IOOF Cupertino 70 is an Odd Fellows Lodge in the heart of Silicon Valley. We support Rebekah Children's services, hold events, and offer hall rental space.
At a meeting, in the office of Dr. E.H. Durgin, on March 21, 1899, in Westside, California, a group of the local citizens met to consider the proposition of organizing a lodge of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows. To be granted a Charter requires the consent of Nine (9) lodges in the County, as well as compliance with the Grand Lodge By-Laws.
April 15, 1899, was set for the culmination of the proposition to form a lodge and to be conducted in the H.V.A. Hall, Westside, California. This hall also to be the regular meeting place on a rental basis at a fee to be established.
On April 15, 1899, in the H.V.A. Hall, Westside, Ca., Grand Warden J.S. Robinette called the meeting to order for the purpose of Institution of a Lodge of I.O.O.F., in Westside, California.
The Grand Warden appointed the following officers, Pro Tem, for the purpose
of hearing the petitioners for a new lodge:
D.J. Maddox, Lodge #238. Deputy Grand Master
H.E. Perks, Lodge #238, Grand Warden
H.C. Mumford, Lodge #52, Grand Marshal
W.W. McKee, Lodge #238, Grand Conductor
C.M. Beall, Lodge #18 (Iowa), Grand Guardian
In addition, the following officers were present, and in their respective offices:
George T. Shaw, Grand Secretary
M.P. Forbes, Grand Herald
A lodge having been declared duly opened, the Deputy Grand Master and
Grand Marshal presented the following petitioners for a new lodge:
J.D. Williams, J.C. Martin, W.T. Baer, Norman Dunbar,
E.H. Durgin, A. Neilson, D. Gartelman, Charles H. Smith,
and J.R. Johns.
The petitioners satisfactorily answered the questions proposed, and being duly obligated, CUPERTINO LODGE #70, I.O.O.F., under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the State of California, was declared duly and regularly instituted.
The numeral 70 was originally that of Mount Shasta Lodge, in Yreka, CA., having been instituted on August 20, 1857 and existed as a lodge until December 24, 1875. On that date Mount Shasta consolidated with Yreka Lodge #19, Thus leaving #70 open and ultimately available for designating it for Cupertino on April 15, 1899.
Our mission is to improve and elevate the character of man.
In 17th Century England, people were facing a lot of challenges. Life was tough, often lawless and desperate. Medicine was still crude and in a primitive stage. Life expectancy was about 45 to 50. There were lots of sickness, orphaned kids, widowed mothers and many people cannot afford to pay a decent burial for the dead.
So, ordinary people from different trades and walks of life found it necessary to group together as brothers and sisters and contribute some of their hard-earned wages to a common fund which they could use for unfortunate times such as sickness, losing a job and even death. They would work together to help each other and the unfortunate families back on their feet, whether it was rebuilding a barn that had burned or putting in a new crop after a devastating season.
Such altruistic and friendly society came to be known as "Odd Fellows" because it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. It was believed that they were "an odd bunch of fellows" who would behave in such a selfless and seemingly impractical fashion. Odd Fellows are also known as "The Three Link Fraternity" which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. This lodge received its charter from Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England. At that time, the city was suffering both a yellow fever epidemic and mass unemployment so they dedicated the organization to "Visit the sick, relieve the distress, bury the dead and educate the orphans."
Odd Fellowship became the 1st national fraternity to include both men and women when it adopted the beautiful Rebekah Degree on September 20, 1851. This degree is based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible, and was written by the Honorable Schuyler Colfax who was Vice President of the United States during the period 1868-1873. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first fraternal organization to establish homes for our senior members and for orphaned children.
Today, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs continue to exist with nearly 10,000 lodges in approximately 26 countries consisting of men and women who united together for mutual aid and conviviality, providing social and practical support for each other and their communities in every way possible. Even though we have come a long way now, there are still more needs to be done. Working together to achieve these goals and help our fellow men creates a bond that cannot be described – a brotherhood and sisterhood of benevolence that can only be felt as an active participant. Working together, we can really help make a difference.
Odd Fellowship Teaches:
Opportunities for useful service.
Belief in a Supreme Being.
The lesson of fraternity, that all are of one family and therefore brethren.
The importance of the principle of Friendship, Love and Truth.
The privilege and duty of individual sympathy, mutual assistance and every-day service to ones fellows.
That humanity was intended to be one harmonious structure.
That each individual is precious.
How to stand on our own feet, yet walk in step with neighbors.
The difference between right and wrong.
That it is more blessed to give than to receive.
