# Why 'Secret" society signs on outskirts of US towns **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601 "2005-10-17T15:30:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/1 "2005-10-17T15:30:54Z")
Why do many towns have signboards showing Elks, KofC, Masonic and other society badges on the main approach roads? What use do these signposts have for society members, and what societies get to put there badges onto such signs? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/2 "2005-10-17T15:49:00Z")
The “secret societies” generally consider themselves to be fine, upstanding community organizations, who pay a nominal sum to have their emblems and meeting information posted on the billboards. That way, a fellow member passing through town, or someone interested in learning more about the organization knows they can stop here. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/3 "2005-10-17T16:17:39Z")
[Boosterism.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boosterism) ---
**Author:** ![pocelene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@pocelene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pocelene)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/4 "2005-10-17T16:43:55Z")
The reason for the combined signpost is simply to reduce clutter of each clup posting its own sign on some member’s fence along the road into town. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/5 "2005-10-17T16:45:48Z")
The signs also generally state when and where the meetings are, so a visiting Moose or Elk can drop by, meet like-minded people, get to know the town, maybe make a few business contacts, etc. ---
**Author:** ![pocelene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@pocelene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pocelene)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/6 "2005-10-17T16:47:39Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > The “secret societies” There’s no need to put secret societies into quotes. Many, including Masons and Elks, are full of secrets, and handshakes and rituals that they are sworn not to reveal to outsiders. Secret has never been a synonym of sinister. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/7 "2005-10-17T16:48:16Z")
It just makes it easier to find a meeting when you are traveling. Nothing sinister. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/8 "2005-10-17T16:49:57Z")
> [@pocelene](#): > > There’s no need to put secret societies into quotes. Many, including Masons and Elks, are full of secrets, and handshakes and rituals that they are sworn not to reveal to outsiders. Secret has never been a synonym of sinister. Can’t speak for any of the other organizations, but I’ve been an Elk since 1986 and there aren’t any secrets. It’s a fraternal, actually co-ed now, organization but it has never been a secret society in any way. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/9 "2005-10-17T17:03:36Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Can’t speak for any of the other organizations, but I’ve been an Elk since 1986 and there aren’t any secrets. It’s a fraternal, actually co-ed now, organization but it has never been a secret society in any way. Oh, yeah? Then how come the last time I went elk hunting, I didn’t see a single elk? Huh? How come? Gotta be a secret somewhere… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Noodles\_Fellicini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Noodles\_Fellicini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noodles_Fellicini)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/10 "2005-10-17T17:49:48Z")
> [@pocelene](#): > > Secret has never been a synonym of sinister. But left-handed has. As well as adverse, apocalyptic, bad, baleful, baneful, black-hearted, corrupt, deleterious, dire, disastrous, dishonest, disquieting, doomful, evil, foreboding, harmful, hurtful, ill-boding, inauspicious, injurious, lowering, malefic, malevolent, malign, malignant, menacing, mischievous, obnoxious, ominous, pernicious, perverse, poisonous, portentous, threatening, unfavorable, unfortunate, unlucky, unpropitious, and woeful. The only secret I know about the Elks is that when you memorize your Elk ritual speech some of the "the"s are pronounced “thee” and some are “thuh”. Or at least it was like that in the 60’s. And now it isn’t a secret anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/11 "2005-10-17T18:25:54Z")
In my view, secret society evokes a vision of an organization whose members do not acknowledge their membership or the existence of the organization. Every society has some secrets. Even the local school board meets in executive (closed) session when discussing personnel actions. But they are hardly a secret society. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/12 "2005-10-17T18:48:57Z")
I wish I had a photo of our town’s sign. It’s huge! I think it’s five badges tall and six badges wide, so it’s billboard sized. I wonder if all the organizations even still exist… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/13 "2005-10-17T18:51:13Z")
I would call the Masons a secret society, because I asked my uncle about them for years, and he wouldn’t tell me a thing except that there were “levels” that had different requirements and he was way up there somewhere. I couldn’t get any information at all about what they did, what they believed in, or anything else. The Elks, on the other hand, are a fraternal charitable organization (the Elks have contributed over $3 _billion_ to various causes so far, mostly scholarships and veterans groups), not a secret society at all. Sure, the meetings are members-only and there’s a recognition sign, but if you want to know what the Elks are about, just look at the Web site or visit a lodge. In fact, if you have questions, just post 'em here. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/14 "2005-10-17T19:02:09Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I would call the Masons a secret society, because I asked my uncle about them for years, and he wouldn’t tell me a thing except that there were “levels” that had different requirements and he was way up there somewhere. I couldn’t get any information at all about what they did, what they believed in, or anything else. > > The Elks, on the other hand, are a fraternal charitable organization (the Elks have contributed over $3 _billion_ to various causes so far, mostly scholarships and veterans groups), not a secret society at all. Sure, the meetings are members-only **and there’s a recognition sign** , but if you want to know what the Elks are about, just look at the Web site or visit a lodge. In fact, if you have questions, just post 'em here. _Makes The Antlers of Protection_ Note: I’ve never once ever seen a brother Elk actually do the recognition sign. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/15 "2005-10-17T19:05:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Oh, yeah? Then how come the last time I went elk hunting, I didn’t see a single elk? Huh? How come? > > Gotta be a secret somewhere… 😃 They were all at the lodge, drinking beer and playing pool. 😛 Seriously, you can go to any of the orgs mentioned in this thread, and they’ll cheerfully show you a membership list. In a truly secret society (e.g. Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis) they won’t show you a thing, 'cause it’s…a secret. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/16 "2005-10-17T20:48:25Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Note: I’ve never once ever seen a brother Elk actually do the recognition sign. I’ve never seen it outside of a Lodge meeting, either. And even then it’s only when the ritual calls for it. We run a pretty informal Lodge. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/17 "2005-10-17T20:53:31Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > It just makes it easier to find a meeting when you are traveling. Nothing sinister. Just feel like I need to Quote “The Skulls” Here; “If it’s secret and elite, it can’t be good” ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/18 "2005-10-17T23:52:21Z")
I know this is hopeless and I am not looking for any sort of argument, but the Masonic Fraternity is **NOT** a secret society. While I’m at it, it is **NOT** a religion, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/19 "2005-10-18T03:40:57Z")
For the REALLY secret societies, you have to look for what’s painted on the BACK of the sign. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601/20 "2005-10-18T04:06:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Every society has some secrets. Even the local school board meets in executive (closed) session when discussing personnel actions. But they are hardly a secret society. Whaat? School boards not a secret society? I should have done my research better before getting elected. I was wondering why I hadn’t been assigned a special hat yet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-secret-society-signs-on-outskirts-of-us-towns/326601.md?page=2)