WHY THE NAME ODD FELLOWS?

There are several different reasons given for our unique name. One old and apparently authoritative history of Odd Fellowship gives the explanation, "That common laboring men should asso­ciate themselves together and form a fraternity for social unity and fellowship and for mutual help was such a marked violation of the trends of the times (England in the 1700's) that they became known as `peculiar' or `odd,' and hence they were derided as `Odd Fellows.' Because of the appropriateness of the name, those engaged in forming these unions accepted it. When legally incorporated the title `Odd Fellows' was adopted:'

Another, similar explanation is that the original Odd Fellows were men who were engaged in various or odd trades, as there were organizations for some of the larger trades.

Modern references state that the true reason for the name Odd Fellows isn't known or documented.

THE REBEKAH DEGREE

The Degree of Rebekah was founded on September 20, 1851. The author and founder of the Rebekah Degree was our beloved brother Schuyler Colfax. In 1867, the Grand Sire recommended that the Degree be recognized as one of the Degrees of Odd Fellowship with the right to confer the Degrees on others, with a Code of Uniform Laws and the right to elect its own officers and members.

In 1884, the Rebekah Lodges were permitted to send delegates to a State Convention, Assembly or Grand Lodge for the purpose of promoting the interest of the Degree of Rebekah. It was not until 1886 that the conferring of the Rebekah Degree was discon­tinued in the Odd Fellows Lodge.

The first National Convention of the Degree of Rebekah was held in Columbus, Ohio, September 17, 18, 19, 20, 1889. The Interna­tional Association of Rebekah Assemblies was founded in 1922 at Detroit, Michigan.