List of general fraternities

A fraternity or fraternal oganization 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

Fraternal orders

Druids

E Clampus Vitus

Foresters

Freemasonry

Odd Fellows

Other fraternal orders

Fraternal service organisations

Australia

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:

Of course in those sectarian times, there had to be two different lodges for those of Irish ancestry:

Canada

Europe

Denmark

Sweden

United Kingdom

South Africa

United States
gollark: Strictly speaking, no, but much of it doesn't really seem intended as information and doesn't exactly have a truth value.
gollark: Especially amongst people you really disagree with.
gollark: Actual good-faith discussion of facts is... not common.
gollark: A significant amount of the political conversations I've seen just have people throwing random "gotchas" at each other.
gollark: Yes, but that's not what people actually do.

See also

References
  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.

Ordo Fraterna Sapientia

    World Orders of Knighthood and Merit

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