Members of a friendly society compensating one of its members for ill-health. Pen and ink and watercolour, c. 1807.

The president of the Order sits under a canopy, wearing a crown crested with white feathers on his head and a pink robe lined with white fur around his shoulders. In his right hand he holds a scroll inscribed "Law". On the left of him is a candelabrum inscribed "Hope and Charity", on the right another inscribed "Justice Honour & Secrecy". The name of the Order is inscribed along the front of the canopy. On the left, a man with his arm in a sling presents a document (presumably a request for compensation) marked "Declara[tion]"; on the right an officer of the Order offers some gold coins. Both the officer and the president (but not the claimant) wear aprons similar to those worn by freemasons, and other quasi-masonic motifs are also visible

The Oxford English Dictionary, 1905, s.v. Oddfellow, defines the term as "a member of a society, fraternity or "order", organized under this name, with initiatory rites, mystic signs of recognition, and various "degrees" of dignity and honour, for social and benevolent purposes, especially that of rendering assistance to members in sickness, distress or other need. The name "Odd Fellows" appears to have been originally assumed by local clubs formed in various parts of England in the 18th c for convivial and social purposes, usually with rites of initiation, passwords and secret ceremonies, supposed to imitate those of Freemasonry ..."

[c. 1807]

1 drawing : pen and ink, with watercolour ; sheet 30 x 41 cm

Loyalty charity and brotherly love. Apollo & Hercules benevolent gift & burial fund. Order of Independent Odd Fellows.

On the verso, part of a legal document in ink, concerning a number of named merchants of the City of London and their involvement in the Asiatic Insurance Company c. 1802. Bears postal address of Mr Thompson, Mr J. Margarson's, Thurning, near Brinningham, Holt, Norfolk

Wellcome Collection 41312i