I was happy to help make flyers and a poster and bring these to promote the Cave Degree Weekend during Grand Lodge Sessions and more recently at the Three Links Camp. I have learned that when I spend time with Odd Fellows, the things that are important to me, are often important to others.
Live degree work is important to me. I am lucky to have talented and energetic support in this all around me in district 107, in my associate lodges and especially in my home lodge of True Fellowship #52. I was especially supported by the members of Barnes Encampment #77 in promoting live degrees in general and the opportunity of the Cave Degree in September of this year specifically.
I believe it is more important to put on (by this I mean assist, because it’s never the work of one member alone), live degrees than it is to have received your Odd Fellows’ degrees.
Reading a blessing 10 times in rehearsal and once more directly praying a blessing onto new candidates as the Chaplain of the Initiatory degree is deeply moving. Reading, reciting, reading, reciting, and hopefully memorizing the Venerable Warden’s admonition will always be internalized more deeply to the brother/sister who did that than to a brother/sister who heard it once, no matter live or recorded. The same is true for each message and charge of each degree in our charge books.
When we perform a live degree, we are telling our candidate family that they are worth our time and effort, and so is the lesson. What we give to our new brothers and sisters in Odd Fellowship, in their journey through the degrees of Friendship, Love, and Truth, by going to this extra effort, is that a group of their new chosen family finds them so important, and their enjoyment of each lesson so important as to put in such effort and be there for them through planning meetings, rehearsals, contingency plans and practices.
For over 80 years, one of the best venues for live degrees in California is at the Pythian Cave in Yreka. Over the course of the weekend, Initiatory, First, Second, and Third Degrees are all performed in as fun and as traditional a way as we can.
The Cave Degree Weekend is now operated by the Richard Brouse Degree Lodge #190 (currently the only degree lodge in CA). The weekend chosen may be different each year as it corresponds to the moon’s waxing, proximity to a Saturday, and at an appropriate angle to be seen from the Pythian Cave. This year, set your calendar for Sept 5-7th. Registration is now open. Details are at:
oddfellowscavedegree.com/2025-odd-con/
This year, we have a few extra activities. Before the weekend even starts, Grand Warden Adam Potolsky will make his official visit to Yreka 19 on Thursday the 4th, and all Odd Fellows are invited to attend. Then on Friday evening we’ll have a fun dance that we’re calling the “Odd Ball” (Contra Dance style – Think Dicken’s Faire or Pride and Prejudice). On Saturday, in addition to the degrees, we’ll be including some relevant training support for members to bring back to their home lodges. And on Sunday afternoon, Grand Master Rita Cooper will install the newly elected officers of Richard Brouse Degree Lodge 190, followed by a live recording of an episode of the Three Links Odd Cast (an Odd Fellows podcast). Finally, for those joining the encampment, the Patriarchal Degree will be conferred up at the cave with the help of the Davis encampment.
It’ll be a busy weekend, and chances are, you’ll recognize more than a few Odd Fellows from District 107 making it all possible.
— By Debbie Wolf