The Odd Fellows Lodge in Mariposa

March 7, 2016 - The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a world wide Fraternal organization that dates back to the 1700’s. It first came to America in 1819 and spread throughout the continent. During the Gold Rush, the Odd Fellows travel to California and established Lodges throughout the State. In Mariposa County, four Lodges were established. (Mariposa, Hornitos, Bear Valley and Coulterville)

Mariposa Lodge, No. 39, has been part of the Mariposa community since 1855. The motto of the Odd Fellow is to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan”. If you were a member of the Lodge, you knew that you and your family would be taken care of in the event of a major problem. This was before welfare, social security, health insurance, and unemployment benefits.

Nowadays the Odd Fellows Lodge, in cooperation with other lodges, donates to the World Hunger & Disaster Fund, Arthritis Foundation & Health Care Agencies, Visual Research, U.N. Education Tour for Youth, and the Living Legacy Foundation. The Odd Fellows Lodge also has a home for special needs children in Gilroy, along with two retirement communities in Saratoga and Napa.

Locally Mariposa Lodge #39 contributes thousands of dollars annually to local charities & programs: Mariposa Lodge Nursing Scholarship, Student Loan Association, Manna House, Youth Sports Activities, Mariposa Museum & History Center, Cancer Society, Friends of the Library, John C Fremont Hospital Programs, Mariposa Wagon Train, Salvation Army, The Halloween Festival, Sober Grad Night have all received support from the Odd Fellows Lodge.

The Mariposa Lodge is open to anyone regardless of race, sex, creed, or religion. The only requirement is that a member must believe in a Supreme Being. Potential members are interviewed and voted on by the whole lodge. After a dignified initiation ceremony, members have full voting right and are allowed to visit other lodges throughout the world. Friendship, Love and Truth are the guiding principles and “To improve the character of man” is the primary goal.

The Odd Fellows maintain a two-story Lodge on the corner of Main Street and 6th Street and a cemetery next to the public cemetery. Presently there are approximately 40 members in the Lodge. This historic organization is always looking for new members but, now days, with everyone being so busy, all Lodges or clubs have seen a decrease of membership. The Odd Fellow, which once numbered 50,000 throughout California, are now down to 5,000. For more information on Mariposa Lodge #39, contact Tom Phillips at 209-966-2721 or tbp@sti.net.
Submitted by Tom Phillips.

Articles on the Odd Fellows:


Mariposa Odd Fellows and Hornitos Masons Work Together on Cemetery Clean up in Hornitos

Mariposa Odd Fellows Lodge #39 Donates Funds to Mariposa Student Loan Association

Mariposa Lodge #39 Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge Hosts Degree for Sonora Lodge

Mariposa Odd Fellows Challenge Community to Donate to Manna House