Military Order of the Serpent

Military Order of the Serpent (acronym MOS; nickname, Snaix;[1] established 1904) was an American secret society and veterans' fraternity organized in 1904, and incorporated on August 6, 1907.

[2] The MOS received official recognition by the United Spanish War Veterans (USWV) at the Los Angeles encampment.

Known as the Katipunan Society, this was a revolutionary organization with headquarters in the Biak-na-Bato Cave, where Emilio Aguinaldo and his headsmen signed the Spanish treaty.

It was built upon the history and traditions of a Filippino revolutionary organization known as the "Katipunan", who worshiped the snake as their Deity and lived by levying tribute much in the same manner as the Black Hand.

[7] To become a member, the native had, in addition to his oath of allegiance, submit to an odd ceremony, concluded by signing his name with the blood from three cuts in the shape of a triangle onto his left arm.

One of the spectacular features was the parade of members as Snakes in costumes, representing every tribe in islands of the Philippines, from the Tagalog to the Iggorotto.

The Katipunan, the Great Snake, headed the smaller ones, and he inserted the royal sting of the jungle for those wishing to learn the mysteries of the Order when the initiates were instructed.

Frederick Mason Fanning was elected Department Commander of Ohio SWV and chose Sydney Aaron Phillips (1860–1937) as his Adjutant General.

Fanning and a chosen group of faithful Snakes incorporated it in 1907, the Captain retiring from his position at the head of it and giving place to Captain Charles E. Stroud, of Sandusky, Ohio, who served until the last Supreme Convention at Boston, when Phillips was elected Supreme Gu Gu Grandississimo.

The Order was general throughout Ohio, and in 1913, at Cedar Point, was worked on by many at the National Encampment, while at Boston in 1914, 233 applicants were inoculated with the Sacred Virus.

Its purposes were the maintenance of a secret society to perpetuate memories of the Spanish–American War, the incident struggle in the Philippines, the China Relief Expedition, and for literary purposes connected with these wars of the U.S.[3] The Preamble to its constitution stated:— "We the members of the United Spanish War Veterans who have seen the mystic light diffused by the weird and awful Khatee Puna even the Great Snake who haunts the Jungle, desiring to more firmly establish good fellowship among our comrades, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Military Order of the Serpent.

[7] Other titles associated with the order included: Thrice Infamous Inferior Grand Gu Gu, Grand Datto, Grand Lord High Keeper of the Sacred Amphora, Keeper of the Ophidian, Chief Ladrone, Ungodly Villain, Thrice Dulcat Yawler of the Jungle, the Insidious thumper of the Sanctified Sheep-Hide, Lord High compellor of the Sacred Bull Cart, Dog Robber of the Unhallowed Loat, and Depraved Pangula.