HISTORY OF ODD FELLOWS PHILIPPINES
HISTORY OF ODD FELLOWS IN THE PHILIPPINES
By Louie Blake S. Sarmiento
Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology; Juris Doctor
The origin of Odd Fellowship is already lost in the shadows of antiquity but fragmentary records do prove that there were Odd Fellows Lodges in England on or before the year 1730. The North American branch, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), was officially established on April 26, 1819 in Maryland, USA, by Thomas Wildey and four other English Odd Fellows. From there, the fraternity first reached the Philippine Islands long ago before the country even gained its independence. Many world conflicts, wars, and unfortunate events occurred along the course of time. A number of the early records were destroyed and only a few survived in the hands of several lodges and collectors today.
Early History
According to Major O.W. Coursey, author of the History and Geography of the Philippine Islands, the awakening of the Filipinos to a deep sense of injustice being practiced upon them by the Spaniards was the introduction of [fraternal] societies in the Islands, and to the influence of higher education obtained by those of means in the schools of Hong Kong and other Old-World cities. He mentioned that the 'Society of Odd Fellows' first spread into the Islands in 1872.
An Odd Fellows Association of Manila existed and there are records mentioning of Odd Fellows congregating in Manila, Cebu, Bohol and Zamboanga City in 1898. The New York Times also mentioned that during the 74th Annual Session of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) held in the United States, a brother D.L. Badley, who was with the United States Army in the Philippines, asked permission to officially establish lodges in the country and was permitted to form military lodges and associations. Further communication mentioned that over 150 members of the Odd Fellows Association of Manila held several meetings in preparation for its official institution as a Lodge in Manila. However, this plan was suspended when an armed military conflict between Filipinos and Americans occurred in 1899.
When the war ended in 1902, District Deputy Grand Sire Hon. Charles H. Burritt officially instituted Manila Lodge No.1 in the City of Manila on June 29, 1902. According to the Journal of Proceedings (1905-1906), Manila Lodge No.1 was composed of the highest and best type of citizens; government officials and prominent businessmen, including several of the Governor Generals of the Philippine Islands. Hon. Charles Burritt, who served as Chief of the Mining Bureau and Judge of the RTC (formerly known as CFI) of Leyte, was the first District Deputy Grand Sire of I.O.O.F. Philippines. A Rebekah Club was formed in 1906. Luzon Lodge No.2 and Manila Encampment No.1 followed in 1915.
According to the National Historic Commission of the Philippines, the Manila Lodge No.1 first held its meetings at 210 Cabildo St. in Intramuros, Manila, before moving to 17 Plaza Goiti (present-day Plaza Lacson) in Santa Cruz in 1903, leasing a part of its premises with other fraternal organizations such as Manila Lodge No. 342 of the Free and Accepted Masons and the William McKinley Lodge No. 1 of the Knights of Pythias. The lodge eventually and moved into its purpose-built Odd Fellows Hall located at the corner of California (present-day Escoda) and San Marcelino Streets in Ermita in 1913, and stayed there until 1941, when World War II broke out in the Pacific.
Thousands of Odd Fellows in the Philippine Islands fought hand-in-hand during the war years and many died during the Battle of Manila in 1943. The hostilities killed millions of people and many towns and cities, including Manila, were left in ruins. The Odd Fellows Hall in Ermita was completely destroyed due to the bombings. And because majority of the members were military men, the activities of the Odd Fellows were suspended for how many years.
Merger and Revival
Originally founded in 1985, Watchdog Committee (WDC) was an inter-fraternity consisting of members affiliated with different fraternities, sororities and organizations in Dumaguete City. After realizing the need to help change the negative public image of fraternities and sororities in the country brought about by the sensitive issues of fraternity-related violence (hazing deaths and frat-wars), gender discrimination, elitist-culture and vices commonly associated with fraternity members, the leaders of Watchdog Committee in Dumaguete decided to enter into a merger with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The goal was to revive one of the oldest fraternities in the country and to re-introduce a values-focused initiation process without hazing, violence, elitism and discrimination of any form. The focus was to rebuild a humble, modest, diverse and service-oriented type of fraternity in the country.
The Sovereign Grand Lodge based in North Carolina approved the idea and Past Sovereign Grand Master Paul Cuminale, Past Sovereign Grand Master Richard Proulx and Sovereign Grand Secretary Terry Barret visited the country and chartered Watchdog Committee as “Watchdog Lodge No.1” on November 21, 2009. Watchdog Lodge No.1 subsequently helped charter eight more lodges in the country. For a time, lodges in the Philippines worked directly under the Sovereign Grand Lodge represented only by one District Deputy Sovereign Grand Master of the Philippines.
When typhoon Haiyan hit some parts of the Philippines and the Odd Fellows Philippines spearheaded a number of relief operations to the affected areas, the members realized that the present organization lacked the needed democratic administrative and management capabilities for its lodges, finances and expansion. The leaders also realized the importance of quality over quantity and the setting of national minimum standards. Together with “Mindanaon Lodge No.2”, “Sillimanian Lodge No.3”, “Golden Luzon Lodge No.4”, “Marilag Lodge No.5”, “Banggiitan Lodge No.6”, “Cagayan de Misamis Lodge No.7” and “Manila Lodge No.8”, the “Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Independent Order of Odd Fellows” was instituted on October 23, 2015. The Grand Lodge of the Philippines was subsequently divided into three Districts: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. From here, the Odd Fellows Philippines focused more on quality and organic growth. The chartering of Quezon City Lodge No.10 and Makati City (renamed as Fraternitas) Lodge No.11 led to the expansion of Odd Fellowship in Luzon area. As of 2020, there are 33 Odd Fellows Lodges, 1 Rebekah Lodge, 5 Encampments and 2 Cantons in the Philippines. There are also several lodges under dispensation.
References:
1. Coursey, O.W. (n.d.).History and Geography of the Philippine Islands.Retrieved August 23, 2009 from http://books.google.com.ph/booksid=914sGKL_8EoC&pg=PA28&dq=Odd+Fellows+Coursey+History+and+Geography+of+the+Philippine+Islands&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false
2.(1898). Odd Fellows Convention. Retrieved August 23, 2009 from http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf? res=F60617F63B5811738DDDA90A94D1405B8885F0D3
4. (1926). Roster of members of Manila Lodge no.1 and Manila Encampment No.1. Retrieved August 23, 2009 from Genealogy | Records of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows | Family Tree Connection
5. Sellars, P. (2007). History of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the City of San Francisco. U.S.A.
6. Dumindin, A. (n.d.). Philippine American War, 1899-1092. Retrieved September 15, 2010 from Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 | by Arnaldo Dumindin.
7. (n.d.). Japanese Occupation of the Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2010 from http://www.philippines-travel- guide.com/philippines-japanese-occupation.html
8. Stillson, H.L. (1899). The Official History of Odd Fellowship: The Three Link Fraternity. MA, U.S.A.: The Fraternity Publishing Company.
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. 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).
TITLE: Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. The Encyclopedia of Philippine Fraternities and Sororities (Still in progress).
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.
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
#newbooks #books #book #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bookcommunity #booklover #bookstagrammer #booklovers #oddfellow #oddfellows #IOOF #independentorderofoddfellows #Oddfellowsphilippines #Grandlodgeofthephilippines #freemasons #freemasonry #fraternities #fraternity #fratman #sorority #sororities #secretsocieties #authorsofig #authorscommunity #author #indieauthor #indieauthors #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #bookshop #louieblakesailesarmiento #booksarelife #writerscommunity #writerscorner #writersofig #instawriters #writers
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
#newbooks #books #book #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bookcommunity #booklover #bookstagrammer #booklovers #oddfellow #oddfellows #IOOF #independentorderofoddfellows #Oddfellowsphilippines #Grandlodgeofthephilippines #freemasons #freemasonry #fraternities #fraternity #fratman #sorority #sororities #secretsocieties #authorsofig #authorscommunity #author #indieauthor #indieauthors #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #bookshop #louieblakesailesarmiento #booksarelife #writerscommunity #writerscorner #writersofig #instawriters #writers
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