Last week in this space we looked at two fraternal organizations – Masons and Grange – that have counted millions of Americans among their members, and have played a major role in shaping American life.

But there were MANY more fraternal lodges on the scene, both nationally and locally. What were some of the others, centering our look on Steuben County?

Knights of the Maccabees had “Tents” in Campbell, Canisteo, Bath, Savona, Hammondsport, Jasper, Wayland, Wayne, and Hornell. Ritual and nomenclature were inspired by the Maccabee warriors of ancient Israel, but the insurance aspect fairly quickly overshadowed the fraternal aspect. In 1901, after James Shannon was killed by lightning in his barn on Mount Washington, his wife got a $2000 Maccabees insurance payout.

They were fond of parades, and had substantial halls in Jasper and Hornell. They were whites only, had a Ladies of the Maccabees auxiliary, and endured into the 1990s, but eventually became “just” an insurance company. You’ll find their tents and beehives (for MaccaBEES) on gravestones and cemetery markers.

Knights of Pythias, which still operates worldwide, dates to 1864. Greek legend told of friends Damon and Pythias, each willing to sacrifice his life for the other. We have a photo of the only known Steuben group, in Bath.

Like most fraternal groups, Pythians today are philanthropic, especially supporting the American Cancer Society. Famous Knights include Louis Armstrong, William Jennings Bryan, Nelson Rockefeller, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pythian Sisters are the auxiliary, with Pythian Sunshine Girls and Junior Order of Princes of Syracuse for youth. Their FCB symbol (often in a triangle) stands for Friendship, Charity, Benevolence.

Also known by a single group are the Modern Woodmen of America, noted in Hornell in 1883. Originally open to all religions, agnostics, and atheists, the goal was to build community and provide family security, but even well into the 20th century only whites were admitted. They also excluded the actuarily-worrisome, such as city dwellers, miners, railway workers, and aeronauts (sorry, Mr. Curtiss). Philanthropy, insurance, and fraternal life are still Woodmen priorities. A crossed axe and hammer is a common symbol. Sometimes there are very picturesque gravestones in the form of a tree stump, or stumps carved on a traditional stone, but I don’t know of any locally.

Cameron Mills, Hammondsport, Bath, and Wayland had Improved Order of Red Men “Tribes.” Inspired by the Boston Tea Party “Mohawks,” Red Men used pseudo-Indian ranks and terminology. The ladies’ group is the Degree of Pocahontas, with Degree of Anona and Degree of Hiawatha for youth. Founded in 1834, the Red Men are still active as a patriotic fraternity, with Alzheimer’s research as a national charity emphasis. At least three presidents (Harding and both Roosevelts) were Red Men. Their motto is “Freedom, Friendship, Charity.” The abbreviation TOTE (Totem of the Eagle) sometimes appears. There’s still a tribe in Watkins Glen.

Founded in 1877, the Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum had groups in Bath and Hornell. While excluding Asians and atheists, otherwise their male membership was theoretically wide open. Loyal Ladies of the Royal Arcanum were the auxiliary, and the motto was “Mercy, Virtue, Charity.” A crown is a common symbol.

The Knights of Honor, founded in 1873, by 1891 had groups in Addison, Bath, Campbell, Caton, Corning, and Hornell. The Knights had a robust system of sickness and death benefits, and also assisted non-member victims of yellow fever. There seems to be no connection with the computer game of the same name, but the current Knights of Honor stress “a brotherhood of secret knowledge, self-improvement and mutual aid.”

The Ancient Order of United Workmen had groups in Addison, Bath, Canisteo, Erwin, Hornellsville, Howard, and Wayland. Founded in 1868, this fraternity developed insurance and benefits for workingmen – a startling idea at the time. The auxiliary was the Degree of Honor. In its early days, the Order was whites only. They often used the symbol of a shield and anchor.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows had their bicentennial last year. The Daughters of Rebekah are the ladies’ auxiliary, with Theta Rho and Loyal Sons of the Junior Order as youth groups. There are now 10,000 lodges worldwide – none in Steuben, though there were groups in Addison, Avoca, Bath, Canisteo, Cohocton, Corning, Wayland, Hornell, and Woodhull. The 1819 organization did not start out segregated, but split into black and white organizations in 1842. In 1910 African American men founded a lodge of the parallel Grand Union Order of Odd Fellows in Painted Post.

Odd Fellows halls were once prominent features of America’s landscape, including locally… they helped build the old Addison village hall, in exchange for use of the fourth floor. You may find chains of three links depicted on buildings or gravestones, and/or the initials F L T, for Friendship, Love, and Truth. The initials I.O.O.F. are also found, while “Rebekahs” or “Daughters of Rebekah” appear on a great many gravestones. Eleanor Roosevelt was a Rebekah, while Franklin was a Fellow, along with five other presidents going back to Buchanan. So were Robert Byrd, Charlie Chaplin, Charles A. Lindbergh, and Wyatt Earp. The closest lodge today is in Geneva.

The great days of “joining” seem to be over, and with them has passed the heyday of “the lodge.” But not too long ago, the lodge loomed large in the hearts and lives of Americans.