Fraternal order

This article is about fraternities organised as orders. For brotherhoods in general, see Fraternity. For orders in general, see Order.

A fraternal order is a voluntary membership organisation structured as an order, typically featuring initiation rituals and elements derived from religious orders, chivalric traditions, guilds, or secret societies. While drawing on these historical models, fraternal orders generally serve secular purposes: functioning as social clubs, cultural organisations, and providers of mutual aid or charitable services. Many friendly societies, benefit societies, and mutual organisations are organised as fraternal orders.

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