Secret Societies: Breaking Laws Under The Guise Of Secrecy

Secret societies are often viewed with curiosity, fascination and distrust. While some are formed for social and benevolent purposes, others are created to pursue political power, and some are considered outright illegal.

The term 'secret society' is generally applied to groups that insist on a high degree of secrecy, and may involve the retention and transmission of secret knowledge, the denial of membership, the creation of personal bonds between members, and the use of secret rites or rituals.

In some cases, secret societies are illegal. Italy and Poland, for example, ban secret political parties and organisations in their constitutions. In North Carolina, it is illegal to join a secret society that aims to violate or circumvent the laws of the state.

Some secret societies are clandestine and aim to conceal their existence, while others are more public-facing, with members including public figures.

While some secret societies are formed for social and benevolent purposes, others are created to pursue political power. Some are considered outright illegal.

The line between legality and criminality can be blurred, as some secret societies may be deemed subversive or criminal, depending on the country and the political climate. For example, in Nazi, fascist and communist regimes, all groups not controlled by the state are suppressed.

In addition, some secret societies may be considered criminal due to their association with violent or subversive activities, such as the Mafia and the Molly Maguires.

The very existence of secret societies often prompts antagonism and accusations of immorality, subversion and heresy.

Secret societies with political aims are illegal in some countries

Secret societies are generally defined as organisations that conceal their activities, events, inner workings, or membership. While the exact qualifications for labelling a group a secret society are disputed, definitions typically rely on the degree of secrecy involved.

Secret societies with political aims are illegal in several countries. For instance, Italy and Poland ban secret political parties and political organisations in their constitutions. In the US, the state of North Carolina prohibits secret societies that aim to violate or circumvent state laws.

The legality of a secret society depends on its purpose and the physical location of its members. A secret society coordinating bank robberies would be illegal anywhere, while one sharing photos of cats would be permitted in most parts of the world.

Jurisdiction is also a factor in determining the legality of a secret society. If a secret society has members in two countries and a server in a third, the laws of all three countries must be considered.

Secret societies are banned in schools in some U.S. states

Secret societies are banned in some U.S. states, including Oregon, Florida, and Texas. In Oregon, ORS 339.885 states:

> No secret society of any kind, including a fraternity or sorority, shall be permitted in any public school.

The law in Texas is similar, but with the added quirk of redefining "secret society" to include groups that are well-publicized and vote in new members.

In North Carolina, it is unlawful for any person to join a secret society that has the purpose of violating or circumventing the laws of the state.

Secret societies are also disallowed in some colleges, including the Virginia Military Institute, Oberlin College, and Princeton University.

Secret societies have been used to conceal criminal activity

Secret societies have long been associated with criminal activity, and their very nature—involving secrecy, exclusive membership, and hidden rituals—can provide the perfect cover for illegal acts.

Historically, some secret societies have been linked to violence and organised crime. For example, the Molly Maguires, a secret society with roots in Ireland, was assembled in the US by Irish immigrants to fight for the rights of coal miners. However, when mining leaders threatened strikes, the Molly Maguires allegedly retaliated with violence, resulting in the deaths of 24 coal mine foremen and supervisors. Another example is the Mafia, which historian Richard B. Spence includes in his definition of a secret society.

In addition, some secret societies have been accused of subversion or treason. The Knights Templar, for instance, were ruthlessly suppressed in the early 14th century when Philip IV of France accused them of heretical and licentious practices. However, it seems Philip's true motive was to seize the Templars' vast wealth. Similarly, Adam Weishaupt's Illuminati was banned by the Bavarian government in 1785, and its members were imprisoned or driven into exile, despite the group being something of a fad among Europe's intellectual and political elite.

The very secrecy of these organisations can make it difficult to prove their involvement in illegal activities. However, in some cases, the threat of criminal activity is enough to prompt legal action. For example, in the US state of North Carolina, it is illegal to "join, unite [or] become a member of [...] any secret [...] society having for a purpose the violating or circumventing the laws of the State".

Secret societies have been accused of immorality, subversion, and heresy

Secret societies have long been a source of fascination and suspicion for people outside their ranks. While some of these groups have benign or even beneficial purposes, such as promoting responsible hunting and wildlife conservation (the International Order of St. Hubertus) or providing social and economic support for immigrants (the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World), others have been accused of immorality, subversion, and heresy.

The very existence of secret societies has often prompted antagonism and accusations of immoral or illegal behaviour. Throughout history, revolutionary, subversive, and conspiratorial groups have organised themselves in secret. For example, the Sons of Liberty in the American colonies, the Italian Carbonari, the Irish Fenian society, and the Decembrists of imperial Russia were all subversive secret societies. In addition, the Mafia and the Molly Maguires, a 19th-century secret society of Irish immigrants in Pennsylvania who fought for the rights of coal miners, have been accused of criminal activities.

Secret societies have also been accused of heresy. The Roman mystery cults, for example, were accused of immorality and heresy, which justified the ruthless suppression of the Knights Templar in the early 14th century. Similarly, Adam Weishaupt's Illuminati, a secret society that was popular among Europe's intellectual and political elite in the late 18th century, was banned by the Bavarian government in 1785 due to suspicions of heresy and conspiracy.

The Catholic Church has historically opposed secret societies, particularly the Freemasons. Some Christian denominations, such as the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection and Seventh-day Adventists, continue to forbid their members from joining secret societies. In addition, certain countries, such as Italy and Poland, ban secret political parties and organisations in their constitutions.

Some religious groups forbid their members from joining secret societies

Secret societies have been a source of fascination and controversy for centuries. While some view them as harmless clubs or fraternities, others believe they can be a breeding ground for criminal activity and corruption. The line between lawful assembly and illegal activity is often blurred when it comes to secret societies, and their very nature can make them difficult to regulate.

Some religious groups have taken a strong stance against secret societies, forbidding their members from joining such organizations. This is not a new phenomenon; in fact, it has been a point of contention for centuries. The Catholic Church, for example, has long opposed secret societies, particularly the Freemasons. While the Church has relented somewhat in modern times, allowing membership in labour unions and the Knights of Columbus, it still forbids its members from joining the Freemasons. Other Christian denominations, such as the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection and Seventh-day Adventists, maintain similar prohibitions in the 21st century.

The reasons for this stance vary, but often stem from the belief that secret societies promote secrecy and exclusivity, which can conflict with religious values of transparency and inclusivity. Additionally, some religious groups view secret societies as a threat to their authority, as they may offer alternative sources of knowledge, power, or community outside of the church.

In the 19th century, the issue of secret societies sparked a national uproar, with religious leaders taking a stand against them. In April 1887, the Reverend Thomas De Witt Talmage gave a sermon on "the moral effect of Freemasonry, Odd Fellowship, Knights of Labor, Greek Alphabet, and other societies." While Talmage himself had friends who belonged to secret societies, he cited religious text—Proverbs 25:9—"discover not a secret to another"—to question the morality of joining such groups.

Another prominent religious figure, James Cardinal Gibbons, took an even stronger stance in March 1892, declaring that secret societies had "no possible excuse for ... existence." This sentiment was echoed by attendees of the annual Anti-Secret Society Convention, which deemed clandestine clubs an "evil to society and a menace to our civil institutions."

The opposition to secret societies among some religious groups is deeply rooted and continues to this day. For members of these communities, the prohibition against joining secret societies is a serious matter, and doing so could result in consequences ranging from censure to excommunication.

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