What is the oldest secret society in the world?

Question

I understand that to be a "True" secreat society you would still be a secret but, historicly speaking who is it. I have found that almost all secret societies are some how tied to the "masons" The Knights templar are suposed to be the forefathers to the masons. There are even ties to Tamar and the priory of sion. What's the truth?

If anyone says "Fight Club" I'm going to hurt you.

Answer 1

The Masonic Order actually predates the Knights Templar, at least in their history or pseudo-history, by about two thousand years ... so they would have to be the first. Did you know Dan Brown's next book is on the Masons and on Washington DC and the US Government? I can't wait for it to come out.

Answer 2

Oldest Secret Society

Answer 3

The Knights Templar originate from about 1119 or so and the Great Lodge (the beginning of organized freemasonry) was founded on June 24th 1717. The Templars are really the oldest secret society although originally not intended to become one; but more so a military elite force told only to protect the holy land once it had been captured.

Edit:
John B the great lodge (modern freemasonry) says that groups soon to become Freemasons originated throughout the 1500s and into the 1600s did exist, but they do not recognize any freemasonsry pre-1500s

Answer 4

I just thought about something was King Arthur's round table considered a S.S. In writing this I just thought of another and this is probably the oldest if it's what you consider a secret society, (I'm reading the book below and that's what made me think of it) what about the Knights of the Templar !!!! I could probably do hours of research on this subject. I hope that I gave you some food for thought, you could look some of these up on the Internet and see what you can come up with. I know it peeked my interest, I now have to find out for myself, so tomorrow I'm going to do some research on this so I'll know the next time, Interesting question !!!!! I now noticed that the guy above me talked about the Knights, so maybe this is right, why I though of this is because I'm reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail by, Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, & Henry Lincoln, great book !!!

Answer 5

Freemasonry is probably one of the oldest. There are many more lesser known Societies in the world ,that are probably as old or older.
Freemasonry goes way back before the Templars, and had nothing to do with them ,at the least officially.
Surely some of the Templars were Freemasons , but it was not a requirement .

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the oldest secret society in the world?
I understand that to be a "True" secreat society you would still be a secret but, historicly speaking who is it. I have found that almost all secret societies are some how tied to the "masons" The Knights templar are suposed to be the forefathers to the masons. There are even...

Answer 7

If it is truly a "secret society" then you wouldn't know about it. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon and says, "The Masonic Order."......... Not true. It can't be secret if everyone knows about it.

Because the Mason's meetings are not open to the public, on;y members, it is assumed that something is going on behind those closed doors that is dark in nature. No more than The Knights of Columbus, The Odd Fellows, The Moose Lodge or any other organization that holds meetings that only allow members to participate.

Do you want "TRUE" secret societies? Have you ever heard of "The Union Corsi"? I would think not. That is because so little is known about it that few even know they exist. They originated on the Island of Corsica in the Mediterranean. In fact the F.B.I. didn't even know of their existence until the mid-1970's. Members are not to ever utter or speak the name of another member out-loud. If they do they are marked for immediate death. No questions asked.

I don't think it gets any more secret than that, wouldn't you say?

Any organization that holds meetings closed to the public and the public is aware of their existence, cannot in a rational manner be considered a "secret society". (I've seen City Councils hold closed meetings...... would they then be considered "secret"?) Would you think the board at Exxon would like or have the public attend it's meetings? How about the Vatican...... do you think they hold all of their discussions in view of the public?

Organizations hold closed meetings so that they might go about their business without outside interference by people who do not have a vested interest in the organization. That's all, no dark underworld secrets in organizations that are known to the public.

What you and many others might want to do if it interests you that much is to dig around and learn about organizations that are NOT known to the general public, (Like the one I mentioned above.) THEN you have something secret to wonder about.

Answer 8

Have you ever heard of the Society of Jesus? Or the Franciscan Order? The Catholic Church began in secrecy and has maintained many secrets within its various orders even today. Forget about the Masons and all that crap you see in the movies to entertain you with fantasy. Read your history , especially the biographies of the early Catholic saints like St Francis of Assisi. The truth is in the books not the screen.

Answer 9

Knights of the Templar-1303
Masons-Biblical times

Answer 10

The Free Masons