A secret society is an organization whose activities, events, inner functioning, membership and sometimes even existence are concealed from outsiders. The term typically excludes covert groups such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies that hide their activities and membership while still maintaining a public presence.
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Associated With
Confraternities historically incorporated secret-society features such as private ritual and restricted membership within their broader charitable and devotional purpose.
Freemasonry is among the best documented and most influential examples of the secret society form.
The Poro Society of West Africa is a classic ethnographic example of an initiatory secret society regulating male social and political life.
The Sande Society of West Africa is the female counterpart initiatory secret society to the Poro Society, regulating women social and ritual life.
Sources
Secret Society (Wikipedia)
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A secret society is an organization about which the activities, events, inner functioning, membership, and sometimes also existence, are concealed.
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