Odd Fellows
Brazil
Sovereign Grand Lodge of Brazil Soberana Grande Loja do Brasil
↓scroll to discover the OrderI believe in the fatherhood of God and in the brotherhood of man; I believe that friendship, love, and truth are basic guides to the ultimate destiny of all mankind. I believe that my home, my church or temple, my lodge, and my community deserve my best work, my humble pride, my sincere faith, and my deepest loyalty, as I fulfill my duty to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan,” and as I labor with others to build a better world — because, in spirit and in truth, I am, and must ever be, grateful to my Creator, loyal to my country, and fraternal toward my fellow man.
I am an Odd Fellow.
Discover the
Order
We are an international fraternity that originated in the United Kingdom in the 18th century. Our Order is based on the principles of friendship, brotherly love, and charity.
The name “Odd Fellows” reflects the peculiar character of the fraternity, as our members were initially drawn from a wide range of occupations and interests — unusual for the time.
Our Order promotes mutual aid among members and the wider community, focusing on support for those in need, social assistance, and personal development. We encourage solidarity and harmonious coexistence among people of different classes and professions, with a strong emphasis on charitable and philanthropic work.
We also promote education, health, and social welfare by organizing charitable activities. We hold our own rituals, symbols, and traditions, always focused on working for society and building a fairer, more fraternal world.
The links of the chain
Friendship
You gain a new family in the members of your Lodge and a vast network of Brothers and Sisters around the world. We are a diverse organization, with members of every faith, race, gender, profession, and ability — over 600,000 members in more than 10,000 Lodges across 30 countries.
Love
The historic Odd Fellows commandment is to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan.” You will have the opportunity to play an active role in helping your community and the world become a better place.
Truth
Become part of the history and the mystery. As an Odd Fellow, you join one of the oldest and largest fraternal orders in the world. Rituals, symbols, and degrees are designed to “elevate and improve the character of mankind.”
Notable Visionaries
Our history includes visionaries like founder Thomas Wildey, U.S. Presidents, heads of state from other countries, pioneers in medicine and the arts, and many other notable names. These names are shared for educational purposes only.
The Rebekahs
Historic photograph of a Rebekah Lodge
The Inclusion of Women in the IOOF Compared to Other Orders
Unlike most traditional orders and fraternal bodies of historic lineage (such as traditional Anglo-Saxon Regular Freemasonry, whose landmarks strictly require male gender for initiation), the IOOF stood out as a pioneer in opening institutional space for women as early as the 19th century:
- Fraternal Pioneering: The Rebekahs became the first major women’s auxiliary formally integrated into a globally active fraternal order in the United States and around the world.
- Management Autonomy: While other strictly segregated societies of the era did not even consider women’s presence, the IOOF established Lodges run and operated entirely by women (Degree Lodges of Rebekah).
- Modern Accessibility: Today, joining a Rebekah Lodge no longer requires blood ties to male IOOF members; any woman who meets the moral standards and minimum age requirement (usually 16 or 18) may join the institution directly.
History of the I.O.O.F.
Click the image to open the video page and watch, on YouTube, the Order’s history.
Become an Odd Fellow
Anyone of good character, of any race, gender, nationality, or social status, who is loyal to their country and believes in a Supreme Being, is eligible for membership. The Order of Odd Fellows strictly prohibits any interference with the religious beliefs or political opinions of its members.
Those who are interested may simply contact a Lodge or reach out to a current Odd Fellows member.
Contact a Lodge →