Cyclopaedia of Fraternities e-bog

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The probable extent Of the influence of secret society life may be inferred from the fact that more than Americans are members of 300 such organizations, which confer about degrees novitiates annually, aided, in instances, by a wealth of paraphernalia and dramatic cere monial which rivals modern stage effects. More than members are annually added to the rolls Of Masonic Lodges, in the United States; quite as many join the Odd Fellows, and one-half as many the Knights of Pythias; more than join other secret societies, the lodges, chapters, or councils of which dot the country almost coincidently with the erection of churches and schoolhouses.