WHO ARE THE ODD FELLOWS?
ODD FELLOWS' QUICK FAQS WHO ARE THE ODD FELLOWS? Evolving from the traditions of the craft guilds and journeymen associations, the name Odd Fellows (also spelled as Oddfellows) refers to a number of fraternal orders and friendly societies that emerged in England sometime during the late 1600's to early 1700's and existing in more than 30 countries today. Odd Fellowship is one of the oldest worldwide ethical and humanitarian fraternal organizations and friendly societies. At present, there are approximately 600,000 Odd Fellows belonging to the three major Orders: Grand United Order of Oddfellows (GUOOF); Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity (IOOFMU); and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). The Odd Fellows is a worldwide fraternity with lodges in various countries. WHY THE NAME ODD FELLOWS? The generally accepted explanations: Nearly 300 years ago in England, there were a lot of sickness, orphaned children, widowed mothers and many could not ...