Fraternal orders typically have secular purposes, serving as social clubs, cultural organizations and providing a form of social welfare through reciprocal aid or charitable work.
Fraternal societies are often divided geographically into units called lodges or provinces.
They sometimes involve a system of awards, medals, decorations, styles, degrees, offices, orders, or other distinctions, often associated with regalia, insignia, initiation and other rituals, secret greetings, signs, passwords, oaths, and more or less elaborate symbolism, as in chivalric orders.
Some are associated with professions, such as the Fraternal Order of Police, while yet others are focused on academic traditions.
Consequently, the histories of some fraternal orders and friendly societies are difficult to follow.