Re: Odd Fellow - FreeMason Question

___Pat L.___
Is the iniation into the Odd Fellows similar to the iniation into the Free
Masons?
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That depends entirely on what you mean. Early Masonic exposures use the
words "Odd Fellow" to describe a Mason, and I believe that they share some
common early ground. However, when it comes to ritual work, I would say that
while there are general similarities -- they are similar in some technical
respects-- it doesn't appear that there was slavish borrowing. As in
Masonry, the moral lessons inculcated by ritual are drawn from the Bible,
but the not necessarily from the same material. From the "outside,"
noticable similarities include Odd Fellow symbolism, the (previous) use of
the apron, the significance of the number three, the use of passes, grips,
signs, words and the like.

Of course, now they allow women. I suppose that adds a whole different
dimension to the meaning of "Odd Fellow."

LOL.

JSW

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