List of general fraternities
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. Some historically male-only organizations now include women.
Service clubs, lineage societies, and secret societies are among the fraternal organizations here listed.
College fraternities and sororities appear in the List of social fraternities and sororities.
International
Fraternal orders
E Clampus Vitus
Foresters
Freemasonry
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)
- International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor
- Native Sons of the Golden West
- Orange Order
- Ordo Templi Orientis
- Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
- Vasa Order of America
Fraternal service organisations
- B'nai Brith
- Civitan
- Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo
- Epsilon Sigma Alpha International
- Gyro International
- Illuminati
- Imperial Court System
- International Organization of Good Templars (or IOGT - EST. 1776)
- Junior Chamber International (Jaycees or Junior Chamber of Commerce)
- United States Junior Chamber
- Kiwanis International
- Knights of Columbus
- Columbian Squires
- International Order of Alhambra
- Knights of Pythias
- Lions Clubs International
- Moose International
- Optimist International
- Rosicrucian Fellowship
- Rotary International
- Round Table Club
- Ruritan
- Samaritans (charity)
- Sertoma International
- Sons of Norway
- Soroptimist
- Woodmen of the World
- Zonta International
Australia
- Apex
- Knights of the Southern Cross
- United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
Fraternities or lodges were an important part of Australian society in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. They were gradually replaced by "service clubs", such as Lions, Apex, Rotary, etc. By the end of the 20th century, all the fraternities had been wound up except for the Freemasons and a few lodges of the Buffaloes. The reasons for their decline probably have something to do with generational change and bemusement at the secretive rites that all fraternities had, as the service clubs that succeeded them 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:
- Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
- Ancient Order of Druids
- Foresters Friendly Society
- Freemasons
- Odd Fellows (Independent Order of Odd Fellows or IOOF)
Of course in those sectarian times there had to be two different lodges for those of Irish descent:
Canada
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Canadian Fraternal Association
- Orange Order
- Canadian Order for Home Circles
- International Order of Alhambra
- Kin Canada
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Pythias
Europe
Denmark
Sweden
United Kingdom
- Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society
- Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society
- Grand Order of Water Rats
- Orange Order
South Africa
United States
- Afro-American Sons and Daughters
- Aid Association of Lutherans
- American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
- Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks[1]
- Danish Brotherhood in America
- Fraternal Order of Moai
- Fraternal Order of Owls
- Fraternal Order Orioles
- Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, International
- Improved Order of Heptasophs
- Improved Order of Red Men
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows (or IOOF aka Odd Fellows)
- Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society
- International Order of Alhambra
- International Organization of Good Templars (or IOGT - EST. 1776)
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Peter Claver
- Knights of Pythias
- Knights of the Golden Eagle
- Knights of the Maccabees
- MEANA (Malayalee Engineers Association in North America)
- National Haymakers Association
- Native Sons of the Golden West
- Orange Order
- Order of Heptasophs
- Order of Scottish Clans
- Order of the Arrow (BSA)
- Order Sons of Italy in America
- Sons of Confederate Veterans
- Sons of Norway
- Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
- Sons of the American Revolution
- Sons of the Revolution
- The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange)
- Unico National
- Vasa Order of America (or VOA - EST. 1896)
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Woodmen of the World
See also
- Fraternal benefit society
- Fraternity
- Fraternal order
- List of fraternal auxiliaries and side degrees
- List of Masonic Grand Lodges
- List of North American ethnic and religious fraternal orders
- List of North American fraternal benefit orders
- 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 Survey of history and ritual covering diverse organizations including Freemasonry, and groups that have imitated Masonry such as the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights of the Maccabees, B'nai B'rith, Orange Order, Royal Black Preceptory, Hibernians, Greek Letter Fraternities, etc. and so-called magical fraternities such as the Ordo Templi Orientis and Aurum Solis.
- Complete listing of all secret society, fraternal organizations and fraternal orders with abbreviations, with slogans and mottoes
- The Web of Hiram A Site dealing with Freemasonry at Bradford University.
- World Orders of Knighthood and Merit
- Catholic Encyclopedia entry for Military Orders