The Patriarchs Militant (PM) is Odd Fellowship's uniformed branch, and is the branch which offers the highest degree of the IOOF. There is only one degree, the Chevalier degree. Upon completion of this degree, one is entitled to hold office in the Canton. Sometimes the Patriarchs Militant is referred to as "the Canton", due to the Canton being the name used in lieu of "Lodge". The seal of the PM is a gold and jeweled crown, within which is a shepherds crook crossed with a sword and the triple links of Odd Fellowship connecting the two at the bottom. A member must have a good standing in his or her Odd Fellow Lodge and in his or her Encampment in order to hold membership in a Cantonment.
Our organization is unique because it was founded at or around the same time Odd Fellows were established. The same men and women who make up our organization are the same men and women who make up the Odd Fellow organization. In a Canton the Elective Officers are: Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, Clerk and Accountant. The Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign are Commissioned Officers, and the Clerk and Accountant are Warrant Officers. The appointed officers of a Canton are: Chaplain, Color Bearer, Color Guard, Sentinel, and Picket.
After a Chevalier receives the Patriarch Militant Degree, he or she is given the opportunity in becoming the Captain, but must serve two full terms in a appointed seat, or can obtain a dispensation from the Department Commander if all others who are qualified, declines. Once a Chevalier obtains a Past Commandment he or she is then allowed and able to obtain an elective officers seat in the Department Council.
Depending on the representing State the General Military Council after being petitioned by the State Department Council classifies the Council depending on the strength of force for the petitioning Department Council.
The Classifications are:
General Military Council- (the highest Command) The Commander is Classified as General, who has a Staff of Chief of Staff, who is Ranked as Lieutenant General, Military Advisors, one from Canada and the United States, who are Ranked as Major General. Military Advisors from each Independent jurisdiction with the Rank of Brigadier General, Inspector General, with the Rank of Major General. Judge Advocate, Chief of Equipment, Chaplain General, Bannerette, Medical Officer (Surgeon General), and an Aide to the Commander-in-Chief, all with the Rank of Brigadier General. One Bugler and two Aides with the Rank of Brigadier General and an Aide for each Department Council with the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A State not having the strength of force to hold a status of a Department Council that have one to three Cantons the General will issue and assign a Commissioned Aide which will be Ranked as a Lieutenant Colonel for them.
Battalion- (Less than four Cantons) Department Commander is Ranked as a Major and has a Chief of Staff and an Aide. The Chief of Staff and Aid is Ranked as a Lieutenant.
Regiment- (Four or more Cantons) Department Commander is Ranked as a Colonel and has a Lieutenant Colonel, Adjutant, and optionally Inspector, Quartermaster, Equipment Officer, Surgeon or First Aid Officer, Chaplain, Color Sergeant, and Bugler. All Officers except the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel are Ranked as Captains.
Brigade- (with a minimum of eight Cantons) Department Commander is Ranked as a Brigadier General and has a Chief of Staff, Military Advisor, Adjutant, and optionally Inspector, Quartermaster, Judge Advocate, Equipment Officer, Surgeon or First Aid Officer, Chaplain, Bannerette, and two Aides. The Chief of Staff and the Military Advisor are Ranked as Lieutenant Colonel, and all other Officers are Ranked as Major and the Aides are Captains.
Division- (with a minimum of 16 Cantons) both Brigade and Division must also have an aggregate of seven or more Past Commandments to be Issued a Warrant. The Commander of a Division is Ranked as a Major General and has a Chief of Staff, Military Advisor, Advisor, Adjutant, and optionally an Inspector, Quartermaster, Judge Advocate, Equipment Officer, Chaplain, Surgeon or First Aid Officer, Bannerette, and four Aides. The Chief of Staff and Military Advisor are Ranked as Colonel, all other Officers are Ranked as Lieutenant Colonel and the Aides are Ranked as Major.
In the State of Texas the Department Council was granted a Charter and was instituted February 1894. Our Department Council is Classified as a Regiment. Several years ago we were Classified as a Division, and we have several Officers that have a Rank as (R) Major Generals. Our State also has several Officers that have served under the General Military Council and the General Commanding is Classified as a General, so those who have served under his Command are Classified as (R) Brigadier Generals.
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The Ladies Auxiliary Patriarch Militant, is also one of Odd Fellowship's uniformed branch, and is the branch which offers the highest degree for the Lady members. There is only one degree. Upon completion one is entitled to hold office in the Auxiliary, which is the name that is referred in lieu of the "Lodge". A Lady must be in good standing with a Rebekah Lodge and a Ladies Encampment Auxiliary in order to hold membership in her Auxiliary. The Association is also a supporter of the local Canton, helping the men and women of the Canton, to set out their scope and purpose. The Association like the Cantons where uniforms. The White Rose, symbol of purity. Its spotless purity of color and its symmetry of form serve to impress us that in our daily lives our words and our actions should be such that, like the rose, we shed around us a halo that is felt, a presence that falls upon our fellows as does the fragrance of the flower, unseen, unheard, yet sweetly refreshing. It is also a symbol of what our thoughts should be and reminds us that in all things it is possible to draw around us the mantel of purity. The Lady wears the uniform from love of display and they are rarely seen alone, as in union there is strength, and in comradeship enjoyment. The uniform is also worn as a regalia of honor and esteem, because of admiration of the Order, and a wish in so far as may be possible to present the same for public inspection in the most creditable form and create an uplift within and for the Order. However erroneously, it is often timescited as the degree for young men and women, those with a love of military and display, when as a matter of fact it is those who are most interested within the Lodge and Patriarchal Odd Fellowship, are found enrolled within its ranks, be they old or young. The Auxiliary is the great leveler of social, professional and business distinction, all are exactly alike, an attainment of equality not otherwise obtainable and one appreciated and enjoyed by all members. The Army of the Crown is ever a legion of the best there is in Odd Fellowship, the Ladies are the Honor of the Order and pride of their families. The standard of excellence may not always be had when so observed, it were better a recruit of one than critic for all. |
