April 26
ODD FELLOWS DAY
The first Odd Fellows lodge in the U.S. was established in Baltimore, Maryland on this day in 1819. The official name of the organization is the Independent Order (of) Odd Fellows or IOOF. You can see these initials on many buildings in communities throughout the country. These are the Odd Fellows halls where the local, secret fraternal benefit meets. The first Odd Fellows group started in Great Britain in the 18th century.
The main focus of the fraternal order is “to relieve the brethren, bury the dead, and care for the widow and the orphan.” This focus has been broadened through the years to include the principles of friendship, love and truth.
The Odd Fellows maintain homes for the aged, the poor, widows and orphans and provide members with financial aid in sickness or death. U.S. national headquarters are located in Baltimore, MD and the membership of the order is more than 1.5 million.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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