The exact origin of Oddfellowship is involved in obscurity. It must have had a beginning, but just when and where, no historian has ever been able to ascertain. 

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The tradition coming nearest to the accepted history of the order is this: Oddfellowship was introduced into Spain some time during the fifth century, and in the following century it was carried to Portugal; from there to France in the twelfth century; whence it was carried to England by John De Neuville and five knights of France, who formed a “Loyal Grand Lodge of Honour”.

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From these early days sprang two Orders of Odd Fellows, the 'Patriotic Order' and the 'Ancient Order'. The existence of the 'Patriotic' Order has been confirmed, as a copy of the rituals revised by a meeting of the Grand Lodge held in London in 1797 has come to hand. 

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The first constitutional record of the Order's founding is the Bond of Union to establish 'Amicable Lodge' Sheffield. A framed copy of the Bond dated January 6th 1798 and signed by the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary on behalf of the meeting of the Grand Lodge of the United Order of Odd Fellows is held at Head Office in England.

 What records do not dispute, is the claim of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows to be the oldest Branch Friendly Society.    

Past Grand Master W.A. Pledger delivered the oration before the Nashville B.M.C, November 29,1888, and said, “Secret organizations are not creatures of this age. They date back to the time of the building of Noah’s Ark, the building of the Tower of Babel, and Solomon’s Temple. The Masonic fraternity, from which springs this Grand Fraternity of ours, is perhaps the oldest secret society”.  The Order of Oddfellows is truly a “Friendly Society”, and always has been. Its fundamental principals and distinguishing characteristics are different from that of Masonry. The rich, poor, the high and low, Prince and Peasant, men of every rank and station in life are and always have admitted to Oddfellowship on equal footing. 

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The first lodge in America of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows is known  as PHILOMATHEAN LODGE NO. 646

Peter Ogden, a Mariner, born in the Island of Jamaica, West Indies, traveled from Jamaica to Liverpool, where he joined the S.S. Patrick Henry as a Stewart then plying between Liverpool and New York. In the year 1842, illustrious Brother Peter Ogden, a member of Victoria Lodge No. 448 of Liverpool, England, disembarked on the shores of New York. 

Peter Ogden visited Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, where he became acquainted with this body of men, and, learning of their desire to become Oddfellows, made himself known to them as such, and offered his service to obtain a charter for them through his Lodge. These men were extremely glad and accepted willingly, and immediately empowered him to procure it. On his return to Liverpool, he applied through his Lodge Victoria Lodge No. 448, to the Committee of Management and the same was granted on January 6th. 1943.

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A Committee of five Grand Masters and a Noble Father was appointed to constitute a Lodge in the City of New York to be known as the Philomathean Lodge No. 646, Grand United Order of Oddfellows.

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This Committee arrived in New York City on Sunday, February 27, 1843 and convened Wednesday, March 1, 1843.

On March 1, 1843, On Elm Street in the City of New York and State of New York, Philomathean Lodge was instituted at 12 noon with 48 members.

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