The three links, a large letter in each—F, L, T—stand for Friendship, Love, and Truth, the guiding principles of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, the African American branch of an English organization. Decades before the Civil War, a group of African American men from New York City and Philadelphia sought to link their existing fraternal groups to the larger Odd Fellows, a white organization. Its leaders refused the request for “no other reason under Heaven than that the petitioners were colored men,” according to the G. U. O. O. F.’s official history. So Peter Ogden, an African American ship’s steward—and an Odd Fellow—secured a charter from his lodge in Liverpool, England. In 1844, the African American Philomathean Lodge No. 646 held its first meeting in New York City. Virginia got its first lodge two years later.
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We have documented well over a dozen Odd Fellows and members of the Household of Ruth, the women’s arm of the G. U. O. O. F., at East End. Restaurateur William Custalo—an original member of the James Needham Lodge 1468, chartered in 1871 and incorporated in 1886 “for the purpose of promoting social intercourse, aiding the sick, burying the dead, and assisting the widows and orphans of its deceased members”—is the most prominent. The three links are carved into his gravestone, as they are into others at East End.
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(Image of links from the Richmond Planet, 6 October 1906, on the occasion of “the largest gathering in [the] history” of G. U. O. O. F., with more than 1,400 delegates present.)
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#eastendcemetery #rva #africanamericancemetery #blackhistory
While we've suspended volunteer workdays at East End Cemetery, our thoughts are with those affected by the state ban on crowds of more than 10 people, especially the restaurants. Some of these small businesses have generously donated to our East End events throughout the years — places like @wpabakery, @lamplightercoffee, and @subrosabakery — and several have been our end-of-the-day (re)treat after a long Saturday workday (looking at you, @properpieco!). ❤️
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This Friday (March 20) beginning at noon, we hope many of you will join us in supporting #ServingOurServersRVA Virtual Happy Hour Fundraiser via the @thehollifund: ⠀
"Virtual tips will be collected ... to support The Holli Fund, which offers financial grants to food and beverage employees experiencing economic crisis through injury, illness, loss of wages or hours due to coronavirus restrictions and other emergencies. The Holli Fund honors the late Hollister Lindley, a local food writer who lost her battle with ALS in 2017. Affected industry personnel apply for grants through the website, thehollifund.org. Currently, grants are provided for $750 for things like rent, utilities, car repairs and other bills. Donations can be made to The Holli Fund website anytime." - Richmond Times Dispatch, 03/18/20
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#rva #eastendcemetery #hollifund #community #support #richmondrestaurantsunited
