There was a time when the word "fraternal" meant something far more significant and meaningful than college parties and binge drinking. Below you will find a bit of history and a short summation of the modern fraternal organizations.

You may skip down to "Present Century" section if you're not interested in the history.

History 18th & 19th Centuries

In the 1700s, adult men would gather together at fraternal lodges and clubs. This was prior to the age of electricity. When the sun went down, you were done working. If you wanted socializing or entertainment, you had to actively seek it out. You had to become a joiner. During the 1800s, over 40% of US adult males belonged to at least one such group. In many rural towns, they rivaled churches for being the hub of society.

These fraternal lodges were places for social interaction, introductions and networking. They wielded considerable influence over local politics. Some became very powerful, and were resented by church and political leaders. Many groups were heavily linked to the American and French revolutions, as well as smaller revolutions in South and Central America.

Scandal and corruption allegations were frequent newspaper fodder. Most were pure FUD, but enough did have merit. As the charges became more serious, membership declined and became more secretive. So great was the scare, that there was even an Anti-Mason political party. It received the most votes of any 3rd party in US history.

History 20th Century

Fraternal groups stubbornly persisted, and eventually the opposition lessened. Many groups had adopted self-imposed restrictions against the discussion of politics or religion. Almost all refuse to publicly endorse political candidates. By the mid-1900s, these surviving fraternities -- Freemasons, Shriners, Oddfellows, Eagles, Knights of Columbus, Elks, etc. -- were again popular. Many had a huge spike in membership following the end of WW2. Returning soldiers wanted to continue the camaraderie they had known during the war.

The 1950s saw many of these groups reach record numbers. And again they came under attack. These groups were all early targets of Feminism. They were the clearest representation of Patriarchy you could ask for. Male-only organizations with secretive memberships and closed meetings. Nevermind that many of these groups featured auxiliary clubs for women (Eastern Star, Lady Elks, Daughters of the Nile, Rebekah, etc.), and some groups even opened themselves to female members (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.), popular opinion still labeled them collectively as the "Old Boys' Network."

Feminism did significant damage, but it was not the ultimate rival. As TV became better and more widely available, there was a sharp turn towards solitary leisure time. Fraternal organizations could not compete with popular entertainment, and entire generations wrote them off as obsolete, backwards, or meaningless.

Present Century

Fraternal groups still survive, but they are very diminished. Their memberships are rapidly aging. Rural organizations have been the hardest hit. Young people flock to cities for work, and there are few candidates to replace those they lose. Funerals outnumber initiations.

However, some urban areas have seen a recent resurgence. The Internet has allowed them to reach a younger generation. I am a member of three of these groups, and have visited or attended events at several others.

Do they offer anything for a man in his early 20s? I'm sorry to say, very little. 50 years of targeted campaigns by feminists, politicians, and conspiracy theorists have pulled their teeth. A few run scholarships and youth groups for teens, but job leads and career guidance will be uncommon. Like the rest of Western men, they've been beaten so hard with the PC stick, that you're unlikely to hear anything resembling TRP knowledge spoken above a whisper.

But for a man in his 30s or 40s, these organizations offer considerably more. Married or single, here you will find a collection of your peers. Men of above-average quality. Dependable acquaintances with like-minded beliefs and experiences. Possibly even friends. As any older guy can attest, new friends can be rare and hard to find once you're in your mid-30s. There is much value in that.

Recommendations

It is very difficult to recommend a specific organization, as certain groups have survived better in specific areas than others. I will attempt a very broad summary. You will need to do your own research.

  • Freemasonry is the oldest and still the most popular. They will accept almost any man, except hardcore atheists. Google search "Masonic Grand Lodge of" your state, province, or country. Find a list of local lodges. The Shriners are also still popular, and their charity efforts are astounding! (To become a Shriner, you must first be a Freemason.)

  • The animal groups: Elks, Moose, and Eagles, seem to be more scattered. In some places they're thriving, in others they've vanished. Some are frequently linked to other hobbies or activities. For example, in my city, the Eagles are practically a motorcycle club.

  • Some other groups have specific restrictions on memberships: Knights of Columbus (Catholics), Rotary (business/charity professionals/entrepreneurs), and Prince Hall Freemasons (African Americans). The strictness of these requirements can vary considerably from club to club.

  • There are also many groups for military service members and veterans, of which I am considerably less informed. A few accept descendents of veterans.

All these groups have different requirements on joining, which you should be able to learn more from a simple Google search. But the general rule, as it was 250 years ago, is you must seek them out. You ask how to become a member.