History of Odd Fellowship in Canada
It all begins with an idea.
By H. Robert Howard
August 10, 1843 — Twenty-four years after the birth of the American Order in Baltimore, Maryland, the first Odd Fellow lodge instituted in Canada was Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1 in Montreal, PQ. It received its charter through the efforts of two American Odd Fellows living in Montreal. They petitioned the Grand Lodge of the United States for a lodge charter. That authority granted the charter after some very serious soul searching and deliberation.
Within fifteen months, there were three lodges in the Montreal area who petitioned and received a charter to operate as the Grand Lodge of Canada under the leadership of W.M.B. Hartley as Grand Master.
This was the beginning of a brief period of prosperity. The Order spread rapidly to become a fashionable and popular society in Canada. Montreal was the capital of Canada in 1843 and there were amongst the Odd Fellows, many prominent elected members of parliament. The lodges became private social clubs in the eyes of some of the members. These members could retreat from their daily hectic parliamentary lifestyle to enjoy some private male activities.
During the formative years, those members engaged in parliamentary activities were strong free thinking nationalists. Having learned of the change approved by the Grand Lodge of the United States, they felt that the Canadian operations should be more independent. Accordingly, they petitioned the Grand Lodge of the United States for sovereign status as a quasi-independent jurisdiction. Subsequently, the Grand Lodge of British North America received this authority with some limitations on their powers. This new Grand Body was the first of its kind and included both the Odd Fellow and Patriarch branches in Canada.
At the peak of its short-lived history, the Grand Lodge of British North America chartered four Grand Lodges and twenty-eight Odd Fellow Lodges under their respective jurisdictions. In addition, because this Grand Body served all of Canada, one Odd Fellow Lodge located in Nova Scotia was granted a charter. However, the burden of this organization may have been too heavy or the novelty of membership in the Order may have worn off on the senior officials of the Grand Lodge of British North America. They defaulted on their responsibilities to the subordinate members of the Order. All lodges in the city of Montreal formally disbanded in 1853. The debts of the Grand Lodge were paid by the subordinate lodges remaining. The leadership walked away from the charter, so that finally in 1854 the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the United States made a visit to Quebec City. He was trying to ascertain whether any hope was evident to resuscitate the Order in Canada. Unfortunately, there was no positive evidence to revive the charter of the Grand Body in Canada. The Grand Secretary, reported to the annual session of the Grand Lodge of the United States these facts. He recommended that the seven orphaned Odd Fellow Lodges in Ontario and the one in Nova Scotia be brought under the umbrella of the Grand Lodge of the United States.
The short career of the first sovereign quasi-independent jurisdiction ended. In retrospect, the Order has survived in Canada and seven jurisdictions continue to operate under the Sovereign Grand Lodge to this day.
References: Most of this history has been obtained from the official journals of Sovereign Grand Lodge especially those of 1843 to 1855. Additional information may be found in:
Odd Fellowship in Ontario up to 1923 by W. Sanfield Johnston, PGM printed by the Macoomb Press, 1923.
History of the Grand Lodge of the Atlantic Provinces, I.O.O.F.
It all begins with an idea.
A Legacy of Service Since 1855
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) has a deep and storied presence in Atlantic Canada, rooted in the values of Friendship, Love, and Truth. While the Order itself traces its origins to the early 1700s in Europe, its formal introduction in Nova Scotia occurred in the mid-19th century, marking a significant chapter in the development of fraternal and benevolent societies in Canada.
Early Beginnings in Nova Scotia (1851–1855)
Odd Fellowship was officially introduced in Nova Scotia on January 18, 1851, with the institution of Acadia Lodge No. 26 in Halifax under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of British North America. The lodge initially met at Temperance Hall, later relocating to the City Exchange Building and eventually to Bedford Road.
Soon after, Odd Fellowship grew steadily in the region:
In 1852, Mamberton Encampment No. 9 was instituted.
By 1854, two additional lodges were founded: Eastern Star No. 34 in Pictou and Cobequid No. 35 in Truro.
Encouraged by this growth, and under the guidance of Brother Ellison, PGM, acting on behalf of Grand Sire DeSaussure, the representatives of the three lodges petitioned for a Grand Lodge charter. On July 26, 1855, the Grand Lodge of the Lower Provinces of British North America (later known as the Grand Lodge of the Atlantic Provinces) was formally established. The founding officers included:
C.H. Hamilton, first Grand Master
E.G. Fuller, Grand Representative and first Noble Grand of Acadia Lodge
E.G. Fuller, a native of Massachusetts and a passionate Odd Fellow, played a pivotal role in establishing and promoting Odd Fellowship in Nova Scotia. He served as District Deputy Grand Sire under both the Grand Lodge of British North America and the Grand Lodge of the United States. Fuller would later move to Souris, Prince Edward Island, where he passed away in 1870.
Trials, Revivals, and Growth (1856–1880s)
While the early years were marked by enthusiasm, the Order faced setbacks, including a devastating fire in 1861 that destroyed the possessions of both the Halifax Lodge and Encampment. This loss greatly impacted the Order’s presence in Halifax, and for a time, its activities dwindled.
In 1867, Grand Sire Sanders of the United States sent Brother Fred D. Stuart of the District of Columbia to assess and reinvigorate the Order in the Maritimes. His visit proved fruitful—by attending the Grand Lodge session at Albion Mines (now Stellarton) and initiating Stuart Encampment No. 10 in Pictou, he helped breathe new life into the struggling lodges.
Between 1867 and 1871, several new lodges were formed:
Truro, Nova Scotia
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Saint John, New Brunswick
Orient Lodge No. 10, Halifax (1871)
Community engagement also played a major role in the Order’s growing reputation. During the severe winter of 1866, the lodge in Pictou led charitable efforts to feed and clothe needy families—not just members—earning widespread public respect and support.
Establishing a Foothold in Pictou County
As the original Acadia Lodge in Halifax declined and eventually surrendered its charter, the Grand Lodge relocated its headquarters to Albion Mines, where it remained for many years. The lodges in Stellarton, New Glasgow, and Pictoubecame the strongholds of Odd Fellowship in Nova Scotia, with notable developments such as the construction of Fuller Hall by Fuller Lodge in Stellarton.
A Modern Renaissance (20th–21st Century)
Over the years, Odd Fellowship in Atlantic Canada has experienced periods of both resurgence and quiet endurance. While the early 20th century posed challenges to fraternal organizations globally, the spirit of service and brotherhood kept the flame alive in the Maritimes.
Today, the Grand Lodge of the Atlantic Provinces—which oversees lodges in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador—continues to thrive. Guided by a new generation of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, the Order is undergoing a modern renaissance focused on inclusivity, community service, youth outreach, and cultural preservation.
170 Years of Odd Fellowship in Atlantic Canada (1855–2025)
In 2025, the Grand Lodge proudly celebrates its 170th anniversary, commemorating not just its formal establishment but also the enduring spirit of fraternalism and charity in Atlantic Canada.
What began as a handful of dedicated brothers in Halifax has grown into a resilient and compassionate network of Lodges committed to the timeless values of Odd Fellowship: helping the distressed, educating the orphan, visiting the sick, and burying the dead.
As we look ahead, the Grand Lodge of the Atlantic Provinces remains a beacon of light, proving that even in changing times, the core mission of the Odd Fellows—to uplift humanity through fellowship—never fades.