Secret Societies…Conspiracy Theories…these mysterious entities have been with us ever since mankind formed civilizations.
Secret Societies abound across the face of the planet, touching every race, religion, creed and color of humanity. Some are associated with religion and some with politics. In fact, you can find secret societies embedded in every facet of society. Although there have been many books written, movies and documentaries produced about conspiracy theories and secret societies, the publication of Dan Brown's book THE DA VINCI CODE and release of the movie starring Tom Hanks focused a world wide spotlight on a specific set of conspiracy theories and secret societies galloping across the pages of history.
One such Secret Society is the Freemasons, an organization constantly in a swirl of public attention from books and even an onslaught of television documentaries. They are, perhaps, the most recognized of secret societies with the greatest number of conspiracy theories attached to them due in great part to their longevity, an organization whose roots date back to biblical times formed by stone masons who built things such as the massive temples of the time. The older the organization, the more conspiracy theories that become attached to it over time.
However, other secret societies remain far more elusive from public scrutiny. I recently came across a list of four secret societies (among what is probably hundreds, maybe even thousands) that have not routinely been thrust into public awareness.
The Bohemian Club:
Founded in San Francisco in 1872, the Bohemian Club holds an
annual retreat in the redwood forest of northern California at Bohemian
Grove. At this location, they conduct a
secret ceremony in front of a giant owl statue.
Only the most powerful men are invited to attend. Women are prohibited from being members, a
situation upheld by the California courts.
Famous members included Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, two former
United States Presidents.
Ordo Templi Orientis:
Founded in the early 20th century by an Austrian
chemist. One of its known members is
famed British occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947). He revamped the masonic
group to focus on a religion he created called Thelema. They believe that
mankind's existence is a product of the relationship between the space-time
continuum and the principle of life and wisdom. Prospective members must go
through a series of secret rituals and initiations before being granted membership.
The Rosicrucians:
Rosicrucianism is a spiritual and cultural movement which
arose in Europe in the early 17th century. They have one central belief, that
all their members share the same secret wisdom. Their beliefs combine occultism
with aspects of popular religion. They're named for their symbol of a rose on a
cross.
Skull & Bones:
Founded at Yale university in 1832, it's probably the most
famous of the secret societies due in part to such high profile members as
three generations of the Bush family, including two presidents—George H.W. Bush
and George W. Bush. Skull & Bones
have allegedly been a part of many monumental historical events despite the
fact that only fifteen Yale students are chosen each year to become members.
It's rumored that they took part in the creation of the nuclear bomb. There's
also a persistent belief that in 1918, nine years after Geronimo's death, a
group of Skull & Bones members dug up his grave and stole his skull, a few
miscellaneous bones, and some relics that were also buried with him. The grave raiding party allegedly included
Prescott Bush, father and grandfather to the two Bush presidents. Twenty
descendants of Geronimo filed a lawsuit against Skull & Bones, Yale
University, and the U.S. Government to have the remains returned to them. A federal judge dismissed the case in 2010, citing the 1990 limitations in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
There are certainly many more secret organizations functioning and flourishing world-wide in today's society other than those mentioned here.
