Talbot, was sentenced to five years at Leavenworth in 1921 as a result of a morals charge involving a nurse at the Owls' Hospital. Nowadays the order has Nests in five US states: New York, West Virgina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Its 1979 membership roster has about 40,000 members. During the early 1920s the OOO had over 600,000 members in 2,148 local Lodges, called "Nests." Since the 1920s, the order has been losing members rather significantly. We believe that the art of being kind is all this world needs." Membership has been open only to white males. We know there are so many gods, so many creeds, so many paths that wind and wind. An older edition of the ritual states: "We advocate no creed. The OOO publications (e.g., brochures) contend that its ritual has no religious elements. The ritual, as in most fraternal orders, is intended to be secret.
The OOO has four degrees, plus the presence of a ritual, passwords, and fraternal grips. This order has no relationship with the onetime Masonically related group, the Independent Order of Owls, that was organized in St. When it was founded, the order sought to assist its members in business and in employment, provide help to the widows and orphans of the deceased members, and to enjoy mutual fellowship with one another. Talbot and a small group of his associates in November of 1904 formed this fraternal group. South Bend, Indiana, was the city where this "animal" Lodge was born. Back issues of the society's periodical, The Owl, are also helpful. Local units, as noted, are called "Nests." The national governing body is known as the "Supreme Nest." Its main officer is named "Supreme President."Īdditional information may be gained by consulting William Whalen, Handbook of Secret Organizations, 1966 Arthur Preuss, A Dictionary of Secret and Other Societies, 1924. Membership has been open only to white males. We believe that the art of being kind is all this world needs."
Order of the Owls - Owls, Order of (OOO).