The News from January and February 2019 Volume 102, issue 1 Minnesota Odd Fellow Published Bi-monthly Available For All Odd Fellows and Rebekahs Promoting Odd Fellowship through Positive Communication IN THIS ISSUE: PG Grand Masters / Assembly Presidents Messages 2 Take the Polar Plunge! Sovereign Grand Masters Message 3 President I.A.R.A.’s Message 4 Letter from the Past 5 Lodge Activities – Herman & Hassan Valley 6 200th Anniversary of Odd Fellows Article 7 200th Anniversary Items to Order 8 86th Pilgrimage to the Tomb of the Unknowns 9 Pilgrimage Schedule of Events 10 Pilgrimage Pre-Registration Form 11 Member Update / SGM Message-con’t 12 On the Lighter Side 13 Lodge Potpourri 14 What’s Up With Your Lodge? 15 Three Links CEO Report 16 Leading Age Kal Michel’s Outstanding Leadership Award 17 Broken Links – Marge Howard – Aitkin Rebekah #151 18 Broken Links - Joan Heggeseth – Starlight Rebekah #11 19 BIRTHDAYS / Sick and in Distress 20 Coming In March & April Month Day Event March 6 Ash Wednesday March 10 Daylight Saving Time starts March 17 St. Patrick’s Day March 23 Schuyler Colfax Day March 29 National Vietnam War Veterans Day April 13 Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday April 15 Tax Day & Patriot’s Day April 18 Maundy Thursday April 19 Good Friday April 21 Easter Sunday MESSAGE FROM YOUR GRAND MASTER Greetings Member All, Welcome to the tail end of winter, it has been challenging! I would like to update all on our branding project. I have completed much research and interviewed and selected a social media expert to aid our order in launching our branding project. This individual has taken time to review our current state online data (Facebook page, and MNIOOF web site). This individual feel’s that she can full heartily get behind our core values and promote Odd Fellowship and Rebecca’s. In the coming weeks you will see content updates to our state website and Facebook page, we will be purchasing social media ads as well. My goal is to start randomly receiving these ads which will paint a picture of our core values as Odd Fellows and Rebecca’s. Spreading our Brand is the upfront goal. Once we are socially recognized I firmly believe our order will grow in membership. I would like to Quote Dale Carnegie: “MOST OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE KEPT TRYING WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE NO HOPE AT ALL” So, with that said, I encourage all to join our Facebook page if able and promote Friendship, Love and Truth! We are almost through the winter, hang in there! In FL&T, Robert Arthur, Jr., Grand Master MESSAGE FROM YOUR ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT Dear Rebekah Brothers and Sisters: Oh, winter is definitely here! I don’t hate the snow and cold, but I can’t say I really like it either. Guess we just have to accept what comes; it is Minnesota. Below are a few friendly reminders regarding Rebekah Assembly sessions scheduled for June 20, 21 and 22 in New Ulm, MN. Jurisdictional Members: If you are planning to attend Assembly sessions in June, your dues must be paid by May 1. Time is needed to process and send your card to you before sessions. If you haven’t planned to be with us in June, please think about it again. We would really like to see you as it is one of the few times we are able to see and visit with you. All Rebekahs planning to attend sessions: Please be sure to bring your current (2018-2019) dues card to sessions. If you do not have this card, you cannot be registered or admitted. All dues must be paid prior to sessions; they cannot be paid at sessions. Stay warm and let’s hope spring will arrive soon. In Friendship, Love, and Truth, Doreita Reynolds, Assembly President 2018-2019 [email protected] - 651-565-5368 2 Continued on page 12 3 4 Below is an article that was taken from a booklet titled “The Beneficent Origins of Odd Fellowship”. This booklet has only eight (8) pages, but talks about Odd Fellowship in England and the America’s in the early beginnings of the Odd Fellows. Franklin D. Roosevelt was just one of many notable individuals that were members of the Odd Fellows and Rebekah’s. This letter is in response to a letter written to Franklin Roosevelt by the Sovereign Grand Sire. (1) (1) The Beneficent Orgins of Odd Fellowship Compiled by John O. Houchins, 2003 5 th On January 19 (pulled pork sandwiches w/ trimmings) and January 26 (spaghetti), Herman’s Harmony Lodge #230 served an evening meal at the Herman Community Center. A community Bingo game followed both meals. The fundraiser is providing financial support towards bringing the 9/11 Memorial Display to the Grant County Fair in July, 2019. The lodge is working with the Grant County Fair Board who will sponsor two meals/ bingo in February to raise more needed funds. January 19th event was a slower start on a cold night and Bingo players from left to right: Carol McRoberts, Janet the crowd increased significantly by DeLong (Emily’s grandmother) Emily’s friend, Emily Oachs. January 26th. Fund raising will go a long- Emily’s grandfather, Donald Oachs had been a local Odd ways to helping support the community Fellow member before moving south. project. Photo and article courtesy of Gay Ekberg. Hassan Valley Lodge #109 of Hutchinson held their annual Valentine’s party on February 14, 2019 at the Lodge hall. There were 14 members and guests that enjoyed a delicious meal followed by trivia games and prizes. Those pictured above are (seated l to r): Ann Stockert, Lisa Rasmussen, Connie Saloum, Ed Stockert, and Duane Jindra. (Back row l to r): George Berg, Theresa Berg, Jan Sebesta, Dave Sebesta, Jackson Kramer, Dave Kramer, Alex Berg, and Brett Rasmussen. Alex Saloum was taking the picture. 6 Washington Lodge, No. 1, of Baltimore, was organized 26 April 1819 under the leadership of Thomas Wildey, now recognized as the founder of American Odd Fellowship. Thomas Wildey was born in London, England, January 15, 1782. He was left an orphan five years later – and the Odd Fellow pledge to “Educate the Orphan” sprang from his personal childhood experiences. At the age of 14, Wildey went to live with an uncle. After he had 9 years of schooling, he became an apprentice to a maker of coach springs. He was initiated into the Odd Fellows in 1804 on reaching manhood (age of 21) in which he distinguished himself by his zeal and integrity and quickly “passed the chairs”. When restlessness brought Thomas Wildey to America in 1817, the British were still unpopular in the States because of the War of 1812. In that year Baltimore was suffering both a yellow fever epidemic and mass unemployment. An outgoing personality, Wildey missed companionship and was determined to find if there were any other Odd Fellows in Baltimore. It took Wildey two attempts, on 13 Feb. 1819, when he advertised in the Baltimore American; and, again, 27 March 1819, before the required “five for a quorum” had been obtained. On the 26th of April 1819 in the Seven Stars Tavern the five self-instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. The minutes state that the manner of institution was “ancient usage.” This ceremony consisted of Wildey’s obligation of himself in the presence of the others, and, in turn, the obligation of his companions. Subsequent events would indicate that the Manchester Unity ceremonies of 1816 were used by Wildey and his four associates: John Welch, John Duncan, John Cheatham and Richard Rushworth. A second lodge was formed in Baltimore in 1819, but these two lodges and those in New York were unaware of each others’ existence for some time, communications being slow in those days, and there being no reason such information would travel from one city to another except by pure chance. On 26 Dec. 1821 Pennsylvania Lodge, No. 1, Philadelphia, was formed, like those in New York, Boston and Baltimore, on the self-institution principle, John Pearce being the leader and his associates were, likewise, English mechanics. While the Order had been planted in four States and the chief cities thereof according to ancient usage, an effort was soon made to frame constitutions and to obtain charters from the so-called regular bodies of Odd Fellows in England. Thomas Wildey held the position of Grand Sire (Now referred to as Sovereign Grand Master) until 1833 when he retired from official station, though remaining an active working member of the Order, and a regular attendant at the sessions of the Grand Lodge of the United States. With the official split from the Manchester Unity in 1843, the organization name was changed to Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On September 20, 1851, IOOF became the first national fraternity to accept both men and women when it formed the Daughters of Rebekah. Schuyler Colfax(Vice President of the United States (1869–1873) under President Ulysses S. Grant) was the force behind the movement. This is a branch to which both sexes are admitted, but was made with a view to admitting women to the Order. Later the name was changed to Rebekahs. In 1861, Thomas Wildey passed away. At the time of his death, there were more than 200,000 members of the IOOF. In April 1865 a monument was erected to Wildey in Baltimore, consisting of a statue on a Doric column in the U.S.A. that is 52 feet in height.