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As historian David Beito has noted, in the pre-welfare-state era, fraternal organizations—the Masons, Knights of Columbus, Odd Fellows, Woodmen, and others—provided a combination of camaraderie and insurance. Religious groups, in particular, excelled at such assistance. Many Jewish burial societies, for example, evolved into small banks that served community needs.
The decline of fraternal organizations has been well documented, but a few groups—including the Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary—have survived. In my own community, post-pandemic, the Lions have organized a drive to support struggling local businesses. Such efforts are now widespread and follow a long tradition of community-mindedness, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods.
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As historian David Beito has noted, in the pre-welfare-state era, fraternal organizations—the Masons, Knights of Columbus, Odd Fellows, Woodmen, and others—provided a combination of camaraderie and insurance. Religious groups, in particular, excelled at such assistance. Many Jewish burial societies, for example, evolved into small banks that served community needs.
>
The decline of fraternal organizations has been well documented, but a few groups—including the Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary—have survived. In my own community, post-pandemic, the Lions have organized a drive to support struggling local businesses. Such efforts are now widespread and follow a long tradition of community-mindedness, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods.
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