Saturday, August 13, 2011

A tent in the graveyard

The carvings on the marker at the grave of Lewis Oppenheimer (d. 1871) identify Mr. Oppenheimer as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


LEWIS
OPPENHEIMER
Died
Feb. 5, 1871
Aged 42 y’s
6 Mo 25 d’s


The three-link chain, often with the letters F L T (as on this gravestone), is represents the organization’s core values and interconnectivity: Friendship, Love, Truth.

The tent and shephard’s hooks (normally crossed) are symbols for the Odd Fellows Encampment, a higher branch within the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Source
The Sovereign Grand Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows, http://www.ioof.org/


Glendale Cemetery, Morrow County, Ohio
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2 comments:

  1. LaurieAugust 13, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    I never knew about such symbolism. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FinsAugust 14, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    Judge Isaac Parker (of Ft. Smith, AR / "True Grit" fame) was an Oddfellow, but outside of one book on gravestone symbols, this is the only other reference to them that I've seen. Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete