The Prince George Independent Order of Odd Fellows celebrated 100 years with a party on the weekend.
The local group began in 1911 but wasn't chartered until 1912.
"They were around before Prince George even existed," laughed longtime member Lynne Dyck. "The first name on our charter is John McInnis of McInnis Building Supply. So we've dedicated the weekend celebration to all who came before us who made Prince George what it is today."
The group began in South Fort George then moved to Prince George in several different locations over the years.
"They used to meet here in town at the Ritz-Keifer Hall on George Street," said Dyck. "They used to hold spring and fall dances that saw people coming in from all the small communities and as far away as Quesnel. The only way to get here back then was by pack horse, train or steamboat."
Dyck has been going through the original minutes and it's been quite interesting, she said.
"Visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan is our motto," said Dyck. "So the majority of burials back then were performed by the Odd Fellows."
The fellowship moved around town for a while and settled into the original Prince George Playhouse at the same location the new one is at today and from there they moved to Fifth Avenue.
"A lot of the members of the Odd Fellows have made this city what it is today," said Dyck. "They worked on different aspects of building the city and so we've dedicated this weekend to them."
Dyck hosted a camp out at her Tabor Lake residence Saturday and Sunday. There was about 60 people at the celebration, including the provincial grand master of the Odd Fellows and president of the Rebekahs, a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, that is a service-oriented organization.
Dyck is a 40-year member of the Rebekahs and is now an Odd Fellow just like her father and grandfather before her.
Dyck's father Wally West was a longtime member and in 1969 was provincial grand master. Dyck's mother was a Rebekah, as well. Dyck's daughter and grandchildren are members of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, too.
"It was only a few years ago that women were allowed to become members -- only five or six years ago," said Dyck, secretary for the Odd Fellows. "Men could be Rebekahs but women were not allowed to be Odd Fellows but they are now."
Mission Statement of the Odd Fellows:
We are the family of Oddfellowship, composed of men, women and youth, believing in a supreme being, the creator and preserver of the universe, who have come together in our local communities having the same beliefs and values as others, that friendship, love and truth are the basic guidelines that we need to follow in our daily lives. Through working in our local communities, states, provinces, or nationally we understand that we can make a difference in the lives of people in our world.
Mission Statement of Rebekahs:
I am a Rebekah: I believe in the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, and the sisterhood of woman.
I believe in the watch words of our order - friendship, love and truth.
Friendship - is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together.
Love - is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give, the more you receive.
Truth - is the standard by which we value people. It is the foundation of our society.
I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out to my community and the world, for in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters.
