Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity
- Under Construction - needs a wider range of sources/references
The Oddfellows is one of the largest and oldest friendly societies currently operating in the UK.
It was set up in to protect and care for its members at a time when there was no welfare state, trade unions or National Health Service. The aim was to provide help to members when they needed it — a tradition that is very much alive today.
Being a non-profit society "owned" by its members, not by shareholders, all of its income is passed back to the members in the form of services and benefits.
All members and their families have access to the Oddfellows Care Service - for advice on all aspects of care and health concerns. A network of Welfare Officers/Sick Visitors provide face-to-face contact for those members who require support. Members also have access to the Oddfellows Advice Service provided in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
The Oddfellows are fundraisers for both local and national charities. Branches raise money for local good causes and the Society as a whole raises large amounts for charities.
History
Fraternal societies and Guilds
Legend has it that the origins of fraternal societies date back to the exile of the Israelites from Babylon in 587BC when many of those exiled banded together into a brotherhood for mutual support and defence.[1][2] More verifiable is the evolution from the Trade Guilds.[1][3]
By the 13th century, the tradesmen's Guilds had become established and prosperous. During the 14th Century, with the growth of trade, the guild "Masters" moved to protect their power (and wealth) by restricting access to the Guilds. In response, the less experienced (and less wealthy) "Fellows" set up their own rival Guilds.[1]
The Odd Fellows
In smaller towns and villages, there weren't enough Fellows from the same trade to set up a local Guild. So, Fellows from a number of trades banded together to form a local Guild of Fellows from an odd assortment of trades. Hence, Guilds of Odd Fellows.[1]
Over the next 300 years or so, the idea of "ordinary" people joining together to improve their situation met with varying degrees of opposition (and persecution) from "the people in power", dependent upon whether they were seen as a source of revenue (taxes), or a threat to their power. For example, when Henry VIII broke from the Roman Catholic church, the Guilds were seen by him as supporters of the Pope, and in 1545 all material property of the Guilds was confiscated. Elizabeth I took away from the Guilds the responsibility for apprenticeships, and by the end of her reign, most Guilds had been suppressed.[1]
The Oddfellows Lodge
The supression of the Guilds removed an important form of social and financial support from ordinary men and women. In major cities (like London), some Guilds (like the Free Masons and the Odd Fellows) survived by adapting their roles to a social support function. Both of these organisations had their base in London, but established other Branches (called 'Lodges') across the country.[1]
The earliest surviving rules of an Oddfellows Lodge date from 1730 and refer to the Loyal Aristarcus Lodge in London. There are many pubs in Britain today which are named 'The Oddfellows' or 'Oddfellows Arms'. Invariably these are past meeting places of Lodges.[1]
Evolution
As a result of the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688, (when the Protestant William of Orange replaced the Catholic King James II), in the mid-1700s the Oddfellows split into The Order of Patriotic Oddfellows (based in the south of England and supporting William) and The Ancient Order of Oddfellows (based in the north and favouring the Stuarts). Subsequent to the failure of Bonnie Prince Charlie's uprising, in 1789 the two Orders formed a partial amalgamation as the Grand United Order of Oddfellows.[1][4]
The French Revolution caused "the people in power" to view organisations like the Oddfellows and Freemasons with fear. Membership became a criminal offence, and such organisations were driven "underground" and forced to use codes, passwords, special handshakes and similar mechanisms.[1]
Fear of revolution was not the sole reason for persecution. Friendly societies like the Oddfellows were the 'parents' of modern-day trade unions and could organise effective local strike action by levying all of their members for additional contributions for their benevolent funds, out of which payments could be made to the families of members who were on strike.[1]
The Independent Order - Manchester Unity
In 1810, members of the Oddfellows in Manchester area became dissatisfied with the way the United Order was being run and formed an independent Order with the title 'Manchester Unity'. With their improved organisation and rules, they encouraged many other lodges across the country to leave the old Grand United Order and join the Independent Order under the 'Manchester Compliance'. It was the Manchester Unity which was to become the the Oddfellows of today.[1]
The Oddfellows subsequently introduced a number of novel benefits for members. These included the Travel Warrant, which allowed members seeking work to stay overnight in an Oddfellows Hall, anywhere in the country, free of charge. The Oddfellows also introduced standard protection policies (or 'tables') to which people could subscribe to protect themselves. At that time (and until 1948) in order to see a doctor or go into hospital, people had to pay. Many people therefore joined friendly societies like the Oddfellows to obtain protection to meet these costs.[1]
The American Separation
The Oddfellows had spread to America, and several unofficial lodges existed in New York City, but American Odd Fellowship is regarded as being founded in Baltimore in 1819, by Thomas Wildey, and the following year affiliated with the Manchester Unity.[1]
In 1834, the Tolpuddle Martyrs were unexpectedly convicted and "transported" for "membership of an illegal friendly society". The Oddfellow "Board of Directors" hastily modified the "constitution" to evade a similar fate. Members of the Oddfellows in the United States were not pleased to see the ancient rituals changed without their agreement, particularly to satisfy a British Government against which they had fought a war of independence.[1]
As a result, the Oddfellows in America declared their independence from the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows and became a self governing Order - the Independent Order of Odd Fellows - which established lodges across the world (and continues to this day).[1]
Legitimacy
The Oddfellows contuned to be viewed with suspicion by "the people in power". At various times, right up to 1850, some aspects of the Order's practices were declared illegal. However, by 1850, the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society had become the largest and richest friendly society in Britain. This growth was spurred by the growth caused by the Industrial Revolution, the lack of Trade Unions, and the lack of personal or public insurance; only by joining mutual friendly societies like the Oddfellows could ordinary people protect themselves and their families against illness, injury or death.[1]
In 1911, when Asquith's Liberal government was setting up the National Insurance Act in Britain, the Oddfellows protected so many people that the government used the Oddfellows' actuarial tables to work out the level of contribution and payment required. At that time the Oddfellows was the largest friendly society in the world.[1]
The Welfare State and Modern Odfellows
The Welfare State and the National Health Service took over the major part of the role of Friendly Societies, and since 1948 the role of the Oddfellows has evolved in other directions, with a continuing focus on social involvement, care & support and financial benefits.[1]
In the second half of the 20th century, the Oddfellows moved into financial products.[1]
In 1996 the Order took the decision to move away from the provision of financial products and to concentrate on social and care provision for members. It subsequently developed a strategic decision to focus activity in its Branches across the UK - encouraging people to take a more active part in Branch activities and to provide support and care for older and infirm members through local volunteer members.[1]
The International Spread of Oddfellowship
The concept of the Oddfellows was taken abroad as members emigrated to the far-flung corners of the Commonwealth and to the New World. Today, the Oddfellows can be found in many countries across the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. The American Order has set up lodges in Germany, Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Holland and many other European countries.[1]
See also
References and notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "History of the Oddfellows". oddfellows.co.uk Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ The "History of the Oddfellows" document traces the legendary origins of fraternal organisations from the Israelites, through the Romans and into Britain, up to the time of the formation of the Guilds. "While there is little contemporary proof of this chain of events, it is known that similar fraternities did exist from classical times." Note, however, that much Oddfellow terminology has biblical origins. For example, the female Order are called "Rebekahs", named from the Old Testament character.
- ^ The "History of the Oddfellows" document goes on to describe the evolution of the Guilds, and Oddfellow terminology derived from the Guilds. For example, each Guild was headed by a Grand Master, the name that the Oddfellows use to refer to their annually elected Head.
- ^ The Grand United Order of Oddfellows, established in England in 1789, should not be confused with the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, established in the USA in 1943.