Fraternal Orders Thrive Despite Economic Gloom
While the Panic of 1893 batters the economy, Seattle's secret societies are recording explosive membership growth.
The story, cleaned up
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The secret societies all seem to be prospering in spite of the hard times, which has an adverse effect on them as on everything else where the expenditure of money is concerned. The Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of Foresters of America, Royal Arcanum, and United Workmen show especially large gains in new membership. Of the semi-religious orders, the Good Templars and Sons of Temperance evince the most remarkable vitality, every report received indicating enthusiastic meetings and large accessions in membership. Court Stanwood, No. 5,474, of Stanwood, Snohomish County, was recently instituted with a robust charter membership, and Court Energy in Black Diamond continues to serve its mining community, even holding a large funeral service for the wife of a member, attended by two separate secret orders and the local band.
“The secret societies all seem to be prospering in spite of the hard times.”
This 1893 report captures the frantic, community-building response to the 'Panic of 1893,' a severe depression. Much like today's mutual aid efforts in Seattle, these secret societies functioned as a social safety net, providing members with funeral funds, support, and a sense of belonging when the formal economy failed.
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