Secret Societies and Fraternal Organizations
Golden Age of Fraternalism: 1870-1910
The Golden Age of Fraternalism fell roughly between 1870 and 1910, and fraternal organizations were very popular in Warren County. At the turn of the twentieth century, it was reported that one in five men in the United States belonged to at least one fraternal order. Some were members of older, established organizations such as the Freemasons (dating from the 15th and 16th centuries), while others joined newly created orders, like the Ancient Order of United Workmen established in 1868. Many belonged to multiple lodges.
In 1907, at least 568 different fraternal orders existed. Of those orders, only 78 existed before 1880; the remaining 490 came into existence between 1880 and 1901. The numbers do not reflect the thousands of women who joined their own fraternal orders, many of which were associated with existing male orders, such as the Freemasons and the Odd Fellowship. With somewhere between 20% and 40% of the male population claiming membership and thousands of women enrolled too, it is no surprise that these organizations played a large role in communities across the country during the Gilded Age.
In 1907, at least 568 different fraternal orders existed. Of those orders, only 78 existed before 1880; the remaining 490 came into existence between 1880 and 1901. The numbers do not reflect the thousands of women who joined their own fraternal orders, many of which were associated with existing male orders, such as the Freemasons and the Odd Fellowship. With somewhere between 20% and 40% of the male population claiming membership and thousands of women enrolled too, it is no surprise that these organizations played a large role in communities across the country during the Gilded Age.
Why were secret societies and fraternal orders so active during this period?
The catalyst for the massive increase in secret, fraternal organizations was the Civil War. In 1866 the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was formed for veterans of the Union Army and Navy. That same year, the Knights of Pythias was created. These organizations differed from the earlier orders in that they accepted members from a wide variety of backgrounds, employment, social standing, and, at least in the case of GAR, colors. These organizations embraced masonic style rituals and regalia and exposed these aspects of the more elite secret societies to the common man. The age of mass fraternal participation had arrived.
Secret societies and fraternal orders attracted recruits during the late nineteenth century for a number of reasons. These organizations were open to anyone who wished to join (although most had color restrictions). They served as social clubs and a way to network at a time when television, telephones and computers did not exist. Some joined to help their communities through the order’s beneficial programs. The regalia, secret signs and uniforms attracted others because these aspects gave a sense of fantasy, mystery, and adventure, allowing members to forget their real lives for a few hours. There was a touch of militarism too, created by the new generation who had grown up on stories of the Civil War, but had not actually served. Most of the orders also had a not so mysterious or exciting aspect to them. They were simply insurance/beneficiary societies people joined to have a sense of security when a job was lost or death or injury impacted a family. Many of the secret societies and fraternal orders still exist today, without the ritual, regalia or secret signs, in the form of insurance companies.
The catalyst for the massive increase in secret, fraternal organizations was the Civil War. In 1866 the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was formed for veterans of the Union Army and Navy. That same year, the Knights of Pythias was created. These organizations differed from the earlier orders in that they accepted members from a wide variety of backgrounds, employment, social standing, and, at least in the case of GAR, colors. These organizations embraced masonic style rituals and regalia and exposed these aspects of the more elite secret societies to the common man. The age of mass fraternal participation had arrived.
Secret societies and fraternal orders attracted recruits during the late nineteenth century for a number of reasons. These organizations were open to anyone who wished to join (although most had color restrictions). They served as social clubs and a way to network at a time when television, telephones and computers did not exist. Some joined to help their communities through the order’s beneficial programs. The regalia, secret signs and uniforms attracted others because these aspects gave a sense of fantasy, mystery, and adventure, allowing members to forget their real lives for a few hours. There was a touch of militarism too, created by the new generation who had grown up on stories of the Civil War, but had not actually served. Most of the orders also had a not so mysterious or exciting aspect to them. They were simply insurance/beneficiary societies people joined to have a sense of security when a job was lost or death or injury impacted a family. Many of the secret societies and fraternal orders still exist today, without the ritual, regalia or secret signs, in the form of insurance companies.
