The Founding and Development of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders and their Influence on Modern American Society

Abstract

Secret societies and fraternal orders came to America with the arrival of the colonists, bringing ideals that influenced the founding of the United States. As the country grew and prospered, so did fraternal organizations, which exerted political influence, provided mutual aid for health and security to its members, and were instrumental in the growth of civic engagement. During the height of the Golden Age of Fraternity, one third of American men were members of a fraternal order. With the Depression of the 1930’s, fraternal societies began a slow decline that continues to the present although the groups evolved to became more inclusive in their membership and took on community service projects in their local communities. Scholars suggest that despite efforts to adapt to societal changes, fraternal groups, like other American civic institutions, are suffering from the growing lack of civic engagement in society, which may be traced in part to the rise of digital communication. This paper follows the evolution of fraternal organizations in the United States, explores their changing roles in society, and suggests additional research to explore the future viability of fraternal groups.