Friends of St Luke, Odd Fellows & Household of Ruth is thrilled to share the amazing news that a remarkable piece of African American fraternal history from Blacksburg, Virginia has found new life and recognition in Massachusetts. The New to the Collection: An Unusual GUOOF Banner at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library tells a story that bridges communities, cultures, and centuries.

This beautiful and unusual banner once represented Tadmore Light Lodge No. 6184 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (GUOOF) — a Black fraternal lodge that was an anchor for community, mutual aid, and fellowship in early-20th-century Blacksburg. Tadmore Light Lodge met for almost fifty years at the Odd Fellows Hall, known today as St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, which served as a vibrant social and cultural hub for the African American neighborhood of New Town.

It’s striking and deeply meaningful to see this GUOOF banner highlighted at a museum dedicated to Masonic history and culture. Though the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and Masonic organizations like the Scottish Rite are distinct fraternal traditions with different origins and rituals, they share core values: fellowship, mutual support, and community building.

The inclusion of the Tadmore Light Lodge banner in the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library collection is more than an acquisition: it’s a celebration of shared fraternal spirit, the richness of Black fraternal traditions, and the importance of preserving our collective cultural heritage. It reminds us that the story of fraternal organizations in America is multifaceted — and that there’s tremendous value in recognizing the common values of “Amicitia Amor et Veritas” (Friendship, Love, and Truth).
Written by Heather Nicholson