Fraternal Organizations

Fraternal Societies - Sororities

The terms "fraternity" and "sorority" (Latin "frater" and "soror", meaning "brother" and "sister") are used to describe social and charitable organizations. Fraternal Societies are associations of persons drawn together by common interests and may be organized chiefly to provide companionship and pleasure for its members; to furnish its members with certain benefits such as life, accident, and health insurance; or to help their communities. These organizations may also take part in programs of the support of charities and social work. Membership in these groups is restricted, and usually depends on invitations extended by members of the fraternity. Eligibility for membership is based on religious, philosophical, political or socio-economic criteria. Fraternal societies cover almost the entire spectrum of society, openness and secrecy.

...non nobis solum nati sumus...
Cicero, De officiis, Liber I:22

Fraternal Societies
Fraternal, Service and Other Organizations
Service clubs
List of Fraternal Societies
Fraternities and sororities
Christian fraternity
The History of College Fraternities
List of social fraternities and sororities
Collegiate secret societies
Burschenschaft

Kiwanis International
Lions International
Rotary International

National Pan-Hellenic Council - NHPC (USA)
National Panhellenic Conference (USA)
North-American Interfraternity Conference - NIC (USA)
North American Interfraternal Foundation (USA)
National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations - NALFO (USA)

Freemasons, Friendly Societies and Trade Unions
Geschiedenis van de occulte en mystieke broederschappen - Dutch
Ancient Order of Druids
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of America
Builders of Adytum
Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships
Chivalric Orders
Fraternitas Saturni
Gamma Sigma Alpha
Independent Order of Odd Fellows - IOOF
Junior Order of United American Mechanics
King's Garden
Kin Canada
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
Knights of Columbus
International Order of the Alhambra
Order of the Daughters of Isabella
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Meno Of God - M.O.G.
Order of Knights of Pythias
Order of Omega
The Order of Skull and Bones
Ordo Templi Orientis
Ordo Templis Orientis
Ordre Martiniste
Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani
The Order of Saint Stanislas
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Kappa Theta
Rosslyn Templars
Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
Royal Neighbors of America
Sigma Theta Epsilon
Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta - Knights of Malta
Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta - Knights of Malta
Vita Feminea Textura
Woodmen

Rosicrucianism

Rosicrucianism was a result of the northern protestant renaissance, and combined Elizabethan and German-Bohemian influences. It was closely linked to the German Electoral Palatinate in the early 17^th Century. The Rosicrucian enlightenment came to an end in 1620 at the beginning of the Thirty Years War in Germany and the defeat of the Elector Frederick V.
The origin of Rosicrucianism dates back to the publication of the Fama Fraternitas des löblichen Ordens des Rosenkreutzes (Rumor of the brotherhood), published by Wilhelm Wessel in Kassel in 1614, the Secretioris Philosophiae Consideratio Brevio a Philippo a Gabella, Philosophiae studioso, conscripta; et nunc primum una cum Confessione Fraternitatis R.C. (1615, Confession of the brotherhood) and the Chymische Hochzeit Christian Rosencreutz Anno 1549 of which Johann Valentin Andreae (1589-1674) is presumed to be the author. In 1617 Robert Fludd published his Tractatus apologeticus integritatem Societatis de Rosea Cruce defendens. Michael Maier published his alchemical emblem book Atalanta fugiens in 1617. The uncompleted work Nova Atlantis of Francis Bacon was published in 1626. In 1637 Amos Johannes Comenius (1529-1670) wrote about a Temple of Wisdom in his Pansophia.

The Rosicrucian plan concerned a universal spirit of brotherhood and wisdom, where knowledge was nurtured and available to all individuals, who would be free to pursue peace and happiness. Rosicrucianism was in some aspects an example of mysthical Christianity. The aim of Rosicrucianism was to afford mutual aid and encouragement in working out the great problems of life and searching out the secrets of nature; to facilitate the study of a perennial philosophy founded upon the doctrines of Pythagoras, Hermes Trismegistus (Hermeticism, Corpus Hermeticum) and the Kabbalah (Hebrew pythagoreanism).
Rosicrucianism studied the ancient esotheric meaning of the "complexio oppositorum", the "Triadic Principle" (Law of Mean Terms) and the four elements, such as Terra (Earth), Aqua (Water), Aer (Air), Ignis (Fire) and the aether (spirit). Symbolic words were used to express esotheric meaning, such as "VITRIOL" Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem and "INRI" Ignis Natura Renovatur Integra or in Hebrew Iam, water; Nour, fire; Ruach, spirit or vital air; and Iabeshah, earth.

Jesus mihi omnia
Ex Deo nascimur, in Jesu morimur, per Spiritum Sanctum reviviscimus.
- Fama Fraternitas des löblichen Ordens des Rosenkreutzes -

Nay! By him that gave our family the Tetractys,
which holds the Fount and Root of everflowing Nature.
-Pythagorean oath-

Quod est Inferius est sicut quod est Superius,
et quod est Superius est sicut quod est Inferius,
ad perpetranda Miracula Rei Unius.
- Corpus Hermeticum - Emerald Tablet -

For we are Brethren of the Rosie Cross,
We have the Mason's Word and Second Sight
- Muses Threnodie: of Mirthful Mournings on the death of Mr Gall, H. Adamson (Perth, 1638) -

Forte est vinu, fortior est rex,
fortiores sun mulieres: sup om vincit veritas
1 Esdras 3:1 - 4:41

Rosicrucian Order
Rosicrucian Order
Confraternity of the Rose Cross
The Order of the Rose and the Cross
Lectorium Rosicrucianum
The Rosicrucian Archive
The Rosicrucian Library
Rosicrucians - Catholic Encycopedia
Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica - BPH
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
Biblioteca Arcana
Flamel College - Hermetic education portal
Hermetics Library
Regnabit - Symbolism

Hermeneutics
Hermetic Fellowship
The Chaldaean Oracles
The Chaldaean Oracles of Zoroaster - Expositions of Pletho and Psellus
Hermetic Philosophy and Alchemy - Mary A. Atwood
Ancient Egyptian roots of the Principia Hermetica
Hermes Trismegistus
Hermes Trismegistus - Philosophy
Hermetic Research
An Introduction to the Corpus Hermeticum
Corpus Hermeticum
Commentary on the Pymander - Epopteia
Secretum secretorum
The Emerald Tablet of Hermes
The Emerald Tablet of Hermes

Christian Rosencreutz - (1378-1484)
Chymical Wedding
Confessio Fraternitatis
Fama Fraternitatis
Mons philosophorum

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim - (1486-1535)
Libri tres de occulta philosophia - Cornelius Agrippa
Nicholas Flamel - (15th Century)
John Dee - (1527-1609)
John Dee Society
Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of Megara - John Dee
Monas Hieroglyphica - 1564
Fasciculus Chemicus - John Dee
Robert Fludd - (1574-1637)
Utriusque Cosmi maioris salicet et minoris metaphysica - Robert Fludd
Three Treatises - Eirenaeus Philalethes

Sacred geometry
Sacred geometry - Bruce Rawles
Sacred geometry
Platonic solids
Archimedean solids
The Gospels seen as Sacred Geometry Plays

Societas Magica
Esoterica
Grimoires
Twilit Grotto: Archives of Western Esoterica
Gematria - Peter's
The Alchemy Webiste
Alchemy
Alchemy and Transmutation
Alchemy Electronic Dictionary
Alchemy - Nigredo, Albedo, Rubedo
Alchemy - Melanosis, Leukosis, Xanthosis, Iosis
Rosarium Philosophorum
The Making of a Philosophers� Stone

Magickal Athenaeum
Pseudomonarchia Daemonum or Hierarchy of Demons - Johann Weyer
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage - Abra-Melin (1458)
Vitruvian man
The Pythagorean Pentacle
Pentagram
Seal of Solomon - Star of David, hexagram
The Testament of Solomon - King Solomon
Clavicula Salomonis or Key of Solomon - King Solomon
Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis or Lesser Key of Solomon - King Solomon

Freemasonry

Freemasonry is one of the best known fraternal organizations and a lot of information is available on Freemasonry. Although legend has it that it was founded at the building of Solomon's temple, it is known that during the building of cathedrals in the 1200's, the stoneworkers of the British Isles and Western Europe were organized into guilds which had the usual three degrees of master, journeyman, and apprentice. The beginning of the modern Masonic Order dates from the year 1717.

Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Light (Gr. phôs, Lat. lux) and logos (Hebrew davar, E. word, reason, Gr. λογοσ, Lat. verbum, ratio) play an important role in the symbolism of freemasonry. Light symbolizes knowledge and understanding, as opposed to ignorance which is symbolized by Darkness. Logos means the "ultimate explanation" for the way things are (see also Heraclitus on the Logos). We find references to light and logos in Greek Philosophy, and in the Gospel of John. (see also Philo of Alexandria). The Prologue to the Gospel of John (John 1:1-18) declares the advent of the Logos, as in John 1:1 εν αρχη ην ο λογοσ και ο λογοσ ην προσ τον θεον και θεον ην ο λογοσ, John 1:5: "et lux in tenebris lucet et tenebrae eam non conprehenderunt" and in John 8:12: "iterum ergo locutus est eis Iesus dicens ego sum lux mundi qui sequitur me non ambulabit in tenebris sed habebit lucem vitae".

Officially, the first Grand Lodge of the modern era was founded on St. John the Baptist's day, 24 June, 1717, in London, when 4 Craft Lodges, gathered at the Apple Tree Tavern in London and "constituted themselves a Grand Lodge pro Tempore in Due Form". The four existing Lodges were accustomed to meeting at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul's Church-yard; Crown Ale-house in Parker's Lane near Drury's Lane; Apple Tree Tavern in Charles Street, Covent Garden; and Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Channel Row, Westminster. The "Rummer and Grapes", appears to have been a lodge of accepted and speculative masons, while the other three lodges were still mainly operative lodges. In 1717 the basic principles of Speculative Freemasonry (Moderns) were inspired by the ideal of tolerance and universal understanding of the Enlightenment and by the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century (Age of Reason).

In 1723 the Grand Lodge of England set up a constitution for Free and Accepted Masons "The Constitutions of the Free-Masons containing the History, Charges, Regulations, & of that most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity: For use of the Lodges", written by the Revd. Dr. James Anderson (1680-1739). A reworked version of the Constitutions was published in 1738 (by Anderson) and again in 1818 (union of Antients and Moderns).

In 1753 a rival group of Freemasons, which called themselves "Antients", formed a rival Grand Lodge, the "Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England, according to the Old Constitutions". In 1756 Laurence Dermott (1720-1791) wrote a Constitution for the Antients, the "Ahiman Rezon". Freemasons were known either as the Free and Accepted Masons (Moderns, Geomatic or Gentleman masons, Whigs, Hannoveran), or Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (Antients or Athol Masons, Tories, Jacobites). On 27 December, 1813 (day of Saint John the Evangelist), the "Act of Union" united the two Grand Lodges of Freemasons (Moderns and Antients), and formed the United Grand Lodge of England.
The union of "Antients" and "Moderns" finalized the transition from deism to theism in the constitution of Anglo-American freemasonry. The new Constitution was a compromise between the Ahiman Rezon of the Antients (GAOTU) and the Constitution of Anderson of the Moderns. To pave the way for the union of these two Grand Lodges, a Lodge of Promulgation was formed in 1809 under the Premier Grand Lodge (or Moderns) to examine the ritual and make recommendations. Following the union in 1813, a Lodge of Reconciliation (1813-1816) was established to complete the rationalisation of the ritual into a form acceptable to both parties forming the newly constituted United Grand Lodge.

In 1877, at their convention, the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) removed the term of the Great Architect of the Universe (GAOTU), which lead to a schism between the Grand Orient de France and the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). Since the great schism of 1877 freemasonry is divided in two branches, "liberal" or "irregular" freemasonry and the "dogmatic" or "regular" type of freemasonry, not in mutual regular amity. The Grand Orient de France (Grand Orients, liberal, irregular) and the United Grand Lodge of England (Grand Lodges, dogmatic, regular) are the basic models for both varieties of freemasonry. Over the years several new organizations appeared and a wide variety of Masonic and para-Masonic fraternities were founded.

Et Lux in tenebris lucet et tenebrae eam non conprehenderunt.
- Vulgata, Evangelium secundum Ioannem 1:5 -

In diesen heil'gen Hallen Kennt man die Rache nicht.
Und ist ein Mensch gefallen, Führt Liebe ihn zur Pflicht. ...
W. A. Mozart - Die Zauberflöte - Zweyter Aufzug, Zwölfter Auftritt, Sarastro, Arie

Masonic Information

Web of Hiram - University of Bradford
The Origins of Freemasonry - Dr Robert Lomas
The Centre for Research into Freemasonry - University of Sheffield
Encyclopedia of freemasonry and its kindred science
The foundation of the first Grand Lodge in context
Freemasonry - Wikipedia
Freemasonry - Catholic Encyclopedia
Freemasonry
Franc Maconnerie
Craft, Trade or Mystery
Masonic Research Societies
Freemasonry.org
Hiram's Oasis
masons.start4all.com
bessel.org
Freemasons for Freemasonry - Pietre-Stones

Morals and Dogma - Albert Pike (1871)
The Builders - Joseph Fort Newton (1914)
The Principles of Masonic Law - Albert G. Mackey

Masonic History

Freemasonry World-wide

This section provide links to some masonic organizations over the world.

Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry - UK and USA

United Grand Lodge of England
Regular Grand Lodge of England
Grand Lodge at York
Library and Museum of Freemasonry - London
The Quatuor Coronati Lodge - No. 2076
Grand Lodge of Freemasonry for Men and Women

The Grand Lodges of the United States of America
York Rite Freemasonry - USA
United Grand Lodge of America of Accepted Free-Masons
The Scottish Rite - Northern Jurisidiction - USA
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite - Southern Jurisidiction - USA
The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraïm - USA
St. John's Lodge No.1 AYM F&AM - USA
Federal Lodge No. 1 - USA
Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 A.F. & A.M. - USA

The Philalethes Society
The Masonic Service Association of North America - MASNA
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons
Daughters of the Nile
Order of Demolay
Order of the Eastern Star
Order of Rainbow for Girls
International Order of Job's Daughters
Order of Builders
Order of the Amaranth
Order of Quetzalcoatl
Shriners
Scottish Rite Freemasonry - USA
Royal Arch Masons
Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America

Masonic Foundations of the United States
George Washington as a Freemason
George Washington Inaugural Bible - April 30, 1789
George Washington Inaugural Bible - April 30, 1789
Masonic Cornerstone Laying - USA
U.S. White House Cornerstone Laying Ceremony - October 13, 1792
U.S. White House - History
U.S. Capitol Cornerstone Laying Ceremony - September 25, 1793
The George Washington Trowel
The Evolution of the Cornerstone Ceremony
Masonic Presidents - USA
Famous Masons - USA
Liberty Enlightening the World - Statue of Liberty
Liberty Enlightening the World - Statue of Liberty
Freemasons and the Statue of Liberty

American Freemasonry - outside the USA

Grande Loge Nationale du Canada
Grande Loge du Québec
The Order of International Co-Freemasonry "Le Droit Humain" - Canada
Gran Logia de Cuba
York Grand Lodge of Mexico
Grande Loja Maçônica de Brasília

Continental European Freemasonry

European Freemasonry
Centre of Liaison and Information of Masonic Powers Signatories of Strasbourg Appeal - CLIPSAS
Secret Societies - in Dutch
Grand Loge de France
Grande Loge Nationale de Française
Grand Orient de France - 1733
l'Ordre Initiatique et Traditionnel de l'Art Royal - O.I.T.A.R.
Grande Loge des Maîtres Maçons de Marque de France - GLMMF
Régime Écossais Rectifié - RER
The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraïm
Grande Loge FÉminine de France
L'Ordre Maçonnique Mixte International "Le Droit Humain"
Gran Loggia Regolare d'Italia
Liberi-Muratori
Liberi Muratori
Freemasonry in Belgium
Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium
Order of Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of the Netherlands
Grand Orient de Luxembourg
Vereinigte Großlogen von Deutschland - VGLvD
Freimaurerei
Internetloge.de
Großorient von Österreich
Grand Orient de Suisse
Den Danske Frimurerorden
Svenska Frimurare Orden
Den Norske Frimurerorden
Gran Logia Simbólica Española
Grand Lodge of Russia
Rite Écossais Rectifié
Lunchtimers

Asian Freemasonry

Grand Lodge of Japan
Grand Lodge of the Phillipines
Grand Lodge of India
Grand Lodge of Turkey
Grand Lodge of the State of Israel
Sun Grand Lodge of Lebanon
Grand Lodge Bet-El

African Freemasonry

Grand Lodge of South Africa

Oceanian Freemasonry

United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and ACT (Australian Capital Territory)
Grand Lodge of Antient, Free & Accepted Masons of Tasmania
Freemasons New Zealand

Anti-Masonry

Since the earliest days of Freemasonry, there were people and groups who opposed its existence for various reasons. This is an overview of some examples of anti-masonry which are available on the WWW, mainly centering on conspiracy theories.
Besides conspiracy theories as a cause of anti-masonry, religious opposition is another aspect of anti-masonry. The relation of freemasonry with religions seems to be troublesome, as most Christian and Muslim leaders forbid Freemasonry. The principles of the "Liberi Muratori", "Francs Massons" or "Freemasons" are considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and therefore membership in them is forbidden for Catholics. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

Anti-Masonry
Freemason conspiracy theories
Freemasonry under Totalitarian Regimes
Secret Societies
The Judeo-Masonic conspiracy
Freemasonry Watch
The Cutting Edge - Biblical prophecy of The New World Order
United States Presidents and The Illuminati / Masonic Power Structure.
Masonic Myths about the Founding Fathers
Freemasonry: Foundation of the Revolution - USA
Freemasonry and Washington D.C.'s Street Layout
Liberty Enlightening the World - Statue of Liberty
The Cult of Liberty - Rev. Donald J. Sanborn (Catholic Restoration)
Conspiracy Watch
Conspiracy of Hate
Propaganda Due - P2
Propaganda Due - P2