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Portage Odd Fellows / Ruth Rebekah Lodge No. 3

The Portage Odd Fellows establish an undesignated named fund

OddfellowsOn January 20, 2009, Noble Grand Karl Voesenek, Secretary George Greenlay and Noble Grand Betty Lewis along with CFPD President Vern Crandell and Vice President Dale Lyle were at the Odd Fellows Hall for the launching of the Portage Odd Fellows and Ruth Rebekah Lodge #3 Fund (the Fund) with the Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc (CFPD). The initial donation of $10,000 to establish the Fund comes from the Odd Fellows Bingo program. The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs mission, “to improve and elevate the character of mankind,” will continue to be met through this fund. Voesenek stated, “The members thought it was a good idea to create the Fund as it will keep on giving back to the community.” "The Odd Fellows have been supporting Portage and district for almost 130 years.  By establishing this fund, their legacy is guaranteed into the future.  It is an honour and a pleasure to have the support of such a longstanding Portage group, as both the Odd Fellows and the Foundation have similar goals," said Crandell.

Photo: CFPD Vice President Dale Lyle, President Vern Crandell, Odd Fellows Noble Grand Karl Voesenek, Ruth Rebekah Noble Grand Betty Lewis and Secretary George Greenlay

It is an open fund which gives the community the opportunity to help build the Fund. Donations can be made to CFPD to be added to the Fund and the donor will receive an official tax receipt for income tax purposes. If one chooses they can give a gift in memory of a relative or friend; the family will be notified immediately.

The Odd Fellows Lodge was established in Portage in April 1880. The first Odd Fellows Hall was built in 1904 on Royal Road just north of Square One and served as a meeting place until 1966. The hall was rented out for many functions including dances and the Rebekahs provided catered services. The funds raised were used to help people in need of assistance in the community. For a number of years the Odd Fellows were based out of the Masonic Hall on Tupper Street South until they were ready to move to their new location at 151 Royal Road North.

In 1974 a committee composed of five Odd Fellows and five Rebekahs was formed to look at the feasibility of building a new facility to provide low cost housing for senior citizens and a meeting hall. In 1977 the Odd Fellows Towers was built with 62 suites and a community hall. The Odd Fellows Towers Board made up of six Odd Fellows and six Rebekahs was created to manage the apartment building. Long time member Don Coubrough has served as President for a number of years.

The Odd Fellows Hall is used by a number of groups and serves as the venue for their main fundraising activity, the weekly bingos. In keeping with their original goal, the two groups continue to look after their members and provide funding for certain activities for youth, sports, education and culture.

The Portage organization mentored a Theta Rho Girls Club which was active in the late 50’s early 60’s. Their motto was “Happiness through Service.” The local organization sponsored students to attend the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth. Young people from around the world met in New York to study world affairs. Wilma (Young) Shirriff was the first student sponsored for this experience. In celebration of the Manitoba Centennial, the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs funded a bus load of students to tour the United Nation headquarters.

The History of Odd Fellows
In 18th century England, it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called “Odd Fellows.” Odd Fellows are also known as “The Three Link Fraternity” which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth. Today, the Odd Fellows is a worldwide fraternal Order having over 10,000 lodges in 28 countries. They are actively involved in a variety of civic and philanthropic efforts on a local, national and international level.
Over 400 years ago, lodges were formed in the towns and villages across England to help people cope with the problems that occur in life. At the time, there were no social security so people had to cope on their own, with sickness and death. Men who belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge were usually trading people such as the butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, cobblers, shoemakers, barristers and solicitors. They were sole proprietors (“odd” meaning “one” fellow who owned his shop or office.) Each week the men put money into a “pot’. Using these funds,” the officers of the lodge visited the sick, helped to provide food, clothing and firewood, buried the dead and paid the school fees to educate the orphans.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows as we know it today began when five members of the Order from England founded Washington Lodge No. 1 in Baltimore, Maryland on April 26, 1819, by self-institution. One of these Brothers was Thomas Wildey, the first Noble Grand and the man revered as the founder of Odd Fellowship in North America. A charter was received from Duke of York Lodge in Preston, England, in 1820, a year and a half after its self-institution. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows in North America (United States and Canada) became independent from the Order in England in 1834.

History of Ruth Rebekah Lodge No 3
Ruth Rebekah Lodge No 3 celebrates their 100th Anniversary in 2009 (1909 – 2009). The 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Rebekah Degree in North America was April 1969 and May 1969 the 60th Anniversary of Ruth Rebekah Lodge No. 3. Rebekahs dedicate some form of special recognition every year in memory of their founder Thomas Wildey. Ruth Rebekah Lodge No 3 won a President’s Award in 1968 for the most candidates initiated into the Order. Of special interest, Portage Ruth Rebekah Lodge No. 3 was the only Canadian Lodge recognized in the 1982 International News as the sixth largest Lodge in the world.

The question of a Rebekah Lodge in Portage la Prairie was first discussed in 1891 with the Portage Odd Fellows Lodge. Ruth Rebekah Lodge No. 3 was instituted 18 years later May 21, 1909 with a donation of $50 from Portage Odd Fellows. The first project of Ruth No. 3 was to purchase a wheelchair for Portage General Hospital and members continue to take a tangible interest. As times have changed in recent years women and men may choose to join either the Odd Fellows Lodge or the Rebekah Lodge, a number of couples belong to both Lodges. The Order promotes Friendship, Love and Truth (the links) as well as good citizenship and leadership. As members of this great Order, they live up to their obligations by assisting members and their families in times of distress. Rebekahs and Odd Fellows are at the forefront of work for:

A fraternal organization is a group of people who have pledged themselves to treat each other as Brothers and Sisters and who are dedicated to serving others. Lodge members number 500,000 in the world and represent every age, income, profession, religion, and ethnic group. A member may visit any Lodge in the world. Rebekahs look to the future with hope and optimism.