Secret Societies of New York City: Behind Closed Doors

''' # Secret Societies of New York City: A Peek Behind the Velvet Rope

By Goofy Snob

One simply does not stumble into a secret society in New York City. It is not a matter of being at the right place at the right time; it is a matter of being the right *person* from the right lineage, with the right portfolio, and, of course, the correct answer to the whispered question in the dimly lit hallway. While the masses scurry below on the pavement, a select few ascend to quiet rooms where the real business of the world is conducted, often over brandy older than most countries.

To the uninitiated, these are mere "private clubs" or "fraternal orders." To those in the know, they are the gears of the metropolis, the unseen architecture of power. Here, we shall pull back the curtain, just a sliver, on the most exclusive and enigmatic organizations in the city that never truly sleeps, because its most influential members are always meeting.

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The Century Association

Founded in 1847, The Century Association is less a secret society and more a self-congratulatory assembly of "authors, artists, and amateurs of the letters and the fine arts." Located in a grand Stanford White-designed clubhouse on West 43rd Street, its membership roster is a veritable who's who of the American creative and intellectual elite. To become a member is to have *arrived*. One must be proposed by existing members, and the waiting list is said to be as long as it is distinguished. Members have included eight U.S. Presidents, dozens of Nobel laureates, and countless Pulitzer Prize winners. The main activity, they claim, is "conversation." One can only imagine the sheer weight of self-importance in the air. It is said that the club's art collection rivals that of many smaller museums, and the real masterpieces are the carefully constructed personas of its members.

The Explorers Club

For those who find the intellectualism of The Century a tad too stuffy, there is The Explorers Club. Situated in a magnificent Jacobean revival mansion on the Upper East Side, this is where the world’s most daring adventurers convene. Founded in 1904, its members have been the first to the North Pole, the first to the South Pole, the first to the summit of Mount Everest, and the first to the Moon. Membership requires a documented history of exploration or significant contributions to the field of scientific exploration. The clubhouse is a museum of curiosities, filled with artifacts from expeditions, including, famously, a woolly mammoth meatball. The annual dinner is a legendary event where exotic foods are served, a nod to the adventurous palates of its members. It is less about who you know and more about where you have been, and more importantly, what you brought back.

The Union Club

The oldest private club in New York City, founded in 1836, The Union Club is a bastion of old money and tradition. Its Park Avenue clubhouse is a fortress of quiet dignity and exclusivity. Membership is almost exclusively male, and the process is notoriously opaque. It is a place where titans of industry and finance have retreated for generations to conduct business and socialize far from the prying eyes of the public. The club prides itself on its privacy; its members do not discuss its affairs, and its affairs certainly do not involve the common man. It is a living relic of a bygone era, a place where the rules of the outside world simply do not apply. One does not simply apply to the Union Club; one is born into its orbit.

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

While not a "secret society" in the traditional sense, the Council on Foreign Relations holds a unique and powerful place in the landscape of New York’s elite organizations. Headquartered in the Harold Pratt House on Park Avenue, the CFR is a non-partisan think tank and membership organization. Its members are the architects of American foreign policy, a mix of senior politicians, former secretaries of state, CIA directors, and the heads of major corporations. To be a member is to have a seat at the table where global strategy is debated and formulated. Membership is by invitation only, and the roster is a closely guarded, though public, list of the most influential people in the world. Their meetings are not for public consumption, and the decisions made within their walls have a way of becoming national policy. It is the intellectual and strategic core of the American establishment.

Skull and Bones: The New York Connection

Though its infamous "Tomb" is located on the campus of Yale University, the influence of the Skull and Bones society extends deep into the financial and political heart of New York City. The Russell Trust Association, the alumni organization of Skull and Bones, manages its substantial endowment and real estate holdings from discreet offices in Manhattan. The alumni network is a powerful force, particularly on Wall Street, where Bonesmen have historically held top positions at major investment banks and law firms. The society’s emphasis on lifelong loyalty and mutual support creates a powerful bond that transcends mere university affiliation. It is a brotherhood of power, and its New York chapter is one of the most influential, if unseen, forces in the city.

The Order of the Eastern Star

A Masonic appendant body, the Order of the Eastern Star is open to both women and men, providing a fraternal and charitable outlet for those connected to the world of Freemasonry. With several chapters across New York City, the Order operates with a degree of ceremony and ritual that is both intriguing and mysterious to outsiders. Membership is contingent on being a Master Mason in good standing or being related to one. The organization focuses on charitable work and community service, but its meetings are private, and its symbolism is rich with esoteric meaning. It is a world of its own, with a distinct hierarchy and a deep sense of tradition. While not as overtly powerful as some of the other societies on this list, its network is vast and its members are deeply loyal to one another, a quiet but significant force in the city's social fabric.

The Pilgrims Society

An Anglo-American organization founded in 1902, The Pilgrims Society is dedicated to fostering the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom. Its New York chapter is a small, elite group of individuals from the worlds of finance, politics, and diplomacy. The society holds discreet dinners and meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest, and its membership has historically included some of the most powerful figures on both sides of the Atlantic. It is a quiet but influential player in the world of international relations, a place where the elite of two empires can meet and speak freely. It is a testament to the enduring power of the old world order in the heart of the new.

The Knickerbocker Club

Often simply called "The Knick," this club was founded in 1871 by a group of men who felt the Union Club had become too large and impersonal. Located in a discreet building on Fifth Avenue, it is one of the most exclusive and aristocratic clubs in the city. Its membership is small, and its process is shrouded in secrecy. It is a place for the old guard of New York society to relax and socialize in an atmosphere of unparalleled privacy. The club is so private, in fact, that it is almost impossible to find any public information about its current members or activities. It is a world unto itself, a quiet island of old-world elegance in the midst of a bustling modern city. A true bastion of the prvileged few.

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Of course, this is merely scratching the surface. There are whispers of modern tech-elite gatherings in unmarked lofts in SoHo, and secret dining societies on Wall Street where the real market-moving information is exchanged. The city is a labyrinth of such organizations, each with its own rules, rituals, and reasons for being. They are the threads in the rich, complex tapestry of New York City, and they are not going anywhere.

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Author: Goofy Snob '''