On November 23, 2025 some 30 California Odd Fellows travelled through time and space to arrive in London on December 24, 1856 – the perpetual date frozen in time and sentiment at the charming Great Dickens’ Christmas Fair, located at the Cow Palace in South San Francisco, CA.
The yuletide Odd Fellows came dressed in our finest collars – or borrowed one for the day courtesy of True Fellowship Lodge no. 52. And while we turned heads taking high tea, and getting our boots polished: the highlight was when we were received with great fanfare at the Athenaeum Club stage! Sister Jane Beckman pulled some strings to get us this reception, as she is performing this season as a cast member of the Athenaeum Club stage, portraying the first female Egyptologist Madam Sarah Belzoni.
At 2:40pm on the dot, our brilliant assemblage processed orderly into the Athenaeum Club, where we proceeded to present our hosts with a scepter of Friendship, Love, and Truth in appreciation of their hospitality. Our “Tour Director” Brother Andrew Crockett proceeded to explain that we had come to London to sample the “clublife terroir” that gave rise to our Grand Sire Thomas Wildey – the English immigrant founder of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. We shared how he was born in London in 1782, orphaned a few years later, and due to the merciful education he recieved was able to become a journeyman of the coach spring trade. In 1804 he was initiated into Odd Fellows London Lodge no.17, went on to serve in every office therein, only to press on and found Morning Star Lodge No.38 in 1807. He was then involved in founding the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity in 1809-1810. And with all this experience of English club life, he came to America in 1817, with all the knowledge necessary to launch the continent-spanning iteration of fraternal life called the IOOF.
To signal our imminent departure, Sister Debbie Wolf led our proud assemblage in our fraternity’s Opening Ode to great affect. After which we processed out of the Athenaeum Club and into the perpetual Christmas Eve twilight of Dickens’ Fair London.
I hope you will join us for next year’s Happy Christmas Odd Fellows outing.
— by Andrew Crockett
