Patriotic Order Sons of America

The Patriotic Order Sons of America is an American patriotic fraternal organization that traces its origins to the anti-alien riots of the 1840s. Founded in 1847 in Philadelphia,^[1] the P.O.S. of A. once had "camps" (chapters) in well over 20 states. At its peak, there were more than 800 Camps in Pennsylvania alone. Today, the society maintains a presence only in Pennsylvania, where it has 14 camps. The national headquarters are in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

It was founded as the Junior Sons of America, which was established in Philadelphia on December 10, 1847, by Dr. Reynell Coates. This organization was for young men aged 16 to 21. and was a 'feeder' group for the Sons of America. The parent group died out not long after, but the Junior Sons continued. Only one Camp remained active during the Civil War, as most members had volunteered for the Union. Camps in southern states largely disappeared. Following the Civil War, it reorganized, changing its name to Patriotic Order Sons of America.

Distinguishing features of the Order are its opposition to unrestricted immigration and its support of free public education.

The entry for the group in Alan Axelrod's The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders contains a number of factual errors, but it reads as follows:

The Patriotic Order, Sons of America (the name appears with and without the comma) was, like many organizations with “Patriotic” in their title, an anti-Catholic, anti-immigration Know-Nothing society. It originated as the Patriotic Order, United Sons of America at some time prior to 1847 in Philadelphia. The order disappeared with the collapse of the Know-Nothing Party, but was resuscitated in 1868, this time minus the epithet “United.” The degrees were Red, White, and Blue, and the women’s auxiliary was the (Patriotic) Daughters of America. The Patriotic Order, Junior Sons of America was founded as the junior branch in 1848, and the Patriotic Order of True Americans was the result of a merger between the Patriotic Order of Americans (another auxiliary) and the Daughters of America. There was even (according to the Philadelphia Public Ledger of September 1, 1923) a “fun” or “mummers” division of the Patriotic Order, Sons of America, called the Rough Riders.^[2]

The P.O.S. of A. also played a significant role in supporting and helping fund the Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge^[3] after Regent Anna Morris Holstein^[4] approached them to help with saving, acquiring and preserving Washington's Headquarters^[5] and a portion of nearby surrounding acreage, which today is known as Valley Forge Park.

The P.O.S. of A. was organized under a National Camp, which had the power to issue charters to local camps, and also State Camps, which had a similar power. These are membership figures reported for 1900 to the 1901 meeting of the National Camp in Buffalo, New York.^[6]

From its origin in 1847, the P.O.S. of A. has been distinguished by its wariness of unrestrained immigration and its support of free public education for all. These distinctive features can be seen in its "Platform of Principles" adopted in 1933. It is not clear if this platform remains in force today, but the text of the platform is taken from a 1946 P.O.S. of A. publication, which reads as follows:

Platform of Principles of the Patriotic Order Sons of America; Revised by the National Camp at Wilmington, Del., September 26th and 27th, 1933

The following is the platform of principles of the Order as enunciated by the National Camp:

Next to the love for the Creator, we believe that patriotism is one of the highest and noblest affections of the human soul.

We believe that, without patriotic citizens, the institutions of no country are safe, and that none will so jealously guard and protect them as those born and reared under their influence.

We believe that we have the best form of government for the masses on the face of the earth, and for the welfare, prosperity and happiness of all American citizens and their descendants, we desire to protect our form of government and to preserve it intact from the influence and control of any un-American sentiment or power, whether native or foreign.

By disseminating sentiments of loyalty and patriotism and by establishing a fraternal feeling of devotion to country among all its citizens, we hope to make it impossible for any one to live under the protection of the Flag of the United States of America who does not honor and revere it, and who would not be willing, if necessary, to render any sacrifice or service in defense of the principles of freedom and justice which it represents.

Realizing that the future welfare of our country rests in the youth of today, we especially invite them into our ranks, that, by taking active interest in the principles of our Order, and by practicing leadership fraternally, they may thereby more readily and intelligently become acquainted with the problems of government and in leadership among men that leads to a citizenship that stands aggressively for the highest duty of man—the preservation of its greatest purity and strength, the government of the people, by and for the people.

The bulwark of our liberty is our system of free public schools, and we must insist that they be kept absolutely free from all narrow sectarian or foreignizing influences, and that they be under the sole control of officers elected by the people. We are in favor of compulsory school attendance reasonably administered, and industrial education.

We shall always have with us the wise and the ignorant, the strong, the weak, the rich and the poor, and in order that all may enjoy a right to earn a livelihood, it is the duty of the government to protect the ignorant, the weak and the poor to the extent of equal opportunities under the law, and against all forms of oppression by wholesome regulations of industrial affairs.

We are opposed to the occupancy of any part of our land by foreign speculators or adventurers, and we believe that all the resources of the nation should be reserved for the exclusive use of American citizens.

We stand for a citizenship that so conducts its influences and action—socially, politically, morally and religiously—as to promote the highest welfare of our country, and pledges its full allegiance to our flag, and the liberty and justice to all that it represents. We demand the restriction of immigration, not on account of race or religious creeds, but upon physical, mental and moral grounds, that our country may cease to be filled with criminals, agitators against law and order, insane and paupers. With these exceptions, we cordially welcome all foreigners who come to this country with the honest desire of becoming loyal American citizens, and who sincerely disavow all allegiance to foreign governments.

We are opposed to any grant or donation of any land, money or personal property by the State or any public corporation, for any sectarian purpose, and to the appropriation or payment, from the public fund of anything in aid of any sectarian purpose whatever. This Order shall never be used to advance the political interests of any member from a partisan standpoint, or of any individual or political party; nor shall subjects of a partisan or sectarian nature ever be the subject of debate or discussion within our Order. A creed of the lips, denied and dishonored by the life, merits for its professor general contempt, and the creed of a true patriot, like that of a man of true piety, will control his every act as a citizen and direct all of his energies to the promotion of the highest welfare of his country and his fellowmen.

We invite all native born citizens who believe in their country and its institutions, and who desire to perpetuate free government, and who wish to encourage a brotherly feeling among Americans to the end that we may exalt our country, to join with us in our work of fellowship and love.

“We desire this declaration of principles to be taken and construed only at its face value, and that no additions nor variations shall be read into it, and our Order thereby be misrepresented. As an American fraternity, it is our sole purpose to stand for, and work openly for, a purer, nobler, more genuine American patriotism.”

^[7]

The Order's constitution, as of 1934 and 1946, contained the following language:

MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS. Section 1.—Any American male person shall be entitled to membership in the Order if he be of good moral character, at least sixteen years of age, a believer in the existence of a Supreme Being as Creator and Preserver of the Universe, born on the soil or under the jurisdiction of the United States, in favor of free education, opposed to any union of Church and State, and to the interference of any Foreign power, directly or indirectly, with the Government, and not affiliated with any secular, religious, or other organization opposed or antagonistic to the American System of free public schools. The provision of this article shall not be subject to the granting of any special permission by the National President or National Executive Committee.^[8]

While the above language does not mention race at all, some believe it was for white males only. Today, the order welcomes American citizens of all races.

The public website of the National Patriotic Order Sons of America contains the following mission statement:

We support and pledge to defend the Constitution of the United States and the rights of every citizen to enjoy the liberties set forth in that document. To that end, we encourage the preservation of historic landmarks for the benefit of present and future patriots, so that they may never forget the sacrifices of our founding fathers and the patriots who continue to serve and defend this great nation. We also support the education of all citizens and teach respect and proper care of the American Flag.^[9]

• Bernard J. Cigrand

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• National Patriotic Order Sons of America