OtherGround Forum >> 5 Bizarre Secret Societies that run the world

4. The Thule Society

Photo via skepticism.org

Ze Germans formed the Thule Society in the waning months of the First World War (1918). It was founded by Rudolf von Sebottendorff (a.k.a. Erwin Torre), an astrologist and occultist who believed the Germans descended from a northern race known as the Thules. No one knew exactly where this race came from, though Sebottendorff suggested it could have been a mystical lost world like Atlantis.

The Thule Society was basically an early form of Nazism and fed into and off of that movement when it began to emerge in the 1930s. Most of the 1,500 members were based in Munich and cared little for Sebottendorff’s crazy theories about mystical lands. Instead, they saw it as a forum for complaining about Jews. After Hitler came to power, he saw the Thules as a threat and shut them down. However, both Hitler and Heinrich Himmler are said to have appreciated some of the Thule Society’s whacky ideas about the occult, making them semi-members.

Famous members: No one you’ve heard of (unless you’re a German historian or a Thule yourself)

3. Ordo Templi Orientis

Photo via oto-usa.org

Otherwise known as the Order of Oriental Templars, this fraternal secret society was formed in the early twentieth century and is widely associated with Aleister Crowley, an English author and weirdo. It was organized in a way very similar to the Freemasons–including all kinds of crazy secret rituals–but its central focus revolved around what was known as The Law of Thelema.

According to Crowley, a non-human entity known as Aiwass told him of this law, which dictates a new ethical code for all humans. That code indicated that every human being had a “True Will” or special purpose in life. Now, Crowley wasn’t trying to get people to engage in hedonism, or doing whatever the hell they wanted, but he did encourage people to adore the phallus, masturbate frequently and free themselves from sexual restrictions (luckily for members, the OTO was co-ed). In other words, Crowley was a really early hippy. It’s no surprise, then, that there are still people who believe in Crowley’s ideas.

Famous members: Aleister Crowley

2. The Order of Skull and Bones

Photo via Wikipedia

Apparently when they’re not rowing and shopping for turtleneck sweaters, Yale men like to form crazy secret societies. The best known of these is definitely The Order of Skull and Bones, formed in 1832. This is the secret society featured in that movie with the dude from Dawson’s Creek.

Unfortunately, despite the name there are very few pirates in this order; instead, the vast majority of recruits are snotty undergraduates from well-to-do American families. The Order meets in what is known as “The Tomb,” though the original building wouldn’t spook a five-year-old trick-o-treater.

For most of its history The Order was for white, Protestant men only, though that started to change around 1950 when an African-American was “tapped” for membership. Speaking of members, there have been many and all have received ridiculous club names: McGeorge Bundy was “Odin,” George H.W. Bush “Magog.” There’s no minimum IQ requirement for the society, which explains how George W. gained membership during his senior year.

Famous members: George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Paul Giamatti

1. The Freemasons

Photo via traditioninaction.org

With a peak membership of six million people, it’s hard to imagine the Freemasons as a secret society. But, legend suggests that this organization, which was first formed in Britain at least three centuries ago, has had a huge impact on the direction of major historical events without any of us knowing about it.

Some believe the Freemasons are connected to an even more secretive group known as The Illuminati, who allegedly use their connections to control governments and spread their influence. According to some conspiracy theorists, the Freemasons and the Illuminati are bent on taking over the world. Some people believe these groups are anti-Christian and caused the French Revolution, which wiped out the monarchy and caused a huge rift to open up between the once-powerful Catholic Church and the state. Stateside, some people point to Masonic imagery on U.S. currency as evidence that the Masons and Illuminati wield great power in the United States.

Indeed, some of the country’s most powerful people have been Freemasons, from George Washington to Davy Crockett. However, contrary to popular opinion (and an episode of The Simpsons), it doesn’t appear Steve Guttenberg was ever a Freemason. Too bad, they could have made him a star.

Famous members: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Davy Crockett, Mark Twain, Ty Cobb, John Wayne, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Phil Collins, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin and many, many more

My Grandfather was an Odd Fellow, they don't have a lodge in my state but maybe i'll write to them and see if they'll let me join somehow.

I like their logo.

At that time, the Odd Fellows served two functions: 1) It gave members a financial safety net by offering a portion of membership fees as a form of unemployment, health, and life insurance; and 2) It gave members–all of whom were men–a reason to drink and get rowdy (as if anyone ever needed a reason for that).

Many secret societies from this era started off by offering financial safety to their members, and they have grown today into some of the biggest insurance and finance companies in the world, the IOOF is one example. I researched this a few years ago and was surprised at how many there were, I need to look into that again as it's not something that anyone seems to explore when researching this stuff.

UGCTT_Charles Bronsons Mustache - In.....maybe.

Hahahahhaha, VTFU for making me laugh.

Interesting use of the Owl symbol in this Odd Fellows logo, note the motto.

Here is the logo for the Finance Company. Note how they've discretly incorporated the looped rings (chainlinks) from the secret society logo.

Looks like the Odd Fellows use the Fasci symbol of Ancient Rome, same as the Knights of Columbus.

"Friendly Societies grew to their greatest strength from a social necessity following the 'Industrial Revolution' in England. Groups of ordinary people from tradesmen to labourers and whole communities found it necessary to band together and contribute part of their hard-earned wages to a common fund to cater for the unfortunate circumstances of life such as sickness, injury at work and even death. This mutual aid provided relief to the victims and their families when there was nothing else.

Friendly Society 'Lodges' were formed by their members under various names and were located in cities, towns and even the most isolated areas of Australia. The members of these Lodges were bound together by a code of ethics and as such were recognised individually as people of good character. Friendly Society Lodges were often the focal point of most social activities in their area and they established the foundation of our current welfare and social security system."

http://www.takver.com/history/guoof1.htm

Where does the Illuminati fit in?

Mclay won my SN -  In,my dads a mason,and i was approached to join the lodge too but i think I'll be giving it a wide berth.Good for getting a well paid job though ill say that about em.

Why give it a wide berth?

I can understand you not being interested in joining, but the wide berth comment makes it sound like you think there is something negative about them.

I have never heard it alleged that Crowley's club actually does anything or has any power

Back to the friendly society connection with secret societies.

I visited a rural town a couple of years ago and went to a big homestead that was  alocal tourist attraction. Whilst wandering around this place I saw old records of a freindly society that used the all seeing eye as their symbol, and old manuscripts, certifiicates  and other documentation that was full of esoteric symbolism. I asked the tour guide who was a very old lady, what the deal was with the friendly society and her eyes lit up as she told me about this wonderful organisation that virtually all the men of the town were members of. The society virtually built the town from scratch and it seemed like every family had at least one member.

I don't recall the name of the group but I took a ton of photos, I'll try to find them so I can see what their name was.