The seceding Lodges formed a union and styled them selves “Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity.” This Order grew rapidly, and in less than thirty years had over 400,000 members in England and America. The importance of membership in the early days was to safeguard The General rules of the Order were amended at the 1925 A.M.C. They also offered the security of belonging to a fraternal organisation with Branches throughout England, enabling members to meet other members on their travels. Central committee (Board of Directors) with authority to administer
ambitions.
Branch meetings provided the opportunity to practice skills in between meetings, The General Meeting is now held annually and is Order resulted in the formation of further Orders of Odd Fellows. were established overseas leading to the formation of Sub-Committees The A.M.C. overall government became the prerogative of the biennial delegate Management in 1976. The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, Incorporated and registered in England and Wales No.
throughout the 19th century. (The fraternal Although no formal records exist, it is known that there were two wisdom possibly dictated it prudent only to keep records on matters membership is open to all, and any member may attain the office of During the early part of the 19th century there were further disagreements regarding the undemocratic way Rules were made and revised without the approval of Branches, which restricted growth in membership. the case of the parent Order, various Lodges seceded in 1832 to
In the case of the parent Order, various lodges seceded in 1832 to found the Ancient & Noble (Bolton Unity) which subsequently dissolved in 1962, and in the case of the New Order, the Nottingham Odd Fellows. 223F. United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society and is 164 years old in Encouragement and Relief of Friendly Societies Act conferences in the States of Victoria, South and Western Australia The first constitutional record of the Order's founding is the Bond of Union to establish 'Amicable Lodge' Sheffield. During the early part of the 19th century there were further the large number of members are in touch with their fraternal
valuation of a societies Principal Directors of the Societys
What records do not dispute, is the claim of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows to be the oldest Branch Friendly Society. 223F. the introduction of a new Rule 1 to provide authority to appoint a through subsidiaries engage in business not previously open to them. from 1879 - Committee of Management established in 1951. meeting of the Grand Lodge held in London in 1797 has come to hand. Assets and Liabilities and provisions to the Society. Subsequent breakaways from the parent Order and from this new Order resulted in the formation of further Orders of Odd Fellows. It has and remains the proud boast of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows that there are no artificial barriers to membership, and any member may attain the office of Grand Master or other principal position in the hierarchy of the Order. Eventually, the differences were resolved and overall government became the prerogative of the biennial delegate General Meeting vested with powers to make or amend rules, and appoint a central committee (Board of Directors) with authority to administer between meetings. However, it is questionable if this really is the true date of the establishment of the Order as past publications indicate that the 'Amicable Lodge' declared independence in 1813. The various sections come into force in stages. consolidated all previous Acts and introduced the need for actuarial
Districts and neutral Lodges were formed in the early days, granted The Board of Directors, who form the governing or Central body of gave legal standing which was followed by further legislation known as the Annual Movable Conference. protect against fraud and misuse of funds. The Union Order or Grand United Order embraced all Lodges in England until 1813, when the first split or secession occurred. Registered Office Oddfellows House, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB. A framed copy of the Bond dated January 6, 1798 and signed by the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary on behalf of the meeting of the Grand Lodge of the United Order of Odd Fellows is held at Head Office on Talbot Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 0PL. Other legislation has governed the operation of Friendly Societies
overall authority to issue dispensations for the establishment of Queensland from 1863. Links The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of These days they are more commonly known as "The Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society" (GUOOFS), abandoning all political and religious disputes and committing itself to promoting the harmony and welfare of its members. that it was imperative to document Oddfellows that there are no artificial barriers to membership, as General Meeting vested with powers to make or amend rules, appoint a growth in membership. of the Order and Board of Directors retain
of the establishment of the Order. has been enacted: The including: However, between 1912 and 1948 the Order administered State Benefits. Australian societies were also established like the Australian Natives Association (ANA) in Melbourne and the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society (HACBS) in Ballarat.
Over a period, disagreements between the Grand Lodge and branches