Secret society

Some groups like to keep secrets.

They do not tell all. They have special rules. Members might take a promise to stay quiet.

These groups can be at big schools. Some meet in private to talk. They might share special knowledge only with friends.

Some groups are in many lands. They can be in places like China or Italy. Some groups are even on the internet.

One group used puzzles to find new members. They used the web to talk. This was a new way to find people.

Groups can be very old. Some have existed for a long time. People still wonder about their secrets today.

A secret society is a group that hides its work.

Members may keep their meetings a secret. They might also hide who belongs to the group. These groups use special rules or rites to bond members. Some groups claim to have special secrets or knowledge. They might also be very hard to join.

Many secret societies are at colleges. At Yale University, a group called Skull and Bones is very famous. Other schools in the United States also have these groups. Some schools do not allow them at all. For example, Oberlin College and Princeton University have rules against them.

Secret societies exist all over the world. In China, they played a big part in history. In Africa, many groups have lived in countries like Nigeria and Ghana. Some groups even use the internet. In 2012, a group called Cicada 3301 used web puzzles to find people. We still do not know their goals.

Caption: A book from the Brethren of Purity, a group of Muslim philosophers.

A secret society is a special kind of group. These organizations hide their activities and events from the public. Sometimes, they even hide that they exist at all.

This is different from groups like intelligence agencies. Those groups have a public presence even while they work in secret. Secret societies can be found in many different countries. They might be based in a local community or at a college.

How do these groups work? People often disagree on the exact rules for these societies. Most definitions say they focus on keeping secrets. They might use special rites or rituals to bond their members. Members might also take an oath of secrecy and loyalty. This helps them protect their private knowledge or beliefs. Some groups promise their members a special kind of status. They can also be very hard to join. Membership might be limited by race, religion, or even invitation only.

Many secret societies have long histories. In the 9th or 10th century, a group called the Brethren of Purity lived in Basra, Iraq. They were a group of Muslim philosophers. In the 19th century, many student societies began at colleges in the United States. The Skull and Bones group at Yale University is one of the most famous. Other schools like Harvard and Cornell also have well-known societies. Some schools actually ban them. For instance, Oberlin College has had rules against them since 1847.

These groups appear in many different parts of the world. In China, secret societies played a major role in history for centuries. In Africa, groups like the Poro Sande society exist in places like Guinea and Liberia. In Nigeria, some student groups called confraternities have been linked to violence. One estimate said 250 people were killed in campus murders over ten years. In the digital age, societies can even live on the internet. In 2012, a group called Cicada 3301 used online puzzles to find new members.

Secret societies connect to many parts of human life. Some groups have political aims, which makes them illegal in places like Italy or Poland. Other groups, like the Freemasons, are known all over the world. Some people even view religious groups like Opus Dei in a similar way. These societies show how humans form deep bonds through shared secrets. They can change how politics, schools, and even the internet work. Whether they are academic or political, they remain a curious part of our world.

A secret society is an organization that conceals its inner workings. These groups hide their activities, events, and membership from the public. Sometimes, they even hide their very existence. This differs from covert groups like intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgents. Those groups hide their specific actions but maintain a public presence. Secret societies can be community-based or tied to universities. They exist in many different countries and serve many purposes.

Experts often debate the exact rules for these organizations. Most definitions focus on how much a group insists on secrecy. Many societies involve the transmission of secret knowledge between members. They may use secret rites or rituals to build deep personal bonds. Membership is often highly restrictive. A group might only accept people based on race, sex, or religion. Some groups require a formal oath of secrecy and loyalty. This ensures that members protect the group's private beliefs or practices.

Historian Richard B. Spence offers a three-pronged definition of these groups. First, the group's existence is usually known, but specific practices are hidden. Second, the group promises members superior status or special knowledge. Third, membership is limited by invitation or specific personal traits. Spence also identifies a sub-category called "Elite Secret Societies." These are composed of socially influential or high-income individuals. He notes that these groups often struggle with factionalism and internal infighting. They also frequently claim to have origins much older than they actually do.

Secret societies have appeared throughout human history in many forms. In the 9th or 10th century CE, the Brethren of Purity lived in Basra, Iraq. This was a secret society of Muslim philosophers. In the 19th century, many student societies emerged at American universities. The Skull and Bones society at Yale University is a very famous example. Other institutions like Harvard, Cornell, and the University of Virginia also have influential societies. In the United Kingdom, the Cambridge Apostles was founded as a debating society in 1820. Some British groups, like the Night Climbers, require both brains and brawn.

These organizations can have a massive global impact. The Freemasons are often described as the world's most powerful secret society. In China, secret societies played a major role in political affairs for centuries. They were important during the anti-Qing sentiments of the 20th century. In Africa, groups like the Poro Sande society exist in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. However, some groups have caused significant harm. In Nigeria, student confraternities have been linked to violence. One estimate suggested 250 people died in campus-related murders over a ten-year period. Another group estimated 115 deaths between 1993 and 2003.

Rules regarding these groups vary by location and institution. Some countries, such as Italy and Poland, ban secret political parties. This is written directly into their national constitutions. Many colleges also have strict rules against these groups. The Virginia Military Institute forbids cadets from joining any secret society. Oberlin College has banned them since 1847. Princeton University has also disallowed them since the start of the 20th century. These rules often target social or rooming-house clubs as well.

Modern technology has created new ways for societies to form. In 2012, the public first learned about internet-based secret societies. A group known as Cicada 3301 began recruiting through online puzzles. While their exact goals remain unknown, experts believe they involve cryptography. This shows that even in a digital age, the desire for exclusive knowledge remains. Secret societies continue to connect to politics, religion, and academia. They remain a complex part of how humans organize themselves.