Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans

Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans
NicknameAMOS
Founded1924; 100 years ago (1924)
(1876 (1876))
TypeFraternal appendant body of all Odd Fellows
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The Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS) is an unofficial appendant body of all Odd Fellows. It is recognized as the "playground for Odd Fellowship", (comparable to The "Shriners" within Freemasonry) [1] and is known for engaging in public and private hijinks and spectacle, all in the name of good, clean fun. AMOS is open to male Odd Fellows in good standing over the age of 18 [2][3] but has a close relationship with Ladies of the Orient ("LOTO"), which is only open to women.[4][5] The two organizations typically meet at the same time and share in social events with each other.[6] Like many other primarily social appendant bodies to fraternal organizations, the rituals and initiations of AMOS have a Middle-Eastern theme and the official regalia is a fez.[2]

The Order has existed in a variety of forms and under multiple names. It was first founded in 1876 as the Oriental Order of Humility (OOH).[7][8] In 1901, the Supreme Orient governing body was formed, now known as Supreme Sanctorum and the name of the organization changed to the Oriental Order of Humility and Perfection (OOH&P) due to the addition of a second degree. Over the next decade, the OOH&P gradually merged with several other similar Odd Fellows appendant bodies formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: the Imperial Order of Muscovites, the Pilgrim Knights of Oriental Splendor, the Veiled Prophets of Bagdad, and the Ancient Mystic Order of Cabirians. The name of the combined body was first chosen to be the United Order of Splendor and Perfection and later changed to the present name of Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans as efforts to bring more units from Odd Fellows appendant bodies into one entity continued. During the evolution of the Order and its constituent bodies, names, titles and regalia have also changed numerous times. Today the Order exists in The United States, Canada, and the Philippines. Historically Sanctorums were also present in Cuba and the Panama Canal Zone.[9]

  1. ^ Proceedings of the Supreme Sanctorum 2018
  2. ^ a b Axelrod, Alan. The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders. New York: Checkmark Books, 1997, p. 221.
  3. ^ Ahab Sanctorum to Initiate Large Class in Groton, The Evening Day New London: January 12, 1928, p. 4.
  4. ^ 2 Women Join IOOF Fun Unit, Reading Eagle Reading: February 13, 1968, p. 25.
  5. ^ Samaritans Begin Rome Convention, Rome News-Tribune Rome: August 8, 1983, p. 1.
  6. ^ New Members To Be Initiated By Fun Order, Reading Eagle Reading: April 10, 1969, p. 10.
  7. ^ Ottawa Journal Ottawa: May 9, 1936.
  8. ^ "Oriental Order of Humility and Perfection". PhoenixMasonry.com. Phoenix Masonry. Retrieved August 27, 2024. The first online Masonic Museum in North America!
  9. ^ Samaritans to Hold Annual Convention in California, Schenectady Gazette Schenectady: July 14, 1954, p. 7. Journal of Supreme Sanctorum 2023