The Independent Order of Odd Fellows may be one of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in the world, but it has a few skeletons in the closet — and attics and cupboards, too. Like most secret societies, the Odd Fellows have a few unique rituals and ceremonies. One of them involves skeletons, and it’s as creepy as it sounds.

Take a look:

Located in the small town of Scio, Oregon, the IOOF Rebekah Leone Lodge is probably one of the last places you would expect to stumble across a skeleton.
Facebook/Rebekah Leone Lodge #84, Scio Oregon
In August of 2011, a 16-year-old girl was cleaning out a cabinet in the lodge when she made an unexpected discovery: a child-sized coffin, covered in mud.
Flickr/antefixus21

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The creepy surprises kept on coming when she pried the coffin open. Inside, there was a collection of moldy, adult human bones. The girl's mother immediately called 911. An investigation was conducted by the local sheriff's department, and it was determined that no foul play was involved.
Flickr/David Stillman
The bones were donated to the Oregon State University Osteology Laboratory. It is believed they came from De Moulin Bros & Co., an Illinois company that once sold a large selection of "genuine, deodorized" skeletons.
Wikimedia/Gregkeene
Discovering skeletons in IOOF lodges is not uncommon. Like most fraternal organizations, the Odd Fellows have some unique rituals and ceremonies. One of these is a new member initiation rite that includes, at some point, an encounter with a skeleton. This ritual is supposed to make members feel aware of their own mortality.
YouTube/Odd Fellows International

To learn more about the history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, check out this video from YouTube user Odd Fellows International:

Pretty creepy stuff, huh? For more bizarre happenings in the Beaver State, check out The Creepy Small Town In Oregon With Insane Paranormal Activity.

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