Secret society

A secret society is a club or organization whose members do not disclose their membership, and may be sworn to hold it secret. The term is sometimes also used to describe fraternal organizations which may have secret ceremonies.

Secret societies are often the subject of much suspicion from non-members, and often feature in conspiracy theories. Some although not all secret societies may strive for secrecy for reasons of their illegal activity.

Table of contents

1 Secret societies: 2 Formerly secret or semi-secret societies: 3 Alleged secret societies: 4 Fictional secret societies:

Secret societies:

• Bishop James Madison Society
• Camorra
• Carbonari
• Fenian Brotherhood
• Illuminati
• League of the Holy Court
• Know-Nothings
• Ku Klux Klan
• Mafia
• Mau Mau
• Order of the Solar Temple
• Skull and Bones
• Society of Harmonious Fists
• The School of Night
• Tong (secret society)
• Triad
• Yakuza

Many secret societies have been established on university campuses, including, most notably, Skull and Bones at Yale University and the Bishop James Madison Society at The College of William & Mary. The first collegiate secret society was the FHC Club (1750), followed by Phi Beta Kappa (1776), both founded at William & Mary. William & Mary's early exposure to secret societies allowed these types of organizations to flourish there. It now serves as host to at least five, including the 7 Society, the 13 Club, the Alpha Club, the FHC, and the Bishop James Madison Society.

Formerly secret or semi-secret societies:

• AMORC: Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
• Bilderberg Group
• Confraternity of the Rose Cross
• Freemasonry (membership hasn't been strictly secret since the late 20th century)
• FUDOFSI
• FUDOSI
• Order Militia Crucifera Evangelica

Alleged secret societies:

• Priory of Zion

Fictional secret societies:

• Cabal, in the works of Robert A. Heinlein
• S.P.E.C.T.R.E, in the works of Ian Fleming

See also: Society