I am a new member to IOOD.I am deeply involved in metal detecting.O n one of my previous hunts I found a what I assume was a grave marker in the woods.It was laying on ground on top of stone ground buried by years of leaves and debri.On it was a crest of the moon with 7 stars inside the moon.A dove inside the crest and the letters FLT in 3 Chain Links and below the links is the letter R.Any ideas of its age or whom it may have belonged to
replied to: lovinggod1
Replied to: I am a new member to IOOD.I am deeply involved in...
You have found a grave marker for the Rebekah Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). This is a lodge of both ladies and men which was begun by Vice President Schuyler Colfax in 1851 - the first fraternal group for women. There are several emblems that are part of the Rebekah ritual including the Dove, the moon and stars and the letter "R" for REBEKAH that you see on the item. The Odd Fellows is an old and distinguised fraternal group which continues to be active in all of the US States and a number of foreign countries. Would recommend you google IOOF and Rebekah for more information. As for the age of the item, they were popular to place near tombstones of deceased members in the period of about 1910 to 1960's and usually had a slot in the back to place a Rebekah flag on Memorial Day.
