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| secret_societies [2024/01/03 18:34] – [Secret Societies Today] bant07 | secret_societies [2024/03/03 22:02] (current) – bant05 |
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| ~~REDIRECT>wiki:denied~~ | |
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| {{tag>organizations students}} | {{tag>organizations students}} |
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| ===== List of Trinity Secret Societies ===== | ===== List of Trinity Secret Societies ===== |
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| [{{ :undefined:mistik.jpg?300|An invitation to a meeting of the Mystic Crew of Comus, probably 1860s. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives, Student Scrapbook}}] | [{{ :undefined:mistik.jpg?300|An invitation to a meeting of the Mystic Crew of Comus, probably 1860s. Photo credit: Student Scrapbook, Trinity College Archives}}] |
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| **Theta Beta Phi (1828)** | **Theta Beta Phi (1828)** |
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| **Phi Kappa Society (1832)** | **Phi Kappa Society (1832)** |
| \\ A rival organization to IKA and possible reorganization of Theta Beta Phi, it was called the "Great Southern Society" on account of its large membership of southern students. Its membership was limited to seniors. Today, it is a chapter of Alpha Delta Phi (AD). | \\ A rival organization to IKA and possible reorganization of Theta Beta Phi, it was called the "Great Southern Society" on account of its large membership of Southern students. Its membership was limited to seniors. Today, it is a chapter of Alpha Delta Phi (AD). |
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| **[[grand_tribunal|Grand Tribunal (1840)]]** | **[[grand_tribunal|Grand Tribunal (1840)]]** |
| \\ It is possible this organization was named after the Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society founded by six prominent men in New Orleans to formally observe and celebrate Mardi Gras. Entry into the Mistick Krewe was secretive -- by invitation only -- and the members organized Mardi Gras parades, masquerade balls, and revelry. (([[https://miltonrevealed.berkeley.edu/videos/carnival-comus-triumphs-new-orleans|"Carnival: Comus Triumphs in New Orleans"]])) | \\ It is possible this organization was named after the Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society founded by six prominent men in New Orleans to formally observe and celebrate Mardi Gras. Entry into the Mistick Krewe was secretive -- by invitation only -- and the members organized Mardi Gras parades, masquerade balls, and revelry. (([[https://miltonrevealed.berkeley.edu/videos/carnival-comus-triumphs-new-orleans|"Carnival: Comus Triumphs in New Orleans"]])) |
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| [{{ :img_8791.jpg?400|A letter written in code to a student inviting him to 24 Jarvis Hall for a meeting of Po Pai Paig. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives, Student Scrapbook.}}] | [{{ :img_8791.jpg?400|A letter written in code to a student inviting him to 24 Jarvis Hall for a meeting of Po Pai Paig. Photo credit: Student Scrapbook, Trinity College Archives}}] |
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| **Po Pai Paig Association - Πο Παι Παιγ (ca. 1860)** | **Po Pai Paig Association - Πο Παι Παιγ (ca. 1860)** |
| According to students, Po Pai Paig arose as a rival and successor to the Grand Tribunal. It was a "living menagerie of frightful animals, whose ferocity even a learned scholar feared." A possibly satirical article describes the students meeting in the middle of the night while singing "Po Pai Paig" to the tune of "Three Blind Mice" until they found themselves "in front of the chapel...arrayed themselves in their robes, and joining hands, danced around their altar." ((Trinity Tablet, February 19, 1876)) | According to students, Po Pai Paig arose as a rival and successor to the Grand Tribunal. It was a "living menagerie of frightful animals, whose ferocity even a learned scholar feared." A possibly satirical article describes the students meeting in the middle of the night while singing "Po Pai Paig" to the tune of "Three Blind Mice" until they found themselves "in front of the chapel...arrayed themselves in their robes, and joining hands, danced around their altar." ((Trinity Tablet, February 19, 1876)) |
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| In November 1871, the organization held its "annual revival," and "the good that has been done by the society during the past year is almost incalculable, i. e., infinitesimally small." ((Trinity Tablet, November 1871)) The following year, the Tablet reported that "of its recent actions, nothing is known, except that one young 'townie' was heard to remark to another, one morning last fall, 'You ought to have heard them students howling out on Rifle avenue last night.' Strangely enough, if any mischief is done in college, it is always laid at the door of this respectable association. We can't understand the reason." ((Trinity Tablet, February 1872)) | In November 1871, the organization held its "annual revival," and "the good that has been done by the society during the past year is almost incalculable, i.e., infinitesimally small." ((Trinity Tablet, November 1871)) The following year, the Tablet reported that "of its recent actions, nothing is known, except that one young 'townie' was heard to remark to another, one morning last fall, 'You ought to have heard them students howling out on Rifle avenue last night.' Strangely enough, if any mischief is done in college, it is always laid at the door of this respectable association. We can't understand the reason." ((Trinity Tablet, February 1872)) |
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| In 1886, Po Pai Paig finally "'came out into the open' and held its annual initiation on the front campus." The members paraded on campus in 'regalia,' and the 'emblem of the order' (a chamber pot filled with beer) was brought forth and its contents passed around until a late hour." ((Trinity Tablet, November 27, 1886)) Po Pai Paig only revealed the names of its members after graduation, and the list comprised "many of the most prominent men graduated during that time." The organization has been described as one of little purpose besides mischief-making. It finally disappeared after 1893. | In 1886, Po Pai Paig finally "'came out into the open' and held its annual initiation on the front campus." The members paraded on campus in 'regalia,' and the 'emblem of the order' (a chamber pot filled with beer) was brought forth and its contents passed around until a late hour." ((Trinity Tablet, November 27, 1886)) Po Pai Paig only revealed the names of its members after graduation, and the list comprised "many of the most prominent men graduated during that time." The organization has been described as one of little purpose besides mischief-making. It finally disappeared after 1893. |
| \\ Motto: "Si punchum desideret, declaret" (Latin for "if he misses a punch, he will declare it") | \\ Motto: "Si punchum desideret, declaret" (Latin for "if he misses a punch, he will declare it") |
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| [{{ :pages_from_1880_ivy.pdf.jpg?400|Mu Mu Mu's image from the 1880 //Ivy//. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives.}}] | [{{ :pages_from_1880_ivy.pdf.jpg?400|Mu Mu Mu's image from the 1880 //Ivy//. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives}}] |
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| **Mu Mu Mu (After 1872)** | **Mu Mu Mu (After 1872)** |
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| **Sigma Pi Gamma - Σπγ (1889)** | **Sigma Pi Gamma - Σπγ (1889)** |
| \\ This Secret Organization stated that it has 11 members, but no other information. | \\ This Secret Organization stated that it had 11 members, but no other information. |
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| **Pi Pi Pi - πππ (1889)** | **Pi Pi Pi - πππ (1889)** |
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| **Beta Delta - ΒΔ (1890)** | **Beta Delta - ΒΔ (1890)** |
| \\ This group used a mask as imagery, and stated that it has 6 members. It only existed for two years. | \\ This group used a mask as imagery, and stated that it had 6 members. It only existed for two years. |
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| **[[medusa|Medusa (1892)]]** | **[[medusa|Medusa (1892)]]** |
| \\ Elm and Key hand-selects "the best and brightest" of the Trinity community for its membership and purposes, which is to "make Trinity a better place." ((Trinity Tripod, 11/05/2019)) | \\ Elm and Key hand-selects "the best and brightest" of the Trinity community for its membership and purposes, which is to "make Trinity a better place." ((Trinity Tripod, 11/05/2019)) |
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| The earliest mention of Elm and Key is 2012, in which members of Elm and Key created and distributed papers containing a dialogue between the [[brownell_statue|Brownell Statue]] and [[roosevelt_plaque|Roosevelt Plaque.]] The dialogue condemned students and faculty for "slacktivism." | The earliest mention of Elm and Key is 2012, in which members of Elm and Key created and distributed papers containing a dialogue between the [[brownell_statue|Brownell Statue]] and [[roosevelt_plaque|Roosevelt Plaque]]. The dialogue condemned students and faculty for "slacktivism." |
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| In a 2019 exposé of Elm and Key that featured in the //[[tripod|Trinity Tripod]]//, a student described her experience being selected for initiation. The student received an email directing her to the Mather mailboxes, where she had been sent a coded letter. The student was sent through the library to find notes hidden in books and instructed to leave behind an "item of significance" until finally, she was invited to the Greenberg Center basement for initiation. | In a 2019 exposé of Elm and Key featured in the //[[tripod|Trinity Tripod]]//, a student described her experience being selected for initiation. The student received an email directing her to the Mather mailboxes, where she had been sent a coded letter. The student was sent through the library to find notes hidden in books and instructed to leave behind an "item of significance" until finally, she was invited to the Greenberg Center basement for initiation. |
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| Like the secret societies of the 19th century, Elm and Key utilizes codes, its own symbol, rituals, and secrecy. Members are anonymous until graduation, when they wear large key necklaces to designate themselves. They meet in secrecy at designated locations (including the Chapel roof) dressed in black robes, while initiates are blindfolded and not allowed to speak. Students responded to the expose with concerns that the shadowy group hand-picking membership contributed to elitism at Trinity, while others questioned the good intentions of a group that operates in anonymity and secrecy. They called upon student leadership and groups to denounce Elm and Key, whereupon it was discovered that the current SGA President was a member. ((Trinity Tripod, 11/12/2019)) | Like the secret societies of the 19th century, Elm and Key utilizes codes, its own symbol, rituals, and secrecy. Members are anonymous until graduation, when they wear large key necklaces to designate themselves. They meet in secrecy at designated locations (including the Chapel roof) dressed in black robes, while initiates are blindfolded and not allowed to speak. Students responded to the exposé with concerns that the shadowy group hand-picking membership contributed to elitism at Trinity, while others questioned the good intentions of a group that operates in anonymity and secrecy. They called upon student leadership and groups to denounce Elm and Key, whereupon it was discovered that the current SGA President was a member. ((Trinity Tripod, 11/12/2019)) |
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| It is unknown whether Elm and Key and Medusa are operational post-2020. | It is unknown whether Elm and Key and Medusa are operational post-2020. |
