How To Join A Secret Society

Organization hiding details from non-members

"Secret Lodge Buildings at Yale College", by Alice Donlevy^[i] c. 1880. Pictured are: Psi Upsilon (Beta Chapter), 120 High Street. Left center: Skull and Basic (Russell Trust Association), 64 High Street. Right center: Delta Kappa Epsilon (Phi Chapter), east side of York Street, south of Elm Street. Bottom: Coil and Key (Kingsley Trust SSS Nonse Clan), 490 College Street.

A secret society is a club or an organisation whose activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are curtained. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla warfare insurgencies, that hide their activities and memberships but maintain a public presence.^[2]

Definitions [edit]

The exact qualifications for labeling a grouping a clandestine society are disputed, but definitions by and large rely on the degree to which the organization insists on secrecy, and might involve the retention and transmission of secret knowledge, the denial of membership or knowledge of the group, the cosmos of personal bonds betwixt members of the organization, and the use of hush-hush rites or rituals which solidify members of the grouping.

Anthropologically and historically, secret societies accept been deeply interlinked with the concept of the Männerbund, the all-male person "warrior-band" or "warrior-society" of pre-modern cultures (see H. Schurtz, Alterklassen und Männerbünde, Berlin, 1902; A. Van Gennep, The Rites of Passage, Chicago, 1960).

A purported "family unit tree of secret societies" has been proposed, although it may non be comprehensive.^[iii]

Alan Axelrod, author of the International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Congenial Orders,^[iv] defines a undercover guild as an organisation that:

• is exclusive
• claims to ain special secrets
• shows a potent inclination to favor its members.

Historian Richard B. Spence^[5] of the University of Idaho offered a similar three-pronged definition:

• The group's existence is usually not kept secret, but some behavior or practices are concealed from the public and require an oath of secrecy and loyalty to learn.
• The grouping promises superior status or knowledge to members.
• The group's membership is in some mode restrictive, such every bit by race, sex, religious affiliation, or invitation only.

Spence also proposes a sub-category of "Elite Secret Societies" (composed of high-income or socially influential people), and notes that secret societies accept a frequent if not universal trend towards factionalism, infighting and challenge origins older than can be reliably documented. Spence's definition includes groups traditionally idea of as clandestine societies (Freemasons and Rosicrucians) and other groups not so traditionally classified such as sure organized crime cabals (the Mafia), religious groups (Gild of Assassins and Thelema) and political movements (Bolsheviks and Black Dragon Guild).

David Five. Barrett, author of Underground Societies: From the Ancient and Arcane to the Mod and Clandestine, has used culling terms to define what qualifies a secret guild. He defined it as any group that possesses the post-obit characteristics:

• It has "carefully graded and progressed teachings".
• Teachings are "available just to selected individuals".
• Teachings pb to "hidden (and 'unique') truths".
• Truths bring "personal benefits beyond the reach and fifty-fifty the understanding of the uninitiated."

Barrett goes on to say that "a further feature common to most of them is the practice of rituals which non-members are non permitted to observe, or even to know the existence of." Barrett's definition would rule out many organizations chosen secret societies; graded teaching is usually not part of the American college fraternities, the Carbonari, or the 19th-century Know Nothings.^{[ citation needed ]}

Historian Jasper Ridley argues that Freemasonry is, "the world'due south most powerful cloak-and-dagger Social club."^[6]

The arrangement "Opus Dei" (Latin for "Work of God") is portrayed as a "secret guild"^{[vii] [8] [9]} of the Catholic Church. Critics such as the Jesuit Wladimir Ledóchowski sometimes refer to Opus Dei as a Catholic (or Christian or "white") form of Freemasonry.^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]} Other critics label Opus Dei as "Holy Mafia"^[15] or "Santa Mafia"^[16] as the organisation is connected with various questionable practises including intense "brainwashing" of its members to exploit labor force^[17] too as the direct involvement of members in astringent crimes such as babe-trafficking^[xviii] in Spain under the dictator Francisco Franco.

Realms [edit]

Politics [edit]

Considering some secret societies have political aims, they are illegal in several countries. Italian republic (Constitution of Italy, Department ii, Articles 13–28) and Poland,^[19] for example, ban secret political parties and political organizations in their constitutions.

Colleges and universities [edit]

Many student societies established on university campuses in the United States take been considered hush-hush societies. Perhaps one of the well-nigh famous hugger-mugger collegiate societies is Skull and Bones at Yale Academy.^[twenty] The influence of undergraduate undercover societies at colleges such equally Harvard College, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Emory University, the University of Chicago,^[21] the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, New York University,^[22] and Wellesley College has been publicly acknowledged, if anonymously and circumspectly, since the 19th century.^{[23] [24]}

British Universities, too, have a long history of secret societies or quasi-surreptitious societies, such as The Pitt Social club at Cambridge University,^{[25] [26]} Bullingdon Club at Oxford University,^[26], the Kate Kennedy Gild, the The Kensington Lodge and the Praetorian Club at the University of St Andrews, and the xvi' Order at St David'southward College.^[27] Another British secret society is the Cambridge Apostles, founded as an essay and debating order in 1820. Not all British Universities host solely academic secret societies, for both The Night Climbers of Cambridge and The Night Climbers of Oxford crave both brains and brawn.

In French republic, Vandermonde is the underground society of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.^[28]

Notable examples in Canada include Episkopon at the University of Toronto's Trinity College, and the Order of Thoth at the University of British Columbia.^{[ citation needed ]}

Secret societies are disallowed in a few colleges. The Virginia Military Institute has rules that no cadet may join a underground society,^[29] and secret societies have been banned at Oberlin College from 1847^[30] to the present,^[31] and at Princeton Academy since the beginning of the 20th century.

Confraternities in Nigeria are hole-and-corner-society like student groups within college education. The exact death toll of confraternity activities is unclear. I gauge in 2002 was that 250 people had been killed in campus cult-related murders in the previous decade,^[32] while the Exam Ethics Project lobby grouping estimated that 115 students and teachers had been killed between 1993 and 2003.^[33]

The Mandatory Monday Association is idea to operate out of a variety of Australian universities including the Australian Defence force Academy. The Clan has numerous chapters that meet only on Mondays to hash out business and comport out rituals.^[34]

The only secret society abolished and so legalized is that of The Philomaths,^[35] which is nowadays a legitimate bookish clan founded on a strict selection of its members.

Net [edit]

While their beingness had been speculated for years, internet-based clandestine societies first became known to the public in 2012 when the secret guild known as Cicada 3301 began recruiting from the public via net-based puzzles.^{[36] [37]} The goals of the guild remain unknown, just it is believed that they are involved in cryptography.^{[38] [39]}

By location [edit]

Asia [edit]

Mainland china

• Red Lanterns (Boxer Uprising)
• Reddish Spear Society
• Tiandihui, Club of the Heaven and the Earth
• Tong (organization)
• Yellowish Sand Society
• White Lotus

Philippines

• La Liga Filipina
• KKK

Nihon

• Blackness Dragon Social club
• Double Leaf Club
• Gen'yōsha
• Greenish Dragon (order)
• Kenkokukai
• Sakurakai

Singapore

Africa [edit]

Nigeria

• Abakuá
• Ekpe
• Nze na Ozo
• Ogboni

South Africa

• Afrikaner Broederbond

W African

• Crocodile Society
• Leopard Club
• Poro, a secret men's lodge
• Sande lodge, the female counterpart to the Poro lodge
• Simo (society)

Zimbabwe

• Nyau

Europe [edit]

Deutschland

• Illuminati
• Club of the New Templars
• Ordo Templi Orientis

Ireland

• Irish Republican Brotherhood
• The Defenders

Italy

• Propaganda Due

Serbia

• Black Manus

United Kingdom

• Bullingdon Club
• Hermetic Guild of the Gold Dawn
• The xvi' Lodge
• 5 Hertford Street

Pan-European

• Ancient Order of Freesmiths (Freischmiede)
• Freemasonry
• Rosicrucianism

North America [edit]

• Collegiate undercover societies in North America

United states

• Bohemian Club
• Knights of the Gold Circumvolve
• Social club of the Star Spangled Banner
• Skull and Bones

South America [edit]

Brazil

• Shindo Renmei

Mexico

• Feminine Brigades of St. Joan of Arc

Opposition [edit]

Many Christian Churches forbid their members from joining secret societies, for example, the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connectedness.^[41]}}

See also [edit]

• Congenial order
• Magical organization

References [edit]

1. ^ Alice Donlevy was the author of a volume on illustration called "Applied Hints on the Fine art of Illumination," published by A. D. F. Randolph, New York, 1867
2. ^ Daraul, Arkon (6 November 2015). A History Of Clandestine Societies. Pickle Partners Publishing. ISBN978-i-78625-613-iii.
3. ^ Stevens (1899), p. 7.
4. ^ Checkmark Books (1998), ISBN 0816038716
5. ^ Spence, Richard B. The Real History of Secret Societies (2019), The Smashing Courses
6. ^ Jasper Ridley (2011). The Freemasons: A History of the World's Almost Powerful Hole-and-corner Society. Arcade. ISBN978-1-61145-010-1. encounter besides Jeffers, H. Paul. Freemasons: A History and Exploration of the World'south Oldest Secret Society. (Citadel Press, 2005).
7. ^ Walsh, Michael. OPUS DEI: An Investigation into the Hugger-mugger Society Struggling for Power within the Roman Cosmic Church building.
8. ^ Secret Society: Opus Dei - Catholicism's Underground Sect.
9. ^ Their Kingdom Come: Inside the Secret World of Opus Dei.
10. ^ "Across the Threshold". archive.nytimes.com . Retrieved 30 March 2018.
11. ^ Preston, Paul (1986). The triumph of democracy in Espana. London: Methuen. p. 28. ISBN9780416900101. OCLC 14586560.
12. ^ Harding, Nick (2005). Hole-and-corner societies. Edison, N.J.: Chartwell Books, Inc. p. 107. ISBN9780785821700. OCLC 78244509.
13. ^ Hesse, Alexander (2015), Geheimbünde Freimaurer und Illuminaten, Opus Dei und Schwarze Paw (in German), Reinbek: Rowohlt Taschenbuch, p. 54, ISBN9783499630491
14. ^ Augias, Corrado (2012), Die Geheimnisse des Vatikan : Eine andere Geschichte der Papststadt (in German) (1., neue Ausg ed.), München: Beck, C H, p. 415, ISBN9783406630927
15. ^ Pilapil, Vicente R. (1971). "Opus Dei in Kingdom of spain". The World Today. 27 (5): 211–221. ISSN 0043-9134. JSTOR 40394504.
16. ^ SPIEGEL, Peter Hertel, DER (7 April 2005). "Vatikan intern: Der Aufstieg der Santa Mafia". Der Spiegel (in German language). Retrieved sixteen June 2021.
17. ^ "Opus dei members in court for 'brainwashing'".
18. ^ "On the trail of Spain's stolen children". EL PAÍS. 7 March 2011.
19. ^ "The Constitution of the Democracy of Poland". 2 April 1997. Article 13: Political parties and other organizations whose programs are based upon totalitarian methods and the modes of activity of nazism, fascism and communism, as well equally those whose programs or activities sanction racial or national hatred, the application of violence for the purpose of obtaining power or to influence the State policy, or provide for the secrecy of their ain structure or membership, shall be prohibited.
20. ^ ^{[ dead link ]} "Skull And Bones". The Hole-and-corner Society Manual. thesecretbookgarden.com. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
21. ^ "To The Members of the University of Chicago". The University of Chicago Magazine. v (ix): 298. July 1913.
22. ^ Megan Findling (3 November 2011). "Edgar Allan Poe in Greenwich Village" (article). Researching Greenwich Hamlet History. greenwichvillagehistory.wordpress.com. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
23. ^ "Secret Societies. | News | The Harvard Ruby". www.thecrimson.com.
24. ^ "Student Authorities at Wellesley and How It Makes for Loyalty among the College Girls and Faculty". The New York Times. 12 February 1912.
25. ^ Bowers, Mary (17 November 2006). "Pitt Club under pressure from Council" (PDF). Varsity. p. v. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
26. ^ ^{a b} Gray, Kirsty (xi February 2011). "Oxford's Bully-ingdon Society faces more scandal". Varsity . Retrieved 25 June 2011.
27. ^ D.T.West. Price. A History of Saint David'due south University College, Lampeter. University of Wales Press, Cardiff. Book I, to 1898 (ISBN 0-7083-0606-three)
28. ^ "Naissance de " Alexandre-Théophile Vandermonde ", mathématicien français – Espace " Sciences du Numérique " Alan Turing (LJAD – CNRS/UNS)". www.espace-turing.fr . Retrieved twenty August 2017.
29. ^ "Regulations for the Virginia Military Plant, Part Ii, Revised 5 Dec 2008, 12–16(b)". vmi.edu.
30. ^ Fletcher, Robert Samuel (1943). A History of Oberlin Higher from Its Foundation Through the Civil State of war. Oberlin College. "Revised codes were issued every few years, but non many of import changes were made in them. Provisions with regard to the hours of 'athletic exercises and sport' were added in 1847. In the same revision there appeared for the commencement time the 'peculiar' Oberlin rule against secret societies. 'No student,' it runs, 'is permitted to join any secret society, or military company.'"
31. ^ Student Regulations, Policies, and Procedures, Oberlin Higher 2011–2012 (PDF). new.oberlin.edu. 2011. p. 34. D. Underground Societies: "No cloak-and-dagger social club is allowed at Oberlin, and no other societies or cocky-perpetuating organizations are allowed among students, except by permission of the kinesthesia. This is to be understood to include social and rooming-house clubs."
32. ^ "NIGERIA: Focus on the menace of student cults", IRIN, 1 Baronial 2002
33. ^ "Cults of violence", The Economist, 31 July 2008
34. ^ "4. The Secret Societies", Omaha Surreptitious Societies, Columbia University Printing, 31 December 1969, pp. 58–132, doi:10.7312/fort92186-004, ISBN9780231887458
35. ^ Arthur Morius Francis. Secret Societies. Vol. 3: The Collegiate Surreptitious Societies of America. 2015 (file pdf).
36. ^ Bell, Chris (25 Nov 2013). "The internet mystery that has the globe baffled". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
37. ^ Ernst, Douglas (26 November 2013). "Secret order seeks world's brightest: Recruits navigate 'darknet' filled with terrorism, drugs". The Washington Times . Retrieved 23 July 2014.
38. ^ NPR staff (5 Jan 2014). "The Internet's Cicada: A Mystery without an Answer". All Things Considered, National Public Radio . Retrieved xiii May 2014.
39. ^ Scott, Sam (16 December 2013). "Cicada 3301: The nearly elaborate and mysterious puzzle of the internet age". Metro . Retrieved 16 December 2013.
40. ^ Alexander Wylie: Undercover Societies in Mainland china, in China Researches, p. 131, 1897 Shanghai, reprinted in US by Nabu Public Domain Reprints
41. ^ The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference). Salem: Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection. 2014. pp. 20–21.

Further reading [edit]

• Heckethorn, Charles William (1886). The Hole-and-corner Societies of All Ages and Countries, Embracing the Mysteries of Aboriginal Bharat, China, Nihon, Egypt, Mexico, Republic of peru, Greece, and Scandinavia, the Cabbalists, Early on Christians, Heretics, Assassins, Thugs, Templars, the Vehm and Inquisition, Mystics, Rosicrucians, Illuminati, Freemasons, Skopzi, Camorristi, Carbonari, Nihilists, and Other Sects (2nd ed.). Forgotten Books. ISBN978-ane-4400-8999-ii.
• Whalen, William Joseph (1966). Handbook of Secret Organizations. Milwaukee: Bruce Pub. Co. LCCN 66026658.
• Axelrod, Alan (1997). The International Encyclopedia of Hugger-mugger Societies and Fraternal Orders. New York: Facts on File. ISBN0816023077.
• Harwood, W. S. (May 1897). "Cloak-and-dagger Societies in America." The North American Review, vol. 164, no. 486. JSTOR 25118819.
• Hodapp, Christopher; Von Kannon, Alice (2008). Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies. Wiley. ISBN978-0-470-18408-0.
• Ridley, Jasper (2011). The Freemasons: A History of the World's Near Powerful Underground Society. Arcade. ISBN978-1-61145-010-1.
• Jeffers, H. Paul (2005). Freemasons: A History and Exploration of the World'southward Oldest Secret Society. Citadel Printing.
• Jeffers, H. Paul (2006). The Freemasons in America: Inside the Secret Society. extract
• Jacob, Frank (2012). Geheimgesellschaften: Kulturhistorische Sozialstudien: Secret Societies: Comparative Studies in Culture, Guild and History. Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann. ISBN978-3826049088.
• Kloosterman, Jaap (2013). Secret Societies. Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG).
• Roberts, J. M. (John Morris) (1972). The Mythology of the Secret Societies. New York: Scribner. ISBN0-684-12904-3.
• Robbins, Alexandra (2004). Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities . New York: Hyperion. ISBN0-7868-8859-8.
• Stevens, Albert Clark (1899). The Cyclopædia of Fraternities. New York: Hamilton Printing & Publishing Company.
• Stephen Klimczuk, Gerald Warner (2009). Secret Places, Subconscious Sanctuaries: Uncovering Mysterious Sights, Symbols, and Societies. New York: Sterling Publishing Company.

External links [edit]

• Secret Societies: a very short history – Documents of Freemasons, Jesuits, Illuminati, Carbonari, Burschenschaften and other organizations
• Stevens, The cyclopædia of fraternities (second ed.). A dated review of the subject.
• Secret Societies in Australia and English language Freemasonry

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_society

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