Google is a great help in defining abbreviations. Enter the abbreviation into Google, then either click on definition on the right side of the blue bar on the google results page, or look in the search results. I've looked up A. F. and A. M. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons K.T. Knights Templar (Masons) B.P.O.E. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. I thought you might want to try the rest yourself. :-)) If you can't find it in Google, try http://www.acronymfinder.com To see all the different ways Google can help genealogists, go to http://searchforancestors.com/google/searcher.html Easy Google Genealogy Search Be sure to check out all the "how is this useful" tips. Hope this helps, Kathi > Can anyone throw light on what any of the following means and the > organisations they refer to. They appear in ancestors obituary. > > "Deceased was a member of Mount Moriah Lodge No. 40. A. F. and A. M.; > Bellefontaine Chapter No. 25, R. A. M.; York Council No. 40. R. and S. M.; > Ivanhoe Commandery No. 8, K. T.; Scottish Rite Shrine, Mount Moriah Temple > Chapter No. 6. E. S.; and St Louis Lodge No. 9, B. P. O. E. > > Many thanks. > > > ==== PENNSYLVANIA Mailing List ==== > Keep informed of the latest news and new databases, webpages and mailing lists at RootsWeb. Subscribe to the weekly RootsWeb Review. To subscribe, start here: http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >