Pike (1809-1891); 17th U.S. Vice President Schuyler Colfax Jr. (1823-1885); 29th U.S. President Warren Harding (1865-1923); 32nd U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945); former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (1874 –1965); 14th U.S. Chief Justice Earl Warren (1891-1974) and over a thousand more others.

32nd U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill were some of the notable people in history who were members of both the Odd Fellows and Freemasons. Roosevelt was initiated in Holland Lodge No.8 of the Free and Accepted Masons in 1911; and in Hyde Park Lodge No.203 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1912. Churchill was initiated in Studholme Lodge No.1591 of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons in 1901; and in Loyal Waterloo Lodge No.96 of the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1907.

Instituted on December 7, 1819, the Loyal Waterloo Lodge No.96 of the National Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the United Kingdom, was the lodge where Churchill became a member. 

Odd Fellowship and Freemasonry are two completely separate and independent fraternal societies that originated from England. It is theorized that the Freemasons evolved out of the operative guilds of stonemasons, while the Odd Fellows evolved out of the operative guilds of odd-jobbers or journeymen associations. When the guild system began to decline between the late-1660's to early 1700's, the guild system split into two: (1) Operative lodges evolved into "Livery Companies" while (2) Speculative lodges evolved into "Fraternal Orders" or "Friendly Societies."

There are indeed some similarities in the two fraternities, probably owing to the fact that they have similar origins. However, there are also many differences in terms of rituals, regalia, symbols and organizational structure. In terms of ritualistic degrees, the story-line or theme per degree are a little different although there are similar lessons adopting common or general wisdom. In the lodge level, the degrees of regular Freemasonry are known as First Degree or Entered Apprentice, Second Degree or Fellowcraft and Third Degree or Master Mason. In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the lodge degrees are known as the Initiatory Degree, First Degree or Degree of Friendship, Second Degree or Degree of Love and Third Degree or Degree of Truth. Other affiliated Orders of Odd Fellows call the degrees differently, to wit: Initiatory Degree or Welcoming Ceremony and the degrees are called Gold, Scarlet, Blue and White. Both Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship use the all-seeing-eye in terms of symbolism, but there are other symbols that are unique for each organization. The titles of elective and appointive lodge officers are also quite different between the two. The powers of the presiding officer is likewise different. In a Masonic Lodge, the Worshipful Master holds most of the power and authority (autocratic). In an Odd Fellows Lodge, the Noble Grand functions more as a facilitator and can only vote whenever there is a need to break a tie (democratic).

Odd Fellows Columbarium in San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

Historically, there have been close ties between Odd Fellowship and regular Freemasonry which stretches back more than 200 years ago. It was common for an applicant of either fraternity to be accepted or rejected on the advice of the leaders of the other. In 1815, for example, the Manchester Unity Odd Fellows in England decided not to accept an applicant as a result of an information received from the United Grand Lodge of England of regular Freemasonry. There were also incidents when a Masonic lodge rejects an applicant on advice of members of the nearby Odd Fellows Lodge, and vice-versa. On the good side, there were instances when an application for membership was positively approved in Freemasonry after knowing that he is an Odd Fellow, and there are cases when an applicant was enthusiastically accepted in the Odd Fellows because he is a Freemason. This is probably because when there are people who are members of both, there exists a group of people who can personally vouch for the qualifications of another. Or maybe, there is an unwritten presumption of qualification noting that both fraternities require similar requirements for membership: Good character and belief in a Supreme Being.

Antique Freemason-Odd Fellow gold ring

Modern Odd Fellow-Freemason Fraternity ring

NOTE: Freemasonry is NOT a single organization. Not all masonic organizations or lodges recognize each other. Not all Masonic Lodges are "regular." Some lodges are considered as "irregular" or "clandestine" by mainstream Freemasonry. Being a member of a lodge that is considered "irregular" or "clandestine" will deprive a member of an "irregular" lodge from visiting "regular" lodges. Members of so-called "regular" lodges are also prohibited from visiting and recognizing members of so-called "irregular or clandestine lodges." But this does not mean that one is lesser than the other. There were incidents in history that led to separation and differences of opinions that resulted to the formation of different types of Freemasonry (mainstream, liberal, esoteric, modern, etc.) The concept of "regularity" or "irregularity" and "exclusivity of jurisdiction" in Freemasonry remains complex and debatable.

Odd Fellowship, on the other hand, is also NOT a single organization. There are also a number of organizations named Odd Fellows. However, there is NO issue of "regularity" or "irregularity" in Odd Fellows. There is also no "exclusivity of jurisdiction" in Odd Fellowship. There can be as many Grand Lodges of different Odd Fellows groups in one country or jurisdiction. Historically, various Odd Fellows' organizations can co-exist in a single community, country or jurisdiction without conflict or issue as to jurisdiction. A person may also become a member of one or more Orders of Odd Fellows without any issue. This is because there are differences in the rituals, passwords and grips between the different Orders of Odd Fellows. There used to be more than thirty (30) different Orders that evolved from the original Ancient Order of Odd Fellows. Today, there remains three (3) surviving affiliated Orders of Odd Fellows: (1) Grand United Order of Oddfellows (GUOOF), whose Grand Lodge was established in 1798 and with affiliated lodges in North America established in 1842; Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity (IOOFMU), established in 1810; Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), established in 1819; and Caledonian Order of Odd Fellows (COOF), established in 1827. Lastly, the Odd Fellows is also NOT an appendant body or degree of Freemasonry. It is a completely separate and independent fraternal organization with its own history, traditions, customs, laws and degrees.

PUBLISHED BOOKS WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR:

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. The Encyclopedia of Philippine Fraternities and Sororities (Still in progress).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Odd Fellows: Rediscovering More Than 200 Years of History, Traditions, and Community Service (KDP Amazon, 2019).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Odd Fellows Manual: Modern Guide to the Origin, History, Rituals, Symbols and Organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (KDP Amazon, 2020).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Ancient Rites of Odd Fellowship: Revisiting the Revised Ritual of the Order of Patriotic Odd Fellows, 1797 (KDP Amazon, 2020).

TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. Odd Fellows Encampment: Brief History and Introduction to the Degrees, Symbols, Teachings and Organization of Patriarchal Odd Fellowship (KDP Amazon, 2020).

About the Author

Louie Blake Saile Sarmiento finished his Associate in Health Science Education in 2007; Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Certificate in Human Resource Management and Certificate in Women’s Studies in 2010; Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2013; and Juris Doctor (law) degree in 2020.

 

He is instrumental in re-establishing Odd Fellowship in the Philippines. He is a Past Grand and Past District Deputy Sovereign Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is credited for connecting thousands of members from various countries when he created and managed the first social media groups and pages of the “Independent Order of Odd Fellows” and "Odd Fellows International" from 2009-2019. He is also credited for writing and creating most of the modern literature and infographics about Odd Fellowship on the internet at a time when the organization had almost zero presence online, including the first YouTube videos and the wikipedia entries about the Odd Fellows. Because of his contributions, he was appointed as Public Relations Coordinator and member of both the Communications Committee and the Revitalization Committee of the Sovereign Grand Lodge from 2012-2015. He spent more than six years visiting hundreds of Lodges and several Grand Lodges across the United States and Canada to read hundreds of journals, records and books; observe Grand Lodge sessions and meetings; and conduct interviews to be able to write books about the Odd Fellows.

 

He is an advocate for the preservation of historical fraternal organizations, service clubs and civic associations. He is a member of all branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), including the Rebekah Lodge, Encampment and Patriarchs Militant. He is also affiliated with the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (GUOOF); Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS); Noble Order of Muscovites (Muscovites); International Order of DeMolay (IOD); International Order of Free Gardeners (IOFG); Universal Druid Order (UDO); Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH); Knights of Rizal (KOR); The Fraternal Order of Eagles - Philippine Eagles (TFOE-PE); and Tau Gamma Phi or Triskelion Grand Fraternity (TGP). As a hobby, he writes articles and collects books and artifacts related to fraternal organizations, service clubs and other civic associations.

BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE ON AMAZON, CLICK LINKS BELOW:

1. Odd Fellows Rediscovering More than 200 Years of History, Traditions and Community Service (Odd Fellows history and its relationship with world history)

Full color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851208

Black and White: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851224

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Q8DKFJZ

 

2. Odd Fellows Manual: Modern Guide to the Origin, History, Rituals, Symbols and Organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (brief history, organizational structure, and generally-accepted internal rules and principles)

Full color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851259

Black and white: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851283

 

3. Ancient Rites of Odd Fellowship: Revisiting the Revised Rituals of the Order of Patriotic Odd Fellows, 1797

Black and white: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851232

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KHDG17S

 

4. Odd Fellows Encampment: A Brief History and Introduction to Patriarchal Odd Fellowship

Full color: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733851275

E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LZQQDWM

 

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