SOCIETIES (Lat. societas, from socius, com panion, associate). Organizations of individuals for the attainment of a common end through common action. Coliperation dates from the earliest times, and whether for the conquest of some material object or for the inner improve ment of the individual himself. is met with in all parts of the world. In the present work the subject of societies has received a twofold treat ment ; general articles have been devoted to a discussion of various definite classes of organi zations as differentiated by purpose. while at the same time special articles treat of the best known individual organizations within such classes. here it is sufficient to give a brief in dication of how extensive the subject is and the manner in which it has been dealt with. Prob ably the oldest forms of organization are the cult societies, which are found among many prim itive tribes, as, for instance, the Duk-Duk (qx-) of the island of New Britain in the Pacific, or the Akimbo Jumbo societies of West Africa. These are mainly religions in character. but add certain political characteristics and possess an elaborate ritual and the feature of secrecy. Far advanced are the religions societies of the elassie world like the Eleusinians of the Greeks or the priestly colleges of the Romans. Further still we have the various organizations which arose with the Christian Church and which, aside from the purely monastic aggregates, included asso ciations formed for numerous secular purposes (see BROTHERHOODS, RELIGIOUS), as the care of the sick (see IlosmALEns), the building of bridges (see DnornEanoon), the protection of pilgrims, and a combination of some of these duties as exemplified in the great Orders (q.v.), such as the Templars or the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem (qq.v.). Pre eminent among societies formed for the defense of faith stand the Jesuits (q.v.).
Political organizations begin very early and take the form of public associations. working for their purposes in the open (e.g. the Anti-torn Law League, q.v.). or secret associations wherever the objects or the methods of the societies are regarded with disfavor by governments or were even hostile to government. The latter type would include the great revolutionary societies which have played an important part in European affairs, especially since the beginning of the nine teenth century. See BURSCHENSCHAFT; CAR
BONARI; FENIAN SOCIETY; NIHILISM; YOUNG ITALY; etc.
The primitive cult societies were largely social in their nature, and social organizations constitute at the present day an important class of societies. Such are clubs (q.v.) and college fraternities (see FRATERNITIES. COLLEGE), where in, in general, there is no further aim than the bringing into contact of n certain number of in dividuals of congenial tastes and character. Or the interests of the association may centre in some one line of amusement or sonic single pas time, as with athletic organizations, sporting clubs, etc. (See ALPINE CLUBS.) Where the element of sociability is supplemented by some at tempt at self-instruction in one of the varimus arts, we have the large class of musical societies, choral societies, literary societies, art soci eties. etc. Noted for its broadness of scope in combining the social, the educational, and the re ligious elements is the Young Men's Christian Association (q.v.). The social element is largely overshadowed by a common professional interest in the class of organizations known specifically as learned societies, embracing every field of sci ence and liberal learning. (See, for example. ACADEMY; INSTITUTE OF FRANCE; ROYAL SOCI ETY; HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN; etc.) Of great importance, in the United States espe cially, are the fraternal organizations combining the elements of sociability and mutual assistance rendered either in an informal way, as among the Free Masons (see MASONS, FREE), or in a more definite form, as by life, sickness, and accident in surance, as practiced by various other organiza tions. As typical of the great class of benevo lent and fraternal societies, see ODDIFELLOWS; PYTIIIAS, KNIGHTS OF; ELKS, ORDER OF; etc. Finally, mention must be made of a class of so cieties devoted to the amelioration of social condi tions and directing their efforts to the advance ment of the general welfare or to the cure of some specific evil in society. For the one type see CHARITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY; BOYS' CLUBS; WORKINGWOMEN'S CLUBS; WORKING MEN'S CLUBS; etc. Typical of the second are the various temperance societies in the United States. See TEMPERANCE; WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN