Odd Fellows

Order started in London ab.1745; brought to the U. S. 1806, but without permanent footing till 1819, when a lodge was organized in Baltimore. The Grand Lodge of the U. S. first met Feb. 1825. A ladies' degree was adopted 1851, which in 1893 comprised a membership of 108,732. A military degree, that of Patriarch Militant, was added 1882. The supreme body is styled the Sovereign Grand Lodge. In 1895 there were 788,968 members in the U. S. and Canada. There is also a colored branch numbering 150,000. The English branch numbers 856,980. There are also grand lodges in Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland, and subordinate lodges in many other countries.