Symbolism of Odd-Fellowship by FORD, W[illiam] Henry - 1904

Providence, Rhode Island: William Henry Ford, 1904. Hardcover. Very good. xvi, 17-278p. 23.5 cm. Red cloth hardcover binding with gold impressing on spine and front board. Includes 108 illustrations. Frontispiece photograph of the author. Staining and soiling to cover. Foxing to endpapers and fly leaf. Minor wear to extremes of spine and edges of boards. Pages clean. Book lays flat when opened. Text clear and unmarked. Very good condition.

The Odd-Fellows were a secret society (or fraternity) founded in the late-nineteenth century. The author, industrialist William Henry Ford, was associated with many spiritualist movements in North America including Madame Blavatsky's Theosophical Society and the Odd-Fellows. This book is an alphabetized reference text outlining the symbolic meaning and purposes of various objects, colours, plants, and art works. Ford's spiritualist beliefs were incredibly controversial during his lifetime and remain so due to the anti-Semitic propaganda promoted by many of these groups. The Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, however is remembered as a benevolent society that taught its members principles of friendship, love, truth, faith, hope, charity and universal justice. A fantastic reference guide for anyone researching, or simply seeking to better understand, late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century occult practices.