African American •
African Blood Brotherhood •
Afro-American Order of Owls •
Afro-American Order of Red Men •
Christian Knights and Heroines of Ethiopia of the East and West Hemispheres - This organization was incorporated in the probate court of
Mobile County, Alabama, in 1915. The unique name was noticed by several publications including
Law Notes, the
Sacred Heart Review and the
Fortnightly Review. •
Colored Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Honor - Founded in
Franklin, Kentucky, in 1886 as a social and mutual benefit society. Listed in the
1890 census. Extinct by 1923. •
Colored Consolidated Brotherhood - a mutual benefit society headquartered at
Atlanta, Texas. Listed in the
1890 census •
Fraternal Order of Hawks - Also called the Improved, Benevolent Order of Hawks, this was an African American order that may have been modeled on the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Known to be active in
Virginia and
Oregon. •
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America and the women's auxiliary,
Household of Ruth •
Grand United Order of True Reformers - Founded in 1873 in Kentucky and Alabama, an African American fraternal organization that was White-led by the
Independent Order of Good Templars. •
Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers – Founded in c. 1875 in
Richmond, Virginia, by the Rev.
William Washington Browne. It reached the 70,000 members by 1900, and by that time had also contributed $2 million in benefits and relief. •
Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks •
Independent Benevolent and Protective Order of Moose •
Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria - Founded September 14, 1847, as a temperance order in New York City by
I. W. B. Smith. It was an authorized branch of the white
Grand United Order of Good Samaritans which had been founded that March. Had initiated over 400,000 members by 1897. It was described as having educational as well as mutual benefit aspects including sickness, death, disability, and old age benefits. In 1897 the Order had lodges in every US state and England. Its logo was a dove and olive branch enclosed in a triangle with the words Love, Purity, and Truth emblazoned on them. This symbolized perfection, equality, and the trinity. The Orders headquarters were in Washington, DC. •
Improved Order of the Shepherds and Daughters of Bethlehem - Founded in 1910 in Richmond, Virginia. •
Independent Order of Immaculates of the United States of America - Founded June 23, 1872, in
Nashville, Tennessee, by W. A. Hadley. Evolved from
Young Men's Immaculate Association but was different in that it was patterned after secret fraternal orders and that it admitted men and women. Had about 5,000 members in 1897. Headquartered in Nashville. •
Independent Order of Saint Luke - Based in Richmond, Virginia. Had 49,498 members at the end of 1921. Attempts to reach it in 1923 were unsuccessful. •
International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor •
Knights of Peter Claver - Founded in 1909 by members of
Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in
Mobile,
Alabama, as a
Black Catholic fraternal order, as
Blacks were barred from the Knights of Columbus due to their race. Among the founders were The Rev. John H. Dorsey (the second Black Catholic priest ordained in the US), several White priests, and three Black parishioners. •
Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia and the women's auxiliary organization,
Order of Calanthe •
Mosaic Templars of America •
Order of Galilean Fishermen - Founded in 1856 in
Baltimore, Maryland, by Hemsley Nichols. One of the oldest orders of its kind, by 1897 it was also one of the wealthiest with $125,000 in lodges, land, personal property and bonds. By that time it had 56,000 members in lodges "from
New England to the
Gulf." Men and women were admitted. The Order paid sick and death benefits which in 1897 were $5 per day for sickness and $300 to $400 for death. Claimed to be of
Masonic origin, its emblem used a fish, cross rose and the letters
INRI, similar to the
18th degree in
Scottish Rite Masonry. Local lodges were called "Tabernacles." active into the 1980s. •
Prince Hall Freemasonry and the auxiliary groups,
Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star and
Heroines of Jericho. Also, splinter groups such as
National Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Ancient York Masons Prince Hall Origin National Compact USA •
Supreme Camp of American Woodmen •
United African Brotherhood - Organized in
Clinton, Texas. Attempts to contact by mail in the late 1890s failed. •
United Brothers of Friendship - Founded August 1, 1861, by young local students in day or night schools. In 1868, on the advice of their teacher, W.H. Gibson, the society reorganized. Many chapters were formed in
Kentucky, and a statewide Grand Lodge was formed in 1871. After establishing chapters outside Kentucky a National Grand Lodge was formed. W.H. Gibson served as the first State Grand Master for five years and as National Grand Master for four years. Unofficial female auxiliaries were called the Sisters of Friendship until 1878 when the organization formed the official Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, organized in local Temples. In 1878 the Order had about 4,000 members. That was the year they decided to establish another auxiliary, the Knights of Friendship, based on the story of
David and Jonathan. In 1892 the UBF had 100,000 members in 19 states and 2 territories with 30,000 in Missouri alone. It was known to be active in Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Kansas, Colorado, Washington, Canada, the West Indies and Africa. While predominantly black, the order had white members. There was evidence that the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows had something to do with its founding. •
United Knights and Daughters of America - Headquartered in
St. Louis, Missouri. Reportedly had many members in the Midwest. Attempts to contact the order in 1923 were unsuccessful. •
Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League American Indian •
Alaska Native Brotherhood •
Brotherhood of North American Indians - Founded by
Richard C. Adams of the
Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma on December 5, 1911, in Washington, DC. Membership was open to people of Indian blood. Those married to Indians, the President of the United States, the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and other public officials could become honorary members, without vote. The Brotherhood advocated giving Indians the right to vote and granting them citizenship, the placement of Indian children in public school, more Indians working at the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Indian representation in Congress. The national convention in Washington would elect 20 national chiefs, a Great Sachem, a Chief Historian, and a Great Chaplain. The Brotherhood collapsed in 1913. •
Daughters of Sacajawea - Organized in the 1920s, possibly as the
New York City chapter of the Teepee Order of America. Both groups were founded by Red Fox Francis St. James, which created difficulties, as he was intolerant of
Catholics and blacks, so Catholic Indians and those that had black ancestry opposed his groups. In 1926, Princess Chinquilla, a
Cheyenne woman, was the "Great Sacajawea" of the group and worked with St. James to create an Indian cultural center in New York, but the project fell through. •
Loyal Order of Tecumseh - Founded by
Arthur C. Parker as a society within the
Society of American Indians to provide a common ground for those with greater and lesser degrees of Indian blood. Members of the group held no voting privileges, so they could not affect the outcome of the parent group. The Order evolved into other fraternal groups during the 1920s. •
Teepee Order of America - Founded in 1915 by Red Fox Francis St. James, an alleged
Blackfoot Indian. Open to Indians and non-Indians from the US, Canada, and
Latin America, it excluded blacks and European immigrants. Originally similar to the
Boy Scouts of America in appealing to youth and "focusing on Indian activities and ceremonies that were romantic in nature." It was a
Pan-Indian group, but not as successful as the
Society of American Indians, though there was some membership overlap. It advocated for
Native American citizenship and questioned the efficacy of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
English •
Order, Sons of St. George - Organized after the Civil War by Englishmen in the
anthracite coal-mining region of
Pennsylvania to counter the
Molly Maguires. The organization "took permanent shape" at
Scranton in 1871. Membership was open to "Englishmen, their sons, and grandsons, wherever born". Beneficiary membership was limited to those between 18 and 50; those over 50 were allowed honorary membership. The Order required belief in a
Supreme Being, reverence for the
Holy Bible, and loyalty to one's adopted country. By 1896 the order had about 35,000 members in the United States, Canada, and
Hawaii. Ritual based on the legend of
St. George included a "language of words, signs and grips" that the member learned upon initiation which could identify him to other members of the order. The Orders emblem was St. George conquering the dragon. The system of sick benefits varied by the lodge and the inclination of members. There was also a funeral benefit for members and their wives and a benevolent fund for brethren and "any worthy Englishman in distress". Some lodges also provided physicians and medicine for sick members. There was also a female auxiliary, the Daughters of St. George, but it was not officially recognized by the Supreme Lodge. In 1923 the Order was accused of promoting pro-British propaganda in textbooks used in New York by a representative of Mayor
John Francis Hylan. •
Sons of England Benevolent Society - Fraternal order for Canadians of English descent.
French •
Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste - Founded March 27, 1900 in
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amerique for Roman Catholic
Franco-Americans. Activities include hospital volunteer work, comforting the bereaved, visiting shut-ins, and working in
Catholic Action. The
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Educational Foundation provides scholarships; the group also helps fund the
Catholic Communications Foundation whose mission was to spread understanding of the Catholic faith and doctrine in the mass media. Headquarters was Woonsocket. The motto is "In Union there is strength". Lodges are called local councils, and the national convention is "National Congress". There was a ritual for initiation and the installation of officers. 62,000 members in 1968, 47,000 in January 1979. Merged with
Catholic Family Life in 1991. •
Association Canado-Americaine - Founded in 1896 in
Manchester, New Hampshire, which remained the organization's headquarters. Lodges were called Courts, regions District Courts, highest body "Supreme Court" which met quadrennially. A "High Court" administered the group in between sessions of the Supreme Court and determined district boundaries. Motto: "Religion, Patriotism, and Fraternity." The Association had rituals for initiation, installation, and other rites; the rituals reflected the Catholic values of the society whose patron was
St. John the Baptist. The organization offered beneficiary and social membership; the former consisted of adult and infant divisions, the infants becoming adult members when they turned 18. There was also honorary membership bestowed on those who had made unusual services to the Catholic faith, social or economic science, the arts, education, French culture generally, or to any other ideal of the association. 1967 membership 30,424; 1979 membership 26,000. Absorbed
Foresters Franco Americains in 1939. The ACA went into
rehabilitation in 2008 and later was liquidated. Most of its insurance policies were assumed by the
Royal Arcanum.
German •
Alliance of Transylvania Saxons - Founded as the Siebenburger Bund on July 5, 1902. On August 31 of the same year became the
Central Verband der Siebenburger Sachsen. Adopted current name in 1965. Headquarters in
Cleveland, lodges called branches; there were 43 in 1978. The national convention meets annually. Membership was open to those "of
Transylvanian Saxon birth or descent thereof, or married to a Saxon of descendent thereof, or of German birth or descendent thereof" ages 16–60 who were also healthy enough to pass the insurance requirements and of sound mind and habits and high moral caliber. The
Transylvanian Saxon Juniors Association was founded in 1931 to provide insurance for youth. The TSJA also conducts
track and field, swim meets golf, softball, and bowling. Saturday German study classes for youth began in 1925. No rituals, but local Branches have their brief initiation ceremonies. Sponsored the Saxon Basketball League in 1927. Charitable activities included helping
repatriate Saxon POWs in
Siberia to
Saxony in 1918; in 1920 it sent $33,000 to Saxon National School in
Hermannstadt, a school for orphans, now has its orphan fund. Sent $22,000 in 1970–1971 to
Romania for flood relief. 9,871 members in 1967, 8,629 members in 1976 8,892 members in 1989. Membership had stabilized at around 10,000 for decades. •
Ancient Order of Freesmiths - Claimed to be descended from the
Vehmgericht of
medieval Germany. The first known lodge in the United States was founded in
Baltimore in 1865. Subsequent lodges were formed in
Washington, D.C., and
Philadelphia in 1866 and 1867 respectively. By the late 1890s, the Order was said to have members in almost every state of the Union. State divisions were called Grad Lodges, and the national organization was controlled by a Supreme Lodge of the United States that met "one the first hour of every
leap year." Lodge rooms were called Smithies, the presiding officer was titled Sun, the second-in-command was the moon, and other officials had names based on the planets and other bodies in the
firmament. The order worked nine degrees, six lower, called the Free Smiths, and three higher degrees - Grand Marshal, Grand Master, and Cavalier - which were open to members who had been in the Order longer and were entitled to wear colored sashes and swords. The motto of the order was Truth, Fidelity, and Security. The order also paid sick and death benefits. Correspondence sent to Baltimore in May 1923 by Arthur Preuss went unanswered. •
Bavarian National Association of North America - Founded 1884, incorporated in
New York. In 1923 the Association had c.3,500 members in 56 lodges; membership "not strictly limited to", natives of
Bavaria and their descendants. "Supreme Office" at 749 Broadway,
Buffalo, New York. Merged with
Unity Life and Accident Insurance Association in 1934. •
GUG Germania -
Gegenseite Unterstutzungsgeselshaft Germania, founded in 1888 and incorporated the same year in
Wisconsin, in which state they confined their operations. Their mission, in their words "for the purpose of mutual aid in cases of sickness, accident and death of its members or their families". In 1923 it had 8,000 members in 60 subordinate societies; that year it had a capital of over $500,000, with a further $100,000 in sick benefit funds held by local societies. All policy decisions are determined by a "Central Society" made up of the officers, founders, and representatives of the subordinate lodges. A central society meets at stated intervals to elect officers to administer the group and make needed changes. Membership is open to men 18–50, of good moral character who have passed medical exams, regardless of religious or political creeds. Germania stated that it "is not a secret society. No pass-words or grips feature its work. In fact, any man is welcome to join its meetings." •
German Order of Harugari •
Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh - Incorporated April 14, 1892 in
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, as the
Deutscher Unter-stuetzungs-Bund, within a month had 243 members in 6 districts. Began the periodical,
Union Reporter, the next year, now known as
GBU Reporter. Rituals include the candidate signing an application and the president of the local lodge giving an address about the privileges of membership and how one should enter the lodge. Union claimed to be non-sectarian and had no secrets; open to all "well-meaning persons"; non-members accompanied by members allowed at meeting. Locals are "Districts"; national convention meets quadrennially; headquarters in Pittsburgh; in 1979 had $120,000,000 in insurance; also sponsored outings, baseball games, etc. •
Improved Order, Knights of Pythias •
Independent Order of Red Men •
North American Swiss Alliance - Founded July 14, 1865, as the
Grütli Bund der Vereinigten Staaten von Nord Amerika in
Cincinnati. Became
Nordamerikanishcher Schweizerbund in July 1911. National convention meets quadrennially, locals are called branches or lodges. Open to Swiss, Swiss descendants, or spouses of Swiss. Membership 2,000 in 1965, 4,000 in 1978 and 3,350 in 1994, about 10 to 15% are social, uninsured members. Periodical originally called
Gruetlianer changed to
Der Schweizer in 1911. Headquarters in Cleveland in 1979, but it was an "organization on wheels" moving to several places every few years in the late 19th century •
Schwarzer Ritter, Deutscher Orden - Claimed great antiquity, though in 1899 it was said to have been present in the United States for about 30 years. Active in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. •
Sons of Hermann •
United League of America •
Workmen's Benefit Fund - Founded as the Workmen's Sick and Death Benefit Fund in 1884, this organization was licensed to provide insurance in February 1899. The current name was adopted in 1939. Membership opened to non-Germans in 1976. Locals are called "Branches," regional groups are called "Districts," and national convention meets quadrennially. "Supreme Office" reported to be at 9
Seventh Street, New York in 1923. Reported to be in
Brooklyn in the 1970s. Now at 399 Conklin Street - Suite 310
Farmingdale. Two Chicago-based German groups have merged into the WBF - the
Mutual Benefit Aid Society and
American Fraternal Insurance Society founded by
Volga Germans. 53,000 in 1965, 35,000 on December 31, 1978 In 1923 it had 109 branches, 5,189 members and operated in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, Colorado, and Nevada.
Hungarian •
American Hungarian Catholic Society - Founded in 1894. Headquarters in
Cleveland. Aside from insurance, they assist aged members, visit sick and bereaved, and provide service to local parishes. 1965 members 2,430; 1977 members 1,200. •
Hungarian Reformed Federation of America •
Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association - Founded in
Pennsylvania as Verhovay Aid Association, changed name in 1935 21,512 members at the end of 1922, and at that time was headquartered in
Hazleton, Pennsylvania. It had 40,000 members in 1955 the same year it merged with William Penn •
William Penn Association Irish •
Ancient Order of Hibernians •
Knights of Equity •
St. Patrick's Alliance of America - Founded in 1868 by members of the
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and other groups, mostly Irish Catholic. However, the Alliance's ritual emphasized
freedom of religion and denounced bigotry from any source. Other elements were borrowed from the Foresters and other like groups. The Alliance's emblem was a disc showing the
tree of life and the letters S. P. A. of A. The Alliance provided sick and death benefits and benefits for the loss of a wife. Membership was open to all regardless of political or religious belief as long as one was of Irish descent. There were a reported 50,000 members concentrated in "New England, Middle, Pacific Coast, and some other States". The National Secretary was based in
Newark, New Jersey Italian •
Italian Sons and Daughters of America Fraternal Association, formerly the
Italo-American National Union •
Sons of Italy •
Venetian Fraternal Union - Founded in 1924 as the
Unione Veneziana, this group had 862 members in 1928. Provided free medical care and sickness allowances.
Jewish •
Ahavas Israel - Founded in New York in 1890. Paid sick and death benefits for members and their wives. The emblem was a pair of clasped hands. Founders included Masons, Oddfellows, members of the Sons of Benjamin and the Independent Order of B'rith Abraham. •
American Star Order - Founded in New York in 1884, this was an order for
Romanian American Jews and their wives. In 1899 had 5,500 members, half of which were female. Paid sickness and death benefits. Motto: "Charity, Harmony, and Brotherly Love". The emblem was a five-pointed star containing three
Hebrew letters with the Roman numeral XIII below and the letter G above. Had a benefit membership of 3,619 in 57 lodges in 1923. Had 24,000 members in the late 1960s, 40,000 in 115 chapters in 1979. 34,000 members in 1989. Headquarters in 1923 at 44
E. 23rd Street, New York City. Current headquarters at 136
East 39th Street. Licensed to sell insurance in 11 states, benefits include hospitalization and medical policies and retirement plans. Zionist work through B'nai Zion Foundation: sells
Israel Bonds, sponsored
Kfar B'nau Zion agricultural settlement with 500 members, an artist colony near
Haifa, school of applied arts and hostel for art students, also built home for mentally challenged children in Israel. Annual award dinner for someone who promoted the ideals of Zionism and Americanism - honorees have included
Gerald Ford,
Robert F. Kennedy,
Hugh Scott, and
Frank Church. Through its
American Israel Friendship League it distributed books and periodicals to over 2,000 university libraries, sponsored seminars, and discussion groups. By the late 1970s women were accepted as regular members. The order had 453 members in 7 lodges in 1856, and 928 in 10 lodges in 1863, all within the state of New York. The first lodge outside of New York was Benjamin #15 in Philadelphia, on July 30, 1865. In 1899 the Order had 15,000 members in 104 lodges spread across 21 states. In the late 1960s and 1979 the Order's membership was reported as 10,000, though the number of lodges fell from 46 to 42 during the same period. The Free Sons had 8,000 members in 1994. In 1923 its headquarters were at 21
W. 124th Street, New York City. The Grand Lodge's current home is
37th Street near
6th Avenue, sharing office space with the Workmens Circle. National convention meets triennially. The Order is led by a "Grand Master", and the other "grand lodge" officers have a "grand" prefix. Has secret rituals, initiation ceremonies, and passwords. Motto "Friendship, Love Truth". Offers members "usual life insurance" benefits; also a Free Sons
credit union which gives members low-interest loans. The Order sponsors a scholarship program for Jewish students who show high proficiency in
Hebrew, sponsors blood banks, bond drives for
United Jewish Appeal, distributes toys for handicapped kids, homes for seniors, convalescent homes and "summer camps for elderly citizens and needy children". There is also a Free Sons Athletic Association which sponsors youth baseball, softball, basketball, bowling, ping pong, golf, and track and field. Some sources give the name as the Improved Order of B'rith Abraham. Admitted women and was smoothly run. Added social membership option to what was already essentially an insurance society in 1924. Had a peak membership of 206,000 in 1917. In 1923 it had 585 lodges and a benefit membership of 142,812. Membership open to Jews and
gentiles over 16. Female auxiliary named B'rith Sholom Women. Had 52,596 members in 1917. Had 20,000 members in 1979. 6,000 members in 1988. Headquarters still at Philadelphia in 1979, when the order had 130 lodges and three statewide organizations. They had a secret ritual, but it was only used by a few lodges. Offers scholarships. Did not have an insurance fund, per se, but offered death and burial benefits and financial aid when members were in need; also taught English language and Americanization. The group saved 50 children aged 5 to 14 during the Holocaust; these were housed at a
Camp Sholom. Operates a retirement home in Philadelphia that housed 500. •
Independent Order of Sons of Benjamin - Founded in 1877 in New York by a group of men who were already members of the Brith Abraham. By 1899 it had spread to the "principal cities of the United States and the Dominion of
Canada." It authorized the creation of female lodges, of which there were about 20 in 1899. In 1899 there were about 18,000 male members and 2,500 women. Offered the "usual secret society forms, and privileges". The emblem was a triangle between the letters F and P with an L under it. •
Independent Western Star Order - Founded in 1894. The Eastern Division was headquartered at 40
Rivington Street. Had 21,000 members in 1918, with 2000 members in 24 lodges in New York City. Offered accident, death, and burial insurance •
Independent Workmens Circle - Founded in 1906 in
Boston. Open to working men and women and "those in sympathy with the cause of labor". In 1923 had 77 lodges with 5,726 benefit members. Headquarters 86 Leverett Street, Boston. "Took up the cooperative movement" at its annual convention in 1919. Moved into its new 4-story building in the
West End at the corner of Leverett and Ashland Street and moved in on November 13, 1920. The building contained the group's offices, cooperative grocery, creamery, shoe and dry goods store, and printing plant. The "
Co-operative Wholesale Society" consisting of the "Finnish, Lithuanian, and Italian Co-operative of New England" had its offices and warehouse in this building as well. •
Jewish Progressive Order - Headquartered in Philadelphia. Supported the
Palestine Restoration Fund by a "shekel tax" of 25 cents per member. •
Jewish National Workers Alliance •
Order of Brith Abraham - Founded in New York in 1859. Originally restricted to
Reform Jews. Female lodges, consisting of the female relatives of members of the order, could be formed with the sanction of the Grand Lodge and could elect one of the Past Presidents of the male lodges as their officers. In 1899 there were 11,000 regular members and 1,000 members of the female lodges. 8,000 regular members and three-fifths of the 160 lodges were located in New York City. In 1923 it had 198 lodges, 15,152 benefit members, and 195 social members. • - Founded by
Henrietta Bruckman, wife of a prominent New York doctor, with 12 other ladies to assist Hebrew housewives. Had 5,991 members in 21 lodges in 1918. •
Workmen's Circle Lithuanian •
Association of Lithuanian Workers - Founded in 1930. In 1972 the Association had 100 locals. By 1979 this had dropped to 80. In 1965 the ALW had 4,555; this dropped to 1,000 in 8 states in 1979. In 1994 it had 1,800 members. •
Lithuanian Alliance of America - The idea for forming this society first came up in the
Lietuwiszka Gazieta of New York on August 16, 1879. The constituting convention was held in
Plymouth, Pennsylvania, on November 22, 1886, from Polish and Lithuanian parish societies. Originally meant to be a joint Polish-Lithuanian society, but after "heated discussion" the convention decided that American Lithuanians were "badly in need of de-Polonized churches". In the early 1900s, there was tension between the lay and the clergy leading to the split of the
Lithuanian Socialist Federation. Communist sympathizers within the group revolted in 1920, and there was a warning against Communist infiltration in 1925; "progressives" also apparently disrupted many lodges and brought litigation in the 1930s. Headquartered in New York. National convention meets biennially. Had 12,492 members in 303 lodges and 425 in the Juvenile Department in 1923. 22,332 members in 332 lodges throughout 24 states. Had 270 lodges in 1972 and 209 lodges in 1979 with 6,563 members. Headquarters in
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. National convention meets triennially. There were 163 lodges in 1972 and 147 in 1977. 1965 membership was 7,000, which declined to 4,000 in 1979. In 1994 there were 3,069 members, despite membership being opened to non-Catholics. Sponsors Lithuanian cultural activities, cookbooks, films, and radio programs; also sponsors scholarships for members, supports
Community Chest, blood donor clinics, Catholic youth programs, youth camps, and Catholic Social Services. Headquarters in
Oakland, lodges called "Subordinate lodges" which were present in California,
Nevada,
Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and
Rhode Island. In 1978 it had 14,000 members. In 1994 it was reported to have 15,000. Membership is open to Americans of Portuguese descent or birth.
Scandinavian •
Scandinavian American Fraternity - Founded in 1893. Membership was open to Christians of
Scandinavian descent who were of good moral character. The by-laws prohibited discussing religious or political subjects. There was a ritualistic element to the fraternity, including a lodge altar and a burial service, that was criticized by
Christian Cynosure as being "heathen", though prominent churchmen such as the Rev.
P. R. Syrdal of the
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America were active members who defended the organization. Grand Lodge headquarters at
Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 1923 it had 8,085 benefit members and 71 social members spread across Wisconsin,
Minnesota,
Illinois, and
North Dakota. •
Scandinavian Fraternity of America - Founded in 1915 as the consolidation of three other groups including the
Scandinavian Brotherhood of America, which had been founded in 1894. Membership began to decline in the 1980s, dropping from 37 lodges in 1983 to 28 in 1985. In 1991 it was reported to have only 2,500 members, a number repeated in 1995.
Danish •
Danish Brotherhood in America •
Danish Sisterhood - Founded December 15, 1883, in
Negaunee, Michigan, by Mrs.
Christine Hemmingsen. A supreme lodge was formed in 1887, and all the officers were women by 1910. Membership was open to women of
Danish descent or married to a man of Danish descent. Admission is by
black ball, with one blackball enough to disqualify; there is always a second ballot; if there is another blackball a selected secret committee is appointed to determine the cause. Had a secret ritual, and no uninitiated person may attend secret meetings of the lodge. Locals are called "lodges"; regional groups are called "Districts". National convention meets quadrennially. Supreme Lodge headquarters is in
Chicago. Provides funeral benefits of up to $1,000, no more than two beneficiaries can be designated, and in special circumstances, other benefits can be applied for. Membership in 1922, 8,000, 1934, 7,000, and 1979, 4,500.
Norwegian •
Sons of Norway Swedish •
Independent Order of Svithiod - Founded in 1881 for people of
Swedish extraction. Headquartered in Chicago at 139 N.
Clark Street. Rituals based on Norse gods such as
Baldur,
Thor, and
Odin and required a secret oath from each initiate. The lodge session opens and closes with a prayer by the chaplain. Women allowed to become members in 1916. In 1923 the Order was active in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Washington, and Missouri with 64 lodges, 13,036 benefit members, and 279 social members. Opened membership to non-Swedish Scandinavian Americans in 1962. •
Independent Order of Vikings •
Vasa Order of America Scottish •
Daughters of Scotland - Incorporated in
Ohio on October 3, 1899. Membership is open only to those of
Scottish blood. Rituals had signs, oaths, and prayers. Grand Lodge dissolved in the early 1970s, though some local groups continued to meet afterwards. •
Order of Scottish Clans •
Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association - Founded 1876 in
Toronto. Incorporated in
Ontario in 1880, and on the federal level in 1937. Headquartered in Toronto, the association's lodges are called "Subordinate Camps", and the national structure is "Grand Camp", which meets in conventions triennially. Slogan "Lealty, Loyalty, Liberality". In the late 1970s, it still had an initiation ceremony and "affinity for fraternal ritualism", annual passwords, and regalia. In addition to insurance, it sponsors Scottish dancing and piping competitions, and parades in Scottish
kilts. Membership is open to men and women of Scottish descent or their spouses. Five classes of membership - insured, central camp, juvenile, associate, and at large. Members are chosen by blackball. 1973 membership 12,887; 1979 membership 12,640 in 80 camps. 9,000 members in 1995. Charitable activities include
Kidney Foundation of Canada and
Alzheimer's disease organizations. Lost a third of its membership over the 1980s. Had 20,000 members in 1994. Local groups are called "Lodges"; in 1979 there were 28 lodges in 7 states. The national convention meets quadrennially. Poles or people of Polish descent are eligible. A women's division was added in 1940. There were 5,000 members in 1960, and 5,543 in 1979. There were 4,476 in 1994. •
Polish Beneficial Association - Founded in 1899 in
Philadelphia and headquartered there. Locals are called "groups". National convention meets quadrennially. Open to people of
good moral character of Polish, Lithuanian, or
Slavic descent and of the
Roman Catholic,
Byzantine Catholic or
Greek Catholic Church or those married to one of the acceptable ethics and a member of the approved churches. Honorary membership is given to those who rendered a great service to the Association, Catholicism, the United States, or mankind in general. The minimum age is 15, though juvenile insurance/membership was available. In 1967 it had 24,500 members in 1979 16,000 in 105 groups. No ritual, but there is an oath. Offers scholarships, organizes folk dances,
polka and Halloween parties, etc. Involved with the Catholic church. Patron saint is
St. John Cantius, holds Masses and organized a pilgrimage to the
National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in
Doylestown, Pennsylvania. •
Polish Falcons of America •
Polish National Alliance of Brooklyn - Founded in 1903. Despite the name, it had members and was licensed to sell insurance in Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York. Absorbed Polish American Workmen Aid Fund in 1960. Had 21,413 in 1965, approximately 12,000 in 1979 and 11,135 in 1995. Had 155 lodges in 1972, 87 in 1978. Offers Masses to its members, yearly grants to the
Catholic Foundation and theological seminaries. Had difficulty retaining membership because it was
actuarially unsound. Adopted the American Experience table at its sixth convention in
Buffalo, New York, in September 1920, but it wasn't until 1923 that it was actuarially sound. Headquarters in Scranton. Local groups are called "branches", and regional groups are called "Districts". National convention meets quadrennially. 20,000 members in 1930, 32,142 in 247 branches in the mid-1960s, and 31,649 in 210 branches in 1979. 30,000 members in 1994. •
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America •
Polish Union of America - Founded in 1890. 9,000 in 1994. Maintains library, museum, speakers bureau, ethnic awareness programs, and vocational placement services. Also runs White Eagle Young Adults Club.
Czech •
Catholic Womens Fraternal of Texas - Founded on September 16, 1894, by
Czech Catholic women in the
Yoakum and
Hallettsville area of Texas. Incorporated in 1927. Headquartered in
Austin. Had 24,000 in 1972 and 25,000 in 1977. Membership is now open to people of both genders, irrespective of religion or ethnic background. Junior membership is available for those 17 and under. Has sponsored
Newman Clubs at
UT and
A&M as well as a clerical endowment fund for priest education, the
Czech Christian Academy in
Rhome, Texas,
Right to Life,
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as well as other charitable, community and Catholic projects. •
CSA Fraternal Life - Founded on March 4, 1854, as the Czecho-Slovak Protective Society. On January 1, 1933, merged with the
Society of Taborites,
Bohemian-Slavonic Fraternal Benefit Union, the
Bohemian-Slavonic Union and the
Bohemian American Foresters. The organization changed its name to the
Czechoslovak Society of America but maintained the original 1854 charter. The
Unity of Czech Ladies and Men was absorbed in 1977. According to its current constitution, membership is open to "Any person of good character and who subscribes to the purpose for which the Society is organized and meets all requirements for membership established by the Society." Had 52,000 members in the late 1960s, 50,000 in 1979 and 30,000 in 1990. •
Czech Catholic Union - Founded in 1879 as the
Czech Roman Catholic Central Union of Women by the merger of two
altar and rosary societies at the St. Wenceslaus Church in
Cleveland - St. Ann Society #1, founded in 1867 and St. Ludnila Society #2 founded in 1871. The union was arranged by Rev.
Anthony Hynek and
Emil Prucha. Adopted current name in 1938. 10,000 in the mid 1980s and 5,000 in 1995. These are divided into 7 districts covering Texas. The "Supreme Lodge" meets quadrennially. Membership open to both sexes if of good health and
US citizens. Had 35,000 in 1969, 54,000 in 1979, Initiation is done once each year, every lodge choosing its date, five votes necessary to reject a candidate for initiation. Supports two homes for the elderly in
Taylor and
Needville, Texas. In 1969 it absorbed the
Catholic Slovak Union, which had 1,500 members. Had 102,000 members in 1965, 95,000 in 1979 and 87,000 in 1994 Headquarters in
Beachwood, Ohio. Locals called "Branches", present in 12 states and two Canadian provinces. National convention meets quadrennially. Gives aid to convents, monasteries, a theological seminary in Rome, and a "priest scholarship" underwritten by the Cleveland diocese. Awards $10,000 in nursing and college scholarships annually; maintains home for the aged in Beachwood. Organizes biannual youth conferences for people 16-20 which emphasizes the fraternal benefit system. Those who have been with the group for 25 years receive a pin, and 50 years a cash reward. •
First Catholic Slovak Union of the United States of America and Canada - Slovak name
Prva Katolicka Slovenska Jednota 105,000 members in the early 1980s, 80,000 in 1993. •
Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union - Founded in 1898, chartered in 1900 in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Originally known as the Women's Pennsylvania Slovak Roman and Greek Catholic Union. Headquartered in
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It had 16,000 members in 1965 and 1978. 14,600 in 1994 Licensed to sell insurance in eight states outside of Pennsylvania; supports
Slovak Seminary in Rome, and the
Slovak Catholic Federation. 18,000 in 1994. Has a ritual. Slogan: "One for all and all for one". Membership is open to Christians of Slovak or Slavic birth or ancestors and their non-Slav friends of sound health and good moral character. Sponsors scholarships,
spelling bees, Christmas parties, softball, baseball and dart ball games, dinners, dances, bazaars. Maintains Slovak Hall of Fame, advocated a free
Slovakia during the
Cold War. •
Slovak Catholic Sokol - Founded in 1905 as the
Roman and Greek Catholic Union; a gymnastic society much like Sokol USA, but with a stronger religious, Catholic emphasis, including financial assistance to missionaries and people preparing for the priesthood. Sponsors annual
track and field event. In 1921 had 19,025 members, more than 42,000 in 1936, 44,243 in 1946, and 50,000 in 1979. 50,000 members in 1995. •
Sokol U.S.A. - A
Sokol movement, apparently popular among people of Czech and Slovak descent in the mid-19th century. The earliest antecedent of this particular organization was a lodge founded in 1896, full name
Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol of the United States of America. Sponsors gymnastic events called
Slets, insurance benefits, dances and
calisthenics, scholarships, and "camps and halls" in several states. 23,000 members in 1979, and 12,000 in 1995. Absorbed the
Slovak Evangelical Society and the
Tatran Slovak Union in 1944. •
United Lutheran Society - Traces its origins to the
Slovak Evangelical Union founded in 1893 in
Freeland, Pennsylvania. In 1906 the
Evangelical Slovak Women's Union was founded. These merged in 1962 creating the ULS. In 1979 the society had 11,000 members in 11 states and Canada. Headquarters in
Ligonier, Pennsylvania. •
Zivena Beneficial Society - Founded in 1891. Headquartered in
Ligonier, Pennsylvania, since at least the late 1970s, but in the early 1920s headquartered in
Braddock, Pennsylvania. Had 5,611 at the end of 1918. 7,277 members in 1927, 4,357 in 1965, and 2,500 in 1977. The national convention met quadrennially. Licensed to sell insurance in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Sponsored scholarships, gave aid to aged and handicapped members, and donated to civic and charitable groups. Merged into
Croatian Fraternal Union in 1995.
Carpatho-Rusyn (Ruthenian) •
Greek Catholic Union of the USA •
United Societies of the USA - First founded in 1903 by three ecclesiastical lodges of the
Greek Catholic Union in
McKeesport and one from
Glassport, Pennsylvania, as the
United Societies of the Greek Catholic Religion of the United States. Original purpose not to form a fraternal group but to spread
Greek Catholicism, foster
Ruthenian nationalism, organize Greek Catholic schools and help sick or disabled members and the families of deceased members. Headquarters in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Local groups are "subordinate lodges". National convention, which meets quadrennially, is the "Supreme Governing Body". Membership is open to any member of the Greek or Latin rite of the Catholic church. 4,900 in 190 lodges in 1968. 4,400 in 142 lodges in 1979. Headquarters in
Milwaukee. In 1978 it was noted that "in recent years non- also are eligible for membership" as well as non-Catholics. 1978 membership was 1,400 in 14 lodges. Headquarters in
Hobart, Indiana. Convention meets quadrennially. In 1978 membership was described as being open to Croats and their spouses who are Latin or Greek rite Catholics. In 1997 it was described as open to all Latin or Greek rite Catholics in the United States and Canada. Merged with the Croatian Fraternal Union in 2006. It was organized to promote social and intellectual interchange, and establish a system of general philanthropy and benevolence for Serbian immigrant laborers toiling far from their homeland. The eight founding members were Antonije Vukasovich, Jovan Jovovich, Jovan Pavkovich, Krsto Gopcevich, Rade Begovich and Vladimir Jovovich, all from Boka Kotorska, George S. Martinovich from Montenegro, and Mikhail Rashkovich from Vojvodina. •
Serb National Federation - Created after the merger of several
Serbian American organizations in 1929. Headquarters in
Pittsburgh. Membership open to people of
Serb or
Slav descent 16–60. Those under 16 can join "Junior Order". In 1979 it had 20,000 members, and "membership groups" existed in 10 states and Canada. In 1995 it had 15,200 members.
Macedonian •
Macedonian Patriotic Organization Eastern Slavs Russian •
Russian Brotherhood Organization of the U.S.A. - Founded in 1900, incorporated 1903. Headquarters in
Philadelphia. National convention meets quadrennially. 365 lodges in 1975, and 386 lodges in 1972. Mid-1960s membership 12,000; 9,000 members in 1978, 7,832 in 1995. Many lodges attached to orthodox churches. Mostly concentrated in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Grants scholarships and helps
parochial schools; organize choral groups,
balalaika orchestras, and folk dancing. Built cultural and sports centers. •
Russian Independent Mutual Aid Society - Founded in 1931. Operates mainly in
Illinois and
Michigan. 1,475 members in 1965, less than 900 in 1978, 789 in 1989, and 825 in 1995. •
Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society of the USA - Founded in 1895. Headquarters in
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Conventions every four years. In 1965 it had 2,777 members in 170 local lodges, in 1978 1,500 in 152 lodges. Had only 1,510 members in 1995. 1995 membership 1,789. Grants scholarships and donations to
St. Tikhon's Seminary and Monastery,
St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary; and the
Monastery of the Transfiguration,
Orthodox Press Fund,
Alaskan Fund and the
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Ukrainian • Providence Association of Ukrainian Catholics in America - Founded in 1912. Headquartered in Philadelphia where the annual convention always meets. Membership is open to "any
Ukrainian, either Ukrainian Catholic or of another Christian denomination, who is not hostile to the Ukrainian Catholic Church, is morally stable, mentally and physically sound, honest, practicing his/her Christian faith, of good character, and fully abiding by these Bylaws...[a] Ukrainian, or a person of Ukrainian descent, or of another ethnic affiliation related to a person of Ukrainian origin, in good health, not exceeding 70 years of age, is also eligible for membership." In 1979 had 210 lodges in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. Had the same number of lodges in 2015. Had 11,000 members at the beginning of the 1930s, 8,000 in 1942, 16,994 in 1965, 18,000 in 1979, •
Ukrainian Fraternal Association - Founded in 1910 as the
Ruthenian National Union, became the Ukrainian Workingmen's Association in 1918, and adopted the present name in 1978. It was open to Ukrainians,
Russians and other Slavs without regard to religious or political affiliations; clergy and those who insisted on debating religious questions were encouraged to join another group. In 1966 membership was open to any person of Ukrainian descent 16-65 except those who were pregnant,
alcoholics or
drug addicts. Had 24,134 members in 1965, 20,000 members in 1995. Later apparently called branches. There was a ritualistic initiation; besides its insurance benefits, it has helped out in natural disaster and war relief; supported the
Ivan Franko Scholarship Foundation. 8,710 members in 1995. •
Ukrainian National Association == Religious ==