User:Oddfellowsfraternity

Independent Order of Odd Fellows Philippines

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the Republic of the Philippines is a part of a global altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were far less common. In the Republic of the Philippines, it is registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit charitable fraternal organization.

History
According to Major O.W. Coursey, author of the History and Geography of the Philippine Islands, the awakening of the Filipinos to a deep sense of injustice being practiced upon them by the Spaniards was the introduction of 'fraternal' societies in the Islands, and to the influence of higher education obtained by those of means in the school of Hong Kong and other Old-World cities. He mentioned that the 'Society of Odd Fellows' first spread to the Islands in 1872. Many of the military men who helped fought the war were members of the fraternity and membership was mostly limited to military servicemen during that time.

Military lodges and an Independent Order of Odd Fellows Association of Manila was in existent in 1898 through the efforts of D.L.Badley, a Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Idaho of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. When the Filipino-American war ended in 1901, D.L. Badley wrote with confidence to A.C. Cable, the Sovereign Grand Sire of the fraternity at that time, that it is time to officially form a lodge in Manila, Iloilo then Cebu. On February 20, 1903, about 150 members gathered at the I.O.O.F Hall in Manila to decide to formally establish the fraternity in Manila and convert their Odd Fellows club into an official Lodge which they formally established as Manila Lodge no.1 in the City of Manila on June 29, 1903. Mr. Hugh Breszee served as their first Noble Grand.

On August 30, 1912, Manila Encampment no.1 was instituted.

District Deputy Sovereign Grand Masters
A jurisdiction without a Grand Lodge (National Body) is directly under the supervision of the Sovereign Grand Lodge (International Body). A District Deputy Sovereign Grand Master is appointed every year by the Sovereign Grand Master to serve as representative and liaison officer between the lodges in the country and the International headquarters.