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by Jane Stahl
"Welcome to Boyertown" greets folks driving east into town on Route 73. Boyertown's newest mural painted by mural artist Chris B. Murrey is located on the west wall of Morrell's Funeral Home, sponsored by Boyertown Odd Fellows Lodge #708.
This colorful greeting features bears, the high school's mascot and subject of the community's public art project Bear Fever. There are bears representing Boyertown's storied baseball history, but soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and hockey are represented. And there must be a tennis ball or racket somewhere that I have yet to discover.
A guitar in the arms of the Legion bear surrounded by musical notes pay tribute to the community's celebrated musical pedigree. A raccoon, reminiscent of the Grill Shop's fundraising Raccoon Club, busily paints the welcome banner.
The community's vehicular history is noted showcasing an historic carriage, modern trucks and cars pulled by a train's engine. Check the sky for a plane, a nod to Boyertown's hometown hero: General Carl A. Spaatz.
There are cows and silos representing farming, a church steeple, and maybe the frame of a school building signifying the town's dedication to history, art, culture and education. Buildings representing industry and homes are nestled among trees framing the town; little green and red shapes--apples, perhaps--suggest the community's ancestral and bountiful orchards.
When Chris is finished, there will be other details and hints to tell the story of Boyertown--a community that brings "everything under the sun" that a community would desire!
A previous story about artist Chris B. Murray can be found in an earlier story published by The Boyertown Area Expression. Chris B Murray, Mural Artist
A conversation with Chris can be found on the "B Inspired" podcast. "B Inspired" can be found on your favorite podcast platform. The episode on Spotify: Chris B Murray on Spotify
The Independent Order Of Odd Fellows (IOOF)
(The following information is taken from Odd-fellows.org)
“To Improve and Elevate the Character of Mankind” is the mission statement of this fraternal organization founded in England in the 1600s. At that time people in society were class-conscious and few helped their neighbors. When people got sick or their loved ones died, they were left to fend for themselves. Many didn’t have enough money to bury their dead.
The Odd Fellows stepped up and pooled their money and resources together to help people in need. Since this attitude was converse to how society thought at the time, they considered themselves “odd” — thus the name.
The Independent Order Of Odd Fellows came to the United States in 1819, currently has more than 3000 lodges, and is one of the world’s oldest and largest fraternal orders.
Ask yourself:
Have you been searching for a way to help others and be a part of
something bigger than yourself?
Do you want to learn to be a better person and empower yourself to be more successful in all parts of your life?
Do you want to help make your community a better place and help those in need?
Do you feel lonely or crave quality social interactions and want to be part of something important?
Now ask yourself, “How am I going to spend my life?”
By becoming an Odd Fellow you will learn to base your thoughts and actions on the philosophical principles of the Order.
Members of the Odd Fellows believe that life is a commitment to improve and elevate the character of mankind through service and example. Their legacy has been 200 years of helping one another and others without seeking anything in return. Odd Fellows are aware of the vanity of earthly things, the frailty and inevitable decay of human life and the fact that wealth has no power to stop the sureness of eventual death.
WHO ARE WE?
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is one of the oldest and largest fraternities in the world--non-political and non-sectarian. Membership is open to all regardless of sex, race, religion, political affiliation and social status -all bound by the desire to improve self and the calling to live and promote the principles of Friendship, Love, and Truth which transcends labels. Developing close friendships among one another and by working together in the community, Odd Fellows can make a difference in the world and in themselves.
Discussing political, sectarian or any other debate is forbidden in the Lodge, so it breaks down the social walls and labels used to view others and opens hearts and minds to start seeing people as Brothers and Sisters.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
A Philosophy for Life
We are a diverse group of people who want to make a difference in our communities and the world by turning the lessons taught in our Initiation and Degrees into direct action.
The degrees of initiation in our fraternity seek to improve and elevate the character of members by imparting moral principles exemplified through story, drama and symbols which have been adapted from the Medieval Trade Guilds.
Lessons aim to promote tolerance which results to harmony and understanding between people from different walks of life. Bridging the gap of differences serve as a venue where acquaintances and even enemies can become true friends using the purest and practical form of fraternity. Promoting the culture of caring and sharing, of not leaving each other behind, of thinking beyond self, and of helping others in need are part of the mission. The command of IOOF is to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan.”
The Original “Social Network”
The Lodge provides a place to foster new friendships with people on whom one can depend. The structure provides a way to learn valuable skills that carry over into all areas of life and the flexibility makes each Lodge have its own unique culture. Members also enjoy an international social network of many thousands that extends to more than 30 countries worldwide. If traveling is an interest, membership can provide a valuable network that will very much welcome an international visitor, and assist in their enterprises, and certainly their travels wherever possible. Members can attend a meeting at any IOOF Lodge in the world.
WHAT DO WE DO? Social Activities
One of the primary purposes of IOOF is to develop life-lasting friendships among people. In connection to this, many lodges also organize social activities where members can enjoy each other’s company.
An ideal lodge is a place for fellowship in all its forms – from meetings, to Initiation ceremonies, to dinners, to hanging out and just having fun, to discussion and collaboration on creative and constructive projects, all with an eye not only on our own satisfaction but on what we might offer to the community at large. We aim to be a good venue for a lot of positive energy and all members are encouraged to contribute their ideas in harmony.
Philanthropic Projects
The first lodges were first set up to protect and care for their members and communities at a time when there was still no welfare state, trade unions or national health insurance. The aim was and still is to provide help to people and communities in times of need. The Odd Fellows are also large fundraisers for local, national and international charities. Today, the highlights of the fraternal organization’s Philanthropic works include:
- Educational Foundation provides low-interest student loans and scholarships.
- Living Legacy Program focuses on planting trees and enhancing the environment.
- Arthritis Advisory Board works in donating over $500,000 annually to support research by the Arthritis Foundation (USA) and Arthritis Society (Canada).
- Visual Research Foundation endowed $2.5 million and continues to donate over $500,000 annually to support vision care and research through the Wilmer Eye Institute.
- Pilgrimage for Youth sponsors a group of high school students for an educational trip in the U.S. and Canada.
- SOS Children’s Village provides a caring home for orphaned children in 132 countries around the world.
- Annual Patriotic Pilgrimages to the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, USA, Canadian War Memorial and others.
- Odd Fellow and Rebekah Homes provide a caring environment for the elderly.
- Odd Fellow and Rebekah camps and parks provide recreation for the youth and families.
- Each Lodge is also involved in various local or national community projects.
More News from Boyertown
- A Pictorial Tour Through the History of Boyertown: Main Street page 4 Main Street page 4
- Studio B's ROY G BIV Exhibit Celebrates BLUE BLUE relaxes the mind, the spirit--cools and refreshes.
