Each has based its existence on a secret, the secret of its mystery, purpose, direction, ritual or, more generally, its organization. Some have served utilitarian ends, others speculative some have been visible, others invisible, except to government information services, which have always been aware of their existence. Secret societies have been in existence at least since the date of the earliest known writings. It is therefore not very helpful to attempt to differentiate between secret societies and other organizations on the basis of distinctions of place (primitive societies, Western societies), culture (Caribbean, Germanic, Slavic or American Protestant societies), religion ( Ordre de Jacques-Cartier, Orange Order), nationality (Amerindian, Spanish, Italian, Irish or French) or sex (witches or high priests). All have given a sacred significance to their existence. All have identified themselves with certain moral principles and beliefs that distinguish them from that which surrounds them and is therefore foreign or subordinate to them. All have evolved internal ceremonies capable of separating the neophyte from the member of long standing, the profane from the chosen. All have developed and followed successive stages to the attainment of secret knowledge or power, periods of apprenticeship and trial, and an often intricate hierarchy. All have adopted signs of recognition and passwords, rhythmic chants and other ways of reminding one another of their society's moral conditions of behaviour. Historically, all secret societies, whether brotherhoods, trade guilds, mystery societies, initiating associations and spiritualist societies or, more simply, closed associations with specific economic, political or religious purpose, have or have had their own oaths, rituals, customs and secret languages to promote and maintain necessary group solidarity. Myth-makers capitalize on one's interest in the immaterial and supernatural to maintain in initiates and aspirants the superrational element necessary for any lasting socialization. In order to attract the attention of the curious or the spiritualistic, a group generally need only indulge in clandestine activities (eg, the Freemasons), have an unusual series of rites and customs (many social clubs), or maintain a certain secrecy around initiation ceremonies (some Native groups). They may also be viewed as agencies for mutual aid, support, brotherhood, charity or good works. At other times, secret societies are seen as seditious political organizations, clandestine economic associations, criminal groups, ideological movements with revolutionary intentions, or occult interest groups. Secret societies are sometimes seen as religious, philosophical or spiritual sects that confer upon their initiates a certain mystery the mystery is patiently and meticulously maintained and gradually made accessible, in succeeding stages, through the performance of secret rites designed to purify the fortunate elect.
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