Table of Contents
Secret Societies
The precursor to modern-day fraternities and sororities, secret societies were exclusive student organizations that offered extracurricular social entertainment and camaraderie, often through an air of secrecy.
At Trinity College, known as Washington College until 1845, social organizations began to form as early as the 1820s. Initially, literary societies were popular amongst early Trinity students who sought supplemental academic activity and discussion. By the 1860s, literary societies had fallen out of fashion in favor of extracurricular socialization. Trinity's earliest secret societies were Greek letter organizations or obscure groups that operated under anonymity and mystery; some were so mysterious that contemporary students didn't know much about them, or chose to be secretive. They “offered an escape from the monotony, dreariness, and unpleasantness of the collegiate regimen, which began with prayers before dawn and ended with prayers after dark.” 1)
During the 1870s, Trinity flourished with “miscellaneous” social organizations, some of which only existed for a single year. Many of these obscure organizations were crushed by the Pynchon administration, which saw the College through its transition from the old campus (where the Connecticut State Capitol is now located) to Summit Street in 1878. Student mischief and misbehavior were rampant, resulting in swift responses by the administration to strangle any activities such as singing, loitering, gathering, etc., that might encourage further disruption. Due to the stranglehold, many secret societies faded or disbanded.
Old and new groups made a comeback in the 1880s, perhaps to revive the nostalgia of the old campus, but ultimately they disappeared completely after 1893. Fraternities as well as musical, literary, dramatic, hobby, and athletic organizations took their place to become the dominant groups on campus.
Secret societies had ceremonial initiations, secret signs of recognition (initiation, gestures, handshakes, passwords, necklaces, symbols, badges), and/or formal secrets (the 'true' name of the society, a motto, or society history). While many early secret societies evolved into fraternities, some strange and obscure secret societies existed alongside them, particularly around the 1870s.
List of Trinity Secret Societies
Theta Beta Phi (1828)
An organization of primarily Southern students. This organization was probably the precursor to Phi Kappa Society, which in turn became Alpha Delta Phi (AD).
IKA (1829)
Motto: “Nemo me impune lacessit” (Latin for “No one assaults me with impunity”)
As campus tradition holds, IKA was organized as the Corax Club in 1829, becoming IKA, the oldest local fraternity in the country in 1832. It became the Sigma chapter of Delta Phi in 1917.
Phi Kappa Society (1832)
A rival organization to IKA and possible reorganization of Theta Beta Phi, it was called the “Great Southern Society” on account of its large membership of Southern students. Its membership was limited to seniors. Today, it is a chapter of Alpha Delta Phi (AD).
Grand Tribunal (1840)
A prototype of student government, the Grand Tribunal was a Secret Society intent on keeping underclassmen in line; it was a mock court that put students on trial for infractions. Punishments might include being tied inside a well or to a gravestone in Zion Hill Cemetery.
Beta Beta - the Black Book (1842)
Motto: “procul o procul este profani” (Latin for “Be far from the profane”)
Literary as well as social, Beta Beta's stated purpose was the “promotion of scholarship and friendly relations.” It became a chapter of Psi Upsilon in 1892.
Delta Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Chi Chapter(1844)
Motto: “Κηςόθεν Φιλoιάει”
Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Chapter (1845)
Founded by Professor John Brocklesby, this was the first national fraternity organized on campus. It accepted only the highest third of the graduating class.
Delta Psi, Epsilon Chapter (1850)
Motto: “ππγo”
Nicknamed “The Hall” or St. Anthony Hall, this organization was the first instance of a national fraternity at a college.
Ye Pipe of Peace (1856)
Motto: “Nec te poeniteat calamo trivisse labellum” (Latin for “And let him not repent of having rubbed the lips with a pen”)
Little is known about this organization, which used indigenous American stereotypes and terminology. For example, it hosted gatherings called “Pow Wows” which featured singing, orations, and passing the “pipe of peace,” and members had mock indigenous American titles including “Grand Sachem,” “Red-as-Dawn,” “Spread Eagle,” etc. It is possible that this was a sophomore organization, based on a broadside which features a “Pow Wow” hosted by the Class of 1862.
Ye Mystic Crew of Comus (1857)
It is possible this organization was named after the Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society founded by six prominent men in New Orleans to formally observe and celebrate Mardi Gras. Entry into the Mistick Krewe was secretive – by invitation only – and the members organized Mardi Gras parades, masquerade balls, and revelry. 2)
Po Pai Paig Association - Πο Παι Παιγ (ca. 1860)
Motto: “Mens vester ego” (Latin for “I am your mind”)
This sophomore organization surfaced sometime before 1866 3) and its “origins, purpose, and activity were so shrouded in mystery that some students (obviously non-members) even doubted its very existence.” 4) The organization featured initiations, secret late-night meetings, a “mystic manifesto” and rituals – its initiates were called “Devlings,” current members were “arch-fiends” and past members “retired demons.” Current membership was hidden in gibberish, only revealed once the students graduated.
According to students, Po Pai Paig arose as a rival and successor to the Grand Tribunal. It was a “living menagerie of frightful animals, whose ferocity even a learned scholar feared.” A possibly satirical article describes the students meeting in the middle of the night while singing “Po Pai Paig” to the tune of “Three Blind Mice” until they found themselves “in front of the chapel…arrayed themselves in their robes, and joining hands, danced around their altar.” 5)
In November 1871, the organization held its “annual revival,” and “the good that has been done by the society during the past year is almost incalculable, i.e., infinitesimally small.” 6) The following year, the Tablet reported that “of its recent actions, nothing is known, except that one young 'townie' was heard to remark to another, one morning last fall, 'You ought to have heard them students howling out on Rifle avenue last night.' Strangely enough, if any mischief is done in college, it is always laid at the door of this respectable association. We can't understand the reason.” 7)
In 1886, Po Pai Paig finally “'came out into the open' and held its annual initiation on the front campus.” The members paraded on campus in 'regalia,' and the 'emblem of the order' (a chamber pot filled with beer) was brought forth and its contents passed around until a late hour.“ 8) Po Pai Paig only revealed the names of its members after graduation, and the list comprised “many of the most prominent men graduated during that time.” The organization has been described as one of little purpose besides mischief-making. It finally disappeared after 1893.
Court of Areopagus (1867?)
Motto: “On Zion's Hill I Stand”
This organization stated that it is the “Spirit of '67 and Body Guard of '69,” but otherwise, little is known.
Cue Clucks Clam (1868)
Motto: “Unum esse clam” (Latin for: “To be one secretly”)
This organization lists six members when it appeared in the Tablet in 1868 and had disappeared by 1870. Besides the obvious homonym to “Ku Klux Klan,” which was initially founded in the late 1860s, it is unknown what the purpose was. The Mystique Seven, which was an eating club that appeared slightly later, references “C.C.C.,” and might be a continuation of this club. “Cue” could also be a reference to billiards, which was popular at the time.
Delta Upsilon (1869) Anti-Secret Society
Motto: Οuδev αδηλov Δικαια Υπoθγκγ
Symbols: Triangle and leaves
As it was never recognized as a true fraternity, it disbanded in 1876.
Kappa Beta Phi (1870)
Motto: Probability is the Guide of Life.
Students organized the Alpha of Connecticut Chapter of Kappa Beta Phi in 1870. Originally comprised of juniors who stood at the bottom of their class, this organization was likely a tongue-in-cheek call to Phi Beta Kappa, which only admitted the highest third of the senior class. Kappa Beta Phi fraternity existed until 1938.
The Sorites (1870)
Motto: “Cum hocergo, propter hoc” (Latin for “With this, for this”)
This organization was founded by the Class of 1870, but it remains a mystery.
Oxypodes (1870)
Motto: “ποĩ, ποποι, ποĩ ἄγουσι τηλέπλανοί πλάναί” (Greek; Unknown translation)
Oxypodes is a type of spider. It is also a Greek phrase meaning “Sharp eyes.”
Iota Phi - 'IΦ (1870s)
Motto: “Si punchum desideret, declaret” (Latin for “if he misses a punch, he will declare it”)
Mu Mu Mu (After 1872)
A “ghoulish” society even more secretive than Po Pai Paig, Mu Mu Mu appeared in the 1870s and disbanded after 1882. When it first appeared, it was so mysterious that even current students thought it was a hoax: “when this was first formed, many were the conjectures as to who belonged to it, and what its object was, as week after week, its mysterious notices appeared upon the bulletin-board.” However, when the organization appeared in the Ivy, students had no choice but to acknowledge its existence, though what the organization did exactly was still under question. “The faculty say that the students have never been so quiet and orderly as during the last few years, since that society made its debut. They may not attribute this improvement to the 'Mu Mu Mu,' but those are the facts.” 9). Like Po Pai Paig, it may have been formed as a pseudo-Grand Tribunal.
Delta Omega (1870s)
Motto: “Honesta quædam scelera successus facit” (Latin for “Success makes some crimes honest”)
This was a sophomore organization.
Phi Theta Chi (1870s)
Motto: “Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa” (“Nothing to be aware of, no guilt to confess”)
Sophomore Secret Society (1880)
This organization used the letters Σιγμα Ταυ Σιγμα (Greek letters Sigma Tau Sigma).
An image appeared in the 1880 Ivy of a skull holding a dagger in its mouth, with burning torch or wick, shovel and pickaxe, ball and chain, block and axe, and coffin. Like Po Pai Paig and Mu Mu Mu, this organization used odd titles such as “Moloch,” “Great Blood Eater” and “Rakehell,” as well as alphanumeric codes to identify its members.
Freshman Secret Society (1883)
Motto: “Nobilissimus, fuge” (Latin for “Most noble, flee”)
This organization used the Greek letters Kappa Mu Phi and “Bibulus Muneribus,” as well as gibberish titles and codes for its members.
אד
This organization appeared in 1888 and uses the Hebrew letters Dalet and Alef. In 1888, it had 9 active members. It disappeared by 1890.
OI BAKXOI (The Bacchus) (1888)
Motto: “ιω Βακχαι, ιω Βακχαι” (Greek for “Oh Bacchus, Oh Bacchus”)
This organization seems to have been Bacchanalian, dedicated to Bacchus, the Roman equivalent of Dionysus, God of wine, vegetation, fertility, festivity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. The group, featured in the Ivy, lists all information in Greek.
Sigma Pi Gamma - Σπγ (1889)
This Secret Organization stated that it had 11 members, but no other information.
Pi Pi Pi - πππ (1889)
Listed Separately from “Po Pai Paig,” this group existed for a handful of years before disappearing.
Beta Delta - ΒΔ (1890)
This group used a mask as imagery, and stated that it had 6 members. It only existed for two years.
Medusa (1892)
Medusa appeared in 1892 as an unnamed organization formed by eighteen Juniors “whose pin was a Medusa's Head.” It became an important component of student government, and either succeeded or was a continuation of the Grand Tribunal, which had disappeared at about the same time. As of 2019, Medusa was still operating with a network of current students and alumni.
Secret Societies Today
As of 2020, there were two known operational secret societies – Medusa and the Order of Elm and Key.
Order of Elm and Key - Elm and Key Society
Elm and Key hand-selects “the best and brightest” of the Trinity community for its membership and purposes, which is to “make Trinity a better place.” 10)
The earliest mention of Elm and Key is 2012, in which members of Elm and Key created and distributed papers containing a dialogue between the Brownell Statue and Roosevelt Plaque. The dialogue condemned students and faculty for “slacktivism.”
In a 2019 exposé of Elm and Key featured in the Trinity Tripod, a student described her experience being selected for initiation. The student received an email directing her to the Mather mailboxes, where she had been sent a coded letter. The student was sent through the library to find notes hidden in books and instructed to leave behind an “item of significance” until finally, she was invited to the Greenberg Center basement for initiation.
Like the secret societies of the 19th century, Elm and Key utilizes codes, its own symbol, rituals, and secrecy. Members are anonymous until graduation, when they wear large key necklaces to designate themselves. They meet in secrecy at designated locations (including the Chapel roof) dressed in black robes, while initiates are blindfolded and not allowed to speak. Students responded to the exposé with concerns that the shadowy group hand-picking membership contributed to elitism at Trinity, while others questioned the good intentions of a group that operates in anonymity and secrecy. They called upon student leadership and groups to denounce Elm and Key, whereupon it was discovered that the current SGA President was a member. 11)
It is unknown whether Elm and Key and Medusa are operational post-2020.
Sources
Collegiate Secret Societies in North America
The Trinity College Archives, Student Scrapbooks.
Trinity Tripod, 11/05/2019.
Trinity Tripod, 04/24/2012.
Keeping Secrets: Student Secret Societies in Historical Context (2002) by Jennifer Domagal.
The History of Trinity College (1967) by Glenn Weaver, pp. 218-221.
The American College and University: A History (1962) by Frederick Rudolph.
Trinity Tablet, 2/19/1876.
Trinity Tablet, November 1873.
Trinity Ivy, 1873-1893.
Trinity Tablet, July 1872.
Trinity Tablet, July 1871.
Trinity Tablet, July 1870.