List of fraternal auxiliaries and side degrees


Fraternal orders often have "side degrees", auxiliaries or appendant. Some of these are created as female "sister organizations", youth organizations or side degrees proper which are organizations associated with or within the larger organization.

AHEPA

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association or AHEPA, has three auxiliaries
  • Daughters of Penelope
  • Sons of Pericles
  • Maids of Athena

Ancient Order of United Workmen

Elks

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks banned auxiliaries and side degrees in 1907, but unofficial female and youth auxiliaries have still been founded at the local level. Furthermore, female auxiliaries are recognized by the Elks of Canada and the African-American Improved [Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World]
  • Antlers - for young men under 21. Despite the ban on auxiliaries the creation of this youth group was approved by the Grand Lodge session of 1927, though it had been operating at the local level in San Francisco since 1922. After the membership declined during World War II, the Grand Lodge deleted all reference to the Antlers in its Constitution and Statutes.
  • Benevolent and Protective Order of the Does - unofficial female Auxiliary operating at the local level.
  • Lady Elks - unofficial female Auxiliary operating at the local level.
  • Order of Royal Purple &- Canadian female auxiliary, open to women over 18 who have a close male family member who is an Elk
  • Daughters of the Improved Benevolent and Protective [Order of Elks of the World] - official auxiliary of the African American version of the order.
  • Emblem Club of [the United States of America] - founded in 1926 as an organization of female relatives of Elks. Effectively operates as the Elks unofficial auxiliary.
  • Sons of Idle Rest - founded in the 1890s, this was a side degree of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Its purpose was largely "recreative" and for the elaboration of ceremony. Attempts to trace the organization in the early 1920s were in vain.

Foresters

  • Junior Foresters of America - organization for youths 12–18 years of age, attached to the Foresters of America. Also said to be an outgrowth of the English Juvenile Foresters.
  • Knights of Sherwood Forest - an appendant degree of the Foresters of America established in 1879 in St. Louis. It was described as both a "benevolent" as well as a semi-military or uniformed group within the Foresters. It was recognized as the second level degree for the organization at the Philadelphia Subsidiary High Court in 1883. At the time the Knights numbered some 1,700 in 50 Subordinate Conclaves governed by a Supreme Conclave of the World. It was extinct by the early 1920s.

Freemasonry

Shriners

  • Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, now known as the Shriners International
  • *Royal Order of Jesters - an invitation only organization open to Shriners.
  • *Daughters of the Nile - This organization was founded in Seattle on February 20, 1913, and was originally meant for the wives, daughters, sisters, mothers and widows of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Today it is open to women 18 and older who are related by birth or marriage to a Shriner, Master Mason, or Daughter of the Nile, or is a majority member in Good Standing of a Masonic-related organization for girls; or who was a patient, with or without Shrine or Masonic relationship, at a Shriners Hospital for Children. Like the other female groups related to the Shriners, they focus their work on the Shriners Children's Hospitals, including raising millions of dollars through their endowment funds, volunteering at the hospitals, sewing quilts and clothes and donating toys, games and educational materials.
  • *Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America - The first court of this women's Shrine related organization was founded in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1903. After two other courts were formed, a national organization was formed on June 24, 1914. However, the LOSNA did not become legally incorporated until 1954. Unlike many male fraternal orders, the LOSNA grew in membership in the latter decades of the 20th century. They had 24,000 members in the mid-1960s, 30,000 members in the mid-1970s and 32,000 in 1994. Today they claim 16,000 members in 76 Courts across North America. Membership is open to women who are at least 18 years old, related to a Noble of Shriners International, or a Master Mason by birth, marriage or adoption or be sponsored by two members of the Ladies' Oriental Shrine of North America. Local organizations are called Subordinate Courtd are headed by a High Priestess. The overall organization is the Grand Council headed by a Grand High Priestess.
  • *Shrine Guilds of America - Founded in 1947 by the wives of Shriners of the Murat Temple of Indianapolis. The group currently has 14 local Guilds, located mostly in Indiana and Florida, and concentrates its work on helping the Shriners Hospitals for Children, particularly educating children during their time at the hospital. Membership is open to the wives and widows of Shriners. Local Guild presidents are called Maharanees. The president of the Imperial Council of Shrine Guilds of America is denoted the Imperial Maharanee.
  • Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine - an African American version of the order, founded by a group of Prince Hall Masons in 1893 in Chicago.
  • *The Imperial Court, formerly the Daughters of Isis

Other Masonic side degrees

Kiwanis

Youth and schools

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Pythias

Maccabees

Odd fellows

Redmen

Woodmen

Other groups