County is ripe for Odd Fellows revival

by Staff Pioneer Times
14 years ago

To the editor:
    Hello Houlton residents and the rest of you up there in northern Maine, I’m S. Kenneth Grant, Grand Secretary of Odd Fellows here in Maine (you can call me Ken). I had the pleasure last month to visit the Great North and I had a wonderful time. Everyone I spoke with was so nice — it felt like I was at home everywhere I went.
    I’m speaking with you today to promote Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of Maine. Most of your Lodges in Aroostook County are closed these days, but I’m going to change that. If I ever met a bunch of people who were dedicated to helping one and another it was in your county.
    We’re merging a Lodge in Ashland (Mountain View) with one in Caribou (Aroostook Valley). Both of these fine Lodges offered services to their communities and have held high the basic commitments of Odd Fellowship and I thank them deeply. I intend to see our Order come back in your area, you are the finest people I have ever met, your friendship is endless and your commitment to your families and communities are deeply rooted in your action.
    I ended up my recent visit north at Rockabema Lodge in Houlton, made the roast beef supper and was greeted by 20 Brothers and again felt right at home. The Noble Grand (Mark Jackins) let me have the floor and I spoke on Odd Fellowship for an hour and a half. I want to assure you, if you don’t know a single Odd Fellow when I’m done you’ll know me.
    These are tough times — jobs, prices and just feeding the kids can be hard. I saw people helping people and that is what Odd Fellows is all about. F,L,T (Friendship, Love and Truth). The seeds of Brotherly Love have been planted in Aroostook County and are ready for cultivating, and I intend to help them grow and come this spring we can all enjoy the blossoms of Friendship as they shine brightly in the sunlight.
    Please contact me directly at Grand Lodge of IOOF 207-786-3638 or my cell 207-807-1916, or my home phone 207-221-6311 and by e-mail kenwmsc@live.com anytime.
Ken Grant
Sebago