Leeds Oddfellows

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Wed 19 Jan, 2011 12:35 am

Beckett Street cemetery has a few monuments/gravesto Ancient order of xxxxxxxxxxxxx including one to the Ancient Order of Romans.Interesting article here.http://www.freemasonrytoday.com/25/p07.php

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Wed 19 Jan, 2011 9:08 am

But why the unusual names? Oddfellows for example... in todays context it would just imply there were a bunch of wierd people. And Water rats?Can someone please explain?

liits · Post by **liits** » Wed 19 Jan, 2011 10:46 am

Here's a link to the history page on the Oddfellows website.http://www.oddfellows.co.uk/Site/Conten ... 534d1Sorry, I've not mastered the art of the snip url!The Kingston Unity, mentioned by DOBBO, and of which I'm also a member, is much the same thing.

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Wed 19 Jan, 2011 11:38 am

Is it a secret society then - quite appropraite for the Secret Leeds forum!I'm reminded of the Groucho Marx quote:"I Don't Want to belong to any Club That Will Accept Me as a Member"

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Wed 19 Jan, 2011 8:49 pm

LS1 wrote: But why the unusual names? Oddfellows for example... in todays context it would just imply there were a bunch of wierd people. And Water rats?Can someone please explain? The grand Order of Water rats is a charitable group set up to help the acting profession by music hall artists in the 19th century,the name is a joke aimed at freemasons.It is still going and one of the most famous groups in showbusiness.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 20 Jan, 2011 9:40 pm

Out of interest I've just googled 'Leeds secret societies'. One of the earliest links that came up is one that brings up a report (dated 2011) by an Adam Cliff headed 'Urban Exploration; boldly going where millions have gone before'.It starts "I first came across Phill Davison on a website called 'Secret Leeds', a site dedicated to 'investigating quirky, unusual or mysterious aspects of the built environment of the city of Leeds, both past and present'. Phill is a very active member of this site, and after viewing some of the most popular threads (My favourite being: 'Leeds lost pubs') I eventually clicked through to the Leeds Historical Expedition Society' on Flickr.com. I was stunned, and it really is worth looking through these pictures first hand".If it works this is the link to Adam's report http://www.theposthole.org/read/article/60Nice to see recognition for Phill's work (Phill had approved the use of photos taken by him that are in the report).I wonder if SL is thought of as a secret society!

weenie · Post by **weenie** » Sat 05 Feb, 2011 2:22 pm

Ive just recieved a copy of my 3rd gt grandfathers will, it reads and i quote - so not my spelling.My households goods and challells together with my insurance in the Royal liver Friendly society the "Free 6 Gardeners Lodge violebiosle also "Oddfellows Heart of Oak" 1'25 Leeds District also the intererst of my book in the Royal Liver friendly Society according to registered rule 27 of the said society.I had never heard of the Oddfellows up until Hippo's post, would they be a way i can get more information about my 3x grandfather? i mentioned before that he was the founder member of the Royal Liver Friendly Society and there use to be a big picture of him in the Leeds city branch... but im still trying to trace the whaearbouts. Weenie