My favorite name for a fraternal association is The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). The Odd Fellows purchase cemetery plots so you will often see many deceased members of this association buried near each other. Their primary symbol is three chain links joined together. In the picture above the number 30 is the lodge number.
Sometimes the chain links will encircle the letters F, L and T like in the example below. These stand for friendship, love and truth.
Top photo: Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado
Bottom photo: Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, Colorado
Cemeteries and Cemetery Symbols 
Hi Joe,
We’re still around. There are over 50 Lodge in Colorado, and we’re always looking for new members.
Dan
The number 30 is NOT the Lodge number in the case of that symbol it is the number of years the dead member was in the Order in this case it being 30 years.
I have always liked the name and wish they had a group with the name for women too. I would definitely belong in a group named Oddfellows. That’s for sure.
i was giving a sword, which i really like alot, it has 3 chain links also it has the initals I. O. O. F. on the handle, there are may different items on it. scissors just the three links everywhere,
Jessica, the OddFellows do have a sister group. We’re called the Rebekahs. I’ve been a member since I was 18, I’m 44 now. My great grandparents belonged to the Hemingford Lodges. I’m unsure what the OddFellow lodge number was, but the Rebekahs were #293. By the time I joined the OddFellow lodge had given up it’s charter long ago. The last two OddFellow lodges I knew of were the Alliance and Gordon lodges. Now all of the lodges in this District have given up their charters. Sadly, we just couldn’t get younger people interested in joining. I was the youngest member in the District. But I still am a proud Rebekah!
I also agree with Paul. That engraving looks like the OddFellows Veteran’s Jewel for a continuous membership in the Odd Fellows. A brother with 25 or more years of continuous membership is entitled to this jewel, with the number in the center set to the number of years of membership in the Order. The available numbers are 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 or 75. A picture of it (it’s #16) is here:
http://www.ioof.org/jewels/jewels_oddfellowjewels.html
Now the Odd Fellows allows women to join.
The Odd Fellows could join and hold office in the Rebekahs. The Odd Fellows had okayed Rebekahs joining the Odd Fellows, but they were not allowed to hold an office or vote on matters pertaining to the lodge. I had heard that they were going to allow the Rebekahs to hold offices and vote, but that was after Gordon Princess Lodge #65 surrendered their charter
New link. #16 is the I.O.O.F. Veterans Jewel
Odd Fellow Veterans Jewel and Button
16 — This is a Veteran’s Jewel for a continuous membership in the Odd Fellows. A brother with 25 or more years of continuous membership is entitled to this jewel, with the number in the center set to the number of years of membership in the Order. The available numbers are 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 or 75.
http://www.ioof.org/WCM/IOOF/About_Us/Jewels/oddfellowjewels/IOOF/AboutUS/IOOF_Jewels/jewels_oddfellowjewels.aspx?hkey=413a4a6b-a6da-4dd8-bce2-fce7b51b2dd0%20
am jideofor as a new member in the odd fellows lodge #2 in lagos,nigeria I believe odd fellowship has a future in a country still in the dark like nigeria am glad I made the decision to join and hope we will get the needed support from our sister lodges all over the world to grow this lodge into prominence in this side of the planet for the love of odd fellows am glad I joined at age 25 atleast I still have time to give this order my best and hope the order will support my goals and ambitions an odd fellow or rebekah above any other
What does 5 chains mean on a grave? Thanks
Stephanie C., Hi! I am not sure that I have seen a gravestone with 5 chains.
Could you post a picture or maybe a find a grave link? I’m intrigued now