List of general fraternities

Organized society of men associated together

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. Service clubs, lineage societies, and secret societies are among the fraternal organizations listed here. College fraternities and sororities appear in the List of social fraternities and sororities.

## International

[edit]

These are fraternal organizations that operate internationally.

### Fraternal orders

[edit]

#### Druids

[edit]

* Ancient Order of Druids
* Order of Druids
* United Ancient Order of Druids

#### Foresters

[edit]

* Foresters Friendly Society
* Independent Order of Foresters

#### Freemasonry

[edit]

* Freemasonry
* DeMolay International
* International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
* Job's Daughters International
* Order of the Amaranth
* Order of the Eastern Star
* Prince Hall Freemasonry
* Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star
* Scottish Rite
* Shriners
* York Rite

#### Gardeners

[edit]

* Order of Free Gardeners

#### Loyalists

[edit]

* Orange Order

#### Odd Fellows

[edit]

* Odd Fellows
* Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF)
* Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (AMOS)
* Daughters of Rebekah
* Ladies of the Orient (LOTO)
* Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity
* International Association of Rebekah Assemblies
* Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America
* Household of Ruth

#### Other fraternal orders

[edit]

* Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
* Ancient Order of Hibernians
* Ancient Order of United Workmen
* Beta Sigma Phi, non-collegiate sorority
* 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 Alhambra
* Knights of the Maccabees
* Native Sons of the Golden West
* Ordo Templi Orientis
* Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
* Vasa Order of America

### Fraternal service organisations

[edit]

* B'nai Brith
* Civitan International
* Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo
* Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan
* Gyro International
* International Order of Alhambra
* International Organisation of Good Templars (or IOGT - EST. 1776)
* Junior Chamber International (Jaycees or Junior Chamber of Commerce)
* Kiwanis International
* Knights of Columbus
* Columbian Squires
* Squire Roses
* Knights of Pythias
* Lions Clubs International
* Moose International
* Optimist International
* Rotary International
* Round Table Club
* Ruritan
* Sertoma International
* Sons of Norway
* Soroptimist International
* WoodmenLife (formerly Woodmen of the World)
* Zonta International

## Australia

[edit]

Fraternities or lodges were an important part of Australian society in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. After the Second World War, they were gradually replaced by "service clubs", such as Lions, Apex and Rotary. By the end of the 20th century, most fraternities had been wound up except for the Freemasons and a few lodges of the Buffaloes. Many fraternities also offered insurance to their members and as membership declined, these operations were either combined with other non profit insurance companies or sold with the proceeds being distributed to charitable causes.

The reasons for their decline probably have something to do with their male only membership, generational change and bemusement at secretive rites and rituals. All fraternities had different rules and rites, but they all appear to have been complex. The service clubs that succeeded the fraternities also operated as social networks and 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:

* Freemasons, including United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
* Knights of the Southern Cross
* Rechabites

## Canada

[edit]

* Canadian Fraternal Association
* Canadian Order for Home Circles
* Independent Order of Odd Fellows
* Kin Canada

## Europe

[edit]

### Denmark

[edit]

* Independent Order of Odd Fellows

### Republic of Ireland

[edit]

* Clan na Gael
* Irish National Foresters
* Knights of Saint Columbanus

### Sweden

[edit]

* Independent Order of Odd Fellows
* Swedish Order of Freemasons
* Samfundet SHT

### United Kingdom

[edit]

See also: Gentlemen's clubs

* Ancient Order of Shepherds
* Apprentice Boys of Derry
* Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society
* Gorseth
* Gorsedd Cymru
* Gorsedh Kernow
* Grand Order of Water Rats
* Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society
* Knights of St Columba
* Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds
* Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
* Royal Arch Purple
* Royal Black Institution
* Royal Shepherds Sanctuary Benefit Society
* Shepherds Friendly Society

## South Africa

[edit]

* Afrikaner Broederbond
* Freemasonry in South Africa

## United States

[edit]

* Afro-American Sons and Daughters
* Aid Association of Lutherans
* American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
* Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)[1]
* Danish Brotherhood in America
* E Clampus Vitus
* Fraternal Order of Eagles
* Fraternal Order of Moai
* Fraternal Order Orioles
* Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, International
* Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World
* Improved Order of Heptasophs
* Improved Order of Red Men
* Independent Order of Odd Fellows (or IOOF aka Odd Fellows)
* Independent Order of St. Luke
* International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor
* Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America
* Household of Ruth
* Improved Order of Red Men
* Junior Order of United American Mechanics
* Knights of Columbus
* Knights of Peter Claver
* Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia
* Knights of the Golden Eagle
* National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
* National Haymakers' Association
* Native Sons of the Golden West
* Omicron Epsilon Pi, non-collegiac lesbians and lesbians of color
* Order of Heptasophs
* Order of Owls
* Order of Scottish Clans
* Order Sons of Italy in America
* Patriotic Order Sons of America
* Rascals, Rogues, and Rapscallions
* Sons of Hermann
* Sons of Norway
* Unico National
* United States Junior Chamber (JAYCEES)
* Vasa Order of America (or VOA - EST. 1896)

## See also

[edit]

* Fraternal benefit society
* Fraternal order
* Fraternity
* Golden age of fraternalism
* Illuminati
* 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
* List of social fraternities and sororities
* List of spirituality-related topics
* Magical organization
* Martinists
* Rosicrucian
* Secret society
* Service club
* Social club

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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

[edit]

* 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 Ordo Templi Orientis and Aurum Solis.
* listing of secret society, fraternal organizations and fraternal orders with abbreviations, with slogans and mottoes