Who are the Oddfellows?
The Oddfellows is a fraternity that was built for the betterment of mankind. An English brotherhood dating from the 17th century, the Oddfellows established its first North American chapter in Maryland in 1819. Its three major principles- friendship, love and truth - form the links of the chain the bind the members together. The valediction of the Oddfellows is the code its members live by.
Odd Fellows Valediction
I AM AN ODDFELLOW.
I BELIEVE in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of man;
I BELIEVE in Friendship, Love, and Truth as basic guides to the ultimate destiny of all mankind;
I BELIEVE my home, my church or temple, my lodge, and my community deserve my best work, my modest pride, my earnest faith, and my deepest loyalty, as I perform my duty “to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan” and as I work with others to build a better world because, in spirit and in truth, I am, and must always be, grateful to my Creator, faithful to my Country, and fraternal to my fellow-man.
In Western Maine, the lodges of Wilton and Livermore Falls combined their districts in 1999 to form the Williamson Lodge (#20). Together, this group of dedicated men has donated extensively to the local community.
Community service projects include:
- Franklin Memorial Hospital Medical Library
- NorthStar Ambulance service
- Oddfellows' and Rebekahs' Home of Maine
- Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice (Auburn)
- Auburn Food Bank
- Wilton Blueberry Festival
- Ellen F. Washburn Nurses Training Award
The Ben Franklin Center Library has received generous donations from the Oddfellows Williamson Lodge. With this support, the medical library has become one of the greatest assets of Franklin Memorial Hospital, and a valuable resource center for patients, providers, and community members alike.
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| Members of the Williamson Lodge |
National and State Lodges
Oddfellows' and Rebekahs' Grand Lodge of Maine, the State lodge
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the IOOF, the National lodge
Oral History
In recognition of their contributions to this community, FCHN conducted an oral history of the local branch of the Oddfellows, the Williamson Lodge (#20), in 2006.
Read the transcript of the interviews (PDF).
Listen to the interviews:
Interview with Lawrence Wilbur (opens as MP3 file)
Interview with Paul Washburn (opens as MP3 file)
Interview with Benjamin Walsh (opens as MP3 file)
Interview with Gene Judkins (opens as MP3 file)