The document provides information on several secret societies that could be researched for an English paper, including the Skull and Bones Society, Freemasons, Illuminati, Ordos Templi Orientis, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Priory of Sion, and Opus Dei. It outlines some of the basic beliefs and histories of each society, as well as conspiracy theories surrounding them, to help students choose a topic to research further.

1. Research
SECRET SOCIETIES

2. Research Paper
 Every English Student must complete a
research paper.
 The requirements are:
 3-5 pages
 Typed
 Double space
 12 Font –Times New Roman
 You must use 3 sources.

3. Topic
 You will be researching a secret society.
 This PowerPoint will give you brief insight
into several to help you choose.

4. Skull and Crossbones
 The Order of Skull and Bones, a Yale University
society, was originally known as the Brotherhood
of Death.
 It is one of the oldest student secret societies in
the United States
 Both of the Bush presidents were members of
the society while studying at Yale
 The society is surrounded by conspiracy theories;
the most popular of which is probably the idea
that the CIA was built on members from the
group.

5. Freemasons
 Masons conduct their regular meetings in a
ritualized style.
 Masons use signs and handshakes to gain
admission to their meetings, as well as to
identify themselves to other people who may be
Masons.
 In order to become a Mason, you must generally
be recommended by a current mason
 Hundreds of conspiracies surround this group.

6. Illuminati
 A movement of freethinkers that were the most radical
offshoot of The Enlightenment
 While it was not legally allowed to operate, many
influential intellectuals and progressive politicians
counted themselves as members.
 did not require a belief in a supreme being made them
particularly popular amongst atheists.
 It has even been suggested that the Skull and Bones
club is an American branch of the Illuminati.
 Many people believe that the Illuminati is still
operating and managing the main actions of the
governments of the world.
 It is believed that they wish to create a One World
Government based on humanist and atheist principles.

7. Ordos templi Orientis
 is based around a single law: “Do what thou wilt
shall be the whole of the law, love is the law, love
under the will”
 The OTO currently claims over 3,000 members
worldwide.
 The ritual is very stylized and uses virgin
priestesses, children, and priests. Many
Ancient Egyptian God’s are invoked, as
well as the Devil, and at one point the
priestess performs a naked ritual.

8. Hermetic Order of the Golden
Dawn
 It is considered by many to be a forerunner of
modern Occult groups.
 The belief system of the Golden Dawn is
largely taken from Christian
mysticism, Qabalah, Hermeticism, the
religion of Ancient
Egypt, Freemasonry, Alchemy, Theosophy, M
agic, and Renaissance writings.
 The society documents are a series of 60
folios containing magic rituals.

9. Priori of Sion
 It was a hoax created in 1956
 people still continue to believe that the Priory exists and
functions to this day.
 They think:
 1. The Priory of Sion has a long history starting in AD 1099, and had illustrious
Grand Masters including Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci.
2. The order protects certain royal claimants because they believe them to
be the literal descendants of Jesus and his alleged wife Mary Magdalene or, at the
very least, of king David.
3. The priory seeks the founding of a “Holy European Empire” that would become
the next hyperpower and usher in a new world order of peace and prosperity.

10. Opus Dei
 Opus Dei is an organization of the Catholic Church that
emphasizes the Catholic belief that everyone is called to
holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity.
 When Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code was published, it claimed
that Opus Dei was a secret organization within the Church
whose aim was to defeat the Priory of Sion and those who
seek to uncover the “truth” about Christianity and the
alleged royal bloodline of Christ.
 Outside of the book, there has been a great deal of
controversy over Opus Dei because of the strictness of its
religious structure.
 The Catholic Church forbids secret societies and
membership in them