The Eye of Providence

The Simplest of Secret                Signs

The Key Temple Symbol

Welcome to
The Australian Centre For Fraternalism, Secret Societies and Mateship

a Research, Conservation and Display facility furthering the study of fraternalism and the neglected world of fraternal associations, ie, in the main, trade unions, friendly societies and Freemasons.

It's only purpose is to educate.

The Centre is based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, where its Convenor and Co-ordinator is Dr Bob James.

Today, 11 October, 2008, begins a new phase, Stage 3 of 'The Centre'. This becomes the fourth chapter of a curious journey which began in a communal potato patch at Pialligo near Canberra Airport around 35 years ago. It was amongst the rows of almost-defeated vegetables I first contemplated devoting my best efforts to historical research. First up, it was Australian anarchists, then it became, briefly. alternative life-styles, then with my return to Newcastle in 1986, the focus became labour history and within that, May Day.

Begun that year, my PhD narrowed quickly to the Hunter River District and the ideas, not the politics of May Day. But conceptually  it broadened hugely, when it became apparent that May Day/labour history could not be studied in isolation from other instances of fraternal phenomena, ie Freemasonry, Friendly Societies, and others.

The work of the Centre, which is a non-profit, incorporated society was initially supported, as the ACFS, by the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, and the Friendly Societies Association of NSW:

The seed capital, provided by GUOOF until that entity merged with Australian Unity (previously Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Australian Natives Association, both in Victoria), has now exhausted.

With a new name and at last free of nay-saying encumbrances, I have today shaken hands with the future - but more of that anon.

A new Board of Management is actively seeking sponsors for its work, donations of suitable material and volunteers to assist with its day-to-day running.

Newsletters

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Mateship, Fraternalism and Secret Societies in Australia

1788 - 2008.

An Introduction

     What little is known by the general population about fraternal societies makes them seem too weird and 'olde worlde' to bother finding out more.

     The two words 'secret societies' prompt many people to think of comic book versions of the Illuminati, the Ku Klux Klan or the Anarchists...or to think of the Da Vinci Code.

     Professional historians and heritage practitioners have shown little interest in fraternalism.

     And then there's the peculiar approach adopted by Australians to the notion of 'mateship.'

     From that 'olde worlde' fraternals have brought us mateship, 'insiders' and 'outsiders', mutuality and solidarity, health care and insurance, secret ballots, conviviality, charity, ladders of success, Grand Masters and Arch Bishops, trade unions, Freemasonry and friendly societies, and much more.

     Their history connects us to oaths of allegiance, the Bible, to the after-life, and to a time when values, loyalty, manners and looking after one's mate were taken for granted.

      It's hard to think of anyone, anywhere who has not been affected by fraternalism or fraternal societies.

     'Fraternal' here, does not exclude women. It's just the best word for these societies. There were plenty of female members and female-only lodges, despite social pressures against them.

    Fraternal societies have had good reasons to have secrets, and to put their messages in coded pictures, that is, in symbols.

     The square and compass is most often associated with Freemasonry, but not all versions of this symbol are Masonic. It, or something similar, was used by the 'Order of Free Gardeners' and the 'Royal Black Preceptory', for example.

     This, of course, raises the question of borrowing, and claims that Freemasonry has been the source of all modern secret societies. I do not accept this argument.

     Some coded pictures, that is, symbols have been common to many 'Orders' and have entered everyday language. For example, the Eye of Providence, also known as the All-Seeing Eye, or God...or Big Brother. It also appears on the US dollar bill. The Temple has been used on many banners, because it formed part of many society emblems, and in public architecture as part of the Gothic Revival. The well-known handshake, favored by trade unions and friendly societies, was originally a secret sign of recognition.

     Because they have been secret societies the only way to an understanding of fraternal societies is through their codes.

For the full, 60-page Introduction to this fascinating and important part of Australian history send $10 to the address above, specifying whether disc or hard copy.