A secret society is an organization about which the activities, events, inner functioning, membership, and sometimes also existence, are concealed. 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.
Secret societies may be community-based or associated with colleges and universities. These societies exist in countries around the world.
Definitions The exact qualifications for labeling a group a secret society are disputed, but definitions generally 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 creation of personal bonds between members of the organization, and the use of secret rites or rituals.
Anthropologically and historically, secret societies have been deeply interlinked with the concept of the Männerbund, the all-male "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 tree of secret societies" has been proposed, although it may not be comprehensive.Stevens (1899), p. vii.
Alan Axelrod, author of the International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders,Checkmark Books (1998), defines a secret society as an organization that: is exclusive claims to own special secrets shows a strong inclination to favor its members.
Historian Richard B. SpenceSpence, Richard B. The Real History of Secret Societies (2019), The Great Courses of the University of Idaho offered a similar three-pronged definition: The group's existence is usually not kept secret, but some beliefs or practices are concealed from the public and require an oath of secrecy and loyalty to learn. The group promises superior status or knowledge to members. The group's membership is in some way restrictive, such as 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 have a frequent if not universal tendency towards factionalism, infighting, and claiming origins older than can be reliably documented. Spence's definition includes groups traditionally thought of as secret societies (Freemasons and Rosicrucians) and other groups not so traditionally classified such as certain organized crime cabals (the Mafia), religious groups (Order of Assassins and Thelema) and political movements (Black Hand and Black Dragon Society).
Historian Jasper Ridley says that Freemasonry is "the world's most powerful secret Society". see also Jeffers, H. Paul. Freemasons: A History and Exploration of the World's Oldest Secret Society. (Citadel Press, 2005).
The organization "Opus Dei" (Latin for "Work of God") is portrayed as a "secret society" 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. Other critics label Opus Dei as "Holy Mafia" or "Santa Mafia"
The National Christian Association (1868–1983) is an example of an organization opposed to secret societies.
Realms
Politics Because some secret societies have political aims, they are illegal in several countries. Italy (Constitution of Italy, Section 2, Articles 13–28) and Poland, for example, ban secret political parties and political organizations in their constitutions.
Colleges and universities
Many student societies established on university campuses in the United States have been considered secret societies. Perhaps one of the most famous secret collegiate societies is Skull and Bones at Yale University. The influence of undergraduate secret societies at colleges such as Harvard College, Cornell University, Florida State University, Dartmouth College, Emory University, the University of Chicago, the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, New York University, and Wellesley College has been publicly acknowledged, if anonymously and circumspectly, since the 19th century.
British universities have a long history of secret societies or quasi-secret clubs, such as the Pitt Club at Cambridge University, Bullingdon Club at Oxford University, the Kate Kennedy Club, The Kensington Club and the Praetorian Club at the University of St Andrews, and the 16' Club at St David's College.D.T.W. Price. A History of Saint David's University College, Lampeter. University of Wales Press, Cardiff. Volume One, to 1898 () Another British secret society is the Cambridge Apostles, founded as an essay and debating society in 1820. Not all British universities host solely academic secret societies; both The Night Climbers of Cambridge and The Night Climbers of Oxford require both brains and brawn.
In France, Vandermonde is the secret society of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.
Notable examples in Canada include Episkopon at the University of Toronto's Trinity College and the Society of Thoth at the University of British Columbia.
Secret societies are disallowed in a few colleges. The Virginia Military Institute has rules that no cadet may join a secret society, and secret societies have been banned at Oberlin College from 1847 "Revised codes were issued every few years, but not many important 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 first time the 'peculiar' Oberlin rule against secret societies. 'No student,' it runs, 'is permitted to join any secret society or military company.'" to the present, "No secret society is allowed at Oberlin, and no other societies or self-perpetuating organizations are allowed among students, except by permission of the faculty. This is to be understood to include social and rooming-house clubs." and at Princeton University since the beginning of the 20th century.
Confraternities in Nigeria are secret-society-like student groups within higher education, some of which have histories of violence and organized crime. The exact death toll from confraternity activities is unclear. One estimate in 2002 was that 250 people had been killed in campus cult-related murders in the previous decade,"NIGERIA: Focus on the menace of student cults" , IRIN, 1 August 2002 while the Exam Ethics Project lobby group estimated that 115 students and teachers had been killed between 1993 and 2003."Cults of violence" , The Economist, 31 July 2008
The Mandatory Monday Association is thought to operate out of a variety of Australian universities including the Australian Defence Force Academy. The Association has numerous chapters that meet only on Mondays to discuss business and carry out rituals.
The only secret society abolished and then legalized is that of The Philomaths,Arthur Morius Francis. Secret Societies. Vol. 3: The Collegiate Secret Societies of America. 2015 (file pdf). which is now a legitimate academic association founded on a strict selection of its members.
Internet While their existence had been speculated for years, Internet-based secret societies first became known to the public in 2012 when Cicada 3301 began recruiting from the public via Internet-based puzzles. The goals of the society remain unknown, but it is believed to be involved in cryptography.
Around the world
Africa
The following contemporary and historic secret societies formed in Africa, by country:
Cameroon Ekpe
Ghana Simo
The Gambia Ojeh Society
Guinea Poro Sande society
Ivory Coast Poro Sande society
Liberia Crocodile Society Poro Sande society
Mali Simo
Nigeria Ekpe Nze na Ozo Ogboni Confraternities in Nigeria
Sierra Leone Crocodile Society Leopard Society Ojeh Society Poro Sande society Simo
South Africa Afrikaner Broederbond Afrikanerbond
Zimbabwe Nyau
Asia
China Secret societies played a major role in Chinese affairs for centuries. They were a key aspect of the Anti-Qing sentiments of the 20th century. After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, they were tacitly supported by and actively collaborated with the Nationalist government. Having played prominent roles in history, they were targeted by the anti-secret society campaigns of the newly established government of the People's Republic of China during the 1950s. Examples of Chinese secret societies include:
Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists Hai San Secret Society Red Lanterns Red Spear Society Tiandihui, Society of the Heaven and the Earth Yellow Sand Society White Lotus Heavenly Kingdom of Everlasting Satisfaction
India include:
Paramahansa Mandali Abhinav Bharti
Japan Secret societies in Japan include: Black Dragon Society Double Leaf Society Gen'yōsha Green Dragon Sakurakai
Malaysia Secret societies in Malaysia include:
Ang Soon Tong Ghee Hin Kongsi Wah Kee
Philippines Secret societies in the Philippines include: La Liga Filipina Katipunan Order of Free Gardeners
Singapore
Ang Soon Tong Ghee Hin Kongsi Salakau Wah Kee Freemasonry
Australia
Australia Secret societies in Australia include:
Freemasonry Odd Fellows Order of Free Gardeners Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Tong
Europe Several secret societies existing across Europe, including: Ancient Order of Freesmiths (Freischmiede) Freemasonry Order of Free Gardeners Templars of Honor and Temperance Rosicrucianism Other organizations are listed by country.
Albania
Black Society for Salvation Secret Committee for the Liberation of Albania
Bulgaria
Bulgarian Secret Central Revolutionary Committee Bulgarian Secret Revolutionary Brotherhood Macedonian Youth Secret Revolutionary Organization
Finland
Aurora Society Ordo Templi Orientis Valhallaorden
France
Association of the Polish Youth "Zet" Bourbaki group La Cagoule Carbonari Compagnons du Devoir Company of the Blessed Sacrament Ellinoglosso Xenodocheio Hiéron du Val d'Or Order of Free Gardeners Order of the Solar Temple Priory of Sion Society of the Rights of Man Acéphale
Germany
Ancient Order of Freesmiths Association of the Polish Youth "Zet" Black Reichswehr Bund Deutscher Jugend Gehlen Organization Germanenorden Himmerod memorandum Illuminati Order of the New Templars Ordo Templi Orientis Schnez-Truppe Stille Hilfe Thule Society Tugendbund United Ancient Order of Druids
Greece
Epsilon Team Ethniki Etaireia Ordo Templi Orientis
Ireland Defenders Hellfire Club Irish Republican Brotherhood Molly Maguires Royal Arch Purple Whiteboys
Italy
Carbonari Fascio Operaio Knights of the Apocalypse Propaganda Due Sicilian Mafia
Ottoman Empire
Committee of Union and Progress
Poland
Association of the Polish Youth "Zet" Ordo Templi Orientis Zarzewie
Portugal
Carbonária
Russia
Association of the Polish Youth "Zet" Lyubomudry Ordo Templi Orientis Petrashevsky Circle Secret Macedonian-Adrianople Circle Southern Society of the Decembrists Union of Prosperity Union of Salvation
Serbia
Black Hand Main Board for Serb Liberation Ordo Templi Orientis Serbian secret organization in eastern Bosnia White Hand
Spain
The Disinherited Freemasonry Mano Negra (Black Hand) Order of Free Gardeners Ordo Templi Orientis Society of the Exterminating Angel Spanish Military Union
United Kingdom A∴A∴ Bullingdon Club Calves' Head Club Cambridge Apostles Confederacy Gormogons 5 Hertford Street Hellfire Club Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn The Horseman's Word Molly Maguires National Action The Night Climbers of Cambridge The Night Climbers of Oxford Nordic League Odd Fellows Odin Brotherhood Order of Chaeronea Order of Druids Order of Free Gardeners