SECRET SOCIETIES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1927, Page 20

SECRET SOCIETIES

UNOFFICIAL CENSUS IMT AMERICA

An unofficial census of Americans who are members of secret organisations 10----veals that 30,000J000 citizans of the Land of the Free 'take their places in lodge rooms on meeting nights for the mystic rights of their various lodges, shrinks, and brotherhoods. What they doi nobody :is supposed +0 know but thenhelves. From time to time they have priblic conferences, meeting in various! cities, and parade through the street* 1, wearing gorgeous regalia.; The coloured people of the United States have, also developed a'craze for fraternal secrecy.' In the negro sections of the country even, more gorgeous uniforms and more imposing titles have beeninvemted for tfte, delectation of the initiate' than elsewhere. "Sam," said' an employer to his negro servant, "I understand, you joined the lodge last night." "Yea, suh: An' dey done elected me to officer Dey done made me Grand Exalted Imperial King." "That's a pretty higjh office to get right after being elected into the lodge," said Sam's boss. '"Oh, no* suh!" replied Sam. "Dats de- lowest omce we has." It is impossible to tell by the title how high up in any of.'the secret organisations a member may have climbed. ; Cases are mown of persons getting the "jiningf. habit so badly ("jining" being a cocrupfion of joining'," and referring exclusively to joining secret organisations) that they can never resist an appear $6' enter a new .lodge. It. is .not exceptional for a person to.be a member, of 25» or 30 diffent organisations. .'.Politics ; do not enter into the activities of .the Secret fraternities (says the New York: correspondent of the London "Evening Standard"). The Sn Klux Elan is the one exception, and its influence has degenerated recently to a low level. Chivalry among themselves is the practical reason for the organisations', continued existence. Most of them maintain various funds for a»sisting the member? and conduct life insurance, ioperations Which are extensively patrorfised. Some have orphanages, and. in oth«* ways extenda helping Siand in jfcimes of trouble. But people can benefit them- , selves in such ways :as theiie without meeting behind.barrred doors and gxchanging passwords and dressing in gold Jace and bespangled uniform*! It is the attraction of the release from the hard grind of daily money T getting that seem* to be the major inducement Iwhen men become "jiners." The drab existence o* Main street would-be far mow stultify. :"? g, r .there were no lodge: meetinir mgnts m American towns, throughout the^ country professional lorgaiisers make a good paying business otf creating new chapters'of the secret fraternities! taking a percentage of the fitrst annual dues. They do not .have to work very hard at starfmgjhe idea..- If the men show reluctance, they. .can. twn to.the wives and daughters, for the. latter have . their, companion organisations pressing thrflocial.side. The womenfolk never fail to respond. What woman could resist the possibility of having her husband made Grand Exalted Imperial King? ' .•. . ■