The Knights of the Golden Eagle (KGE) was an American fraternal organization founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1872. At its height in the 1920s, the organization had 73,340 members in 26 states. It ceased operations in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
| Knights of the Golden Eagle | |
|---|---|
| KGE | |
 | |
| Founded | 1872 Baltimore, Maryland, US |
| Type | General fraternity |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Defunct |
| Scope | National |
| Members | 74,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | North Wales, Pennsylvania United States |
History
editKnights of the Golden Eagle was established in Baltimore, Maryland in 1872.[1] The order's original objectives were to help its members find employment and aid them while unemployed. Membership was open to white males over 18, without physical or mental handicaps, who were able to write and support themselves, were law-abiding, of sound moral character, and the Christian faith. There was a female auxiliary called the Ladies of the Golden Eagle.[2]
In the early years of its existence, the group received assistance from other secret societies and fraternal groups. The Odd Fellows helped them become established in Philadelphia in 1875 and the Knights of Pythias helped them become established in Massachusetts in 1880.[3]
Organization
editLocal lodges were called "Castles," statewide structures were called "Grand Castles", and the overall group "Supreme Castle". In the early 1920s, the Knights were headquartered at 814−816 North Broad Street, Philadelphia.[4] The last known headquarters of the group was in North Wales, Pennsylvania.[3][5]
Membership
editMembership was open to Christian white men over 18, who were of good moral character, sound mental and physical health, able to write and support themselves, and were law-abiding citizens. By the early 1920s, the group had 73,340 members in 26 states.[4] Membership began to decline in the 1930s.[2] In 1965, the group had 15,000 members, mostly concentrated in Pennsylvania.[6] In the late 1970s, scholar Alvin J. Schmidt was unable to locate a current address for the group and determined that it was extinct.[3]
Ritual
editThe Knights' ritual worked three degrees, based on the history of the Crusades: the first degree accented the pilgrim and taught the candidate fidelity to God and man; the second degree used the medieval knight as its role model to teach the member to revere religion, fidelity, valor, charity, courtesy and hospitality; the third degree was based on the figure of the crusader and it "equipped the member against the evil of his enemies."[1] Members of the Ladies of the Golden Eagle took one degree, the Temple Degree, upon being initiated.[3] Oaths are sworn on an open Bible.[7]
Eagle Home Association
editThis was the mutual benefit arm of the Knights, whose object was to protect aged members of the order, as well as their orphans and widows. It was supported by a per capita tax on such Castles as were enrolled in it.[8][a]
Notable members
editSee also
editNotes
edit- ^ Preuss was unable to get in touch with this group in the early 1920s.
Citations
edit- ^ a b Schmidt & Babchuk 1980, p. 189.
- ^ a b Schmidt & Babchuk 1980, pp. 189–90.
- ^ a b c d Schmidt & Babchuk 1980, p. 190.
- ^ a b Preuss 1924, p. 232.
- ^ Whalen 1966, p. 130.
- ^ Whalen 1966, p. 83.
- ^ Whalen 1966, p. 82.
- ^ Preuss 1924, p. 112.
References
edit- Preuss, Arthur (1924). A dictionary of secret and other societies. Association reference series. St. Louis: B. Herder Book Company.
- Schmidt, Alvin J.; Babchuk, Nicholas (1980). Fraternal organizations. Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Institutions. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-21436-3.
- Whalen, William Joseph (1966). Handbook of Secret Organizations. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Company.