Skull and Bones Society has been founded at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1832.
Also known as The Order, Order 322 and The Brotherhood of Death, Skull and Bones was born as a student association and initially reserved only for men, whites and protestants. The members of the association were usually chosen based on their influence and their belonging to the so-called "power elite"; although the names of the members were not secret, the group's procedures, rites and traditions were secret, often rich in symbolic and esoteric elements. Once they join the group, members are given an identifying nickname, often deriving from mythology (Odin, Thor etc.) or from the world of literature (for example "Hamlet").
Who is part of the Skull and Bones Society?
Once a year, 15 seniors at Yale become part of Skull and Bones, often they are selected by important families and in any case they are part of a small elite; this is demonstrated by the fact that influential personalities who later held positions in the CIA, judges and even presidents of the United States were found to be members of the group. A very indicative example are George H.W. Bush and son George W. Bush.
The name of the association reflects its symbol, consisting precisely of a skull with two crossed bones, while the number 322 (Order 322) could refer to the year of death of Alexander the Great.
One of the most debated aspects of Skull and Bones is that of rituals. Apparently these provide for the representation of killings and sexual acts, as well as adoration of death (kissing the skull) etc.; the strange thing, however, is that there is no certain information about these rituals, consequently according to many the aura of mystery that surrounds this student association is simply folkloric, symbolic ... in short, within the structures that host the meetings of Skull and Bones there would be no terrible secrets at all, but only common meetings of decently uncommon students.
Of all these alleged mysteries, one in particular has attracted public attention. The members of Skull and Bones are said to have always been active in the practice of "crooking" (stealing memorabilia, even from other student associations) and even it is said that in their clubhouse (called "the Skull and Bones Tomb") it is present the skull of the legendary Apache warrior Geronimo. To make this fact even more intriguing are the rumors about the participation of Prescott Bush (father of George and grandfather of George W) in the theft of this macabre "trophy" from Fort Sill (Okla) a few years after the death of the famous Apache.
Above all, The Order is powerful, unbelievably powerful.
-Anthony J Sutton (An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones)
Resources related to Skull and Bones Society:
- Wikipedia
- HISTORY
- SLATE
- The Guardian
- npr
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