Be part of the history and the mystery
Membership in one of the world's oldest and largest fraternal orders, and a lodge family close to home.
Friendship, Love and Truth
Friendship
You gain a new family in the members of your lodge and a vast network of Brothers and Sisters worldwide. Joining Odd Fellows with your friends gives a deeper purpose and meaning to your friendship. We are a diverse organization with members of all faiths, races, genders, occupations and abilities, with over 600,000 members in over 10,000 lodges in 30 countries.
Love
The historic command of the Odd Fellow is to "visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan." You get to take an active role in helping your community and the world be a better place. Local lodges help their communities in any way they choose and are unified together in larger projects.
Truth
Be a part of the history and the mystery. As an Odd Fellow you are a member of one of the world's oldest and largest fraternal orders. Rituals, symbols and degrees are designed to "elevate and improve the character of mankind." By taking these lessons to heart you become a better person and in turn help make the world around you a better place.
Skills that carry beyond the lodge
Members gain a worldwide family of Brothers and Sisters and the many philosophical lessons of our degrees dating back centuries. There are many benefits to being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Members learn and use many valuable life skills that carry over into life outside the lodge. These skills are useful to anyone trying to better their career and will be handy on any resume, or for anyone who is an entrepreneur trying to start their own business.
An Odd Fellow lodge is a good place to be, and it's lots of fun. You'll like meeting good people, making new friends and enjoying the pleasures of new experiences. It's where the action is in most communities. Sports, socials, dances and parties are all part of the active life of Odd Fellows today.
Requirements and joining procedure
When the lodge has received your application, they will appoint an interviewing committee of three members, to ask questions and to answer any you have. It also gives you at least three familiar faces in the lodge.
- Contact a lodge or lodge memberUse our membership request form or contact your local I.O.O.F. lodge.
- Complete an applicationReceived from a member, or request one from us.
- Submit your application and initiation feesThey will be forwarded to the lodge.
- The Noble Grand assigns members to investigateThe Noble Grand (President) of the lodge arranges a review of the applicant's overall character.
- An interview of the applicantThe applicant is interviewed by the investigating committee.
- The committee reports to membersReports and recommendations are given at a meeting.
- Members vote on the applicantThe lodge ballots to accept you as a member.
- The applicant is advised of the resultIf accepted, the lodge sends a letter announcing your election to membership.
- The applicant receives an initiation noticeWith the date and time for initiation.
- Initiation in the lodgeWelcome to the Three Link Fraternity.
Odd Fellows lodges in Missouri
Below is a list of Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges located within the State of Missouri. Search by lodge name or town.
Projects of the Order
The Educational Foundation
The IOOF Educational Foundation began its operation on September 20, 1927. Its purpose is to operate a revolving loan fund for qualified students dependent in part, or wholly, on their own efforts for an education, and to award scholarships based on scholarship, leadership and financial need.
Odd Fellows and Rebekahs Visual Research Foundation
Dedicated to helping purchase equipment for medical schools and eye clinics, operating eye banks, amblyopia screening, ophthalmological research, low vision clinics, eyeglasses for the needy and elderly, mobile eye exam units, rituals printed in Braille, collecting eyeglasses for developing countries, and the sale and donation of Big Eye Lamps.
SOS Children's Villages
This project builds families for orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children in 134 countries and territories, including the United States, through family support and care programs, schools, medical centers and emergency relief. sos-usa.org
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
This ceremony of remembrance for those who have given their lives to preserve the American way of life enshrines the principles of Odd Fellowship, Friendship, Love and Truth. It is indeed an honor to be a part of this pilgrimage.
Grand Lodge calendar
Current and upcoming events and meeting dates from Grand Lodge. Switch between Month, Week or Agenda views, and click any event for details.
Learn more about Odd Fellowship
- Sovereign Grand Lodgeioof.org
General information on the Sovereign Grand Lodge. For national and international IOOF websites, use the Jurisdictions button on its home page.
- I.O.O.F. Manchester Unityoddfellows.co.uk
An excellent source for the history of the Order in England and its founding in the western world.
- IOOFTV video channeleyephysics.com/iooftv
A commercial-free central repository for public relations programs of interest to members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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.