Order of the Sons of Hermann (SoH)
Founding
The Order of the Sons of Hermann (SoH) was formed in New York City on July 20, 1840, by Dr. Philip Merkel, George Heiner, John Blatz, A. Auer, R. Schwendel, W. Kohler, and Philipp Germann in response to anti-German sentiment during a period of heavy German immigration to the United States. The name “Hermann” is based on a Germanic Chieftain and folk hero, also known as Arminius by Roman historians, that commanded an alliance of Germanic tribes at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. During this battle, three Roman legions were annihilated. For this he was hailed as a symbol of German unity and freedom.
Symbolism and Motto
The Order of the Sons of Hermann has three symbolic colors; black, red, and gold. Black stands for darkness, ignorance, indifference, and prejudice. Red typifies light and enlightenment, especially as spread by German culture. Gold symbolizes freedom through knowledge and labor. The Order’s official Motto is Friendship, Love, and Loyalty.
Purpose
The Order was originally founded as a mutual aid and benefit society for German immigrants. It has historically promoted the preservation of German language and traditions. However, it has moved from a mere benevolent organization, caring for its sick and needy, burying its dead, and caring for widows and orphans, to a fraternal insurance society. Membership is no longer restricted to those of German extraction.
Ritual
Although the Order has never utilized a degree system, it does retain an initiation ceremony and burial ritual. However, the initiation ceremony is longer mandatory. Also, unlike other Fraternal Orders, a belief in a supreme being is not a requirement for membership. At one point the order had a female auxiliary called the Daughters of Hermann, open to the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the Sons.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Hermann#:~:text=The%20Order%20of%20the%20Sons,%2C%20Ohio%2C%20and%20Texas%20today.
https://www.hermannsonslife.org/
Equitable Aid Union of America (EAUofA) “b”
Organized at Columbus, Warren County, Pa., March 22, 1879, and incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania. Four of the founders were Freemasons. This secret, beneficiary fraternity permitted the formation of subordinate Unions, as its Lodges are termed, north of 36° 30′ north latitude in the United States and in the Dominion of Canada. It sought to bring men and women into its Unions to promote benevolence, charity, social and mental culture, to care for the sick and needy, to aid one another in obtaining employment, and to assist each other in business.
It also insured members in sums ranging from $325 to $3,000 by means of assessments of from twenty-five cents to $1, according to age and amount. The benefit certificates also provided for the payment of specified sums in case of accident resulting in physical disability. Eligibility to membership extended to candidates from 15 to 55 years of age. The total membership in twenty-four States and in Canada in 1896 was about 30,000, of which 25,000 were beneficiary and 5,000 social members.
The official emblem consisted of the initials of the title of the Order in a triangle, surrounded by a conventionalized sun-burst. The system of assessments in the Equitable Aid Union suggests the influence of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The government of the society is similar to that of other similar societies, subordinate Unions being under the immediate jurisdiction of Grand or State (or provincial) Unions, the officers and representatives of the latter making up the Supreme Union, or highest legislative authority.
In April, 1897, the Union suspended payments and went into the hands of a receiver. It had fought hard to continue its existence, and numbered about 30,000 members, principally in the country districts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Less than five years before it had $43,000,000 worth of policies in force, and not many years previously the amount was almost $75,000,000. Its decline began in 1891. In 1895 its income was $792,895 and its disbursements $801, 435, and its death rate had increased within four years from 12.2 to 17.4 per 1,000 annually.
Citation:
Stevens, Albert Clark, ed. The Cyclopaedia of Fraternities: A Compilation of Existing Authentic Information . . . of More Than Six Hundred Secret Societies in the United States. New York: Hamilton Printing and Publishing Company, 1899.
See Also:
http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/equitable_aid_union/
Ethnic
Introduction
Organizations found under this classification refer directly to European immigrant organizations dedicated to helping member preserve their culture while assimilating into American society. The two oldest well-known ethnic organizations are the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Irish) founded in 1836 and the Order of Sons of Hermann (German) in 1840. These organizations are distinguished from native-born American organizations, such as the Order of United American Mechanics, African-American Organizations such as the Knights and Ladies of Tabor, or even hereditary orders such as Daughters of the Confederacy. Whiles each of these later organizations are dedicated to preserving a specific heritage, culture, or commemorating historical events, Ethnic Fraternal orders exist to bridge two cultures of the old and new worlds. Ethnic Fraternal orders’ rituals also tended to be brief and based on a factual or legendary cultural history, such as King Arthur or Leif Erickson, while more-inclusive fraternal orders’ rituals are based on pan-ethnic stories, such as the Bible, medieval knights or ancient mythology.
While a few, if not many, organizations found under this classification are not strictly “ethnic” they all at least identify with a particular group of Europeans. The Danish Brotherhood could be better understood as a “Mutual Assessment” organizations for a portion of each members’ annual dues paid for a life insurance policy. The Order of B’rith Abraham, being classified under “Religious Organizations” could also be considered “Ethnic” and “Mutual Assessment” as it included Jews from both a range of European cultures and a range of observance– from conservative to secular. In contrast, the Irish Catholic Knights of America could easily be designated at “Ethnic,” but they are classified “Religious” as there are also Irish Protestant fraternal orders. While the Brotherhood of United Irishmen is “Ethnic” as it does not specific a religious denomination, and indeed could have been created to bring both Catholic and Protestant Irish immigrant together for mutual aid and support.
Examples
Friendly
Introduction
The term “Friendly” is used to gather the most common ritual-based fraternal organization under one heading. It is a catch-all term to distinguish those fraternal orders that have charitable activities in consequence to their principles, as opposed to those with contractual obligations. Freemasonry is the first and foremost of all friendly societies with its first American lodges in the 1730s. The Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias follow in size and strength. These three great fraternities all build orphanages, retirement homes, cared for the sick and widows, but never guaranteed such services as a right of membership. “Mutual Assessment” fraternal orders, such as the Tribe of Ben Hur or the Modern Woodmen of American also provided health and death benefits, but were in many cases, insurance corporations with local fraternal chapters. Friendly Societies are ritual-based organization who believed its ritual, principles, teaching and tenets would inspire its members to care for each other and would, thereby, naturally create charitable local, state and national funds and endeavors.
Friendly Societies are also distinguished from Ethnic Fraternal order, Religious and even Hereditary orders by the universality of their rituals and membership. Friendly Societies rituals are based on the Bible, legendary medieval knights and heroes, ancient mythology, and even modern works of fiction. Rather than than perpetuating one ethnic, political, or racial point of view, or commemorating a specific historical event. Local Friendly Societies’ “lodges” contain members of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, and many charter local “lodges” for specific groups, such as German-speaking, Jewish, or by profession or trade.
Examples
Greek Letter
Introduction
Also known as College fraternities and Sororities, “Greek-Letter” organizations are begin in the 1770s with the literary society of Phi Beta Kappa founded at the College of William Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Although not limited to higher educational student clubs employing Greek letters as the initials of their organizations the term is more specific than “fraternities.” Skull and Bones, P.E.O Sisterhood, and Scroll and Key are classified as “Greek Letter Fraternities” while they do not actually employee Greek letters. Most Greek Letter fraternities limit the opportunity to join to undergraduate students, but some, especially among African-American fraternities allow non-students and adults of all ages to join. Even more peculiar, once a man or woman joins a Greek letter fraternity, they are usually not asked to pay annual membership dues, to remain a member. Furthermore, unlike nearly every other type of American fraternal order, Greek Letter fraternities local chapters are established only in conjunction with an institution of of higher education, with each chapter’s viability being subject to the institutions’ policies.