Portal:Societies

General

 * Portal:Secret societies
 * Portal:Anonymous (group)
 * Portal:Wikimedia Foundation

Friendly societies
A friendly society (sometimes called a mutual society, benevolent society, fraternal organization or ROSCA) is a mutual association for the purposes of insurance, pensions, savings or cooperative banking. It is a mutual organization or benefit society composed of a body of people who join together for a common financial or social purpose. Before modern insurance, and the welfare state, friendly societies provided financial and social services to individuals, often according to their religious, political, or trade affiliations.


 * Education of Orphan Children, 1883 speech by Carl Schurz (Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society)
 * Flag Day Resolution, 1919 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

Oddfellows
The name Oddfellows refers to a number of friendly societies and fraternal organisations operating in the United Kingdom. It also refers to a number of Lodges with histories dating back to the 18th century. These various organisations were set up to protect and care for their members and communities at a time when there was no welfare state, trade unions or National Health Service.



Court decisions

 * Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias v. Withers, decided April 9, 1900 by the United States Supreme Court
 * Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine v. Michaux, decided June 3, 1929 by the United States Supreme Court

Brahmo Samaj

 * A History of the Brahmo Samaj (1911)