06/30/2026
On or before the early 1700’s, there were many friendly societies, fraternal orders and box clubs that existed independently without any Grand Lodge. Lodges like the Free Gardeners, Free Colliers, Free Masons, Odd Fellows and numerous other trade-related groups did not have any uniformed rituals, modes of communication, no standard landmarks and each lodge existed independently from each other.
In 1717, the Freemasons founded their first Grand Lodge for better coordination, uniformed rules, and standard rituals. Other friendly societies and groups eventually followed the idea of having a Grand Lodge. In 1748, it is known that there were at least nine (9) associated Odd Fellows Lodges working under a Grand Lodge or Unity. This suggests that there existed a Grand Lodge of the Order of Odd Fellows years prior.
But these early Grand Lodges founded by the Freemasons and Odd Fellows still resulted in secessions during the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. In 1798, the Odd Fellows united two Grand Lodges with the founding of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows but further splits continued thereafter. In 1813, the Freemasons united two opposing Grand Lodges with the founding of the United Grand Lodge of England. In 1814, Odd Fellows Lodges in Manchester area also formed their own Grand Lodge and chartered the IOOF in the USA in 1819.
