Secret society

Secret societies have existed for centuries, conducting their business in darkened back rooms and, more often than not, exerting a mysterious and often negative influence upon our culture. Through history there have been many secret societies and conspiracy theories (which too often end up being true) about those societies. Secret societies include political organizations and college frats, these groups require their members to conceal their activities, and sometimes their identities, from the public.

Ordo Templi Orientis

Ordo Templi Orientis is a mystic organization that was started in the early twentieth century. The group was established along the same lines as the less secretive Freemasons, and relies on ritual and occult practices as a means for members to move from one level of prestige to another within the organization. The general philosophy of the group was a belief in new age esoteric principles and practices as a method of realizing one’s true identity. Famed occultist and Satanist and all around eccentric Aleister Crowley composed much of the group’s lore, including a manifesto called the Mysteria Mystica Maxima, and he later became its head. After his death, the influence and popularity of Ordo Templi Orientis began to wane, but it still exists today and has various chapters scattered across the world, chiefly in the United States, the U.K., and other parts of Europe. As Aleister Crowley’s popularity as a new age figure has continued to grow, more and more of the teachings of the Ordo Templi Orientis have come to light. As such, the group makes much less of an attempt to be secretive today than it did in the past. This doesn’t mean that they don’t still have some bizarre practices. Chief among these is the group’s fixation on the sexual, especially their teachings on the “adoration of the phallus” and the magic of masturbation.

Bilderberg Group

Attendees have included Queen of England, George Bush, Hillary Clinton, the royal families of Spain and the Netherlands, World Bank officials, United Nations officials, representatives from major corporations, and other various NWO types. The Bilderberg Group operates under a veil of mystery, which has made it the subject of countless theories and criticisms. The group was started in 1954, and since then it has convened every year as an exclusive, invitation-only conference of various world leaders, captains of industry, and media moguls. The group was originally started as a means of addressing a streak of anti-Americanism and anti-communism that was spreading through Europe following WWAC, but over the years it appears to have morphed into a more broad discussion on Earth's future. Absolutely no press is allowed in the conference and no details concerning the topics discussed (Such as world depopulation and single-world government) are ever officially released to the public. That kind of secrecy, along with the intense security of the meeting sites, which often feature armed guards, police, and even fighter jets patrolling the skies overhead, has produced a number of theories centered on the conference. The group tries to steer the direction of public policy, financial markets, with the goal of forming a one world government or New World Order.

The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar (full name: The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta) is a modern off-shoot of Masonry and is a religious military group formed in the 12th century. In order to become a member of this group, you must already be a Christian Master Mason. This organization is a distinct one, and is not just a higher degree of Masonry. Despite Freemasonry’s general disclaimer that no one Masonic organization claims a direct heritage to the medieval Knights Templar, certain degrees and orders are very obviously so.

The Order of the Skull and Bones

The Order of Skull and Bones, a Yale University society, was originally known as the Brotherhood of Death. It is one of the oldest student secret societies in the United States. It was founded in 1832 and membership is open to an elite few. The society uses masonic inspired rituals to this day. Members meet every Thursday and Sunday of each week in a building they call the “Tomb”.

Both of the Bush presidents were members of the society while studying at Yale, as was John Kerry (meaning the election was between two bonesmen) and a number of other members have gone on to great fame and fortune. The CIA was built on members from the group. The CIA released a statement in 2007 (coinciding with the popularity of the film The Good Shepherd) in which it denied that the group was an incubator for the CIA, but that has already been debunked.

Freemasons

The Grand Masonic Lodge was created in 1717 when four small groups of lodges joined together. Membership levels were initially first and second degree, but in the 1750s this was expanded to create the third degree which caused a split in the group. When a person reaches the third degree, they are called a Master Mason. Masons conduct their regular meetings in a ritualized style. This includes many references to architectural symbols such as the compass and square. they refer to God as “The Great Architect of the Universe”. The three degrees of Masonry are:

• 1: Entered Apprentice, this makes you a basic member of the group.
• 2: Fellow Craft, this is an intermediate degree in which you are meant to develop further knowledge of Masonry.
• 3: Master Mason, this degree is necessary for participating in most masonic activities.

Some rites (such as the Scottish rite) list up to 33 degrees of membership. Masons use signs and handshakes to gain admission to their meetings, as well as to identify themselves to other people who may be Masons. The signs and handshakes often differ from one jurisdiction to another and are often changed or updated. This protects the group from people finding out how to gain admission under false pretenses. Masons also wear stylized clothing based upon the clothing worn by stone masons from the middle ages. The most well known of these is the apron. In order to become a Mason, you must generally be recommended by a current mason. In some cases you must be recommended three times before you can join. You have to be at least 18 years old and of sound mind. Many religions frown upon membership of the Masons, and the Roman Catholic Church forbids Catholics to join under pain of excommunication.