Secret society
Secret societies are organized associations working more or less in secret; when the term is used as a pejorative, as it often is, the implication is that the societies are working to achieve a hidden and perhaps malevolent agenda. Members use secrecy to protect themselves and their movement. Some secret societies are viewed as malevolent organizations working against the general will of mankind; for example, such an accusation has frequently made against perhaps the best-known "secret society," the Freemasons, although Freemasons describe themselves as a religious organization.
Members may be required to conceal or deny their membership, and they are often sworn to hold the society's secrets by an oath. Violating the oath may result in the application of severe sanctions.
Like the most successful forgeries, the most effective secret societies are unknown beyond their adherents. Members may be required to deny the organization itself exists.
Secret societies are often associated with conspiracy theories that involve global domination and the introduction a New World Order. These groups are most often characterized in having a hierarchical structure with an ascending series of Degrees.
Function of secret societies
Secret societies have many functions. Some, such as the Odin Brotherhood, the Rosicrucians, or the Thelemic societies, exist to maintain, spread, and practice their esoteric or occult knowledge. Others, while they have esoteric philosophies, are social organizations, such as Greek Fraternities or Elk Lodges. Others were created to provide benefits and charity to members, such as the Knights of Columbus or Woodsmen.
Some secret societies have been considered dangerous by their enemies. Freemasonry, especially irregular masonry, was highly political in the past and involved in radical movements. The Carbonari of Italy were an outright revolutionary, anti-monarchist movement. The Ancient Illuminated Seers of Bavaria (Illuminati) were so considered so dangerous that they were crushed and suppressed by the State. The Sons of Liberty were also a secret society which helped launch the American Revolution.
Initiation
Admittance into a secret society begins with an initiation ritual. Often, this involves darkness, blindfolds, blood oaths, and symbolic icons such as skulls, daggers, and sacred texts. The candidate may undergo symbolic death and resurrection.
Many secret societies will have layers of membership, with a person entering first as a neophyte of some sort, and then advancing through the ranks as he participates more in the organization. These ranks are very often called "Degrees". Some organizations have as few as one or three degrees, others as many as thirty-three.
As the applicant advances through the ranks, he will often learn new passwords, hand grips, or other modes of recognition during the rituals.
International or non-governmental organizations
These groups are often considered and talked about in the context that they are secret societies.
- Royal Institute of International Affairs (also known as Chatham House)
Student societies
- Anak Society (1908) at Georgia Institute of Technology
- Berzelius (1848) at Yale University
- Bishop James Madison Society (1812) at the College of William and Mary
- Book and Snake (1863) at Yale University
- Cambridge Apostles (1820) at the University of Cambridge
- Flat Hat Club (1750) at the College of William and Mary
- Order of the Acropolis at University of Georgia
- Phi Beta Kappa (1776) at the College of William and Mary, began as a secret society, but eliminated secrecy in 1831 and is now national
- Quill and Dagger (1893) at Cornell University
- Scroll and Key (1842) at Yale University
- Seven Society at the University of Virginia
- Skull and Bones (1832) at Yale University
- Society of the Pacifica House (1824) at Brown University
- Sphinx Head Society (1890) at Cornell University
Fraternal organizations
- Order of the Eastern Star
- Confraternity of the Rose Cross
- SRIA (Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia )
- National Society of Pershing Rifles
- Order Militia Crucifera Evangelica
- Order of the Solar Temple
- Order of the Arrow
Historical secret societies
- Beati paoli
- Knights of the Golden Circle
- Know-Nothings
- Ku Klux Klan (exists at present with very small membership)
- Gladio Society of the Elect
- Tiandihui
- Wide Awakes
Revolutionary or underground organizations
- Black Hand
- Carbonari
- Fenian Brotherhood
- Germanenorden
- Katipunan
- Mau Mau
- Narodnik
- Red Turbans
- Righteous Harmony Society
- Tongmenghui
- Vihan Veljet
- Walhalla-orden
- White Rose Society
Secret society - Alleged secret societies
Either existence, or secret society status, is subject to significant doubt
- The Green Man
- Vril Society
Religious
- Bwiti
- Cathars
- Compagnie du saint sacrement
- The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
- Knights of Malta
- Order of the Solar Temple
- Sufism
See Also
External Links
Article on Conspiracies/Secret Societies
Meta-Religion on Secret Societies
References
- Alan Axelrod. The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders. ISBN 0-8160-2307-7
- David V. Barrett. Secret Societies. From the Ancient and Arcane to the Modern and Clandestine. ISBN 0713727721
- Arkon Daroul. A History of Secret Societies. ISBN 0806508574
- Charles William Heckethorn. The Secret Societies of all Ages and Countries, Embracing the Mysteries of Ancient India, China, Japan, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Greece, and Scandinavia, the Cabbalists, early Christians, heretics, Assassins, Thugs, Templars, the Vehm and Inquisition, mystics, Rosicrucians, Illuminati, Freemasons, Skopzi, Camorristi, Carbonari, nihilists, and other sects. ISBN 1-56459-296-0
- John Morris Roberts. The Mythology of the Secret Societies. ISBN 0-684-12904-3
- Herbert Vivian. Secret Societies Old and New. ISBN 1417979526