Uncovering the Truth About 8 Mysterious Secret Societies

Secretive organizations, with their hidden gathering spots and enigmatic rites, have long fascinated outsiders.

Explore the intriguing world of covert associations, ranging from well-known groups like the Freemasons to more obscure ones such as the Bullingdon Club.

1. The Bohemian Club

Established in 1872, the Bohemian Club is a private, members-only organization designed for men who are passionate about the arts. Its motto, 'Weaving Spiders Come Not Here,' encourages members to avoid discussing politics or business matters during gatherings. However, there is speculation about its enforcement, with rumors suggesting that Reagan and Nixon discussed the Republican primaries at Bohemian Grove in 1967.

Being part of the Bohemian Club comes with exclusive benefits, including access to the annual retreat in Sonoma. Over two weeks, members gather at the 2700-acre Bohemian Grove to participate in ceremonies, rituals, and networking events.

The Bohemian Grove features more than 100 camps, such as the Hillbillies, Mandalay, Lost Angels, Cave Man, and Owl’s Nest. Notable members throughout history include Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Clint Eastwood, Mark Twain, and Jack London. Walter Cronkite, a former member, once lent his voice to the club’s iconic owl statue during opening ceremonies.

The club’s opulence hasn’t gone unnoticed. During his 1882 visit, Oscar Wilde remarked, 'I've never seen so many well-dressed, well-fed, business-like-looking Bohemians in the whole course of my life.'

2. Belizean Grove

In response to the Bohemian Club's long-standing male-only policy, a group of influential women established their own annual gathering in 2001. Known as Belizean Grove, this organization primarily consists of highly successful women in their fifties and sixties who seek advice and networking opportunities from peers at the pinnacle of their careers.

Belizean Grove is exceptionally selective, with only 331 members. While a current roster is difficult to obtain, past participants, as reported by The New York Times, have included Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (who resigned before joining the court) and top executives from companies like Nasdaq, Procter and Gamble, Goldman Sachs, and Nordstrom. Each January or February, these distinguished women gather for a four-day retreat to unwind and forge connections across industries.

To embrace younger generations, Belizean Grove has introduced additional charters. TARA, or Today’s Already Rising Achievers, welcomes women in their thirties and forties who are rapidly advancing in their careers. Another group, Nyomi, is described as the youngest segment of Belizean Grove, comprising women who are already making significant contributions to society.

3. Skull & Bones

Several influential individuals boast memberships in multiple secret societies. For instance, George H.W. Bush was part of both The Bohemian Club and Skull & Bones, the Yale-based organization that includes John Kerry, William Howard Taft, Time founder Henry Luce, and nearly every male member of the Bush family.

Founded in 1832 by Alphonso Taft—father of President Taft—and William Russell, a college junior inspired by his exposure to secret societies during his studies in Germany, Skull & Bones was established when Russell returned to the U.S. and enlisted Taft’s support to create the group.

Despite its fame, the inner workings of Skull & Bones remain shrouded in mystery. Rumors, which may or may not be true, describe hazing rituals involving members lying naked in coffins and recounting their sexual histories. Another controversial claim is that the society allegedly stole the skull of Apache warrior Geronimo in 1918 and displayed it in their headquarters, known as the Tomb.

While Skull & Bones is the most renowned secret society in New Haven, Yale hosts several others, including Scroll & Key, Wolf’s Head, Book & Snake, and The Elizabethan Club.

4. The Explorer’s Club

The Explorer’s Club focuses less on who you are and more on your accomplishments in exploration. Membership is reserved for individuals with notable scientific or geographic achievements, such as Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Everest or Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic journeys.

The club’s New York City headquarters houses fascinating artifacts, including Robert Peary’s 1909 North Pole expedition sleigh, the miniature Explorer’s Club flag carried to the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and even a preserved whale penis. Members can apply to carry an official club flag on their expeditions, with one flag having reached both the highest and lowest points on Earth.

Beyond their exploration feats, the Explorer’s Club is famous for its annual dinners featuring extremely exotic dishes. A long-standing rumor claimed they consumed a 250,000-year-old Woolly Mammoth in 1951, but DNA testing later confirmed it was actually turtle meat.

5. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, despite its name, has a straightforward mission: to support communities, foster unity and peace, and encourage friendship. Originating in 18th-century England, it was formed by men in unconventional jobs lacking guild representation. The organization expanded to the U.S., receiving a charter in 1820, and later split to form the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

While the IOOF is known for its community service, it has recently gained attention for the skeletons found in its abandoned lodges. As the group declined, many buildings were left vacant or sold, with new owners often discovering skeletons during renovations. Some were plaster props, but others were real, used in initiation rituals to symbolize mortality. Initiates, blindfolded and sometimes chained, were led through dark rooms and confronted with skeletons upon removing their blindfolds. Some bones were reportedly sourced from medical catalogs, while others may have been obtained through graverobbing.

6. The Illuminati

The Illuminati, contrary to popular belief, were a real historical group, though likely not as sensationalized. Founded in 1776 in Bavaria by Adam Weishaupt, a professor, the organization aimed to promote free speech, open debate, and reduce religious influence. Initially limited to Weishaupt’s law students, membership quickly expanded to over 2000 across regions now known as Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, and Poland. Notably, the group distrusted individuals over 30 years old.

After a decade of activity, the Bavarian government disbanded the Illuminati and exiled Weishaupt. However, speculation about their continued existence persists. By 1797, physicist John Robison claimed the Illuminati had merged with the Freemasons, while Augustin Barruel suggested they orchestrated the French Revolution. In the U.S., even Thomas Jefferson faced accusations of membership, though these claims remain unproven.

7. The Bullingdon Club

Established in 1780 at Oxford University, the Bullingdon Club began as a hunting and cricket group but soon gained notoriety for its wild behavior. Future King Edward VIII was forced to leave after Queen Mary learned of the club’s excessive rowdiness. Its infamy inspired Evelyn Waugh to depict it as the 'Bollinger Club' in his 1928 novel, Decline and Fall.

Each year, only a select few Oxford students are invited to join. Initiates often wake up to find their rooms vandalized. David Cameron, a former UK Prime Minister and Bullingdon member, recounted witnessing members causing chaos, with one person smashing bottles using a golf club. Boris Johnson, another former Prime Minister, was also a member during Cameron’s time.

Today, the Bullingdon Club continues as a supper club, though its notorious past overshadows its current, presumably tamer, activities.

8. The Freemasons

The Freemasons, the largest and least secretive of secret societies, trace their roots to a medieval guild for stonemasons. These craftsmen, often well-traveled and worldly, began discussing governance and global affairs during their gatherings. Over time, they opened membership to non-masons, expanding their influence and finances. While the Freemasons remain a male-only fraternity, female relatives can join the affiliated Order of the Eastern Star.

The roster of notable Freemasons is extensive, including George Washington, Mozart, FDR, Houdini, Winston Churchill, Count Basie, Medgar Evers, Davy Crockett, Buzz Aldrin, Oscar Wilde, Charles Lindbergh, and Thurgood Marshall. Their prominence fuels conspiracy theories about global control, though insiders claim the group focuses on charity, lodge management, and casual card games.