A friendly society or benefit society is a voluntary association formed to provide mutual aid, benefit, for instance insurance for relief from sundry difficulties. These groups are also known as a fraternal benefit society, fraternal benefit order, or mutual aid organization. Following is an incomplete list of these societies and orders.
International Foresters Financial (Canada, UK, US) Girls' Friendly Society (UK and others) Independent Order of Rechabites (UK and others) International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor (US and others) Irish National Foresters (Ireland and others) Knights of Columbus (US and others) Knights of Peter Claver (US and others) Saint Andrew's society (countries with Scottish diaspora)
Defunct Ancient Order of United Workmen Knights of the Maccabees Order of Chosen Friends Sons of Temperance
Australia Australian Unity Benevolent Society
Defunct Australasian Dramatic and Musical Association (1871-1940) Australasian Women's Association (1900-?) Australian Natives' Association (1871-2007?) Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society (1868-?) Protestant Alliance Friendly Society (1972-1948?) Tredegar Medical Aid Society (1890-1994)
Barbados Mosaic Templars of America
Canada Benevolent Irish Society Canadian Order of Chosen Friends Sons of Norway Teachers Life
Defunct Canadian Fraternal Association (1891–2016) Knights of the Maccabees Umberto Primo Society
New Zealand Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society
United Kingdom Ancient Order of Druids Benenden Health Exeter Friendly Society Foresters Friendly Society Grand United Order of Oddfellows Harting Old Club Healthy Investment Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity National Friendly Order of Druids Police Mutual Presbyterian Mutual Shepherds Friendly Society Scottish Friendly Teachers Assurance
Defunct Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Permanent Relief Society (1872-?) Royal Liver Assurance (1850-2011)
United States Aid Association of Lutherans Artisans Order of Mutual Protection Bohemian Citizens' Benevolent Society Catholic Financial Life Danish Brotherhood in America Degree of Honor Protective Association Gleaner Life Insurance Society (aka Ancient Order of Gleaners) Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America Independent Order of Oddfellows Knights of Pythias Modern Woodmen of America National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry Order of United Commercial Travelers of America Polish Roman Catholic Union of America Royal Neighbors of America Sons of Norway Spanish Benevolent Society Thrivent Financial Travelers Protective Association of America Vasa Order of America WoodmenLife, formerly Woodmen of the World
Defunct American Legion of Honor (1878–1904) Ancient Order of United Workmen (1868–1952) Artists' Fund Society (1859-1946) Brotherhood of American Yeomen (1897–1938) Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (1873-1969) Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (1890-1986) Columbian Mutual Life Assurance Society (1903–1963) Fraternal Brotherhood (1896–1931) Free African Union Society (1780–1824) League of Friendship, Mechanical Order of the Sun (1868)
See also List of general fraternities List of North American ethnic and religious fraternal orders List of North American fraternal orders