A fraternity or fraternal organization 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. Some historically male-only organizations now include women.
Contents
- E Clampus Vitus
- Foresters
- Freemasonry
- Odd Fellows
- Other fraternal orders
- Fraternal service organisations
- Australia
- Canada
- Denmark
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- United States
- References
Service clubs, lineage societies, and secret societies are among the fraternal organizations here listed.
College fraternities and sororities appear in the List of social fraternities and sororities.
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. They were gradually replaced by "service clubs", such as Lions, Apex, Rotary, etc. By the end of the 20th century, all the fraternities had been wound up except for the Freemasons and a few lodges of the Buffaloes. The reasons for their decline probably have something to do with generational change and bemusement at the secretive rites that all fraternities had, as the service clubs that succeeded them 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 descent: