Odal or Udal Right (Celtic od, property) is the title of a tenure of land as absolute, and not dependent on a superior. The odal right prevailed throughout North- ern Europe before the rise of feudalism. It was found- ed on the tie of blood which connected freeman with freeman, and not on the tie of service. It was the policy of the sovereign authority everywhere to make it advantageous for the freemen to exchange the odal tie for the tie of service — a change which paved the way for the feudal sj-stem. The odallers of Orkney were allowed to retain or resume their ancient privi- leges on paying a large contribution to the erection of St. Magnus's Cathedral at Kirkwall ; and the odal ten- ure prevails to this day to a large extent in the Ork- ney and Shetland Islands, the right to land being com- pleted without writing by undisturbed possession proved
O'DALY
296
ODERIC
by witnesses before an inquest. — Chambers's Cych- pmdia,
O'Daly, Daniel, an Irish monastic, was born in 1595, in the County of Kerry. He was educated in Flanders, and there took the vows in the Order of the Dominicans. Having been called to tlie court of Spain, he insinuated himself so much into the favor of Phil- ip IV, that this prince, who was then master of Port- ugal, charged him to oversee the foundation of a con- vent in Lisbon for the Irish monks. He became the first superior of it. On the accession of the didie of Bra- ganza to the throne he saw his credit increase, and was employed in the most considerable affairs of the king- dom. In 1655 he went to Louis XIV in the capacity of aniljassador, in order to negotiate a treaty of alliance and commerce. Having arrived at Paris, he wished no other lodgings than the convent of the Dominicans, in the street Saint-Honore, where he dwelt during all the time of his embassy. " This beautiful eulogy has been given to him," says P. Baron, '• that no one has ever made a more happy union of piety with prudence, of modesty and religious humility with the gravity and wisdom of an ambassador." This modesty, how- ever, did not hinder him from discharging the duties of his order, such as censor of the Inquisition, visitor- general and vicar-general of the kingdom. He died at Lisbon June 30, 1662. We have of his works, Initium, incremenUim et exitus famUim Giraldinorum Desmonice comitum Kien-ia in Hibernia (Lisbon, 1655, 8vo). See v. Baron, Apologitiqites, lib. ii, p. 448 ; lib. iv, p. 241 ; !^chard et Quctif, Script, ord. j)rcedicat. ii, 617. — lloefer, Nour. Bioff. Generale, xxxviii, 464.
Oddazzi (<ir Oda.si), Giovanni, an Italian paint- er noted for liis attainments in sacred art, was born at Kome in 1663. He first studied under Ciro Ferri, and on the death of that master became the pupil of Gio. Battista Gaulli, called Baciccio. The liveliness of his genius and his remarkable industry gained him great distinction and a multitude of commissions, not only for the clmrches and public edifices, but for individuals. He was one of the twelve artists selected to paint the prophets in fresco in St. John of Lateran. The prophet Hosea, produced bj' Oddazzi, was especially much com- mended for correctness of design and dignity of ex- pression. His most remarkable works, however, are the Fall of Lucifer and his Aw/els in the church of Santi Apostoli, and *S^^. Bruno in S. Maria degli Angeli. By aiming at the celerity and rapid execution of Baciccio, without possessing his powers, he proved but a feeble imitator of his style ; and his design is frequently care- less and incorrect, though he had a commanding facility and great freedom of the pencil. He died in 1731. See Spooncr, Jiiog. Hist, of the Fine Arts, ii, 625.
Odd - fellows, the name assumed by one of the most extensive self-governed provident associations in the world. The institution, though in its secrecy and many usages closely resembling the masonic order, is so largely devoted to philanthropic labors as to de- serve a short historical notice here. The order was originated in Manchester in 1812, although isolated "lodges" had existed in various parts of the country for some time previously'. These latter were generally secret fraternities, humble imitations of Free-masonry — adopting a similar system of initiatory rites, phraseolog}', and organization — instituted for social and convivial purposes, and only occasionally extending charitable assistance to members. On its institution in Man- chester, the main purpose of Odd-fellowship was de- clared by its laws to be, " To render assistance to every brother who may apply through sickness, distress, or otherwise, if he be well attached to the queen and gov- ernment, and faithful to the order." From attempts to abolish its convivial character a schism arose in 1813. The Manchester Unity, which was then founded, still constitutes the principal body of Britisli Odd-fellows. In the United States of America the first lodge was
instituted in 1819; and from this countrj'-, where the order is by far the largest and most powerful, it has spread into Germany, Switzerland, Australia, South America, and the Hawaiian Islands, working under charters received from the American order. Candi- dates for admission must be free white males, of good moral character, twenty-one years of age or over, who believe in a Supreme Being, the Creator and Preserver of the universe. Fidelity not onlj' to the laws and obligations of the order, but to the laws of God, the laws of the land, and all the duties of citizenship, is strictly enjoined ; but the order is a moral, not a relig- ious organization. For statistics we refer to the excel- lent article in The American Cycloj). s. v. (J. II. W.)