A fraternity or fraternal organization is an organized society of men associated together in an environment of companionship and brotherhood; dedicated to the intellectual, physical, and social development of its members. Service clubs, lineage societies, and secret societies are among the fraternal organizations listed here. College fraternities and sororities appear in the List of social fraternities and sororities. Fraternal benefit societies are included in List of friendly and benevolent societies.
International
These are fraternal organizations that operate internationally.
Fraternal orders
Druids
Freemasonry
Gardeners
Loyalists
Odd Fellows
Other fraternal orders
- Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Fraternal Order of Eagles of US and Canada (Fraternal Order of Eagles in the Philippines is not an affiliate or under its jurisdiction)
- Knights of the Maccabees
- Order of Alhambra
- Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
- Sons of Norway
- Vasa Order of America
Fraternal service organisations
- B'nai B'rith
- Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo
- Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan
- Gyro International
- International Organisation of Good Templars
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Pythias
- Round Table
Australia
Fraternities or lodges were an important part of Australian society in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. After the Second World War, they were gradually replaced by "service clubs", such as Lions, Apex and Rotary. By the end of the 20th century, most fraternities had been wound up except for the Freemasons and a few lodges of the Buffaloes. Many fraternities also offered insurance to their members and as membership declined, these operations were either combined with other non profit insurance companies or sold with the proceeds being distributed to charitable causes.
The reasons for their decline probably have something to do with their male only membership, generational change and bemusement at secretive rites and rituals. All fraternities had different rules and rites, but they all appear to have been complex. The service clubs that succeeded the fraternities also operated as social networks and did fairly similar charitable work. No general history has been written, but some of the many lodges that operated in the state of Victoria were:
- Freemasons, including United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
- Knights of the Southern Cross
Canada
- Beta Sigma Phi, non-collegiate sorority
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows
- Loyal Order of Moose
- Orange Order in Canada
- Order of Alhambra
Europe
Denmark
Republic of Ireland
Sweden
United Kingdom
See also: Gentlemen's clubs- Apprentice Boys of Derry
- Grand United Order of Oddfellows
- Grand Order of Water Rats
- Independent Orange Order
- Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society
- Knights of St Columba
- Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
- Royal Arch Purple
- Royal Black Institution
South Africa
United States
- Afro-American Sons and Daughters
- American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
- Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
- Beta Sigma Phi, non-collegiate sorority
- Danish Brotherhood in America
- E Clampus Vitus
- Fraternal Order of Eagles
- Fraternal Order of Moai
- Fraternal Order Orioles
- Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, International
- Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World
- Improved Order of Heptasophs
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows (aka Odd Fellows)
- Independent Order of St. Luke
- International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor
- Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America
- Household of Ruth
- Improved Order of Red Men
- Junior Order of United American Mechanics
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Peter Claver
- Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia
- Knights of the Globe
- Knights of the Golden Eagle
- Loyal Order of Moose
- Military Order of the Serpent
- National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
- National Haymakers' Association
- Native Sons of the Golden West
- Omicron Epsilon Pi, non-collegiac lesbians and lesbians of color
- Order of Alhambra
- Order of Heptasophs
- Order of Owls
- Order of Scottish Clans
- Order Sons of Italy in America
- Patriotic Order Sons of America
- Rascals, Rogues, and Rapscallions
- Sons of Hermann
- Sons of Norway
- Tribe of Ben-Hur
- Vasa Order of America
See also
- Benefit society
- Fraternal order
- List of friendly and benefit societies
- List of Masonic Grand Lodges
- List of North American ethnic and religious fraternal orders
- List of North American fraternal orders
- List of social fraternities
- List of social sororities and women's fraternities
- Secret society
- Service club
- Social club
References
- Elks lodges in the Philippines and the Canal Zone were founded while those areas were United States territories and/or possessions. Those lodges are still in operation and recognized by the Grand Lodge. United States citizenship is still required for membership in those lodges.
External links
- Survey of Secret Societies and Museum of Fraternal Lithographs
- Listing of secret society, fraternal organizations and fraternal orders with abbreviations, with slogans and mottoes