The Three Links are the official symbol of the I.O.O.F. They appear on all our documents and artwork. They are so synonymous with the Order itself that we are sometimes addressed as the "Three Link Fraternity".

The Three Links of course have intense meaning for us, with each link standing, from left to right, for Friendship, Love and Truth. These ideals are the cornerstone of our fraternity. The very fact they are presented in symbolic form as a chain shows how dependent they are on one another as well as how very intertwined they are. An explanation of how Odd Fellows recognize these three values is as follows:

FRIENDSHIP:

One of the best and most primary bonds man can have with those in his life. Warm friendship beings the benefits of mutual assistance, aid through the storms of life and a way for us to see the Divine Light itself in the people whom we call friends. It is through pure and freely given friendship that we fulfill our role towards our fellow man.

LOVE: 

Steadfast brotherly love allows us to see past, tolerate and accept the faults of others just as we ourselves need them to be overlooked. It inspires us to be people of kind action even towards those who may be our enemies. Love allows us to rise above, the truly cherish and selflessly serve ourselves, brothers and communities.

Many in this fast moving day and age have moved too fast through life or not stayed in one place long enough to have encountered fraternal love. They may not have had a chance to dwell in an environment where it is strong and encouraged to grow. The Odd Fellows lodge can be just that place. When a man discovers this side of himself, the part of him that can be strong in this love, he senses an awakening, as though a need he he couldn't previously put a name to was suddenly fulfilled. It is from here that a man grows in his fraternal experience. Odd Fellows grow in this love through working together, service, degree work and the never ending quest to be better men.

TRUTH:

An Odd Fellow is a lover, expounder, an adherent to truth and, by extension, honesty. Whether it be in moments of earnest self assessment, our business dealings or our personal relationships, truth is something which permeates the life of an Odd Fellow. Like what it may present us with or not, we serve to face up to it in all areas of our lives. We seek it out, we speak nothing less, we act in accordance with it. As such, an Odd Fellow is not one to lie or adapt the truth to his own liking or needs. We see the truth, whatever and however it may present itself, as sacred. If one makes his living by deceiving others, manipulating the truth, or is found to live in a consistently dishonest way, then that person may cannot be an Odd Fellow.

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