Als dank voor de financiële steun die de Odd Fellows in Oekraïene hebben ontvangen toen Rusland hun land binnenviel, kregen alle Europese Grootloges, waaronder die van Nederland en België, een kunstwerk aangeboden.
Het kunstwerk werd uitgereikt tijdens de Europese Grootloge zitting in Stockholm die ik het weekend van 6 en 7 juni 2026 werd gehouden.
Odd Fellows for Ukraine
De Heerenveense Odd Fellows maakten een donatie-website Odd Fellows for Ukraine waar veel andere loges geld doneerden en die in totaal meer dan 10.000 euro opbracht. Dat geld werd in Oekraïne o.a. gebruikt om medische hulpmiddelen aan te schaffen om oorlogslachtoffers te helpen.
Grootmeester Daan van Dijk van de Grootloge van Nederland en België nam het kunstwerk dankbaar in ontvangst.
Odd Fellow symboliek
Bij het kunstwerk, dat vol met Odd Fellow symbolen zit, hoort de volgende begeleidende tekst
People who are interested in the Order stand firmly, shoulder to shoulder, very tightly, close to one another. No one will pass by them to the encrypted symbolism that is the subject of their admiration.
Their visual image resembles the entrance arches of cities, the gates of houses, or the doors or windows of apartments. Inside the arches there are openings — this shows their openness to the world.
However, with their brotherly circle, they guard their mountain with the symbols of the lodge from a stranger’s eye.
Brothers, gathered around a common idea, gradually rise from the bottom upward, along the steps of development and improvement. While rising to higher levels, they intertwine with each other, supporting one another on the turns. Whoever does not hold on to the Brothers risks getting lost and falling from the height. On higher steps, the connection with the Brothers becomes stronger.
Each side of the pyramid symbolizes the next degree of initiation and has its own signs connected with the mystery of that degree.
Reaching the top means spiritual maturity, which is the goal of the “ODD FELLOWS.” It is symbolized by a circle with three links: Friendship, Love, and Truth. On them rests the crown of the Chapter with seven towers.
Above all rises the main tower — this is the Master of the Lodge. Upon him lies the responsibility to watch over the Brothers’ path toward development.
In their spiritual journey, each Brother strives to reach the highest degree. And although not everyone is destined to get to the very top, everyone has a chance to gain spiritual maturity, which is the goal of the “ODD FELLOWS.”
V.P + A.S + O.K
