The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
SECRET SOCIETIES. HOST.
THE GREAT WINNER OF ORCINIZA-
TIOHS IND THEIR MEMBERS.

A Book Giving Exhaustive Data on secret
SodalitieA-0,OOD 1000 Mcmbcrs in This
Country-Somc important Orders Coll
leGe Societies--Sonie Freak Brotherhouds
Undoubtedly the most comprehe nsive treatise
on the subject Of secret societies ever pub
lished Is the " Cyclopedia Of Fratcrnties." by
Albert c. Stevens, issued by the Hamilton
Printing aud Publishing Company Of this city.
Information regarding moro than 900 Of these
fraternltles Is to be found in the volume, with
statistics and comparative tables OF many OF
them. Carefully compiled historical and sta
tistlcsl information is given regarding the
more important organizations. and there is in
teresting men ion OF many curious sodalities.
some defunct, some dormant. some still active.
having for their basic objects all sorts OF ideas
ranging from the encouragement OF recreation
to tho mystical teaching OF economies.
In his introduction the author says that in
the United States there arc 10000 members
OF fraternities and sisterhoods and that yearly
there are more than 100000 initiates In the
comparative chart. giving relative American
mem bership OF the leading societies in this
country. the independent Order OF Odd Fellows
is drst. with the Freemasops a close second.
The Knights OF PythiGS are third. the Grand
Army Of the Republic fourth and the Ancient
Order OF United Workmen NTH The first
place In the volume Is given to Freemasonry.
which is the parent institution. In all probable
ity. OF all secret societies. very com pete his
tory OF the organization hack to the time when
IL 10 shrouded in mystery is given, with informa-
ton regarding spurious and irregular lodges.
and tables and charts OF the various rites
have been carefully compiled. The total active
membership In the United States is given as
76S.611. In regard to negro Masonry Mr.
Stevens. while admitting that the negro lodges
may be irregular shows that the Masonry of
the blacks comes from the accepted source
the Grand Lodge OF England. Prince Hall and
fourteen other negroes having been admitted
in Boston In 1775 and having established
lodges. In 1875 committee OF investigation
reported to the Grand Lodge OF Ohio that
these colored Freemasons have substantially
the same esoteric or secret modes Of recogni-
ton as are practiced by ourselves and by the
universal family OF Freemasons throughout
the world" and also that they practced tho
same rites and ceremonies and had uudoubt-
eddy legitimate beginning.
Mormon Masonry the author concludes. Ia a
spurious brand. This spurious Masonry took
another form in the Society Of the illuminate.
formed OF seceders from the Mormons, which
existed on Beaver Island. In Lake Michigan. in
the early SOS. James ]. Strang had himself
crowned King OF this organization. which
reached membership OF 800. Polygamy was
praeticed and binding oaths Of fealty to the
church were taken. In 1855 law was pro-
mulgate that all women should wear bloom
ers. One Of the illuminate refused to allow his
wife to obey and StranE had him publicly
whipped. whereupon he shot Strang, and tho
neighborinR fishermen raidsd the island.
burned the tabernacle and scattered the So
eiety. which never reformed.
Anti Masonry. to which several pages are
given, 10 described as originally the work OF
ha 20 hn hut altar hA N
nous Morgan disappearance and the accusa-
tions that the Masons threw him over Niagara
Falls. Mr.. Stevens says, it was used as a politi-
call ever by William Ii. Seward. Thurlow Weed
and others. Regarding Chinese Masonry, tho
author declares 1t to be- myth. but adds:
There is. however a shadow OF an excuse
for referring to some Chinese secret societies
as Chinese Freemasonry, owing to the strk-
ing resemblances between their rites and GER
emonies and those OF the Freemasous. This Is
the more remarkable when one recalls the an
either to have patterned after the other"
Mr. Stevens quotes a magazine article by a
dweller in China to this effect:
1T Is impossible to study these rites and
ceremonies without recognizing strong re,
the Freemasons The Bridge OF swords is
common to both societies, as are also the
both societies the members are entitled
brothers. and confirm their oath with blood.
cr utt both d e among the Frysmasons and
the Hung League. attire themselves in
white and 20 hr2bnSs 'hS
the Chinese lodges the triangle is iavorite
emblem, and lamps. steelyards and scales TORN
part Of the ordinary paraphernalia. IL Is curl.
GUS to observe. also. that the three degrees oil
Apprentice, FeIlowcratt and Master among the
Freemasons find their analogue~ in the sworn
Brother. Adopted Brother and Righteous Uncle
in use in the Chinese society ,-,,,,
The Ratchet societies, itghbnders and
Tongs In this country. are ofrshoots Of the Chi
nese Masonry" so Mr. stevens believes,
Less space is given to the larger Independent
nr.la ~ Odd EallnNa which
pcated in its history and formation. lnclud
Ing its lied order. the Daughters OF Rebekah
It is charitable and beneficial in its nature
Under the heading of 'Fraternal Orders
CARNATIONS are given. The reader il at once
struck with the number OF small organization:
OF this nature, having hlgh-suundInk names
which have remained in exlstence only a shor
time. and then disappeared from view unde
circumstances which arouse SUSPICION that n,
benefits. in financial sense were solely TO th'
Of Hebrew societie. dozen are mentioned
one OF them. B'nai Birth having member
ship in this country of nearly 1000
twill probably be news to many member mem .n
OF the widespread theatrical organization. tn
kaines law; Mr., Stevens quotes from Myer'
s IN 1855 8 III the Legislature Of New York passe
ssven excise laws that closed pail the saloons
Ssm q"
intercourse and recreation on the only day il
the week they could call their own. The
law and enjoy themselves rs they saw lit OF
the day OF rest A few OF them raised "a purse
small contributions to pay tor room and bu
refreshments and a lunch for the comgan,
They met first in a room over place oil Four
tsenth street in New York city, and afterwar
they met in q room on the Bowery. As tn
members increased they saw the necessity q
having some sort OF an organization to proven
confusion In their social sessions and to trans
act the little business necessary. An organlZa
ton was formed. called the Jolly Corks,
Later when the society spread and becam
beneficial in its nature. the present name wa
adopted.
hoods are cited the Clan na-Gac the Fcnia
Brotherhood the Order OF Reubens. formed t
aid Canadian revolution and to bring abou
tho acquisition OF Canada by this country tn
Order OF Mules. society OF 5000 members i
West Virginia and Kentucky, organized t. d :
courage horse stealing. and the famous \
Klux Khan. 1t Is interesting To- note that IN
suthqr derives. the term Ku kux from tn
whereas other authorities have derived it ir9r
the sound made in cooking rifle or gun. W
der "Ant-Iaw and Order" are given IN
Camorra, the Malta lhoth, Italsnl. the White
caps and the infamous Molly MaRuires, for
time Identified with the Ancient Order