To improve and elevate the character of man
Our Order has met in Missouri since the first lodge west of the Mississippi opened in St. Louis in 1835.
Why "Odd Fellows"?
In 17th century England, it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called "Odd Fellows". Odd Fellows are also known as "The Three Link Fraternity", which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth.
Although some books claim to trace Odd Fellowship back to Roman times, when members of the Roman Legions in England were called "Fellow Citizens", what is said to be the earliest printed record of an Odd Fellows lodge appears in a reference to a lodge meeting at the Globe Tavern in England in 1748. This lodge was numbered nine, so apparently there were at least nine associated Odd Fellows lodges at that time.
The History of Odd Fellowship in North America
Among the first records of the Order in America is that of five Brothers of the English Order who met in New York City in 1806 and formed Shakespeare Lodge No. 1. The founders were three boat builders, a comedian and a vocalist, a group befitting the name "Odd Fellows" indeed. The lodge was self-instituted, a common practice in those times. Their first candidate was a retired actor who was the keeper of the tavern where they met. Accounts state that lodge meetings were accompanied by merrymaking and mirth, and that the wares of the tavern were freely indulged in. This lodge was dissolved in 1813 due to poor attendance brought on by controversy over the War of 1812.
Another lodge of which little is known existed briefly in New York in 1816. In 1818, Shakespeare Lodge in New York was re-instituted in the Red Cow tavern, operated by a former member who had in his keeping the books and papers of the former lodge. They claimed to have received a charter from the Manchester Unity which gave them authority over all other Odd Fellows lodges in the United States, but this authority was not accepted by other lodges. Several more lodges were founded in the New York City area, and one in Philadelphia, due to the efforts of the Brothers of Shakespeare Lodge.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows as we know it today began in Baltimore, Maryland, where five members of the Order from England founded Washington Lodge No. 1 on April 26, 1819, by self-institution. One of these Brothers was Thomas Wildey, the first Noble Grand and the man revered as the founder of Odd Fellowship in North America. A charter was received from Duke of York Lodge in Preston, England, in 1820, a year and a half after its self-institution.
A second lodge was formed in Baltimore in 1819, but these two lodges and those in New York were unaware of each other's existence for some time, communications being slow in those days. In 1821, the "Grand Lodge of Maryland and of the United States of America, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows" was founded. Brother Wildey also served as the first Grand Master and Grand Sire of the first Grand Lodge, for a period of 12 years. Several more lodges were established, and in 1824 the "Grand Lodge of the United States", now termed "The Sovereign Grand Lodge", was separated from the Grand Lodge of Maryland. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows in North America (United States and Canada) became independent from the Order in England in 1834.
The first lodge of our Order west of the Mississippi.
Traveler's Rest Lodge No. 1, St. Louis, 1835How the Grand Lodge of Missouri began
On the 18th of August, 1834, the Grand Lodge of the United States granted a charter for a lodge in St. Louis, to be called "Traveler's Rest Lodge, No. 1." P. G. Samuel L. Miller, who was commissioned to open the lodge, landed here on the 1st of April, 1835, and after considerable delay in getting the requisite number of petitioners together, the lodge was finally instituted on the 3rd day of June, with six members. This was the first lodge of our Order west of the Mississippi.
"Wildey Lodge, No. 2" of St. Louis was instituted on the 12th day of June, 1838, by Past Grand Sire Wildey, the "traveling agent" of the G. L. U. S., under a charter granted by that body on May 16th, 1837. The Past Grands in these two lodges were organized into a Grand Lodge on the 13th day of June, 1838, under a charter of that date issued by P. G. Sire Wildey, under his authority as "traveling agent."
The proceedings of the Grand Lodge for the first few years seem to have been very informally entered upon the journal. None of the proceedings appeared in printed form until the Quarterly Session of April, 1845; the then Grand Master, Gerard B. Allen, has the credit of introducing the measure to print the journal. The revenue of the Grand Lodge being insufficient to meet the expense, it was made up mostly by the lodges in the City of St. Louis. Since that time, the proceedings have been regularly printed and distributed.
The Grand Lodge office of the Grand Lodge of Missouri was located in St. Louis from its start until 1980, when it was moved to Columbia, Missouri. In 1988 it was moved to Fulton, Missouri, where it still remains.
The History of Rebekahs
On September 20, 1851, IOOF became the first national fraternity to accept both men and women when it formed the Daughters of Rebekah, known today as simply, Rebekahs. Schuyler Colfax (Vice President of the United States, 1869 to 1873, under President Ulysses S. Grant) was the force behind the movement. Though the term sorority was not yet coined in this year, it may be considered that the Rebekah is the first and oldest sorority in the world.
Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first fraternal organization to establish homes for our senior members and for orphaned children.
What Does It Mean To Be A Rebekah?
In the Rebekah degree the stories of prominent women of the Bible are used to express universal traits that exemplify honorable living of courageous women; that teach exemplary living grounded in Friendship, Love and Truth, the cornerstone for both Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. Rebekah, one of the first and great Matriarchs of God's chosen people, who exemplified beauty, grace, patience, hospitality and a humble spirit of service to others, is the worthy name of this degree.
Among other notable women of the Bible are the mother of Samson, worthy of angelic discourse, who willingly gives her firstborn to God's service in an indisputable act of sacrifice and piety; Deborah, a prophetess who courageously led her people into battle to defeat their oppressors; and Esther, who exemplifies courage and patriotism to her country and her people, warning her King of a plot against his life and then foiling a plan (at the risk of her own life) for the genocide of her people. Ruth is exemplary for her unfaltering commitment, choosing God above all others. Sarah, the great biblical Matriarch, struggles in the face of difficult trials of faith, ultimately yielding to faithfully follow God. Miriam, the sister of Moses, exemplifies faith and hope as she delivers Moses to the river, where he is saved by the Pharaoh's daughter. Ultimately her tenacious faith and hope are realized in the deliverance of her people.
Rebekahs throughout the world claim as their own the honorable traits of women as exemplified through these great and distinguished women of the Bible and others in history. Among these noble traits are beauty, grace, patience, hospitality, humility, sacrifice, patriotism, faith, hope, charity, commitment, courage and universal justice for all.
Becoming a Rebekah offers many opportunities
- Understand the principles of Friendship, Love and Truth
- Be involved in leadership training applicable to everyday life
- Have a more purposeful life
- Develop enduring friendships far and wide
- Become an active participant in your community
- Broaden your mind
- Help children, the elderly and the less fortunate
- Develop an inner satisfaction that money cannot buy
- Have a warm, friendly welcome in strange cities and distant lands
- Have companionship at a time of loneliness
- Enlarge your circle of friends
- Use your talents to help others
- Have fun
Rebekah Creed: I Am A Rebekah
I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and the Sisterhood of woman. I believe in the watchwords of our Order: Friendship, Love and Truth. Friendship is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together. Love is one of our most precious gifts; the more you give, the more you receive. Truth is the standard by which we value people. It is the foundation of our society. I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out to my community and the world, for in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters. I am a Rebekah!
Other Degrees of the Order
Once you have received the Rebekah Degree you are entitled to seek out the other degrees of our Order and are admonished to do so. They are the Ladies Encampment Auxiliary degrees, and after acquiring the Encampment (LEA) degree you may receive the Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant Degree and all of the Odd Fellow degrees.
Odd Fellows Creed
Genuine Friendship, which hears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, is the first step toward progress and personal enrichment, and the teachings of Temperance, Prudence and Justice.
Love is the basis for all life's ambitions, service to humanity, and more family oriented.
Truth, the imperial virtue, promotes economic stability, equality under law, freedom of enterprise, the highest of ethical standards, and lasting peace, the ultimate goal of fraternity.
Universal Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God is imperative to the survival of the world, and can be accomplished only through the practice of fellowship and understanding among all peoples and nations.
I Am An Odd Fellow
I believe in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of man. I believe in Friendship, Love and Truth as basic guides to the ultimate destiny of all mankind. I believe my home, my church or temple, my lodge, and my community deserve my best work, my modest pride, my earnest faith, and my deepest loyalty, as I perform my duty "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan" and as I work with others to build a better world, because, in spirit and in truth, I am and must always be, grateful to my Creator, faithful to my country and fraternal to my fellow man.
Brothers and Sisters
I would like to see all lodges get involved in their community and let the public know who we are as a fraternity and, most importantly, our motto: "Visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan." Pass out pamphlets with an application inside.
In my term of office, I plan on attending all active lodges in the state of Missouri. I would like members to go out and visit the sick members who can't attend meetings, let them know you are still thinking about them, and see if they need anything.
If any member has any questions, or would like me to attend any event you are having, let me know in plenty of time to work around my schedule.
Bob Stump, Grand Master
Grand Lodge Officers
Appointed Grand Lodge Officers
Rebekah Assembly of Missouri Officers
Frequently asked questions
How do I join?
Start by sending us a message. We will connect you with a lodge near you and explain the next steps. You can also see the full joining procedure on our What We Do page.
Do I need to live in Missouri?
Our focus is Missouri lodges. We will help you find the most suitable lodge based on your location.
What is expected of members?
Members take part in meetings, service and fellowship as their time allows.
Can I attend a meeting before joining?
Contact us to talk about visiting a local lodge event. Guests are encouraged at public lodge functions.
How can I support without joining?
You can donate goods, volunteer at events, or share our activities with your community.
Do you have merchandise?
Yes. Our online catalog is coming soon. You can ask about any item on the Shop page.
There is a seat for you at the lodge.
Tell us where you live and what interests you. We will connect you with a lodge near you.