Fraternal order

This article is about fraternities organised as orders. For brotherhoods in general, see Fraternity. For orders in general, see Order.

A fraternal order is an association organised as a fraternity statuted indirectly alluding to and reminiscing various traditions or aspects of the original religious or chivalric orders of the Middle Ages. Contemporary orders have various secular, modern purposes, including social, cultural and mutually beneficial or charitable aims.

Modern fraternal orders notably include Freemasons and Odd Fellows, as well as multiple orders comparable with friendly societies, benefit societies and mutual organisations.

Internal activities may or may not be related to those concerned in phaleristics.

See also

• Fraternity
• Friendly society
• Benefit society
• Mutual organisation