Abbreviations of social/religious/military groups found in late 19th century county histories in western Pennsylvania.
A.A.O.N.M.S. -- Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
A.L.H. -- American Legion of Honor
A.O.H. -- Ancient Order of Hibernians
A.O.U.W. -- Ancient Order of United Workmen
A.P.A. -- American Protective Association (?)
A.P.C. -- Associate Presbyterain Church (different from above two, later U.P.C. above)
A.R.C. -- Associate Reformed Church (same as above)
A.R.P.C. -- Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (later U.P.C. above)
A.Y.M. -- ???
B.P.O.E. -- Benevolent Protective Order of Elks
C.B.A. -- Catholic Benefit Association
C.M.B.A. -- Catholic Mutual Benefit Association
C.P.C. -- Cumerland Presbyterian Church
E.A.U. -- Equitable Aid Union
E.L.C. -- Evangelical Lutheran Church (part of modern Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?)
F.& A. M. -- (Ancient) Free and Accepted Masons (lodges and temples)
G.A.R. -- Grand Army of the Republic (civil war veteran's association)
G.E.C. -- German Evangelical Church (? later E.U.B., then United Methodist?)
G.E.P.C. -- German Evangelical Protestant church (? same as above)
G.M.C. -- German Methodist Church (same as above)
G.R.C. -- German Reformed Church (part of modern United Church of Christ)
H.R.A. (Delta) -- ??
I.O.of G.T. -- Independent Order of Good Templars
I.O.O.F. -- Independent Order of Odd Fellows. (lodges and encampments)
J.of A. -- ??
J.P. -- Justice of the Peace
K.of H. -- Knights of Honor
K.of M. -- Knights of Malta (Knights of the Maccabees)
K.of P. -- Knights of Pythias
K.O.T.M. -- Knights of the Maccabees of the World
K.T. -- Knights Templars. (Commandery) (Grand Encampment)
L.C.B.A. -- Loyal Christian Benefit Association
M.E.C. -- Methodist Episcopal Church (modern United Methodist Church)
M.O.L.L.U.S. - Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. (Civil War Officers
N.G.P. -- National Guard of Pennsylvania
O.R.T. -- Order of Railway Conductors
O.R.T. -- Order of Railway Trainmen
O.T.W. -- ??
O.U.A.M. -- Order of United American Mechanics
O.U.W. -- Order of United Workman
P.C. -- Presbyterian Church (modern Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.)
P.E.C. -- Protestant Episcopal (eventually became the Episcopal Church)
P.of H. -- Patrons of Husbandry (Grange)
P.H.C. -- Protected Home Circle (Excelsior Lodge)
P.M.C. -- Protestant Methodist Church (later?)
P.O.S.of A. -- Patriotic Order of Sons of America
P.V.C. -- Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary
P.V.I. -- Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
R.A. -- Royal Arcanum
R.A.M. -- Royal Arch Masons
R.L.C. -- Reformed Lutheran Church (later ?)
R.P.C. of N.A. -- Reformed Presbyterain Church of North America, also 'Covenanters'
R.T.T. -- Royal Templars of Temperance
S.P.C. -- Seceder Presbyterian Church 'Seceders' (same as Associate Presbyterian Church)
S.U.V. -- Sons of Union Veterans (of Civil War)
U.A.M. -- United American Mechanics
U.C.V. -- United Confederate Veterans
U.P.C. -- United Presbyterian Church (part of modern Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.)
U.V.L. -- Union Veterans Legion
V.R.C. -- Veteran's Reserve Corps
W.of W. -- Woodmen of the World
Updated: 12 Nov 2002 Please send comments to ed.mcclelland@erols.com