EXPLORING SECRET SOCIETIES

EXPLORING SECRET SOCIETIES

A secret society is an organization that conceals its activities, events, inner workings, or membership, and may or may not attempt to conceal its existence.  Here's a more detailed look at secret societies: General Characteristics: Concealment: The core feature is the deliberate attempt to keep certain aspects of the organization hidden. Varying Degrees of Secrecy: Some societies maintain complete secrecy about their existence, while others may be known but keep their activities or membership lists hidden.  Examples: Secret societies can range from collegiate groups like Skull and Bones at Yale to magical organizations or even groups with political or social agendas.  Collegiate Secret Societies: Some secret societies have kept their membership secret until graduation; others never reveal membership until death.  Membership: On campuses that have both secret societies and traditional fraternities and sororities, one can be a member of both kinds of organizations. That is, membership is not mutually exclusive. Usually, being a member of more than one traditional fraternity or sorority is not considered appropriate because that member would have divided loyalties. However, typically, there is no issue with being a member of a secret society and a fraternity, because they are not considered similar organizations or competing organizations.[1]

Many secret societies exist as honoraries on one campus and may have been actual meeting societies at one time, kept alive by one or two dedicated local alumni or an alumni affairs or dean's office person who sees to it that an annual initiation is held every year. Some of these state that they are honoraries; others seek to perpetuate the image of a continuing active society where there is none.

 

A SHORT LISTING OF AMERICA'S MOST SECRET OF ALL SECRET SOCIETIES

A American Mafia - Cosa Nostra AMORC - Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis Ancient Order of Hibernians Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Five Points Gang Fraternal Order of Eagles Freemasonry in the United States Independent Order of Odd Fellows Knights of Pythias Knights of the Golden Circle Know Nothing Ku Klux Klan  Moose International Ordo Templi Orientis Improved Order of Red Men Tammany Hall  The 21 Society

Alpha Gamma American Protective Association American Protestant Association AMORC Ancient and Honorable Order of Turtles Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights Of Malta Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans Ancient Order of Freesmiths Ancient Order of Hibernians B Book and Snake Brotherhood of American Yeomen Brotherhood of the Union Brothers in Unity C Casque and Gauntlet Church Association for the Advancement of the Interests of Labor Columbian Mutual Life Assurance Society Coming Men of America Committee of Safety (Hawaii) Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo Council for National Policy Cowbellion de Rakin Society D Danite Daughters of America E E Clampus Vitus Fraternal Order of Eagles F Fire and Skoal Flat Hat Club Fly Club List of Fly Club members Fraternal Order Orioles G Gridiron (secret society) H Hermetic Brotherhood of Light I Improved Order of Heptasophs Independent Order of Odd Fellows Indiana White Caps Innocents Society Iron Arrow Honor Society Ivy Club K Knights and Ladies of Honor Knights of Honor Knights of Liberty (vigilante group) Knights of Pythias Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia Knights of Reciprocity Knights of the Ancient Order of the Mystic Chain Knights of the Forest Knights of the Globe Knights of the Golden Circle Knights of the Golden Eagle L League of Friendship, Mechanical Order of the Sun List of Atomwaffen Division members in the United States who faced criminal charges Loyal Nine M Mace a