Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The year 1810 is regarded as that in which the Independent Order was established. It grew out of the Grand United Order or London order whose headquarters were at the Bohemia Tavern in Wych Street. The United Order itself was formed about 1779 by the partial amalgamation of two earlier Orders: the 'Ancient' and the 'Patriotic'. These earlier Orders were both convivial and political, and were also benevolent in that financial assistance was given to the poor. On the merger of these two Orders, the benevolence aspect became the principal aim of the brethren.
The most useful benefit was the 'travelling relief'. This was afforded to members travelling in search of employment and was calculated on the cost of providing bed and board on a daily basis. A member obtained a travelling card and a password and could use these to obtain a bed at any Lodge in any Town were he intended to spend the night, and was assisted by a monetary payment sufficient to provide bed and board for the next 24 hours.
The title Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society was adopted from the Order set up in Manchester in 1810 by members of the Union Order who were 'Independent' because they had left the Union Order. The Order is also known as The Independent Order of Oddfellows (Manchester Unity) or The Manchester Unity Order of Odd Fellows.
The Odd Fellows are one of the largest friendly societies in Great Britain and their motto is 'Friendship, Love and Truth'. They are a non-profit making Friendly Society who offer benefits including health insurance, life assurance, annuities and endowments.
The society is 190 years old, and the North London Division is over 160 years old.
Many of the Lodges have now been amalgamated and this is in part reflected in the catalogue, most noticeably in the Trafalgar Lodge which, since 1992, is made up of Duke of Sussex Lodge, King Edward Lodge Union Lodge, Rose of York Lodge and Prince Albert Lodge; and also incorporating Pioneer Lodge, which consisted of Sir Thomas Dallas Lodge, Prince of Wales and Chandos Lodges, and Queen Victoria and Blenheim Lodges.