The Three Links Odd Cast: Recent Episodes
Toby Hanson, Ainslie Heilich, Sergio Paredes, Christopher McHale, Scott Moye
The Three Links Odd Cast is an exploration of and discussion about issues in Odd Fellowship for members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It provides a fun, light-hearted look at the history, traditions, customs, and practices of Odd Fellowship as well as an examination of where the fraternal order is today. NOTE: there will be NO discussion of The Unwritten Work or any of the signs, grips, or passwords of Odd Fellowship.
One of the questions that comes to us frequently is if we have any training materials to help prepare members to step up and serve in an elected office. To that end, we have recorded a series of training episodes to help members feel more comfortable moving up into those roles. The fourth in our series is about serving as Secretary. Since most lodges are small and don't have a separate Financial Secretary, we have combined those roles in this episode to match the most common practice. Those lodges with a Financial Secretary may split out the duties in this episode as appropriate under local jurisdictional laws. We made every effort possible to present the material we have in an easy-to-follow, conversational style. If you're a member looking to move up and become an elected officer in your lodge, give these episodes a listen. If there's something you think we should include in an update of each episode, be sure and let us know
One of the questions that comes to us frequently is if we have any training materials to help prepare members to step up and serve in an elected office. To that end, we have recorded a series of training episodes to help members feel more comfortable moving up into those roles. The third in our series is about serving as Treasurer. These are by no means completely comprehensive; we may have missed something in the process. However, we made every effort possible to present the material we have in an easy-to-follow, conversational style. If you're a member looking to move up and become an elected officer in your lodge, give these episodes a listen. If there's something you think we should include in an update of each episode, be sure and let us know
One of the questions that comes to us frequently is if we have any training materials to help prepare members to step up and serve in an elected office. To that end, we have recorded a series of training episodes to help members feel more comfortable moving up into those roles. The second in our series is about serving as Vice Grand. As the line of officers is progressive, the Vice Grand needs to be familiar with the duties of the Noble Grand should it be necessary to assume those duties at any time, so we recommend listening to the Noble Grand episode as well. These are by no means completely comprehensive; we may have missed something in the process. However, we made every effort possible to present the material we have in an easy-to-follow, conversational style. If you're a member looking to move up and become an elected officer in your lodge, give these episodes a listen. If there's something you think we should include in an update of each episode, be sure and let us know.
One of the questions that comes to us frequently is if we have any training materials to help prepare members to step up and serve in an elected office. To that end, we have recorded a series of episodes to help members feel more comfortable moving up into those roles. The first in our series is about serving as Noble Grand. These are by no means completely comprehensive; we may have missed something in the process. However, we made every effort possible to present the material we have in an easy-to-follow, conversational style. If you're a member looking to move up and become an elected officer in your lodge, give these episodes a listen. If there's something you think we should include in an update of each episode, be sure and let us know.
Season six brought some exciting developments to the Three Links Odd Cast. The biggest one was Meredith Moore joining as co-host and Director of Institutional Research. We expressed our gratitude for Past Co-host Mike Duminiak and his years of hard work on the show. We also reviewed and discussed our various episodes from throughout the season. Some of those highlights included the on-location episode recorded in Yreka, California for the Cave Degree, an interview with Past Co-host Duminiak about his book "Oddtistic," a look at the fraternal cemetery business with Brother Jon Hart of the Odd Fellow Memorial Gardens in Livermore, California, another tattoo episode (of course!), the Christmas episode, Meredith's two survey episodes about burnout and the future of the Rebekahs, the new lodge in San Antonio (for which Toby made a special musical recording), and the episodes about new and revitalized lodges in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We closed out with a great conversation with Sovereign Grand Master Tom Calabrese who provided us with some great wisdom and insight. All in all, it was a pretty good season. The Shoutout went to another revived Encampment, Pueblo #1 of Colorado. In the Odd Podge, Toby is looking forward to his Washington Grand Sessions with old friend Kelly Hughes returning as Sovereign Grand Warden, Meredith gave credit to a number of lodges doing great things, and Ainslie spilled the beans on the upcoming Three Links Emporium and Tattoo Extravaganza at Sovereign Grand Lodge.
Odd Fellowship is built around the principle of mutual aid, which implies that we should all be of service to one another. Our current Sovereign Grand Master, Tom Calabrese, exemplifies the spirit of a servant leader. Modest and unassuming, he has shown throughout his career in Odd Fellowship that he is always ready to pitch in and help out and that spirit of service has extended to his time as Sovereign Grand Master. Brother Tom worked his way up from being a member of his father's lodge to becoming a Past Grand, joining the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, joining the Sovereign Grand Lodge, and then moving up to the highest office in Odd Fellowship. Along the way he has exemplified the best aspects of service at every opportunity. He shares his thoughts about the Order's direction, tells what he has done to keep the Sovereign Grand Lodge functional, and gives insight into how he deals with issues that come to him. The Shoutout goes to yet another new Encampment, Barataria #73 of New Orleans, Louisiana. In the Odd Podge, Toby shares the visit of PGM David "Ace" Adams of Minnesota to Seattle, Ainslie talks about his adventure driving a century-old dump truck, Meredith gives credit to a lodge in the Philippines for their amazing relief efforts in the face of a disaster, and Tom shares his wonderful cemetery experience with the Grand Master of Vermont, Teppi Zuppo.
Brother Aiden Brink returns to the podcast to share some insight that he has gained about his lodge, degree work, regalia, robes, community involvement, and a host of other topics. Grab your notepads and get ready to take notes because this episode is chock full of great information that will be useful for every lodge, from the smallest kitchen-table lodge to the biggest traditional lodge. Changes that can help a lodge can start with just one member who wants to memorize rituals and make degrees more meaningful. The Shoutout goes to Victory Encampment No. 34 of the Atlantic Provinces (yes, it's another new Encampment). For the Odd Podge, Ainslie shared a remarkable experience where a prospective member stopped in at his shop to meet him and talk Odd Fellowship; Meredith gave props to Oustomah Lodge No. 16 of Nevada City, California for being so active in their community and sharing it on social media; Toby gave us the update on his lodge's German Dinner (which brought in some applications!); and Aiden thanked two groups of members for aiding in his lodge's success: newer members for their assistance with outreach and older members for their hard work and support.
There are many historical connections between Texas and Tennessee, from country music to Davy Crockett to Willie Nelson to the many brave Tennesseans who helped defend the Alamo. Because of those links, it's appropriate that we follow up two very Texan episodes with one from Tennessee. Recently, Crockett Hall Lodge #59 was re-chartered in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Brother Robert Gentry, who headed up the effort to revive the lodge, joins us to tell his story. Like many of us, he first encountered historical relics of the Odd Fellows' presence in Middle Tennessee, including a road bearing the name of the Order. That led to research, which led to a desire to form a lodge, which eventually led to the Grand Lodge of Tennessee and PGM Tammy Barton, who assisted with the process. He also shares some of the ways in which he was able to find members interested in reviving the lodge, including taking many people down to Alabama to get their degrees in the closest lodge. The Shoutout goes to Four Creeks Lodge No. 94 of Visalia, California, home lodge of our guest host Michael Crile, for their work in becoming active again and getting new members. In the Odd Podge, guest host Brother Michael gives us a brief history lesson of Tennessee Wesleyan University, which was first going to be chartered as Odd Fellows Women's College and spent an amount of time named for Brother Ulysses S. Grant; Robert previews the August Back-To-School Motorcycle Run, Toby shares his visit to Mount Constitution Lodge No. 88 on Orcas Island and gives an impromptu history lesson on the Pig War; and Meredith talks Cinco de Mayo and the "Good Neighbor" policies toward Latin America under President Brother Franklin D. Roosevelt, which, of course, prompts another history lesson from Toby.
For nearly 150 years, prior to 2001, the Rebekahs were a strong and vital companion organization to the Odd Fellows. However, once women were allowed to be Odd Fellows and were no longer restricted to just Rebekah membership, numbers for that unit of the Order started to decline precipitously. Director of Institutional Research Meredith Moore attended the Testamonial of IARA President Pam Isenhower to meet with and interview many prominent Rebekahs from around the US and Canada. Sister Meredith asked many important questions of the attendees hoping to get a feel for the future of the Rebekah branch. What followed were some frank and surprising answers, some of which may be controversial. The Shoutout goes to Scott Encamment #132 of Pennsylvania that listens to the podcast and discusses what they hear in each episode. In the Odd Podge, Meredith previews her upcoming trip to the now-passed Founders Day Reenactment in New Jersey, Ainslie shares his trip to a recently revitalized lodge hosting its first Degree Day in several years, and Toby lets our colleagues at Modern Goat Rider know that he's attending the Grand Sessions of British Columbia.
Odd Fellowship has a long, proud history in the state of Texas, dating back to Lone Star Lodge No. 1 in Houston, the first lodge chartered outside the United States by the IOOF, in 1845, before Texas joined the union. A big part of that history was San Antonio Lodge No. 11, only a few steps away from the Alamo, the cradle of Texan independence. On April 11th, San Antonio Lodge No. 11 was rechartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas with eleven members. Brother Daniel McGittrick joined us to preview the reinstitution of the lodge and give us the story of how it came to be as well as how the process worked for it to happen. The Shoutout goes to ANOTHER new Encampment, this time Peoria No. 3 of Illinois. Unlike many of the recent new Encampments, this one was spearheaded by older members who wanted to have their own Encampment to help support the Patriarchs Militant. In the Shoutout, Toby gives an update on how the progressive Degrees are going in his associate lodge; Ainslie shares the cycle of Odd Fellowship he experienced participating as Noble Grand in the Funeral Ceremony and then, later in the day, attending a Degree Rally; Meredith gives props to the new Grand Master of Texas, Jason Ottwell, for performing the Installation of Officers for Dallas No. 44 the same day he was installed as Grand Master; and Daniel thanks three important Odd Fellows in Texas for their assistance and support of the recent growth: Charles Stephenson, John Woolsey, and Bruce Wayne Smith. Special music for this episode was recorded by Toby Hanson.
Pine Island, Minnesota is the kind of idyllic Midwestern farm town that most people picture when they think of anywhere in the middle of the country: friendly people, a strong sense of community, and civic pride. The town also had one other fixture that used to be common in every little town in the Midwest: an Odd Fellows lodge. Unfortunately, the lodge had fallen on hard times. Membership was low and the building was falling apart. Evan Goranson and David Friese stepped in about a year and a half ago and started turning things around. Sometimes that job was fun and easy, like getting people interested in sorting through old treasures in the building. Sometimes it was more of a challenge than they wanted, like dealing with a leaking toilet. Through it all, the lodge is prospering and starting to grow, having reconnected with its community. The progress is significant and shows that with the right combination of new members, guidance from the Grand Lodge, and a can-do attitude, a lodge can be revived and start to thrive. The Shoutout goes to a new lodge in Tennessee, Crockett Hall Lodge #59. In this episode's Odd Podge, Meredith previews a special parade inclusion for the upcoming Pilgrimage to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Ainslie shares another somber memorial service in Illinois, Evan expresses excitement for the first day over 70 degrees Farenheit for Minnesota and Wisconsin, David expresses gratitude both for the nine candidates poised to join his lodge and for being able to talk about it on the podcast, and Toby recounts his conversation with a Chief Patriarch about how to make his Encampment more interesting for its members.
Coulterville, California is a relic of the Gold Rush; a small mountain community nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. There are 110 residents of the town, which is situated at the crossroads of two state highways that take tourists to and from mountain tourist attractions like Yosemite National Park. Like so many other towns of the Old West, Coulterville has an Odd Fellows Lodge, but one that was on the verge of closing. Just when it seemed like the lodge was about to join so many other Gold Rush-era lodges in the history books, along came Erica Wolfsen, a multi-generational resident of Coulterville, and Willow Polson, her friend and partner in reviving the lodge. When they joined, rumors were swirling around the town that the lodge couldn't afford to stay open. They both stepped up and found ways to make the lodge an essential part of the community again and membership has rebounded as a result. They tell us the story of what they did and how they did it. Spoiler alert: it involves getting active and holding events in the community. The Shoutout goes to another re-chartered lodge, this time San Antonio No. 11 in Texas. In the Odd Podge, Erica raves about the inspiring speech Grand Master of California Rita Cooper gave at her recent visitation, Willow shares her happiness with the recent membership gains, Toby talks about the new plan his associate lodge has adopted to bring members in more gradually, and Ainslie previews the sad but rewarding duty of tending to a member at the end of his life.
The annual Odd Market hosted by Tuscola Lodge #316 in Illinois has become a community mainstay. It didn't start out that way, though. The beginning had a lot more variety—and lizards. Sister Rain Martin and Sister Renee Moore join us to talk about the current Odd Market, how it started, how it grew, and how other lodges can copy its success. There were a lot of challenges along the way (some involving food trucks) and a lot of re-evaluation but it has grown into a major event in the area and is a main recruiting tool for Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout goes to Oak Grove Lodge #115 of Missouri which has recently begun getting active again after a period of dormancy. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie shares the story of his father doing degree work, Meredith talks about how female members have helped shape Odd Fellowship in Texas, Rain recounts her fundraising efforts for Kerrville after the floods, Renee offers to help any lodges needing assistance or guidance with doing events, and Toby recalls the recent Installation of Officers for Pilgrim Lodge #187 in Everett, Washington, the first formal Installation that lodge held for many years.
The new year finds us with a new co-host: Sister Meredith Moore of Dallas Lodge #44 in Texas. Meredith brings a wonderful background in Odd Fellowship and in data collection and analysis to the show and we waste no time in putting her skills to work. She developed and posted a survey on member burnout that got responses from 37 jurisdictions. The results are, in most cases, not surprising. Members like meaning, ritual, and regalia. The real question is whether any action will be taken based on the data from the survey or if higher levels of leadership will just continue on as before.
There's no Shoutout on this episode. We would love it if you would share great things your lodge is doing so we can tell the rest of Odd Fellowship about it. Email us at 3linksoddcast@gmail.com and give us the info about what you're doing. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie shares the exciting news that his father joined the Odd Fellows, Toby talks about a visit from Michael and Ryan Crile of California (including a tour of the Washington Odd Fellows Museum), and Meredith previews the upcoming Encampment and Canton Degree Days at the end of January.
What exactly is a Grinch, anyway? Is it a person? A creature? An outlook on life that sours every interaction? The Three Links Odd Cast does another adaptation of a timeless holiday classic focused on Odd Fellowship as we present, "How The Grand Master Stole Christmas." In our version we get to explore what happens when individual desire supersedes our duties as Odd Fellows and how we can get back in touch with those duties. Our all-star cast returns for this episode, with Gil T. Rodelo, Ian Love-Jones, Matthew Thornton, Evan Ochs, Mason Wolf, Michael Greenzeiger, Steven Cross, Meredith Moore, Kyle Fuller, Kait Osman, and Elizabeth Keena.
Odd Fellowship isn't something that can be joined casually. It requires a certain amount of effort to be expended on behalf of those joining the lodge to fill out an application, pay the application fee, and proceed through the interview and initiation. For the applicant, this process should ensure that they get an opportunity to find out about the nature of the lodge to which they are applying. For the lodge, this process should help them decide if this applicant should become a candidate for membership and, ultimately, a member. For the process to work as intended, the Interviewing Committee must do a thorough job of investigating the applicant and find out if they will make a good member of the lodge. Just like in many other areas of Odd Fellowship, however, that doesn't always happen as intended. Too many lodges treat the Interview as a formality; a speed bump on the path to getting as many people in the lodge as possible as quickly as possible. Ray Jackson, PGM of Illinois, joins us to talk about the application and interviewing process and how it is supposed to go when done properly, and some of the ramifications of it not going properly. The Shoutout goes to another West Virginia Lodge, Harrisville #99. In the Odd Podge, Toby previews his upcoming 50th Birthday Party (hint: it's also a fundraiser), Ray remembers a departed long-time member in Illinois, Ainslie shares the positive outcomes of holding an open meeting at his lodge, and Mike talks about visiting Ainslie's lodge for that open meeting—and then gives us all a shocking surprise!
Waxahachie Lodge No. 80 is one of the largest and best-known lodges in North America. Because of their excellent promotion on social media, they have become household names in the world of Odd Fellowship. We talk with their Noble Grand, Alex Freeman, about his journey into Odd Fellowship, how it intersects with his professional life, (spoiler alert: he's a tattoo artist) and what it's like to be in charge of such a large, active, prominent lodge. Brother Alex offers some fantastic advice and insight for others on the journey through Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout is back for this episode and it goes to Iroquois Lodge #74 of Illinois for their revival from near-death. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie reviews the Odd Market, Mike reveals his new jobs in West Virginia and at Sovereign Grand Lodge, Alex follows Ainslie's lead and shares his experiences with the Odd Fest in Waxahachie, and Toby revels in the fruits of his fame as appreciative fans bought him dinner (and dessert) at the NW IOOF Meeting.
We always like to do a cemetery episode during October in keeping with the "spooky" theme of the season. This year, however, we're not playing up the spooky or macabre side of cemeteries. Instead, we're looking at the compassionate, caring side of cemetery operations with Brother Jon Hart, manager of the IOOF Memory Gardens in Livermore, California. Brother Hart had a meandering path to the job, starting with joining the Livermore Lodge and then jumping in to help save the cemetery when it looked like the lodge would need to sell it. Since then he's been able to use his skills as an ordained minister and former systems programmer to make the cemetery experience a holistic and caring one. There's no Shoutout in this episode (but you can contact us with info about other lodges doing great things for future Shoutouts) but there are some great items to share in the Odd Podge. Toby went to the Idaho Grand Sessions in Pocatello and got to visit with old friend and fellow Washington PGM Kelly Hughes (now our Sovereign Grand Warden), Jon reflected on how the word "remember" means to bring people back together, and Ainslie shared his story of being elected Grand Warden of Illinois and then the triumphal success of his lodge's Odd Market.
Mike fills two roles on this episode: one as host, and one as guest while we discuss his newest book, "Oddtistic." The book looks at how Odd Fellowship has become a refuge for those seeking acceptance in a world that is often dismissive and uninviting. It also outlines how community heals isolation and structure provides an anchor, all giving those seeking community a place to go with real prospects for inclusion and belonging. The Shoutout goes to yet another brand-new lodge, Stillson No. 77 in Vermont. In this episode's Odd Podge, Toby shares his observations from Reddit, Ainslie talks about the preparations for the Odd Market his lodge hosts in Illinois, and Mike double-dips as both host and guest, recounting Ainslie's guest appearance on his other podcast, Odd Fellows Today, talking about art and Odd Fellowship, and giving us an example of interaction with the wider community from his fundraiser ride for Hubbard House.
Looking to get his life on a better track, Bro. Niles Schumm took his mother's suggestion and joined the Odd Fellows. That led him to his local lodge where he started to get more and more involved in lodge activities. After not too many more years, he started to get interested in serving at the Grand Lodge level and is currently the Grand Warden of Illinois. Bro. Schumm recounts his journey into Odd Fellowship and talks about his philosophy of desiring to bring about cooperation among members in Illinois and neighboring jurisdictions. He also shares some of the things that he's done working with the Grand Lodge to help strengthen lodges in need of assistance. The Shoutout goes to Tonquish Lodge #32 in Michigan for their recent success in growing the lodge and reaching out to their community. In the Odd Podge, Toby shares the joy of receiving his 25 year jewel at his home lodge in Seattle; Ainslie tells us about the Riverboat Cruise he attended that was organized by Gem City Lodge #357 in Illinois, Niles invites us all to his Friendsgiving celebration, and Mike expresses his joy and gratitude over the recent Sovereign Grand Lodge session in Charleston, WV.
When we last spoke about the Cave Degree, it's fate was left uncertain. The deck in the cave was in disrepair and there was a fundraising effort underway to restore it to a functional condition. Now, in its second year post-revival, the Cave Degree has evolved into a full-blown Cave Weekend, with a meeting of the Richard Brouse Degree Lodge No. 190 and an English Country Dance on Friday evening, the Initiatory and First Degrees Saturday morning, instructional session later in the afternoon, the Second Degree in the Cave by the light of the moon, the Third Degree and Rebekah Degree Sunday morning, and then the Patriarchal Degree back up in the Cave on Sunday afternoon. All this makes for a busy but exciting and inspiring weekend. On this episode, we talk to three of the many people who helped organize the renovation of the Cave and organize the weekend: Lizzie Martinez of Yreka Lodge No. 19, Stacy Thomason of Gold Hill No. 129 in Oregon, and Mason Wolf of True Fellowship No. 52 in San Jose. Andrew Crockett and Debra LaVergne also drop in to share a little bit during the course of the episode. The Shoutout goes to Water Valley Lodge No. 82 of Mississippi for their fine work recruiting younger members to keep the lodge going.
Season six kicks off in Grand—or, should we say—Sovereign Grand style! We recorded this episode of the podcast live from the historic hall of Kanawha Lodge #25 of Charleston, West Viriginia, host of the 2025 Sovereign Grand Lodge Session. We were joined by a wonderful live audience and guests who told us about what's going on in their jurisdictions. We heard about a tiny lodge in Rhode Island that suddenly had an influx of members, the growth of Encampments and Cantons in Texas, a roundabout way of getting the mayor of Pine Island, Minnesota to join that town's lodge, and many more great and inspiring stories from around Odd Fellowship. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie talked about how Thomas Wildey had to place several advertisements in the newspaper in Baltimore before he was able to round up enough Odd Fellows to form a lodge (and he also gave a great plug to Mike's new book Oddtistic); Mike announced his new podcast "Odd Fellows Today" again; and Toby shared why he comes to Sovereign Grand Lodge even without a job to do. Hint: it's all about all of you listeners out there!
Five years ago, a new podcast emerged on the fraternal landscape, the Three Links Odd Cast. Shrouded in mystery, the reclusive hosts have done their best to keep knowledge about the show secret—until now. Join host Ian Love-Jones of Peninsula Lodge #128 of Portland as he guides this exposé of the Three Links Odd Cast. Host Love-Jones digs into the shady past of the show, calling on disgruntled former hosts for their perspective. Marvel as he reveals the secret process of choosing show topics. Listen with rapt attention as the planning of each episode is captured with secret audio recordings of the hosts during a meeting. This is the unfiltered, unfettered access to the show that fans have been demanding for years. This episode is so shocking you may never want to listen to another episode (but probably not).
As more and more people are searching the Internet for Odd Fellowship, many of them are finding this podcast. As a service to them, we put together this episode where we give an introduction to Odd Fellowship, including what it is, how it's structured, how to join, and what members get out of it. We hope this will be helpful to those of you looking for a way to connect with your community through Odd Fellowship. As always, you can contact us for help in finding a lodge to join. The Shoutout goes to the newly-rechartered Glacier Lodge #77 of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. In the Odd Podge, Toby looks forward to the Washington Grand Sessions (and the Past Grand Masters banquet), Mike shares a special and unusual event planned for the upcoming Sovereign Grand Lodge session, and Ainslie talks about his recent trip to Springfield, Ohio for the Midwest AMOS Meeting.
Spring is here and many jurisdictions are having their Sessions, which means electing new Grand Masters who will be traveling around to visit lodges. In response to a listener's question, we discuss the process and protocols involved in a Grand Master's visit. Should you feed the Grand Master? When does he or she get introduced? Where should they sit? When do they speak? Who else gets introduced with the Grand Master? There are a lot of questions to answer and we do our best to get to all of them. The Shoutout goes to yet another new Encampment, Razorback No. 100 of Oregon. That's TEN new Encampments during the five years of this podcast! In the Odd Podge, Ainslie shares his lodge's new mode of transport, Toby shares receiving is 25-year pin for Sons of Norway (and can't resist an impromptu history lesson about the group), and Mike talks about his most recent experience participating in the Pilgrimage to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.
Not everyone understands fraternalism or takes the groups at face value. The suspicion of Freemasonry by the Roman Catholic Church is well known. Lesser known is the skepticism of so-called "secret societies" by Evangelical Christians. In response to a listener question, we asked Paul Michaels (not his real name), an Evangelical pastor, to come on the podcast and shed some light on why some Evangelical Christians are highly suspicious of Odd Fellowship and other fraternal groups. By keeping him anonymous we were able to get candid and honest answers about why Evangelicals distrust Odd Fellowship as an institution. Some of the answers were apparent but others were quite surprising! The Shoutout goes to a new Canton in Florida: General George Washington #70 of Miami. In the Odd Podge, Mike shares the publication of his new book, Paul talked about his passion for cemeteries and "The Good Cemeterian," and Toby recalled his visit to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Olympia Odd Fellows Park.
Brothers Aiden Brink and Will Sparks both joined their respective lodges in the past couple of years. Each have become very active and spurred growth in their areas. They were both kind enough to join us to discuss their perspective on Odd Fellowship: what we get right, what we get wrong, and what we can do to build a solid future for our Order. Some of the answers may be surprising, especially to long-time members, but they are incredibly insightful and provide a very appealing pathway to future growth. Hint: newer members see a lot of value in our history and traditions! The Shoutout goes to another new Encampment, Faro Fraternal #70 in Miami, Florida. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie reflects on watching a new streaming drama through Odd Fellow eyes, Will cherishes some of his most recent Odd Fellow gifts, Mike announces his newest side project, Odd Fellows Today, Toby recounts the story of meeting listener Michael Crile of Four Creeks Lodge #94 of Visalia, CA during his recent vacation, and Aiden gives thanks to those who listened to him and Ray Jackson of Illinois in particular.
Although it's tempting to think that Odd Fellowship has been handed down from the past completely unchanged from some visionaries at an ancient building site, that's not the case. Odd Fellowship has adapted and changed through its history to meet the needs of members and the Order as those needs have changed. In this episode, Kris Gratz of Virginia shares his research into the developments in Odd Fellows' regalia through the ages and how that has coincided with changes in our ritual and also various cultural cross-currents. For example, gold fringe on a collar used to indicate that a member had taken the Encampment Degrees. The number of stars on a collar had a meaning as well. Joining Kris is his friend and previous podcast guest Nick Curry to talk about some legislation he's working on regarding the future of regalia and suppliers. The Shoutout goes to the newly-revived River Raisin Encampment #154 of Michigan (our first Shoutout from Michigan!). In the Odd Podge, Toby previews his upcoming trip to the Northwest IOOF Meeting in Canada, Nick talks about the importance of mentorship in lodges, Mike announces his latest book (available at www.duminiak.com), Kris clues us in to his deep dive on the Odd Fellows' Tartan, and Ainslie updates us on the project to get a stairlift in his lodge hall, as well as reminding us of the upcoming Tattoo Event at Sovereign Grand Lodge.
For those interested in seeing some of the regalia examples discussed in this episode, head over to The Odd Fellows' Guide to see Kris' article and pictures.
In 2016, an exhibit opened at the American Folk Art Museum showcasing various artifacts from American fraternal orders, most notably the Odd Fellows and Freemasons. The collection shared the best of fraternal folk art with the wider world. One of the curators of that exhibition, Dr. Aimee Newell, joined us to talk about the collection and give us some background and history on where the items came from, their significance, and their influence into culture at large. Once again, the Shoutout goes to a new Encampment, this time the re-chartered Santa Paula #118 of California. In the Odd Podge, Toby announces the new recording he's working on, Ainslie shares his story of helping save a lodge with an Initiation and meeting a listener, Dr. Newell contemplates returning to her former employer, the Scottish Rite Museum in Lexington, MA, and Mike talks about his most recent publication, an epic poem.
Most of us know about our local lodge and may be familiar with a couple other lodges in our area. However, Odd Fellowship is global in scope and scale—or is it? Brother Chuck Hillberry of the State Of The Order Committee of Sovereign Grand Lodge joins us to discuss exactly how much global reach Odd Fellowship has and how various overseas groups are connected to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. The truth is a lot more complicated than most members realize and Brother Chuck shares the necessary background with us to have the right understanding of the situation. The Shoutout goes to a newly-rechartered Encampment, Halifax #3 of the Atlantic Provinces in Canada. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie promotes the upcoming Tattoo Session at this year's Sovereign Grand Lodge session, Mike previews the releases of his new books (info at www.duminiak.com), Chuck encourages members to visit other lodges and learn, saying, "Your dues card is your ticket to learn," and Toby thanks a friend and listener in Sweden for a recent gift.
We think we all know the story of how Odd Fellowship began in North America: five brave souls, led by Thomas Wildey, held the first meeting in Baltimore in 1819 and, from there, Odd Fellowship exploded across the continent spreading friendship, love, and truth from sea to shining sea. The reality, though, has a lot more detail and challenges than what we know. Mike, Ainslie, and Toby delve into the history of the founding of our Order a couple centuries ago. They reveal some of the challenges of the young lodge and structure and highlight the members who helped build and grow Odd Fellowship beyond that first meeting, including the authors of the Rebekah Degree and the Patriarchs Militant Degree. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, this time Citrus #118 in Florida. Owing to the length of this episode, the hosts decided to skip the Odd Podge but it will return in future, shorter episodes.
Thirty years ago, in a small town in Washington State, a young twenty-something man stood surrounded by five elderly men in a leaky, damp building doing something that would change the trajectory of his entire life. In that moment, Kelly Hughes made a commitment that would shape his destiny and give him a new purpose in life. From that time forward, as an Odd Fellow, Kelly would work tirelessly for the betterment of his community, his lodge, and his jurisdiction. Through his work, Skookumchuck Lodge No. 129 was able to get their building renovated (no more leaky roof!) and they were able to grow and sustain themselves. That spirit of hard work and leadership eventually propelled Kelly to the top office in Washington, serving as Grand Master for 2017-18. His mid-life crisis brought him to Florida where he eventually joined a lodge and became Grand Secretary. During his time in Florida the jurisdiction has chartered two new lodges with another one scheduled for institution in the coming months. In this long-ranging interview, Brother Kelly shares his story with us and gives us information about what has been successful in Florida and lays out his vision for the future of Odd Fellowship. It's a lengthy interview, but definitely worth listening to all the way through as Kelly has an incredible insight into the current state and future of Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout goes to a lodge which has reclaimed its charter after going dormant for a few years, Richland #338 in Washington State. In the Odd Podge, Toby recounts his gig at a former Odd Fellows Hall in Bellingham that has been beautifully preserved, Kelly talks about the musical legacy of the lodge in Lynn Haven, Florida, and Ainslie gives a sneak preview of the tattoo gathering that he's planning for Sovereign Grand Lodge this year in Charleston, WV.
Every lodge wants to grow—but how many lodges are actually able to incorporate new members successfully in such a way that the new members feel valued? Brother Matthew Thornton, NG of Houston Heights Lodge #225 in Texas, joins us to talk about how his lodge maintains a healthy lodge culture with a mix of everyone from oil workers to urban hippies. Spoiler alert: their secret is holding a lot of events that give people an opportunity to do something. Brother Matthew goes into more detail with us to talk about how that all comes together and how it turns out. The Shoutout goes to yet another new lodge, Vandalia Rebekah Lodge #9 in West Virginia. In their Odd Podge contributions, Toby gives an update on the wedding gifts he and his new bride received for the Vanderlinden-Sheppard Adult Visual Aid Fund, Ainslie shares an update on his hand tattoo, Mike announces the publication of his new book, and Matthew gives his thanks for a wonderful year and looks forward to the next one.
Based on the classic holiday film "It's A Wonderful Life," this year's Christmas episode is an Odd Fellows' retelling of the old favorite in which George Bailey is the harried Past Grand of Bedford Falls Lodge #310. Straining under the weight of his lodge's expectations, he finally breaks and wishes he had never been an Odd Fellow. The ghost of Thomas Wildey visits him to give him a glimpse into the world where he never joined the lodge. This episode features an all-star cast including Gil T. Rodello, Kyle Fuller, Mason Wolf, Matthew Thornton, Fran Carris, Kaitlyn Osman, Ian Love-Jones, Steven Cross, Michael Greenzeiger, Joseph Benton, Elizabeth Keena, and Toby Hanson.
Eating together is an integral part of Odd Fellowship and has a long tradition of inclusion within our Order, from formal banquets at Grand and Sovereign Grand Lodge meetings to sandwich platters during a Degree Rally, to tried-and-true fraternal staples like spaghetti feeds, pancake breakfasts, and pie auctions. Mike, Ainslie, and Toby discuss these various modes of eating and other ways that food helps bolster the fellowship of Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge in Florida, this time the re-chartered Suncoast #69. Word has it that another lodge institution will be taking place in Florida early next year. In their Odd Podge, Toby shares the story of a wedding guest who asked for an application to the lodge, Mike previews the chartering of a Rebekah Lodge in Charleston, and Ainslie tells the somewhat winding tale of two tattoo artists from New Orleans who went to Winston-Salem and discovered Odd Fellowship in the process.
In high school, Dustin used to wander past the dusty old Odd Fellows Hall in Wenatchee, Washington. Intrigued by the music blaring out on to the sidewalk one evening, he went in to find an all-ages punk rock concert. Joel was the producer of those concerts and made sure the teens and young adults of Wenatchee had a safe, fun place on Friday nights. Now, nearly thirty years later, they are both members of the lodge where those concerts were held and they are putting on the concerts themselves. Prosperity Lodge #301 nearly died in 2018 and was saved, only to die again during Covid and get revived yet again. Now thriving and growing, Prosperity Lodge has become a template for other lodges looking to grow by attracting newer members with activities. The brothers talk about the punk shows, vinyl record expo, plant sales, parties, and other events which have built their lodge up in the past two years. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, Concordia #383 in Tazewell, Tennessee. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie previews the tattoo portion of the Tuscola Odd Market, Toby reveals that another of his nephews is joining the lodge, Mike shares about meeting his riding goals for the season, Joel talks about a former member of the lodge, and Dustin is thankful for everyone who helped out. Pictures of the Prosperity Lodge and its events can be found at https://photos.app.goo.gl/4i5oapveHq1rJkzL6
Our Sovereign Grand Master, the Honorable Gerald V. Workman of West Virginia, sat down with us for a wide-ranging discussion about his path in Odd Fellowship and how it led him to the top job in the Order. He tells about his early days joining the Junior Lodge, his many years working in his local lodge, his eventual path through the chairs of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, and his journey into the Sovereign Grand Lodge. Along the way, he has been guided by his strong belief in the principles of Odd Fellowship and his religious faith, both of which work together to guide his world view. He shares some amazing insights gathered during his time going through the chairs of the Sovereign Grand Lodge and has plenty of inspiration to share. The Shoutout goes to Durant Lodge #57 of Oklahoma, which is now meeting. We featured them on Episode Three of this season and it's great that they are getting the lodge functioning. Toby gave an update on the Christmas Episode and asked listeners what Three Links Odd Cast merch they might like (hint: tote bags and luggage tage!) if we were to offer some. In the Odd Podge, Toby gave a preview of his double-dip of Degrees hosted at his associate lodge, Ainslie gave an update on the Odd Market in Tuscola (complete with fezzes), Sovereign Grand Master Workman thanked us for inviting him on the podcast, and Mike showcased his new project, the Odd Times.
As has become tradition at the Three Links Odd Cast, we like to take a turn to the spooky for Halloween and talk cemeteries. We're joined by Brother Michael Duplantier to discuss the progress on restoring New Orleans' famous Odd Fellows' Rest Cemetery. Brother Duplantier does a wonderful job of giving us the history and background on the cemetery and how it fell into disrepair along with the recent efforts to restore it and make it an attractive place to honor our deceased brothers and sisters. The interview covers a surprising amount of history and culture of New Orleans and the travails of restoring a cemetery that's nearly two centuries old. The Shoutout goes to Manuel Bosakewich Lodge #70 in Florida, a new Spanish-speaking lodge in the Miami area. In the Odd Podge, Mike shares the Odd Fellows' connection to West Virginia's Flatwoods Monster, Ainslie previews the tattoo fundraiser at the upcoming Tuscola Odd Market, Michael marvels at how the antiquity of Odd Fellowship is one of its best aspects, and Toby shares a story of his associate lodge helping a brother in need.
Usually, by the time we at the Three Links Odd Cast hear about a new lodge being chartered, it's already meeting regularly. However, in this instance, we got to talk to Brother Garrett Hite of Oklahoma as he's in the process of re-chartering Durant Lodge #57. Brother Garrett shares his story of how he first came to join the Odd Fellows, his time away from his home lodge, and the eventual need to form a new lodge in his new home town in Oklahoma. He gives a great amount of insight into the process of chartering a lodge, from finding a meeting space to rounding up new members. The Shoutout goes to a new lodge in Arkansas, Heber Springs #17, which was recently re-chartered. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie talks about his lodge's visit to the drive-in movie theater, Garrett promotes the upcoming car show his home lodge in Texas is working on, and Toby reveals a major life change in the works.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Auditions are now open for the Christmas Episode of the Three Links Odd Cast, entitled "It's A Wonderful Lodge." Anyone interested in auditioning can request a script excerpt and record an audition. Excerpts can be requested at our email address, 3linksoddcast@gmail.com. All auditions are due by October 28th so be sure to get the script and record your audition!
Mike, Toby, and Ainslie are all safely home from their trip to Pittsburgh and back to their usual lodge activities. The brothers got together to discuss their experiences at Sovereign Grand Lodge and how they felt the Order was progressing as a result. They all had wonderful experiences at the event and enjoyed the fellowship and are energized with all kinds of great ideas for the future. They discuss all those ideas in this episode and give some thoughts about how they may be implemented as soon as next year's session. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, this time Sioux Falls #56 in South Dakota. It's the second lodge in that city, having formed in response to those who wanted to attend lodge earlier in the evening right after work. In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about attending the Oregon Encampment Weekend, Ainslie previews his Odd Fellows Tattoo Summit in November, and Mike gives some insight into his writings as the new Sovereign Grand Chaplain, including a recurring submission to the IOOF News and work on a new Chaplain's Manual.
The 2024 Annual Communication of the Sovereign Grand Lodge was noteworthy for many reasons, not least of which was our live recording of the first episode of Season Five of the Three Links Odd Cast. We had a packed meeting room full of members from jurisdictions all across the US and Canada on hand for this lively discussion of the state of Odd Fellowship today. Mike, Ainslie, and Toby had a great time directing the discussion and responding to the audience members' questions and comments. We heard about new lodges in Nova Scotia and South Dakota, the hot air balloon in New Mexico, learned to pronounce "Skookumchuck," and generally had a great time. The Shoutout for this episode goes to the newly rechartered Lone Star Encampment #1 of the Jurisdiction of Texas.
One might think that after four seasons and over 30,000 downloads of the Three Links Odd Cast that there would be nothing left for the hosts to talk about. Au contraire, mon frère! Mike, Toby, and Ainslie are very opinionated and love hearing themselves talk so it was easy for them to take some time to talk about the highlights of the previous season's work. The main highlight was their Christmas episode which featured a radio play written by Toby and acted by a cast of talented members from around the country. Other highlights were the on-location recordings of interviews with members including Sovereign Grand Master John Cupp. Ainslie loved the episode about the film Join Or Die! where we got press credentials to watch the movie and then interview the filmmakers. Mike loved the stories of lodges that were saved or revitalized. The Shoutout went to Mineral Lodge #102 of West Virginia which was saved by an effort to get new members and restore the charter. Toby pulled back the curtain on the show to reveal some personal challenges that have affected production and also shared some big news in his personal life. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie gave a double helping, talking about his lodge's fundraiser efforts with Fez-o-rama to make Odd Fellows fezzes and his recent trip across the country to attend the Washington Sessions with Toby.
Our recent episode on inclusion of the Lord's Prayer in the lodge opening generated some of the greatest volume of feedback from listeners we've ever received. We went through dozens and dozens of listener emails, Facebook posts, Instagram messages, and other communications and read them all and then came up with our responses. This is a long episode but we think it's worth hearing all the way to the end because of the careful, detailed discussion. The Shoutout goes to a new Rebekah Lodge in Illinois: Gem City Doves #27. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie recounts recent lodge social activities, Mike tells us about the records from various lodges in West Virginia going to the Center on Fraternal Research in Indiana, and Toby shares his recent musical trip to Idaho which, of course, included Odd Fellowship.
The Grand Jurisdiction of Texas is on an upswing. Its membership is growing and getting younger and they are chartering new lodges. Grand Master Charlie Stephenson and Brother William Plotts join us to talk about the chartering of Brazos Valley Lodge #76. They share how the Grand Lodge supported their efforts, how what they learned from the failure of the new lodge in El Paso helped their efforts and how the experience of re-chartering Plano Lodge #114 provided a helpful template. The Shoutout goes to the aforementioned Plano Lodge #114 for their upcoming car show in June. In the Odd Podge, Toby updates everyone on the success of the recent Fraternal Fair held in his jurisdiction, Mike tries to contact the Odd Fellows Riders Association in Ohio, Ainslie previews the updated District Deputies' Guide from Heart In Hand Institute, William shares his lodge's first fundraiser event, and Grand Master Charlie reveals how Odd Fellowship helped him build his confidence as a leader and public speaker. NOTE: we are still collecting feedback about our Lord's Prayer episode and want you to contribute your opinions. Be sure and email us at 3linksoddcast@gmail.com or hit us up on Insta or Facebook to share your opinion. We're putting your opinions together for our next show when we'll discuss them and respond.
Odd Fellowship is non-political and non-sectarian. But why, then, do we recite the Lord's Prayer as part of the opening of the lodge? Ainslie and Toby dig into some of the history around this observance and discuss whether it makes us truly non-sectarian or if that was just a thin veneer applied to the top of Odd Fellowship to make it appeal to more people. Hint: there are no right answers and a lot of different opinions. The Shoutout goes to Nampa Lodge #40 of Idaho for their efforts to bring in a new, young member. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie tells us that spring in Illinois means his lodge is picking up trash along the highway and Toby shares his recent trip to the Northwest Odd Fellow and Rebekah Association Meeting in Idaho.
Like many lodges, True Fellowship No. 52 in San Jose, CA had seen better days. As members got older, the focus of the lodge became more insular and they were less interested in connecting to the outside community. That all began to change when a new member with an interest in building community joined. Since that time, the lodge has become a dynamo in San Jose and has not only become a thriving place itself, it is beginning to share its success with other lodges in the area. They share their recipe of social events, food events, and volunteerism that has made them successful. The Shoutout goes to Atlantic Lodge No. 107 of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada for their new charter. In the Odd Podge, Andrew promotes the Foundation for Ontological Education, Debbie W shares her experience of working with Braver Angels to bridge the partisan divide in their community, Mason gives breaking news about the Cave in Yreka and the rededication ceremony on July 7th, Ainslie recounts his experience installing his original home lodge as District Deputy, Toby lauds his home lodge in Seattle for their excellent Degree work, and Debbie S encourages all Third Degree members listening to take the Encampment Degrees.
A remarkable convergence of events led to the revival of Friendship Lodge No. 50 in Northfield, Minnesota. A Mason in Red Wing, Minnesota started an educational program for his Masonic lodge and then reached out to the Odd Fellows to request them give a presentation about Odd Fellowship. Four of the Masons present decided to check out Odd Fellowship. One person turned to Reddit and podcasts (like ours and Modern Goat Rider) to do some research before joining a group. The lodge in Northfield dropped down to the remaining five members. When all of that came together, the new members were excited to join the lodge which needed them and now the lodge is thriving. Through the efforts of an active, engaged Grand Lodge and PGM David "Ace" Adams, all of the energy was channeled into reviving a historic lodge. This episode's Shoutout goes to another revived Encampment, this time Green Mountain Encampment #3 of Burlington, Vermont. In the Odd Podge, Mike announces that he has been asked to serve as Sovereign Grand Chaplain for Gerry Workman, Ainslie shares the news about his new van which he used to drive a group to a recent Degree Day in Illinois, Nick lets us know that he's included Odd Fellowship on his blog, Ace gives us a preview of his efforts to use online registration for his Degree Weekend, Sunny expresses gratitude for the older, long-time members who have kept Odd Fellowship alive, Gary offers his respect for the traditions and heritage of Odd Fellowship, and Toby talks about the upcoming Northwest Odd Fellow and Rebekah Association Meeting in Idaho in April.
Billy and Tara from Modern Goat Rider joined us for a thorough and in-depth discussion about leadership in the Odd Fellows. The first half of the episode is available on their feed on your favorite podcatcher or directly from their podcast host. In this episode we discuss the leadership at the Grand Lodge and Sovereign Grand Lodge levels and specifically ponder the question of whether we need to have an organizational structure with a stronger central executive and what the possible ramifications of that would be. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, this time Bluegrass #416 in Kentucky. In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his preparations for the upcoming NW IOOF Meeting in Idaho, Billy commends those who have helped organize the historical collection in his lodge hall in Victoria, BC, Tara shares her ideas about improving the web presence of Odd Fellowship, and Ainslie shares his latest Odd Fellows book find.
A recent email from a listener prompted this episode's discussion about what happens when a lodge sells its building. A lot can happen, but only a very few things should happen. We dig into the question and examine the process and what knowledge members should have when dealing with major lodge property. The Shoutout goes to Prestonsburg Lodge #293 in Kentucky for their impressive growth and revival in the past couple of years. For the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his first time in twenty years not being part of an Installing Team, Ainslie shares his experience getting a milestone tattoo, and Mike doesn't have an Odd Podge—except that he does once we coax it out of him.
This year, for our Christmas episode, we present this adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Listen along as an all-star cast of Odd Fellows presents this unique Odd Fellows take on the classic story.
Ebeneezer Scrooge: Gil T. Rodello
Thomas Wildey: Steven Cross
Bob Cratchitt: Joseph Benton
Tim Cratchitt: Ainslie Heilich
Ghost of Odd Fellowship Past: Michael Greenzeiger
Ghost of Odd Fellowship Present: Mason Wolf
Ghost of Odd Fellowship Future: Mike Duminiak
Written, directed, recorded, and edited by Toby Hanson. Music by Toby Hanson.
Our Sovereign Grand Master, John Cupp, is a very busy man. We were very fortunate when he made some time at the West Virginia Grand Sessions to sit down and talk with co-host Mike Duminiak about his time as Sovereign Grand Master and some of his experiences in Odd Fellowship. He was joined partway through the interview by his wife Emilie who also shared some experiences and observations. Both are very intelligent and articulate leaders in our Order and we feel very fortunate that they made the time to speak with Mike. The Shoutout goes to the newly-revived Reno Encampment #5 of Reno, Nevada. In the Odd Podge Toby recounts his trip to Lake Tahoe for an Odd Fellows Thanksgiving, Mike previews the upcoming 175th Anniversary Dinner of Kanawha Lodge #25, and Ainslie shares the success of his lodge's open house and potato bar.
Pueblo Lodge #8 was down to just four members after the passing of one of the five who was maintaining the quorum that kept their charter. John Jones had recently moved to Colorado from another state and was looking to join a lodge. One day, a man with a letter from the Grand Secretary showed up on his doorstep to meet him and possibly bring him into the lodge. That man was Vernon Wolf, Past Grand Master of Colorado. Brother Vernon did show up on John's doorstep and brought him into Pueblo #8. John, in turn, helped the revival of the lodge which has continued to this day. Unfortunately, Brother Vernon is not around to see the fruits of his labors in full bloom as he passed away. However, his spirit lives on in the thriving lodge he left behind. Brothers John Jones and JT Wessel join us to share memories of Vernon Wolf and talk about the many ways in which Odd Fellowship is thriving in Pueblo today and how that all stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of Brother Vernon Wolf. The Shoutout goes to Rushmore Lodge #39 of Rapid City, South Dakota for their efforts to welcome Ukrainians into their community with a picnic. In the Odd Podge, Toby celebrates 25,000 downloads of the podcast, Ainslie recaps the Odd Market and Masquerade, John talks about having held his wedding reception in the old Pueblo Odd Fellows Hall, and JT previews the next Scribes' Meeting at the Colorado Grand Sessions.
We always like to do an episode about cemeteries around Halloween and this year is no exception. Given our command to "Bury The Dead" as Odd Fellows, and how many lodges have administered cemeteries throughout our history, it's no surprise to find a lodge engaged in activities related to a final resting place. For this episode we are joined with Past Grand Master Carol Woltjer and Brother Matt Rock of Sioux Falls Lodge #9 in South Dakota to talk about their "Remember Me" project. Their lodge is raising funds and placing markers on the graves of indigent burials in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Carol tells the touching story of how she learned about the burials and got the program started. Matt tells about how his family has become involved with the program and the lodge. The Shoutout goes to another lodge in South Dakota, Gregory #189 for the wonderful involvement of younger people in their lodge. For the Odd Podge, Toby tells about his visit to the Idaho Grand Sessions, Mike talks about his experience at the West Virginia Grand Sessions, and Ainslie previews the upcoming (at the time of the recording) Odd Market hosted by his lodge in Tuscola, Illinois.
A life of academic wandering and creation has brought Dr. Heather Calloway to her present position as Executive Director of University Collections and Director of the Center for Fraternal Collections and Research at Indiana University. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and having grown up in a fraternal family, Dr. Calloway was destined from an early age to make her way to the hallowed halls of academia and bring her fraternal knowledge and experience with her. She was kind enough to share some of her time with us to talk about the collection, how it came to be, what they are doing to preserve it, why such a collection is important, and how they are making it available to the public. The Center for Fraternal Collections and Research has a great Instagram feed available at @fraternalcollections. The Shoutout goes to Four Creeks Lodge #94 of Visalia, California for their recent regeneration. In the Odd Podge, Mike talks about the time-consuming work of preparing for the West Virginia Grand Sessions, Ainslie tells about his budding Odd Fellows tattoo empire at the Illinois Grand Sessions, and Toby talks about planning the District Meeting for his district in Washington.
In a secluded corner of the wilderness around Mount Shasta in Northern California, a secret rite has been taking place for generations. No, it's not something from the latest thriller novel, it's the Cave Degree! In a natural cave that faces east toward Mount Shasta, Odd Fellows (and before them, Knights of Pythias) have been performing degree work. The Odd Fellows of Yreka Lodge No. 19 bought the cave from the Pythians in 1962 for $10 but had been using the cave for the Second Degree since 1940. The Cave Degree has become one of the most cherished traditions of Odd Fellowship in California and Oregon, with generations of members having made the trek out to the cave for the ceremony. For this episode we are joined by PGP Brian Riehl, RA VP Debra LaVergne, and NG of True Fellowship Lodge #52, Mason Wolf as they discuss the history and tradition of the Cave Degree, and one of its greatest champions and caretakers, Richard Brouse. The story of the Cave Degree has many twists, turns, and stories. We also discuss the current state of the cave and the efforts underway to rehabilitate the facility so it can again be used for the Second Degree of Odd Fellowship. The Lodge Shoutout goes to Friendship Lodge #50 in Northfield, Minnesota which was recently revived by a group of Masons who discovered Odd Fellowship and joined. In the Odd Podge there was definitely a theme of Odd Fellows helping one another out. Toby told about his lodge brother Matt in rehab and all the Odd Fellows of his lodge who had visited him. Debra shared the exciting news about a new baby born to members of Mountain View #244 in California. Mike gave the dates for Gerald Workman's Testimonial in Charleston, West Virginia in 2024. Ainslie mentioned the new article for the Heart In Hand Blog about the Hahn Farm Degrees written by Brother Mason Wolf. Brian also shared a story of visiting members in sickness and distress and also mentioned the Oktoberfest hosted by St. Helena Lodge which sent Toby into a near frenzy of desire to get one of their beer steins. To close the Odd Podge, Mason talked about his experiences going to Portland to render aid to a brother in need.
Tucked away in a secluded corner of Oregon's rolling farmland northwest of Portland sits the Hahn Farm. Owned by Gary Hahn, a third-generation Odd Fellow and fourth-generation owner of the farm, it has become a beacon for Odd Fellowship in the jurisdiction of Oregon. Every year since the early 1990s, on the third weekend of September, the farm hosts a Degree Weekend unlike most others in Odd Fellowship. Candidates take the Initiatory and Three Degrees on Saturday and then the Encampment and Canton Degrees on Sunday. The setting for the Degrees could not be more amazing. The Degrees are performed next to a pond in a grove of trees planted especially for the occasion. The dramatic elements of the Degrees becomes immediate and tangible to the candidates as they literally live through the experiences of the Degrees rather than watching them acted out in a stuffy lodge hall, watching the video of the Degrees, or having the lecture form read to them. Gary Hahn sits down with Toby to tell the story of the Degrees on the Farm. We're also joined by Brother Mason Wolf of San Jose, California who traveled to Oregon to experience the perils of the Rough Road as he took the Encampment Degrees. He shares a compelling account of why live Degrees are so crucial to Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout goes to Bay View Lodge #109 of Redwood City, California for their efforts to remodel their hall and become a popular music venue. In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about a new member in Arkansas who posted about joining on Reddit, Ainslie shares his recent trip to Montana and his Odd Fellows discovery, Mike introduces us to his new car (after his old one died with 400,000 miles on it), and Mason recounts his visit to a Portland brewpub for some good music and a very successful event at his home lodge in San Jose.
Civic life in America has been in decline for decades. A prescient few, including noted author Robert Putnam, have chronicled that decline. In his book "Bowling Alone," Putnam explored the link between civic engagement and the function of government and described the nature of the decline in participation in clubs, churches, and other groups. Pete and Rebecca Davis, a brother and sister team, made a film based on Putnam's book: "Join Or Die!" Their film opens with a visit to one of our superstar lodges, Waxahachie #80 in Texas. Throughout the course of the film we get to learn the story of how Putnam did his research, how he's shared his findings, and how he's put those findings into action. The film ends up as a kind of "love letter" to Odd Fellowship as it opens and closes with brilliant scenes of fellowship at Waxa #80. Brother Tom Wright from that lodge joined us along with Pete and Rebecca to talk about the film and their experiences. Our Shoutout this episode goes to a new lodge of the Grand United Order—New Northwest #2554 in Portland, Oregon. In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his "souvenir" from Sovereign Grand Lodge, Mike shares his joy at Charleston being awarded the 2025 SGL Session, and Ainslie recounts his random meeting with members from his jurisdiction on his way home from the Session.
Odd Fellowship has found many spaces in which to adapt its Degree work. Our beginnings were in pubs and taverns so Degrees were originally performed there. Eventually we built lodge halls but we still looked for more interesting and unusual places to perform Degrees. Caves became a popular choice in the 20th Century. California's Cave Degree near Yreka is the most well-known, but other locations have done outdoor and underground Degrees, including Dead Horse Cave in Idaho. Located near the town of Gooding, Dead Horse Cave first hosted the Second Degree in 1947, a tradition which continued until 2004. Brother Donnie Marvin, PGM, PGP, and PDC of Idaho gives his recollections of the Dead Horse Cave Degree as well as some great stories from his musical career and some other historical tidbits from Idaho Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout goes to the newly-rechartered Brazos Valley Lodge #76 of Texas. For the Odd Podge, Toby tells about his enjoyment of the Sand Drags at Mountain Home, Idaho and Ainslie prepares for his trip to Sovereign Grand Lodge.
Hard to believe, but it's been three years since the launch of the Three Links Odd Cast. Way back when, Sergio, Ainslie, and Toby could hardly imagine the cultural touchstone this podcast would become. Here we are at the beginning of Season Four and we're just as excited to make new episodes as we were when we started in 2020. We take a look back at the episodes that made Season 3 special, including talking with the Historian from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, the "kitchen table" episode, the episodes about new lodges that were chartered, and some of the other highlights. The hosts welcome a new sponsor, the Heart In Hand Institute, and look ahead to some of their projected topics for the upcoming season. The Shoutout goes to another new Encampment, Allen #5 of Quincy, Illinois. In the Odd Podge, Toby thanks everyone for their support during his recent challenges, Ainslie shares his special award (another new one for him), and Mike talks about the benefits of Odd Fellowship for his family.
Insurance can be a touchy subject that's all too easy to avoid. There are multiple different reasons to avoid it including cost, complication, and just a general desire to not think about bad things that might happen. Those bad things are a fact of life, however, and lodges need to be prepared for whatever kind of bad things may occur. Fortunately, Sister Malia Murchison of Morning Star Lodge #20 in Placerville, California is a Past Grand and a professional insurance agent. She joined us to go through all the various problems that may arise and how to make sure your lodge can recover from them with the assistance of insurance. Not only is insurance prudent for your lodge, it's also mandated in the Sovereign Grand Lodge Code, Chapter V, Section 19, Subsection E. (No, really... look it up!) With Sister Malia's wise guidance no lodge should feel apprehensive about insurance. She makes the whole process approachable and informative. There's no lodge Shoutout in this episode but we do recognize one of our listeners who just joined a lodge in Oklahoma. For the Odd Podge, Toby shares his experience talking Odd Fellowship at the Rose City Accordion Camp, Ainslie anticipates becoming a Samaritan, and Malia tells about the fire fundraiser her lodge is holding with Sacramento Lodge #2.
Take one seventy-year Odd Fellow, his great grandson, a twenty-year Odd Fellow from Indiana, a guy from the neighborhood looking for a "thirty-year project" and a few other new folks and put them together and you have the recipe for reviving a lodge that had become profoundly inactive as they retreated from the community and membership had shrunk. They had become a "kitchen-table lodge," content to meet casually around the kitchen table. With the involvement of the new members and the guidance of the older ones, the lodge has successfully moved from being complacent to vibrant. Now a hive of activity, Queen City Lodge #1 of Burlington, Vermont is the place to be for all kinds of activities, from collecting food for the food bank to tabletop gaming. We talk with Ryon, Alex, Everett, Brandin, and Dylan about how they remade the lodge culture and took what was otherwise a nondescript lodge and made it a hub for community participation. Along the way they brought back the ritual and regalia (and are still looking for Third-Degree collars for all their new members) and are now functioning as a traditional Odd Fellows lodge. There's no Shoutout for this episode but we did want to share the fundraiser by Osage Lodge #712 in Pennsylvania. They are selling bicentennial pins for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. They can be ordered be emailing osagelodge712@gmail.com. This episode's Odd Podge has Alex telling a classic fraternal joke, Ryon complimenting Alex on being appointed District Deputy Grand Master, Toby talking about presenting a scholarship on behalf of the Grand Lodge and Rebekah Assembly of Washington, Ainslie previewing his lodge's garbage pickup and movie night, and Mike talking about an upcoming wedding with a lot of Odd Fellows involvement. PS—in case anyone has collars to donate to Queen City Lodge #1, email Alex at alexanderkensington@icloud.com.
Like many western jurisdictions, Nevada is small. The bigger cities—Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City—have lodges and there are a few scattered around the rest of the state as well. Recently, though, activity and interest has been building in the Silver State as younger members have joined and been appointed to various jobs to help build Odd Fellowship. Our guest, Brother Jonathan Wettig, is an enthusiastic young Odd Fellow who just took the job of promoting Odd Fellowship on social media for the Grand Lodge of Nevada. One of the exciting things he's promoting is a new lodge being formed at Lake Tahoe. The Shoutout goes to Jefferson Lodge #38 in North Carolina for their great community engagement and charitable work. We are also helping to spread the word about a big fundraiser headed by Cedar Valley Lodge #233 in Iowa for a community member with a rare, incurable disease. Those wishing to donate may do so at www.cedarvalleyoddfellows.com. In the Odd Podge Ainslie talks about his latest eBay find, Toby previews his trip to Oregon for the retirement celebration for their Grand Secretary, and Mike tells about his milestone birthday.
Odd Fellowship, like many fraternal groups, is predominantly full of older members. For retirees and others in the later stages of life, our traditional focus on things like death benefits makes sense. However, for younger members, it's a lot harder to see the value of a benefit they may not take advantage of for decades. In this episode, Mike and Toby are joined by Brother Brandon Clark as they discuss the concept of implementing benefits for younger members. Brandon shares his invaluable insight as a young member raising a family and talks about what has been the most meaningful and helpful to him in his first year of membership. The Shoutout goes to Queen City Lodge #1 of Burlington, Vermont for their excellent efforts to interact with the community and the general revitalization of their lodge. In the Odd Podge, Brother Brandon shares his excitement for the upcoming lodge night at the baseball game, Brother Mike talks about his new database and order tracking system for the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, and Brother Toby takes us into the mysterious world of accordion camps.
For the past couple of years, despite the challenges of the pandemic, something has been brewing in Upstate New York. Two Masons and and Odd Fellow, all beekeepers, found themselves together on a mission to charter a new Odd Fellows Lodge. Brother Kevin, a member of Wawayanda Lodge #34, was ready to fulfill his destiny as "lodge curmudgeon" with nearly thirty years of membership. Brothers Todd and Kris journeyed to the recently re-chartered Washington Irving Lodge #20 in Saugerties, NY to join the Odd Fellows and get their Degrees. Together, they have chartered Leatherstocking Lodge #945 in Schoharie County. Along the way they shared the usual challenges of joining the Order, such as finding the right people to contact. They persisted, however, and have created a dynamic, growing lodge that is working on all kinds of exciting things, from local fundraisers for the community to the possibility of chartering a new Encampment. Each member has a unique story of their journey into Odd Fellowship and shares some valuable advice gained in the process. This episode's Shoutout goes to a new Encampment, Hippolito Roman #118 of New Jersey. In the Odd Podge, Mike talks about his efforts to bring Odd Fellowship to the upcoming Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, Kris talks about joining with the local Masons to tend the grave of Isaac Mann, a historic local Odd Fellow and Mason, Todd shares a story of brotherhood and bravery, Toby talks about his application to the local Speakers' Bureau to talk about Odd Fellowship, and Kevin talks about the strength of the bonds of Odd Fellowship.
Music enriches every aspect of life so why should it not enrich our lodge meetings as well? Brother Mike has been adding music into the meeting of his lodge—Kanawha #25 in West Virginia—to great success. Obviously, music can be used in all the places indicated in the ritual, like singing the Odes, but this episode goes further and talks about some of the musical background of Odd Fellowship and also gives suggestions for other places to have music, like the Initiatory Degree, various other public ceremonies, and even just in some of the slow parts of lodge meetings. Our previous episode about music, The Musical Heritage of Odd Fellowship, is available here. The Members Resources page mentioned in this episode is accessible here. The Shoutout goes to Union Lodge #16 of St. Catherines, Ontario, for their fine work getting active and doing more to engage their community. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie tells about his lodge's bowling trip, Mike tells about his lodge's upcoming baseball game (and matching shirts), and Toby shares a new balloting Ode written by Bro. Stephen Coulson of British Columbia.
Brother George Glover III, Past Sovereign Grand Master, joins us on this episode to pull back the curtains on the inner workings of the Sovereign Grand Lodge and share how legislation makes its way through the Legislative Committee and onto the floor for a vote by the Sovereign Grand Lodge as a whole. Brother George has over thirty years' experience working at the Sovereign Grand Lodge, much of it on the Legislative Committee so he's definitely an expert on the function of the process. Along with the overview, George shares some excellent stories from his time as an Odd Fellow, discusses some of the ways in which the Legislative Committee has changed course while considering legislation (including the decision that opened membership to women), and talks about some of the conflicts that arise with ritual when the Code is changed. The Shoutout goes to Cedar Falls Lodge #233 of Iowa for their efforts to get active and incorporate more ritualistic work into their meetings. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie shares his Medallion Award which he received for designing a banner for Doc Malin of Virginia, Mike talks about the Past Grand of Kanawha Lodge #25 who brought Odd Fellowship to South America, Toby gives a preview of a very meaningful application which will be read in his lodge at the next meeting, and George talks about the many blessings which Odd Fellowship has bestowed upon him in his life.
As a special for the Presidents Day Holiday in the US, we interviewed Dustin McLochlin, PhD of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. Brother Rud is frequently maligned in popular imagination (if he's remembered at all). Tagged unfairly with nicknames like "His Fraudulency" or "Rutherfraud" by detractors, he has earned a reputation as a self-interested, lazy president who made a crooked deal to end Reconstruction in exchange for the Presidency. In reality, he was a highly principled and pragmatic leader who did his best to help unite a country where the scars of the Civil War were still very fresh. His Presidency encountered many controversial situations with echoes that still reverberate in contemporary America, like the legitimacy of elections, government intervention in labor disputes, and political enfranchisement. This episode provides a fascinating and thorough look at the life and career of our Brother, President Rutherford B. Hayes. The Shoutout goes to Palacky Lodge #630 in Illinois for their remarkable activity and community engagement. In the Odd Podge, Brother Ainslie talks about his latest artistic project, Brother Toby shares his excitement at the return of the Northwest Odd Fellow and Rebekah Association Meeting, Brother Mike shares a little history of Kanawha Lodge #25 on the occasion of it's 175th Anniversary, and Dustin talks a little bit about some of the firsts that Brother Rud established as President.
What do backpacks for the homeless, a late 70s Chevy Nova, and a "Sausage Grind" have in common? Earnie Taylor of Chester Lodge #281 in Virginia, that's what! Brother Earnie joins us to talk about how he's been able to apply his skills of bringing people together for various charitable projects to building Odd Fellowship in the Jurisdiction of Virginia. One of the current projects he discusses is the effort to help a lodge in a town far away be able to meet in their hall again after years of not doing so. Along the way we gain some invaluable insight into how lodges can come together and "bundle their sticks" to build stronger communities and stronger lodges. The Shoutout goes to Wisconsin Lodge #14 of Janesville, Wisconsin for their excellent work of holding activities in the community which raise the profile of Odd Fellowship. For the Odd Podge, Toby talks about the recent trove of listener emails, Ainslie shares the insight from his newly-acquired District Deputy Grand Master's handbook, Mike talks about the fancy magazine he receives from another of the groups he belongs to, and Earnie gives a little more of his wisdom.
Inspired by a recent series of emails from a listener, Ainslie and Toby discuss the phenomenon of "kitchen table lodges"—those lodges which don't do any ritual or hold formal meetings. Instead, they meet informally around a table to do the minimum amount of business. As more and more people are finding their way to Odd Fellowship, more new members are running into the discouragement of a kitchen table lodge. The hosts discuss the situation and offer some suggestions to help members who find themselves in such a lodge. There's no lodge Shoutout this episode because none has been nominated, which just means that we would love to hear about your lodge and what you're doing to make it thrive. The Odd Podge is all about the Odd Fellows' Primer and its two new formats: eBook and audiobook.
What happens when a barber in an old river city on the Mississippi finds a bunch of Odd Fellows collectibles? He starts a lodge, of course! That was the genesis of the newly-rechartered Gem City #357 in Quincy, Illinois. Members Matthew Roegge and Jacob Bertram joined us to talk about the beginning of their lodge which was chartered in June 2022. They tell some great stories of learning, camaraderie, and fellowship. They also outline the incredible amount of support they have received from the Grand Lodge of Illinois. The Shoutout for this episode goes to a lodge recently saved by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Foster #333 in Rew, Pennsylvania. For the Odd Podge, Toby mentions the Illinois Polka Fest (appropriate since this episode is all about Illinois), Jacob asks listeners to email the lodge to share ideas and suggestions (gemcity357ioof@gmail.com), and Ainslie looks forward to his first installation of officers serving as District Deputy Grand Master.
Our annual Christmas episode has become the place where we look back on the year in Oddcasting and this year was certainly delightful. We brought on a new co-host, Mike Duminiak, and continued our tradition of making meaningful and relevant episodes for our Odd Fellow brothers and sisters. This particular episode includes a greeting from Brother Torbjörn in Sweden, a Hanukkah message from Brother Michael in Virginia, a holiday message from past co-host Christopher McHale, and, for the first time ever, we have the honor and privilege of presenting a holiday message from the Honorable Michelle Heckart, Sovereign Grand Master. The Shoutout goes to a brand-new lodge in Italy, Resilienza No. 3 of Milan. Sit back, relax, fix a big mug of hot cocoa and enjoy the Christmas Episode!
Despite recent growth, Odd Fellowship is still predominantly full of retirees. While they present a wealth of knowledge and experience, they can also be resistant to change and adaptation. That can become even more of a challenge when young leaders emerge and try to work with entrenched members. In this episode we talk to PGM Buddy Goetsch of Colorado and DGM Erik Fearing of Massachusetts. With Buddy having completed his term as Grand Master and Erik preparing for his, they share very useful insights into their experience as young leaders in Odd Fellowship. That youth can be a hindrance when it clashes with established members and customs but it can also be an advantage as it encourages new thinking and possibilities. The Shoutout goes to a brand-new Encampment, Ridgely #2 in Pocatello, Idaho. For the Odd Podge, Mike tells the harrowing story of Odd Fellows from Poland who ventured into war-torn Ukraine to initiate twenty-one new members; Erik talks about his plan to connect with the Odd Fellows Brewery in Nashua, NH to create a special connection to Odd Fellowship; Buddy shares the restoration process of his aging lodge hall in Leadville, CO; Toby previews his somber duty to participate in the memorial service for a passed Past Grand Master; and Ainslie enlightens us about the new gaming night his lodge is holding every month.
With the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, we thought it would be an excellent time to talk turkey about one of the great New Year's Day traditions—The Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California. The celebration includes the famous college football game The Rose Bowl and the accompanying Rose Parade. Brother Mel Astrahan, PGM of California, joins us to give an exhaustive look at the history of the float, the process to build it, and a look behind the scenes of how it all happens. The oldest documented Odd Fellows float was from 1908, sponsored by Crown City Lodge of Pasadena. Now, the float is a major undertaking coordinated by the Rose Float Committee and staffed by dozens of amazing volunteers. Follow along as Brother Mel gives us a tour of everything Rose Float. The Shoutout goes to a newly-resurrected lodge, Prosperity #301 of Wenatchee, Washington. In the Odd Podge Ainslie shares a ghost story sent to him by a friend of the show in Australia, Mike tells about the Veterans Day Parade and bowling night in Charleston, Toby talks about his experience helping revive Prosperity #301, and Mel shares his favorite story about Brother P. T. Barnum.
Our colleagues Billy and Tara from Modern Goat Rider join us to continue the crossover begun on their show. If you've not heard it yet, you'll want to hit up the URL above and listen to it so you've got some continuity. The episode rolls on with more comments about marketing Odd Fellowship in unconventional ways, discussion of the impact that podcasting is having on Odd Fellowship, and a look at our motivations for doing the two shows. The Shoutout goes to another brand-new lodge, Leatherstocking #945 in New York. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie shares his reaction to being awarded the Meritorious Service Jewel, Toby talks about the impending revival of Prosperity Lodge #301 in Wenatchee, Washington, Mike tells about how much he enjoys going to his active, engaging lodge meetings at Kanawha #25 in West Virginia, and Billy gives us the inside scoop on his lodge's upcoming appearance on local TV in Victoria, BC. All that and some important news about Modern Goat Rider's future production plans!
Just in time for Halloween, we take a look into the death care industry through the eyes of Sister Kait Osman of Emerald Bay Lodge #50 in California. Sister Kait had a somewhat roundabout way of getting to the funeral world, going through studies of forensic anthropology and other subjects along her way. Eventually she found herself in California with an interest in helping people as they face the challenges of handling a funeral. Sister Kait provides a candid look at what it's like to learn everything from various religious traditions and social customs to the nuts and bolts of doing funeral work like embalming and retrieving bodies. As Odd Fellows we are constantly reminded of our own mortality and Kait gives us a view that is compassionate and supportive. The Shoutout goes to Prokop Valley Lodge #708 of Glenwillow, Ohio for their recent Oktoberfest celebration. In the Odd Podge, Toby shares the exciting news he learned at the recent Idaho sessions, Kait showed off her Jermaine Soto shirt (available from the Grand Lodge of California), Mike read a resolution recently passed by the West Virginia Grand Lodge, and the hosts shared the news of Ainslie's recent Meritorious Service Jewel, awarded at the Illinois Grand Sessions.
Ainslie, Mike, and Toby are all experienced Odd Fellows. They like to think they have a handle on what new members are looking for, but do they really? To test that theory, they invited Josh Dandurand from Oregon and Randy & Caylee Chorrushi from West Virginia to come on the podcast and offer their insights. All three are members who have joined within the last six months so their hot takes are still burning hot. The conversation ranges from how degrees are performed to the lack of Odd Fellows swag to the controversial Supreme Being requirement. All three new members have some great ideas and insights to share. Maybe the old dogs can learn some new tricks from them. Pueblo Lodge #8 in Colorado gets this episode's Shoutout for their excellent renovation work and community engagement. The Odd Podge has Ainslie sharing about his trip to the Illinois Grand Sessions where he will be made a DDGM, Mike sharing his happiness with how active his new lodge members are and giving a preview of the Oddlympiad, a series of outdoor games with Odd twists. Randy and Caylee talk about their excitement at having earned their Third Degrees so they can attend the West Virginia Grand Sessions. Josh expresses his gratitude for being included in the podcast and gives a preview of his efforts to bring an AMOS Sanctorum to his part of Oregon. Toby gloats over the Seattle Mariners' first postseason appearance in twenty-one years and also previews his trip to the Idaho Grand Sessions.
At its beginning, Odd Fellowship was just for men (though some groups of Odd Fellows retain that tradition). In 2001 the Independent Order opened up membership to women. Since that time, women have risen to the highest ranks in Odd Fellowship, including our current Sovereign Grand Master. There are some lodges, however, that still maintain a (mostly) single-gender membership. Brother Roger Sitton, PG of Waxahachie #80 and Savannah Williams, PNG of Waxahachie Rebekah Lodge #381 join us to talk about their respective lodges and how having groups primarily for men and women benefits each of them. Their perspectives both give a crucial insight into the value of having single-gender spaces. The lodge Shoutout goes to Wheeling #9 of West Virginia, celebrating their 175th anniversary. In the Odd Podge, Mike reps AMOS and LOTO, Savannah shares the Odd Fest coming to Waxahachie, Ainslie talks about his visit to the Montana Odd Fellows Museum, Roger tells us of his new dog Emmett (named after beloved Waxa member Horace Bratcher), and Toby hatches a plan to visit Texas next March for the National Accordion Association Convention and the Texas Grand Sessions.
We've all been there—years of neglect to important lodge business has left a huge mess behind and we've just walked into that void of neglect. That happened to Brother Jack Crispin Cain of Upper Lake Lodge #241 in California several years ago when he started looking into the lodge finances and discovered that the lodge had lost its non-profit status. Being a clever and resourceful person, he was able to get their non-profit status reinstated. He shares his experiences with that process and reassures us that it's an approachable project for any enterprising member. It's important to remember that laws governing non-profits vary between jurisdictions so, while this is an accurate account of Bro. Cain's experience, it may not be the same for every lodge. The Shoutout goes to Centennial Lodge #341 in Washington for their efforts to sponsor and help resettle a Ukrainian refugee family. For the Odd Podge, Toby shares the Exploring Washington State podcast episode (hosted by a brother Odd Fellow) about Petosa Accordions' centennial. For his Odd Podge, Ainslie gives a preview of his upcoming trip to Montana and desire to visit the Montana Odd Fellows Museum. Mike talks about some of the new items for sale through the Sovereign Grand Lodge, including two new Christmas ornaments and Jack commends his lodge brother who just returned from a European tour with his punk rock band.
On a dark, rainy September evening in Sweden, a young man stood on a curb as a nondescript sedan pulled over to meet him. The rear door opened and he was beckoned into the car. Inside were three gentlemen, all in dark suits. While this sounds like it could be the beginning of a spy thriller novel, it was actually the beginning of the journey into Odd Fellowship for our guest, Brother Torbjörn Andersson of Tibro, Sweden. Brother Andersson was kind enough to join us to talk about his experiences as a Swedish Odd Fellow and give us an overview of the way the Order functions in Sweden. Along the way we learn that Toby can't count in Danish, The Swedish Chef (of Muppet Show fame) was not actually speaking Swedish, and Sweden has no Patriarchs Militant. The Shoutout goes to the Grand Lodge of New Mexico for their brilliant and innovative plan to sponsor an Odd Fellows hot air balloon. In the Odd Podge, Toby was recognized on a flight to Chicago, Ainslie got a phone call from a prospective member who saw him on YouTube and is interested in joining the Order, and Torbjörn is planning to visit the centennial of the lodge in Lidköping this coming October.
We had to call another audible at the line of scrimmage as our scheduled guest was out sick this episode. With Sovereign Grand Lodge right around the corner we decided to discuss the Encampment branch of Odd Fellowship. Once a vibrant and vital part of the Order, in many places it has atrophied to the point of irrelevance. Toby, Ainslie, and Mike discuss whether it makes more sense to put an end to the Encampment branch and let it be remembered fondly from its glory days or whether it has a role to play in the Odd Fellowship of the future. In keeping with the Encampment theme, the Shoutout this episode goes to the Grand Encampment of Oregon for their wonderful charitable project of collecting socks for the less fortunate. In the Odd Podge, Toby tells about a new member who joined the Discord server (and Odd Fellowship) because of the podcast, Ainslie announces the launch of our new YouTube channel, and Mike talks about his impending appearance at the West Virginia Encampment Fish Fry (even though he doesn't like fish).
Technical issues prevented us from interviewing our scheduled guest so, being resourceful Odd Fellows, we called an audible at the line of scrimmage and decided to talk about our mentors in Odd Fellowship. Mentorship is an important part of any organization, and especially so in our Order. There's much to do as an Odd Fellow and it can take years to get everything down. Each of us has had some very special members who have provided wisdom and guidance over the years and this is our opportunity to share our appreciation. Mike demands the correct answer to the trivia question from the Second Anniversary episode and the shoutout goes to yet another new lodge, Bradshaw #469 in West Virginia. In the Odd Podge, Toby tells the story of how a couple of his articles at The Heart In Hand Blog may have attracted a new member for Washington, Ainslie serves up the details about his most recent basic cable TV appearance showcasing Odd Fellowship, and Mike shares his visit to Point Pleasant Lodge #33 in West Virginia and offers up some suggestions for how the lodge can capitalize on the town's most famous resident, Mothman.
July 2022 represents two years of podcasting for the Three Links Odd Cast and we are all very excited to commemorate this achievement with a celebratory episode. As part of the celebration, we announce a new cohost, Brother Mike Duminiak of West Virginia, who had previously been a guest on the episodes about the Patriarchs Militant branch and the Freemasons. Together, the three co-hosts discuss favorite episodes and moments from the two years of podcasting. For Ainslie, it's the episode with fellow tattoo artist Brother Shayne Simmons. For Mike, it's his episode about the Patriarchs Militant. For Toby, it's the episode with eminent Canadian economist Herb Emery. Stats about downloads abound in this episode as Toby shares some of the numbers. There's even a trivia question with a chance to win one of the podcast's new stickers (you'll have to listen to find the question). The Shoutout goes to Ocean View Lodge #143 of Half Moon Bay, California for their efforts to help promote the Three Links Odd Cast. In the Odd Podge, Toby rants about college football realignment (hint: he's not a fan), Ainslie talks about a shade tree in the local dog park donated by a Rebekah lodge, and Mike teases his new organization, The Mariners (no, not Toby's beloved Seattle Mariners).
June is a month of many celebrations and we're taking the opportunity to join in with one of them, though not the one Toby had expected. Brother Chris Emmons from Kanawha Lodge #25 in Charleston, West Virginia joins us to celebrate LGBTQ Pride and share his experiences as an out gay Odd Fellow. The conversation wanders around quite a bit and covers a wide range of topics, including the many great and affirming experiences both Chris and Ainslie have had in Odd Fellowship and some of the similarities between joining the Odd Fellows and coming out as a member of the LGBTQ community. The Shoutout goes to another brand-new lodge, this time it's Gem City Lodge #357 in Quincy, Illinois. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie talks about the Tuscola Odd Market and appendant festivities, including a drag show! Chris shares a little about his trip to Tuscola for the Odd Market (and his new tattoo), and Toby finally gets to raise awareness of the accordion.
As Odd Fellows, we're not surprised by any old thing we find in a lodge hall. For non-members, though, it can be quite a shock when relics of a former lodge are left behind and discovered while exploring a new building. Such incidents usually end up getting some kind of media coverage and one of those stories inspired hosts Sara Buesing and Emily Coleman to do an episode of their podcast Afternoonified about those discoveries. They were kind enough to join us for this episode of The Three Links Odd Castso we could answer some questions and dispel some rumors about what may be lurking in the closet of your lodge hall (or under the stairs, or the podium, or the pool table...) Both Emily and Sara came away with a greater knowledge of Odd Fellowship and the purpose of all those hidden skeletons. The Shoutout goes to Prestonsburg Lodge #293 of Kentucky for their excellent work recruiting new members. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie finally spills the beans on his next TV appearance (spoiler alert: it's with a big celebrity), Toby shares his Grand Lodge committee assignment, Emily talks about fossilized Neanderthal poop and Sara sets a new personal record for fastest time off an airplane to view a corpse.
Be sure and check out Emily and Sara's excellent podcast Afternoonified on their website or your favorite podcast catcher.
GRAND LODGE. The mere words strike fear into the hearts of Odd Fellows everywhere. What is this strange, mysterious conglomeration of Odd Fellows who gather for some unknown purpose? Since Grand Lodge season is upon us, Ainslie and Toby sat down with Brothers Adam Potolsky and Matthew Finkelstein to discuss their experiences at the 2022 session of the Grand Lodge of California held in Modesto. Brother Adam is a veteran of several Grand Lodge sessions and served on the Legislation Committee. Brother Matthew is a newbie at Grand Lodge and served as Grand Herald. Each shared their insights into attending Grand Lodge and their insights into what makes the experience meaningful. Both are of the same opinion, that everyone who has the opportunity should attend, but for different reasons. Another highlight of the session was the chartering of a new lodge, Emerald Bay #50, of Lake Tahoe, California, which gets our Shoutout for the episode.
What if the narrative we've all been told—that the government takeover of social services led to the decline of Odd Fellowship—was wrong? Esteemed Canadian economist, author, and educator Herb Emery, author of "A Young Man's Benefit," joins us to discuss his research into the end of beneficial membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. What he discovered from researching records of the Sovereign Grand Lodge and various jurisdictional Grand Lodges is surprising and challenges that long-accepted narrative. It wasn't the government takeover of social services which doomed beneficial membership. It was other factors, like demographic shifts (jurisdictions that were no longer growing), increasing upward mobility of young workers who were able to provide their own insurance through savings, and a general misunderstanding of the financial projections that determined the future affordability of beneficial membership. Emery's book also gives valuable insight into the nature and working of upper management in Odd Fellowship. For those interested in the book, it's available in print form from McGill-Queen's University Press and electronically from Google Play. There's no lodge Shoutout this episode but, for the Odd Podge, Toby tells about the network of listeners helping a member find a new lodge in his new home city, Herb expresses hope for the continuation of fraternalism, and Ainslie shares the news of another new lodge just on the horizon.
As recently as 2017 Portneuf Lodge #20 in Pocatello, Idaho was moribund. Six people met twice monthly in a dusty old hall downtown with a worn-out, broken sign out front. It might as well have said that the lodge was permanently closed. Then something remarkable happened—the lodge decided to spend some money to fix up its sign. The newly painted and refurbished sign, with its glorious neon lights, was soon lighting up the night in Pocatello. The new sign gathered interest from the local newspaper and from sign communities online. That one fixed-up sign became the genesis of the revival of Odd Fellowship in Pocatello that now has other fraternal orders interested in what's going on at the Odd Fellows Hall. Sister Jessica Lewis and Brother Dustin Irish-Webb join us to tell the amazing story of the Pocatello revival and how they have turned their hall into a hive of regular activity that has the whole town buzzing. The Shoutout for this episode goes to Winslow-Hammonton Lodge #40 in New Jersey for their upcoming recreation of the first Odd Fellow lodge meeting in Baltimore in 1819. In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his lodge's German dinner returning from its pandemic hiatus, Jessica shares her passion for a local charitable organization, Ainslie talks about an endearing gift his lodge gave to one of its stalwart members, and Dustin invites everyone to "tune in to Portneuf," which you can do on their website.
Odd Fellows, like all fraternal orders, have to exist in the long shadow cast by the only fraternal group that has any awareness in popular culture: Freemasons. Whether because of wacky conspiracy theories, blockbuster movies, thriller novels, or seemingly endless supposed connections to various historical figures and events, Freemasonry is the template against which most fraternal orders get compared. Even many Odd Fellows, when pressed to "explain" Odd Fellowship to the average person, will start with, "It's like the Masons but a little bit different..." To help enlighten our listeners about what Freemasonry is really about, Brother Mike Duminiak joins the show again to share his insight and experience as a Mason in Pennsylvania. Brother Mike illustrates the many similarities and the important differences between Masonry and Odd Fellowship and highlights how the two Orders are complimentary. The Ukraine fundraiser is up over $1100 and still taking donations on GoFund Me. For the Odd Podge, Brother Mike tells about helping fulfill a dying woman's wish to be buried with her child, Brother Ainslie shares his latest eBay treasure, and Brother Toby talks about a listener who alerted the podcast hosts to the Order of Mayans. NOTE: due to technical issues, there may be some dropouts in the audio. We apologize for any missing content.
An interesting and unusual confluence has occurred where tattoo artists and Odd Fellowship have mixed, creating some interesting results. From some of the most famous tattoo artists like Oliver Peck and Luke Wessman, down to the average corner tattoo shop owner, the stunning, bold symbols of Odd Fellowship have called out to the tattoo community and brought them into our august fraternity. Their keen eye for visual communication has, in many cases, reinvigorated Odd Fellowship. With so much similarity between Odd Fellows and tattoo artists it's a natural overlap. In this episode we explore what makes Odd Fellowship so appealing to tattoo artists and why so many are drawn to our Order. Brother Shayne Simmons, of Lorraine #4 in Louisville, KY, joins Ainslie and Toby to dish about the earlier days of tattooing, share how each of them got inspired to join the Order, and discuss what each of them sees in Odd Fellowship as tattoo artists. The conversation meanders all over the place, including the idea of having Odd Fellows lodges set up recruiting displays at tattoo conventions. The Shoutout goes to Tarpon Springs Lodge #34 of Florida for their 130th anniversary celebration. Ainslie and Shayne both share their excitement for impending Degree Days—the first since the pandemic—and Toby talks about his upcoming trip to visit the Grand Sessions in Oregon and California. All that and an update on Bro. John Reitzer-Smith's efforts to support our distressed Brothers in Ukraine.
A week and a half ago, Brother John Reitzer-Smith was presiding over a lodge meeting as Noble Grand when the question arose if there were any Ukrainian Odd Fellows in need. Within the span of a few days, Brother John had made contact with a lodge in Poland that, before the war in Ukraine, had been initiating Ukrainians with the intent to form lodges in that country. Now those new Ukrainian Odd Fellows find themselves in severe distress as their wives and children flee their homes near Lviv for the relative safety of Wrocław, Poland. The lodge in Wrocław is doing all they can to help care for the families of their refugee brothers who have stayed behind in Ukraine to defend their homeland. Brother John's GoFundMe gives American Odd Fellows the opportunity to make small donations to support the relief effort of our Polish brothers as they care for the immediate needs of our Ukrainian refugee brothers and their families.
For this very special episode we visit with Meredith Moore, Past Grand of Fort Worth Lodge #251 in Texas. Sister Meredith has become an active, indispensable, and inspirational Odd Fellow with her years of service in various lodges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She talks about her journey from being invited to a lodge function at Dallas #44 to being one of the most active Odd Fellows in North Texas. She also shares insights about what has led to such great cooperation between lodges and how that has helped to build and strengthen Odd Fellowship in the Lone Star State. The Shoutout this time goes to Brady Lodge #116 of Muncy, Pennsylvania for having elected the first female Noble Grand in their century-plus history. In the Odd Podge, Meredith talks about the brilliance of Winslow-Hammonton #40's plan to recreate the original lodge meeting in the Seven Stars Tavern on April 30th, Toby shares the Grand Encampment of Washington's net positive member gain, and Ainslie gives props to the latest post on The Heart In Hand Blog which was derived from the most recent episode of Modern Goat Rider.
For this episode we had put out an invitation to members of the Rose Float Committee to join us and talk about how they put the float together and what it does to raise awareness of Odd Fellowship. Despite some encouraging communication initially, no one from the committee joined us for this episode. Ever the resourceful members, Scott, Toby, and Ainslie launched into an impromptu discussion of the importance of ritual and regalia to lodge life. The consensus amongst the three of them is that both ritual and regalia are very important and should be brought back as an essential part of the Odd Fellows experience. Being the free-thinking sorts that they are, if you have a contrasting opinion, they would love to hear it. Send them an email at 3linksoddcast@gmail.com and share your opinion about ritual and regalia. This episode's Shoutout goes to Portneuf Lodge #20 of Pocatello, Idaho for their spectacular growth, which was all prompted originally by renovating their beautiful neon lodge sign. In the Odd Podge, Toby shares the website he built for his associate lodge (http://www.buckley75ioof.com), Ainslie talks about singing the Odes along with the new recordings available for download (https://odd-fellows.org/member-resources/lodge-odes-and-music/), and Scott shares a random encounter that may lead to some new Odd Fellows in Arkansas.
In 2009, a hall at the Stroud School of Arts in Dungog, Australia revealed an engaging secret: a hand-painted silk banner from the 19th Century. Two years later the banner wound up in the collection of the Newcastle Museum where David Hampton would eventually find it and begin unravelling it's fascinating history. Made in London by Tutill and Company, it was the pride and joy of Williams River Lodge of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The banner would have been carried by multiple members in parades and served as a strong reminder to the community that Odd Fellowship was a reliable bulwark against the vagaries of life.
The banner was used by the lodge at least up until the late 1940s, when membership was still nearly 650 members. Eventually the lodge folded and the hall became part of the local school, at which time the banner was moved and stored under the floorboards in a hall at the Stroud School of Arts. Mostly forgotten at that point, it came into the collection of the museum in Newcastle who raised money and sent it on to Sydney where some restoration work was done to preserve it for future generations. The banner is remarkable both in the condition it survived in, and for the incredible craftsmanship and artistry with which it was made.
David Hampton, curator of the Newcastle Museum, joins us to tell the remarkable story of the banner and how it reflects nearly a century of changes in the social and fraternal life of Australia. Along the way we hear about what life was like for the emigrants to Australia in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries and how groups like the Odd Fellows provided essential assistance and also they paralleled labor union and other trade organizations of the time.
There is no lodge Shoutout in this episode (please feel free to contribute nominations) but in the Odd Podge Ainslie shares about his new eBay score, a clay Odd Fellows' pipe, and Toby asks David about the Somerton Man (Tamam Shud) case to see if he has any background on it.
A popular novel inspired a curiosity about fraternalism back in 2016 for Gary Harper which led him to start researching various fraternal orders. After some study, he settled on joining the Odd Fellows. There was just one problem, however: he had no way of finding a lodge to join. Various emails to addresses he had found online went unanswered for years until finally, in 2019, he visited the IOOF Subreddit and made contact with an Odd Fellow in a neighboring state who was able to help him make contact with his local lodge. Despite all the challenges in making contact with the lodge, he was able to join in October of that year. Since that time he's become an ardent Odd Fellow with a zeal for promoting the Order. Instead of being bitter about his struggles to join Odd Fellowship, he is willing to share his story in hopes of making lodges more visible to their communities so that others may have an easier path to joining. He gives us a glimpse into the growth of his lodge, Kanawha #25 in West Virginia, as well as his Encampment and Canton. No lodge was nominated for a Shoutout this episode so all of you listeners are encouraged to send in your nominations. In the Odd Podge, Scott tells about his search for former Odd Fellows Halls in Arkansas' capital; Ainsle shares the news about the Goat Riders, a booster club for the DeMoulin Museum in Greenville, IL; Gary shares his efforts to charter a new lodge in West Virginia; and Toby tells about the Past Grand Master who was remembered in history as "Washington's One-Day Governor."
UPDATE: the correct audio file has been uploaded! For those that downloaded the previous version, we hope you enjoyed a preview of "The Scandinavian Polka Party," hosted by Brother Toby on 247PolkaHeaven.com.
This is the second half of The Important Crossover. If you haven't heard Part 1, go check it out from our friends at Modern Goat Rider.
For the second half of The Important Crossover, Billy and Tara from Modern Goat Rider join Ainslie, Scott, and Toby to continue their discussion about whether Odd Fellowship is important. (Spoiler alert: it is!) The quintet of Poddies shares a variety of stories and opinions about why Odd Fellowship is important. Some of the highlights include Tara's gratitude for having her supportive lodge family around her when she received some bad news; the story of Toby's Past Grand Master jewel; and the kindness shown Scott when he was struggling with getting started in Odd Fellowship.
Brother Mike Duminiak of West Virginia joins us as we reconvene for the new year to tell the story of the Patriarchs Militant. This oft-ignored branch of Odd Fellowship provides some surprising opportunities and does some very interesting work. Brother Mike is a passionate and articulate supporter and gives us a comprehensive look at the history, origins, development, and current practices of the Patriarchs Militant, from the Canton level all the way up to the General Military Council. Through his stories, we get to meet John Underwood, developer of the Patriarchs Militant Degree and first General Commanding of the branch. We also get a look at how the uniforms have changed through the years, from 19th Century finery to more contemporary styles. He gives us a glimpse of the drills, practices, and procedures that make Canton attendance engaging. The Shoutout goes to Ellensburg Lodge #20 of Washington, for having just initiated twenty-one new members in December. In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his upcoming lecture to the California Membership Seminar, Ainslie shares his latest eBay score—a membership-retention handbook from Pennsylvania, most likely from the post-WWII era—and new co-host Scott Moye talks about his renewed Covid hermitage and the book he's reading. Brother Mike also corrects the show's erroneous grasp of the geography of West Virginia.
Toby and Ainslie take a nostalgic look back at the past year in Odd Fellows podcasting and revisit some of the topics they covered. Brother Nick Curry of Chester Lodge #281 in Virginia gives an update on the lodge's progress and how they're reforging bonds with the community that were lost when the lodge closed. Ainslie and Toby also give a sneak peak at some of the coming year's topics and guests.
Medieval English Craft Guilds were the wellspring of modern fraternalism. From those original attempts to protect trade secrets, educate artisans, and assist members and their families, an amazing variety of fraternal orders has developed. Those fraternal groups would have remained solely in the land where they began had it not been for the subsequent spread of British influence and culture across the globe. Fraternal researcher Owen Snowdon joins us again to tell stories of how the British Empire spread fraternalism around the globe. Some of the highlights of the episode include an Orange Order lodge which was chartered in a cave during the Crimean War; another Orange Order lodge chartered by members of the Mohawk Nation in Ontario, Canada; an RAOB lodge chartered by British POWs in Imperial Japan during WWII; multiple RAOB lodges chartered by British servicemen in West Germany during the Cold War; and several lodges which were held on both military and civilian ships. The Lodge Shoutout goes to Örebrohus Lodge #87 in Örebro, Sweden, which celebrated its centennial on December 10th. For the Odd Podge, Toby talked about his associate lodge and their newfound interest in Degree Work, Ainslie promoted the new hardcover collector's edition of the "Odd Fellows Primer," and Christopher wished everyone a warm holiday greeting.
Those interested in more of Brother Owen Snowdon's fraternal research can find him on Facebook by searching "fraternal and Masonic history" or by visiting his website at http://fraternalandmasonichistory.weebly.com.
Amidst the fields of corn, soy, and wheat, there's something else growing in Northern Illinois: Odd Fellowship. Brother Ray Jackson of Ottawa Lodge #41 shares his story of how the members of Century Lodge #492 in Carpentersville spread out across the northern part of Illinois reviving struggling lodges and renewing the spirit of Odd Fellowship. SPOILER ALERT: there's no one, main secret to their success. With each lodge being different, they members first had to dig into that community and find out what worked for the locals and then build on it. Ray goes into great detail about how that worked and the kinds of successes they have had. He also tells of the process of reviving his current home lodge, Ottawa #41, including climbing in through the window and the moldy hall. The Shoutout goes to Themis Lodge #75 of Louisiana on the occasion of their first anniversary. For the Odd Podge, Brother Ainslie talks about the Art Fellows at his lodge in Tuscola, IL who meet regularly to make art. Brother Toby thanks his home lodge, Ballard-Alki #170 of Seattle, for the reception they gave in his honor after having served as Sovereign Grand Musician.
With a strong interest in history, esotericism, and philosophy, it was only a matter of time before Asean Malik Bey found his way to Odd Fellowship. That first encounter happened at a friend's martial arts studio and, since that time, Brother Bey has launched a career as an Odd Fellow organizer, historian, and scholar. A member of Teoronto #8 of the IOOF and Northern Star #715 of the GUOOF, he shares his personal journey to Odd Fellowship and some of the creative solutions he's used to help build his GUOOF lodge like having the brothers provide security for community events, partnering with the local Rotary chapter, and renting out the meeting room at Dunkin' Donuts on Friday nights to do community outreach. He also shares his background in esoteric philosophy and historical collecting. Brother Christopher returns from his sabbatical (it wasn't where he claimed in the episode) and tells us in the Odd Podge of his excitement over watching the World Cup final on his birthday in 2022. Brother Toby talks about initiating new members in Eastern Washington while Brother Ainslie shares his lodge's most recent degree work. The Lodge Shoutout goes to the members of Lebanon Lodge #1 of Beirut, Lebanon, some of whom got to visit Ontario recently.
More than a decade ago, Scott Moye was just your average historian in Arkansas. Fueled by a desire and curiosity to be a part of a fraternal order, he started looking around and researching and eventually landed on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. That journey eventually lead him to scholarship and the authorship of his new book, Think Like An Odd Fellow. During this episode, Brother Scott describes his process of researching the book and digging deep into the history of Odd Fellows' philosophy and beliefs. Along the way he found some amazing philosophies and beliefs which he has updated to make them easily accessible to a contemporary audience. He also talks some about some of the less savory parts of our history which he encountered in his research. Brother Scott shares how he's applied some of the philosophies outlined in his book, including in his prior career as an educator. Since Toby and Scott are accordionists in addition to being Odd Fellows, accordion talk eventually intrudes on the conversation, along with some discussion of the frustration that new members eventually experience in lodge. The Lodge Shoutout goes to a success story, Osage Lodge #712 of Pennsylvania, which was featured in our "Saving Lodges In Pennsylvania" episode. They were saved and now have thirteen members and are running a fundraiser selling Odd Fellows rings. For more information on the rings, email Treas.Lodge712@gmail.com. For the Odd Podge, Toby shares about his upcoming trip to Eastern Washington to initiate some new members hoping to rebuild Odd Fellowship in that part of the state, Ainslie talks about his recent TV experience, and Scott hints at his next project in Odd Fellowship.
We've all had to sit through long, meandering, pointless meetings. Why should we allow our lodge meetings to be disorganized and annoying to sit through? Brothers Ainslie and Toby dedicate this episode of the Three Links Odd Cast to guiding you through the best practices for holding a lodge meeting so that business can get done in a quick but thorough way. They start with the preparations that should take place before a meeting and then cruise through the Opening, Order of Business, and Closing, explaining each part along the way. This episode is chock full of useful and interesting information about how to make our lodge meetings useful, engaging, and informative. It's an especially great episode for any first-time elected lodge officers. The lodge Shoutout for this episode goes to Pride Of The South Lodge #6 of Atlanta, Georgia, for their involvement with a local elementary school. In the Odd Podge, Brother Ainslie shares his experience with the beautiful memorial service at the Grand Lodge of Illinois while Brother Toby shares the exciting news about another new lodge.
Ainslie and Toby spend some time contemplating the culture clash that often happens when new members join lodges full of long-time members. On the one side, there are eager new members who have just joined and have great ideas and can't wait to start changing things and getting their new lodge active. On the other side there are members who have spent years perfecting the way they do things and don't like the disruption of new people with no history wanting to change things. One of the essential questions for Odd Fellowship going forward is how to bring those two groups together so our lodges can benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of youth and the experience and wisdom of long-serving members. Both hosts share their thoughts and their experiences dealing with those issues. This episode's Shoutout goes to Fort Worth Lodge #251 in Texas for their excellent, award-winning display about Odd Fellowship at the State Fair of Texas. In the Odd Podge, Toby reveals his latest book find—a vintage publication by Presley Horne, Past Grand Secretary of Idaho, while Ainslie updates the sales figures for the Odd Fellows' Primer. Hint—it's bigger than anyone expected. All this and Toby's admission that he is starting to miss attending the Northwest Odd Fellow and Rebekah Association Meetings while Ainslie is looking forward to the abbreviated Illinois Grand Lodge Sessions.
Back home from Sovereign Grand Lodge in Cincinnati, Brothers Ainslie and Toby share their exhaustive interview with Grand Master of California Michael Greenzeiger about his new book, The Odd Fellows' Primer. The interview goes into great detail about the process of researching and writing the book, its origins, its inspiration, and the various challenges encountered along the way. The interview also touches on Bro. Ainslie's contributions to the artwork of the book and Bro. Scott Moye's contributions as editor. (Side note: Bro. Scott Moye also recently published his own book about Odd Fellowship, which we'll be discussing in a future episode.) The Odd Fellows' Primer is available for sale right now with bulk discounts available for large orders. The Lodge Shoutout goes out to two lodges this time, to Governor Brooks #142 in Maine for their superlative efforts to build a new lodge hall with materials and labor donated by members and friends of the lodge, and also to Morning Star #20 in California for their valiant efforts to raise money for relief of those affected by the Caldor Fire. Check out the links above if you would like to donate to either lodge's efforts.
Toby and Christopher hit the road to attend the Rededication of the Idaho Odd Fellows Museum in Caldwell, ID. While there, they conducted interviews with Grand Secretary and Museum Curator Jeff Mann, Past Assembly President, Past Grand Master and current Grand Patriarch Marge Harlan, current Grand Master Joe DeChristefero, and Past Grand Master David Livingston and his wife Crystal. Much great information was shared about the museum and about the general state of Odd Fellowship in Idaho. There was also some discussion of the fetching portrait of a Past Grand Master hanging in the museum gallery. In the Odd Podge, Toby confirms he'll have an accordion ready at Sovereign Grand Lodge, Ainslie tells about his own Western excursion visiting the sights in Colorado and Utah, and Christopher talks about his newest project interest: a coffin-shaped ballot box.
In April of this year the Half-Asked Podcast did an episode about the Odd Fellows. (You can hear their episode here.) Our colleague Billy Sanderson from Modern Goat Rider alerted us to the episode and we decided to reach out to the show so we could discuss Odd Fellowship. As a result, Pete, Judy, and Britney joined us to share their process for how they came to discover Odd Fellowship. Like so many others who come across our Order, it began with strange markings on a tombstone. What followed were several trips down the YouTube rabbit hole to watch videos about Odd Fellowship and some research on various other websites. Their viewpoint as outsiders is invaluable for our organization to help us understand how we're perceived by the world at large and also how much of a challenge it can be for non-members to get information about Odd Fellowship. By the end of the episode they all came away enlightened and—dare we say— excited about Odd Fellowship. Also on this episode we announce the publication of Bro. Scott Moye's new book Think Like An Odd Fellow.
Ainslie, Toby, and Christopher are reunited with Sergio to celebrate the First Anniversary of the Three Links Odd Cast. The four Odd Fellows discuss the first year of the podcast including what they expected when it started, how it has progressed, and what kind of impact they feel they've had on Odd Fellowship as a whole. They share some excerpts from previous episodes as well as recorded messages from Michael Zurell, Seth Anthony, Justin Bailey, and Nick Curry, all former guests on the podcast. They also share a few celebrity congratulations (badly impersonated, that is) from noteworthy celebrities. Join the brothers as they review the first year of the Three Links Odd Cast and launch their second season of podcasts!
If you've ever wondered what former members think after they stop participating in a lodge, this episode is for you. The Three Links Odd Casters are joined by Seattle musician, educator, and recording artist Scott Adams (no, not the Dilbert guy) to talk about his experiences in Odd Fellowship and why he left the Order. Scott pulls no punches in his assessment of his time as a member and what caused him to drift away and leave the lodge. He also hints at what might get him engaged in Odd Fellowship again in the future. Scott was also gracious enough to share one of the songs from his new album with us. For those who enjoyed the song and would like to check out more, his music is available at https://birdsmaybite.bandcamp.com/album/you-2. The lodge shout-out has returned for this episode and it goes to Rockbridge Lodge #58 in Virginia for their great publicity work for the Order. For the Odd Podge, Christopher shares his joy of experiencing fresh Puyallup Valley strawberries for the first time, Toby shares his appreciation of our Sovereign Grand Warden, Scott talks about the recently rediscovered letters his father wrote for him in his childhood, and Ainslie shares his excitement over getting his lodge meeting again post-Covid.
In 2020 almost all Odd Fellowship was put on hold, including most jurisdictional Grand Sessions. For 2021, the jurisdiction of Oregon found some clever and elegant solutions to hold their Grand Lodge, Rebekah Assembly, and Grand Encampment sessions online. Sister Pearlie Stewart, Grand Scribe of the Grand Encampment of Oregon, and Brother Brad Probst, technical coordinator for this year's Sessions, join us to share their experiences and the solutions they found to the challenges of having an online Grand Sessions. Everything from the order of business to the handling of committee work to the installation of officers had to be modified to work within the confines of technology. No aspect of Grand Sessions was affected more than nomination and election of officers. Through it all, Pearlie, Brad, and Grand Secretary Ron Kunze did an excellent job along with the heads of the units to ensure a smooth, functional business meeting. For the Odd Podge, Brothers Toby and Christopher share their adventures visiting the Grand Lodge of Wyoming and Brother Ainslie looks forward to his first in-person lodge meeting since the pandemic hit last year. Note: there's no lodge shout-out again because we haven't received any nominations! Be sure and tell us about lodges doing great work on our website at http://www.threelinksoddcast.com or in an email to 3linksoddcast@gmail.com.
Prompted by a character in an old episode of Star Trek, Owen Snowdon wanted to grow up and wear a sash. His grandfather, a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, promised him that one day he would be able to do just that. That dream came true for him at age eighteen. Now, five years later at twenty-three, Owen is a member of several branches of seven different fraternal orders and has become a researcher into the history of fraternal orders (or friendly societies, as they are called) in the UK. Owen tells us about the first fraternity he joined, the aforementioned Antediluvian Buffaloes, the Orange Institute, and several others. As an Odd Fellow of the Manchester Unity he gives some insight into the similarities between the Independent Order in North America and Manchester Unity in the UK. He also gives the early history of Manchester Unity and the Grand United Order and how they were impacted by the religious schisms in British history. He shares a recent discovery, the 1939 War Ritual of the Manchester Unity and talks about how the various fraternal orders bought ambulances as part of the war effort in WWI and WWII. His most mysterious discovery was some records from the Easy Long Johns, a fraternity that apparently only existed in London and Newcastle. For the Odd Podge, Christopher has changed lodges, Ainslie has planned a summer road trip in the Rocky Mountain states, Toby is going to the Grand Lodge of Wyoming, and Owen encourages younger people to join fraternal orders. You can check out Owen's fraternal scholarship on his website at https://fraternalandmasonichistory.weebly.com.
George Sliney, a young immigrant from County Cork, Ireland, rode out along Owl Creek in Wyoming Territory in the latter half of the 19th Century and staked a claim that would become his cattle ranch. Over time, he would become one of the most prominent citizens of Hot Springs County and the city of Thermopolis. He was also a member of Thermopolis Lodge #26, IOOF. That obscure footnote of history would eventually inspire Bradyn Harvey and Gage Maser to join the Odd Fellows and revive the charter of Lodge #26, but this time bearing the name of pioneer settler George Sliney. Although it took two years and much searching, Bradyn was eventually able to find PG Steve Masters and join Riverton Lodge #44. Not long after he set about the task of reviving the charter for his home town lodge in Thermopolis. Odd Fellowship is definitely a hot commodity in Wyoming these days as plans are also underway to revive the lodge in Casper. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie gives an update on the progress of the Odd Fellows Primer, Toby gives an update on the project to record new versions of the Odes, and Christopher praises the cleanliness of the bathrooms at Buckley Lodge #75.
It's another crossover episode with our brothers and friends at Modern Goat Rider! Ours is the second half of the crossover so be sure to download and listen to Episode 29 of Modern Goat Rider to get all the context for this episode of the Three Links Odd Cast. In the first half of the crossover we discuss how Odd Fellowship would have been different today if we had made changes in the past. For our half of the episode, we're guessing about how things would be different going forward if changes were made now. Among the items of speculation: if Abby from NCIS were a member, would she be an Odd Fellow or Rebekah? Is it feasible going forward with three different orders of Odd Fellows (Manchester Unity, GUOOF, and IOOF)? How will lodges be different after COVID? Will there be more embrace of technology? Will they lose members or gain members? Is the isolation of COVID lockdowns and quarantines driving demand for membership? Are our lodges prepared for new members in a post-COVID world? What would be different if local political leaders were members of our lodges? Would that help direct lodge resources to areas of need or would that encourage political discord to enter our lodge halls? Give a listen while we propose how Odd Fellowship could be different going forward. If you've got a response to our conjecture, be sure and share it with us on our website, http://www.threelinksoddcast.com.
The Rebekahs are an important component of Odd Fellowship that frequently gets overlooked when talking about the Order. Prompted by a request from a Rebekah in Texas, we decided to go straight to the top and do an episode with Sister Elizabeth Mowry-Harbstreit, President of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies. Sister Elizabeth is a passionate and knowledgeable Rebekah who gives us a thorough education in the history, development, present, and future of the Rebekahs. She talks about the roots of the Rebekah Degree as an honorary degree restricted to the female relatives of Odd Fellows and how it grew and changed to become an self-guiding unit of Odd Fellowship especially for women. This is a can't-miss episode for anyone with a strong interest in learning more about Odd Fellowship. Note: there is no lodge shoutout this episode because no one nominated a lodge. Be sure and let us know about lodges doing great work at 3linksoddcast@gmail.com so we have a shoutout for future episodes!
Odd Fellowship has a long heritage of music, much of which has been forgotten. In this episode we explore the mysteries of the Ode Book and other forgotten pieces of Odd Fellows music. PGP John H. Seiffert, a Lutheran church music director in his professional life, dedicated a large amount of time to compiling the IOOF Odes, published by Sovereign Grand Lodge first in 1877 and then subsequently several times thereafter. The Ode Book includes several settings of the Opening and Closing Ode as well as settings of odes and songs for other lodge occasions such as hall dedications, anniversaries, installations of officers and funerals. The ritual also contains quite a bit of music, especially for the Initiatory Degree. Beyond just the music suggested for lodge use, there was a lot of popular music of the 19th Century written by, for, and about Odd Fellows and we give a survey of that music as well. Settle in for this episode—it's a long one at over two hours. We're sure you will enjoy every minute of it as much as we enjoyed making it.
Nick Curry was sitting in his hometown in Virginia looking for some kind of community organization to join. He searched on the Internet and made a list of all the usual fraternal and community groups. The more he researched them, the more one organization stood out: the Odd Fellows. He set about the task of gathering people together that he knew and started down the path that would end up re-chartering Chester Lodge #281 after nearly three-quarters of a century defunct. Along the way he had incredible guidance and support from the Grand Lodge of Virginia who stepped in to help guide the new lodge and provide them with what they needed for success. Sister Janet Gibson, Past IARA Secretary, was part of the team from Grand Lodge who has made such a contribution to the new lodge. This has put Virginia on a path toward growth in membership as the Grand Lodge has embraced technology and launched a new website. Brother Sergio rejoins us after his work with the Material Sciences Division but remains very taciturn about what he did. Toby quotes a line from "Steel Magnolias" as he ponders why so much growth in Odd Fellowship has come from the South. Ainslie shares about his work on the forthcoming Odd Fellows' Primer. Our Shoutout goes to Dallas #44 of Texas, subject of the previous episode, for their incredible dedication to the Odd Fellows' Living Legacy Program.
This week we're reaching deep into the heart of Texas to talk to Brother Ivan Kotcher, Noble Grand of Dallas Lodge #44. When he first joined the lodge less than ten years ago, it was down to a small cadre of elderly members barely able to make quorum. He shares the story of how a pair of well-known and charismatic artists in Dallas were able to draw large numbers of members to the lodge. Some of the lodge's success has been due to their commitment to feeding their member before and holding regular social gatherings after lodge meetings. Dallas Lodge #44 also believes strongly in making members feel like they are part of a community and that extends to making long-time members feel that they are important, too. All that plus a rant about jurisdictions that still don't have a website and a brief tour of the purpose of trustees and the Finance Committee in the lodge. The Lodge Shoutout goes to newly-chartered Chester #281 in the Jurisdiction of Virginia.
Popular culture has linked fraternal orders with the iconic headwear of the Middle East: the fez. How did that piece of headwear sported by Morocco Mole become emblematic of American fraternalism? What kinds of side orders are there for Odd Fellows? How did they develop and what happened to all of them? In this episode we get some answers from Brother Seth Anthony of Triune Lodge #307 in Middletown, Pennsylvania. Brother Seth is an avid fraternalist and founder of the Museum of Fezology (www.fezmuseum.com). He shares the stories of all the various "fun" side orders for Odd Fellows including the Oriental Order of Humility & Perfection, the Imperial Order of Muscovites, the Pilgrim Knights of Oriental Splendor, the Veiled Prophets of Baghdad, the Ancient Mystic Order of Cabiri, and the United Order of Splendor and Perfection. He also talks about the modern successors of those groups, the Noble Order of Muscovites and the Ancient Mystical Order of Samaritans. Along the way we learn about the overall cultural influences of the Middle East on American fraternalism, how a bunch of Shriners in Chicago in 1893 brought the fez to fraternal orders, and some of the stories behind unique fezzes in Brother Anthony's collection. The Shoutout this episode goes to the newly-chartered Themis Lodge #75 in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Sister Stacy Thomason of Gold Hill Lodge #129 in Oregon joins us. In less that two years of membership, Stacy has become an amazing dynamo of activity, breathing new life into her small-town lodge. She has created a seed swap, a book exchange, a little free food pantry, and something she calls her "Odd Fellows Propaganda Machine." She fills us in on all the details about her amazing projects and how they have brought her lodge and her community much closer together. She also talks about some of the other activities they have done in Gold Hill and how she has been able to successfully promote them. The conversation meanders around to a number of different topics, from the decor of Spencer Butte Lodge #9 in Eugene, Oregon, to everyone's favorite type of pie, to highlights of Oregon's dairy products industry, and Toby's story about signing someone up for membership in a Rest Area in the middle of the night somewhere in rural Oregon. The Lodge Shoutout goes this time to a lodge in need of help, Mackinaw #380 of New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. The Grand Lodge of PA is looking for some new members for that lodge and we want to spread the word. All that plus Christopher McHale's snack genius in the Odd Podge.
Brother Supreme Page joins us to continue the conversation begun in Episode 17. In this episode he gives us a fascinating glimpse into African-American history and the pivotal role Odd Fellowship played in developing Black communities. Specifically, we learn about various important figures in African-American history and their connections with Odd Fellowship. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s grandfather was an Odd Fellow who helped to build the Grand Lodge building in Atlanta which anchored the prosperous Auburn Avenue business district. That building was also home to one of the first Black pharmacies and the first Black movie theater where African-Americans were not restricted to balcony seating areas. Brother Page also shares with us that Madame C.J. Walker, early cosmetics entrepreneur and America's first female African-American millionaire, was a member of the Household of Ruth, the Grand United Order's female auxiliary. By the end of the conversation, the subject wandered to excellent Southern food, Supreme's preference for home fries or French fries, and just how "hard" riding a Vespa scooter makes a person.
Brother Supreme Page of Oglethorpe Lodge #1, IOOF and Wayman Lodge #1339, GUOOF joins us for the first half of this episode to talk about the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and their unique history in African-American communities. Unfortunately, due to a dropped phone call, Bro. Page was unable to finish the episode with us. We are hoping to bring him back in the future to finish the conversation so he can share more of his historical research about the Grand United Order. Some of the great information he was able to share touched on the roots of the GUOOF in America and its historical relationship with the other Odd Fellow Orders like the Manchester Unity and the IOOF. He also shared the background of construction of the GUOOF Hall in Atlanta on Auburn Avenue and how similar stories of progress in Black communities played out in cities around their Odd Fellows lodges. To round out this episode, Bro. Christopher McHale made a special appearance to talk a little about what Bro. Page shared as well as give an update on what he's been doing in Montana. We preview the next episode and also make a request for any Odd Fellows in Scandinavia that might be willing to join us for an episode.
Brother Joe Motta from Reno Lodge #14 in Nevada joins us to talk about his experience in joining the lodge last October and share his thoughts about making Odd Fellowship more accessible to younger members. He's in a perfect position to offer that insight since he's twenty-one years old and is working hard to bring new members into his lodge and revitalize Odd Fellowship in Nevada. Joe has some brilliant insights that will be easily adaptable to many lodges. His greatest insight is that young potential members want to know what they're going to get out of Odd Fellowship before they investigate joining so lodges need to be ready to communicate that. The Shoutout goes to newly-chartered Ghana Lodge #1 in Accra, Ghana, Africa. After the break, Toby, Ainslie, and Christopher McHale discuss Joe's insights and observations until the conversation devolves into a discussion of preferred snack foods. Ainslie shares the difficulty in contacting the Grand Lodge of Utah to refer a member inquiry, Toby rants about how lodges need to make themselves discoverable, and Christopher previews his new podcast "The Lonely Hammer." Note: Regular host Brother Sergio is still on assignment to the Material Sciences Division and we hope he will be back to hosting with us soon.
In the Christmas Episode, Ainslie and Toby are joined by guest host Bro. Christopher McHale of Covenant Lodge #6 in Missoula, Montana. They start off the show with a quick mention of Lake Stevens, Washington and an explanation of why. They share updates from past guests of the show and talk about the impact they're seeing in Odd Fellowship, including the chartering of a new lodge in Virginia. Bro. Michael Greenzeiger, Deputy Grand Master of California, shares his special Hanukkah message for Odd Fellowship. The hosts talk about what has made Odd Fellowship meaningful to each of them. For Ainslie, it's the chance to use his artwork to give back and strengthen Odd Fellowship. For Toby, it's a tragic story he heard from a member that led to that member's life-long devotion to Odd Fellowship. For Christopher, it's the experiences he had curating the historical collection of the Montana Odd Fellows Museum and his term as Noble Grand of his lodge. All that plus a few entertaining detours along the way, including a discussion of the food culture of Odd Fellowship, Christopher's misspent youth on Long Island listening to Morrissey and Slayer, and his desire to take an associate membership in Iron Links Lodge #5 in Atlanta just for the food. In the Odd Podge, Toby updates us on the progress of recording new versions of the Odes, Ainslie talks about the upcoming Odd Fellows' Primer written by Bro. Michael Greenzeiger, and Christopher shares his favorite ghost zine and previews his upcoming podcast, The Lonely Hammer.
This jam-packed episode of the Three Links Odd Cast begins with a musical tribute to the Keystone State courtesy of Sovereign Grand Musician Toby Hanson. Ainslie issues a correction regarding President Chester Alan Arthur's lapels and Toby explains why Harry Truman wasn't in the Presidential Odd Fellows episode (hint: he wasn't an Odd Fellow). The episode gets rolling in earnest with Grand Secretary Justin Bailey, PGM, of Pennsylvania who shares some of his experiences working with lodges to help save them. He tells the stories of three different lodges he saved working with the Grand Lodge. Brother Justin's optimism and can-do attitude have brought a huge amount of success to Pennsylvania. Along the way we discuss the number of hits the Sovereign Grand Lodge website receives, the benefits of expressing care and concern toward members who don't participate regularly, Thomas Wildey's westward voyage, social media engagement for lodges, and the Keystone Travel Book's amazing journey across the United States from Bethlehem, PA to the Pacific Coast and back. This episode's Shoutout goes to Riverton Lodge #44 in Wyoming and also to the Grand Lodge of Wyoming for their recent efforts to construct a new website.
The Crossover Craziness continues with the second half of the crossover episode recorded by the hosts of both Modern Goat Rider and The Three Links Odd Cast. When the first episode left off, we were discussing membership and some of the challenges of communication across jurisdictional lines. This episode picks up where that one left off as Sergio was just about to answer a question...
Inspired by current events, Ainslie and Toby are joined by guest host Christopher McHale for a historical overview of Odd Fellows who have served as President, Vice President, or Canadian Prime Minister. The brothers give some solid historical information on important parts of history like the highly-contested 1876 election and its lasting effects on US politics. They also throw in some irreverent discussion of things like which president had better facial hair (Chester A. Arthur or Martin Van Buren) or how much value there may be in a bucket of warm piss. Along they way they give a historical overview of the contributions of Sir John A. Macdonald, Ulysses S. Grant, Schuyler Colfax, Rutherford B. Hayes, Thomas Hendricks, William McKinley, Warren G. Harding, John Nance Garner, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Listeners will discover what caused Colfax's fall from grace, how the phrase "fall guy" came about, and the nickname of Vice President Garner. This episode's Shoutout goes to Washougal Lodge #194 of Washington for their exemplary support of a local domestic violence shelter.
In this very spooky episode, Sergio and Toby are joined by three members of Crescent City Lodge #73 in New Orleans, Louisiana: Eddie LeBoeuf III, Michael Duplantier, and Emily Ford. All three share a passion for preserving history. Emily is a professional cemetery restorationist, Michael has over thirty years' experience with caring for cemeteries in New Orleans, and Eddie is a dedicated Odd Fellow who has made great strides to rebuild Odd Fellowship in Louisiana. In this episode they share the stories of how they came together to form their lodge, how they use their talents to care for New Orleans' historic cemeteries, some of the challenges of caring for the Odd Fellows' Rest, and some guidelines for any lodge that would like to take on the challenge of cemetery restoration. Along the way we learn about the massive parade to dedicate the Odd Fellows' Rest, the city's attempt to buy and bulldoze the cemetery, a cautionary tale from the Odd Fellows' cemetery in San Francisco, and what happened to the burial records for their cemetery.
We've been promising an episode about Odd Fellows cemeteries for what seems like forever (but is really only a couple months). That episode is coming very soon! In the meantime, enjoy this narration of an account of the first Odd Fellows funeral in North America, as taken from a post on the Heart In Hand Blog from 2017. If you'd like to check out more posts from the Heart In Hand, you can catch the blog on the web at http://www.oddfellowsguide.com. In the meantime, stay tuned for the cemetery episode because Halloween will be here before you know it...
Brother Christopher McHale from Covenant Lodge #6 of Missoula, Montana joins Toby and Sergio as Ainslie is still away on assignment. He brings his own unique humor and outlook on Odd Fellowship to the podcast as the hosts discuss various listener interactions they've had so far. The hosts have fielded questions from listeners ranging from how to find lodges to the role of religion in Odd Fellowship. They share the results of those interactions including how they have helped potential members find lodges close to them, how they have helped members make connections with other member working on the same thing, and how they have used various forms of social media to foster Odd Fellowship. Sergio talks about creating a Discord server for those looking for more information about Odd Fellowship, Toby talks about using Reddit to help someone locate a lodge, and Christopher shares the story of how looking for a clean bathroom led him to join the lodge. This episode's Shoutout goes to Canton Northeast #9 of Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Ainslie, Sergio, and Toby discuss the various effects that the global Covid-19 pandemic is having on Odd Fellowship. They solicited input from various members around the country including Harrison Moore IV from Texas and Grand Master Mike Zurell from New York. They discuss the way the pandemic is impacting meetings, finances, and membership with examples from lodges around the country. As usual, the conversation touches on some unexpected points of interest, from an Odd Fellow skull's appearance in a George Romero film, to the idea of doing degree work outdoors, to Toby trying to score a performance in Pennsylvania. Sergio introduces his new plan to find pen pals in various lodges as a means to interact with more senior members who don't use computers and Ainslie tells us about his upcoming TV appearance. All this plus the Shoutout, which goes to Mt. Hor Lodge #736 in Pennsylvania!
The Parcast Network's "Secret Societies" podcast recently did two episodes about the Odd Fellows. Brothers Ainslie, Sergio, and Toby listened to both episodes and give a good breakdown of them. They go over each of the points made in the episodes from the accurate, like their depiction of the Initiatory Degree, to the absurd, like their speculation that the Odd Fellows were behind Australia's infamous "Somerton Man/Tamam Shud" case. They also give a frank assessment of where Odd Fellowship stands today which contrasts quite a bit with the impression left by the "Secret Societies" podcast. For optimal listening, it's recommended to check out both Odd Fellows episodes of "Secret Societies" before listening to this episode of The Three Links Odd Cast. This episode also includes the debut of a new feature, the Lodge Shoutout, where the hosts share good news from various lodges. The first Shoutout goes to a brand new lodge, Family #293 of New Jersey. There's also a sticker giveaway so be sure to listen to the episode for details.
Ten years ago San Fernando Lodge #365 was slowly dying like so many other lodges. Their building was dingy and most people only knew it for the church that met there. In the decade since, the lodge has completely transformed itself into the social and fraternal hub of San Fernando, California. Brothers Jesus Ochoa and Jesse Garcia join us to talk about the transformation of their lodge and what they've done to bring it about. With the right people and the right efforts, any lodge can be reborn just like San Fernando. Also this episode, Ainslie shares a special gift from the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, Sergio talks about the podcast's new website, and Toby shares the news about new musical arrangements for our beloved odes.
What happens when Sovereign Grand Lodge removes the officers of a Grand Lodge and audits the books? What are the challenges of taking over leadership of a Grand Lodge after that happens? How can the webmaster of the SGL website help prospective members join Odd Fellowship? What gets advertised in the program at Sovereign Grand Lodge? What happened to former president Rutherford B. Hayes when he returned home to his Odd Fellows Lodge in Ohio? Was a picture of Toby in his lederhosen ever published in the Washington Odd Fellow? All these questions and more are answered by Ainslie, Sergio, and Toby with their special guest, Mike Zurell, Grand Master of New York.
Brothers Ainslie and Toby are joined by Brother Wayne Geurts, Past Grand Master and current Grand Scribe of Ontario to discuss the state of communication in Odd Fellowship. Brothers Wayne and Ainslie are both on the Sovereign Grand Lodge Communications Committee so they share information about their experiences on the committee and what it does for Odd Fellowship. The brothers also go into detail about the ways in which communication has been successful, like connecting with young people wanting to join the Odd Fellows, supporting efforts to establish lodges outside of North America (including Brazil Lodge #1), reconnecting with lodges in Cuba, and moving communication into the digital age with websites and social media. They also outline some of the ways in which communication has been less than successful in Odd Fellowship, like the challenges some people face when they contact lodges to join.
Brother Erik Fearing of Friendship Lodge #20 in Belmont, Massachusetts joins our regular hosts to share his perspective on Odd Fellowship in New England. He shares some wonderful insights into what has helped transform his lodge from a struggling group barely making quorum to an active beacon of Odd Fellowship for the greater Boston area and New England at large. As always, Sergio, Ainslie, and Toby lend their perspectives on Odd Fellowship in their areas of the country. We're very proud to announce that we now have a sponsor, Pig And A Pug Bath Stuff! Listeners to the Three Links Odd Cast can get 24% off their next order with the coupon code THANKYOU24. Be sure and check them out on Etsy.
In this episode, the three hosts, Toby Hanson, Ainslie Heilich, and Sergio Paredes, all introduce themselves and give some background on their involvement in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the stories of how each of them came to be members of the Odd Fellows.