Over the years many men have passed through the doors and have become members of the Independent Order of Oddfellows calling Century Lodge #492 their home lodge. The membership all takes on the same goals; visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan. The members over the years have become deeply embedded and well recognized in the surrounding community by our humanitarian and philanthropical aid in the name of Oddfellowship. On November 4th, 2000 Century Lodge #492 received a plaque from the Mayor of Carpentersville for 100 years of dedication to community service.
September 9th, 1992 Century Lodge began a new course. New recruits met with a group of four open minded older brothers looking for new members willing to accept the duties of an Oddfellow. The lodge became a Rebirth Lodge as it was truly reborn and since has become an "Incubator" of Rebirth Lodges locally and across the country. The older open minded Oddfellows of Century Lodge became know and respected by the new members as the "Gatekeepers". It is unfortunate that since 1950 all fraternal organizations have seen a very heavy decline in membership. Illinois at one time had 1017 lodges across the state, in 1992 there were 116 lodges and presently there are 71 lodges left in Illinois. Century Lodge has since been one of the most dedicated and successful lodges in the US responsible for increasing membership not only in our lodge but in the so many that need asistance and are willing to accept our open hand. We consider it an honor to be members of this order.
We are very proud of the fact that due to our intersection with this order, in our area alone there are 7 rebirth lodges, there is a meeting at a rebirth lodge every week night. Every night of the week some type of relief is being offered to someone, a family or a cause in need. Most every weekend of the year there is a fundraiser or some function for the purpose of relief within these rebirth lodges.
Century Lodge is always open to those looking to find a platform for giving. The hand of an Oddfellow is always extended to our fellow man . Collectively we are all stand alone men standing together dedicated to doing our part to make a difference in this world in the name of Oddfellowship.
The Independent Order of Oddfellows was founded in 1819 by our founder Thomas Wildey and 4 men that together thought they could make a difference. Century Lodge #492 and all the rebirth lodges carry on that tradition. Since 1819 Oddfellowship has spread to 29 countries with over 250,000 dedicated members worldwide.