-Caveat Lector-
an excerpt from:
America's Secret Establishment:
An introduction to The Order of Skull & Bones
by ANTONY C. SUTTON
Liberty House Press
2027 Iris
Billings, Montana 59102
1986
-----
Highly recommend Mr. Sutton's books. There is more in this book than can be
presented here. Many charts and reproductions of original source material. As
always, Caveat lector.
In stock at: A-albionic Research, PO Box 20273, Ferndale, MI 48220-0273
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Lloyd Miller, Research Director)
Om
K
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Memorandum Number One:
An Introduction to the Secret Cult of the Order
Secret political organizations can be - and have been - extremely
dangerous to the social health and constitutional vitality of a society. In
a truly free society the exercise of political power must always be open
and known.
Moreover, organizations devoted to violent overthrow of political
structures have always, by necessity, been secret organizations. Com-
munist revolutionary cells are an obvious example. In fact, such revolu-
tionary organizations could only function if their existence was secret.
In brief, secrecy in matters political is historically associated with
coercion. Furthermore, the existence of secrecy in organizations with
political ambitions or with a history of political action is always
suspect. Freedom is always associated with open political action and
discussion while coercion is always associated with secrecy.
There are numerous historical examples to support this premise.
Back in the late 17th century the Elector of Bavaria, the constitutional
government of Bavaria, banned the Illuminati organization. Accidental
discovery of Illuminati documents demonstrated that a secret organiza-
tion was devoted to the overthrow of the Bavarian state and establish-
ment of a world society run by elitist Illuminati.
More recently in England there have been startling discoveries involv-
ing use of the Masonic movement by the Soviet KGB to subvert and in-
filtrate British intelligence. True freemasonry is an establishment con-
servative organization, but its organizational structure can be�and has
been - used for revolutionary purposes. Masonic aims are publicly
stated to be fraternity and charity, but it is also well known that Masons
help each other in areas supposedly based on talent.
In The Brotherhood[1][1 Stephen Knight, The Brotherhood: The Secret World
of the Freemasons, Granada, London,1984.] Stephen Knight comments that many
have suffered because freemasonry has entered segments of society where it
has no place:
". . . there can be no doubt that many . . . have suffered because of
freemasonry entering into areas of life where, according to all its public
proclaimed principles, it should never intrude. The abuse of
freemasonry causes alarming miscarriages of justice" (p. 4).
In England at any rate freemasonry has become a self-serving
organization always discriminating in favor of its own members when it comes
to contracts, jobs, careers and promotions. Moreover, we now
know that the Masonic movement in England was used by the Russian
KGB to infiltrate, take over and finally head British intelligence
organizations.
In September 1984 Scotland Yard in London advised all its police of-
ficers not to join the freemasons lest its reputation for impartiality be
lost.
Given this background, The Order, a secret society also known as
Skull & Bones, is a clear and obvious threat to constitutional freedom in
the United States. Its secrecy, power and use of influence is greater by
far than the masons, or any other semi-secret mutual or fraternal
organization.
How secret is Skull & Bones?
The most careful analysis of the society is by Lyman Bagg in Four
Years At Yale(a) published in 1871, but still the only source of
documented information on the cultic aspects of The Order.
According to Bagg, The Order is intensely secret:
* "They (the senior societies at Yale) are the only Yale societies
whose transactions are truly secret."
* "Their members never mention their names, nor refer to them
in any way in the presence of anyone not of their own number
and as they are all seniors, there are no old members in the class
above them to tell tales out of school."
This intense secrecy even extends to documents printed for internal
use.
On the next page we reprint an internal circular distributed among
Patriarchs which has disguised references as follows:
"P" i.e., Patriarch
"P---s" Patriarchs
If The Order has this intense secrecy, then how are we able to
reproduce its documents and memberships rolls?
Simply because secrecy attracts attention. Secrecy creates suspicion
of intentions. This in turn generates action to break the secrecy.
This series of books is based on several sources, including con-
temporary "moles." However, information on the cultic aspects comes
from a century-old Yale concern about the operations and intentions of
Skull & Bones. This concern generated two pamphlets, one issue of a
journal and a chapter in a book, as follows:
(1) An anonymous pamphlet entitled Skull & Bones. This is an ac-
count of the 1876 break-in at the "Bones" Temple on the Yale campus
(a) Lyman Bagg, Four Years at Yale, Henry Holt & Co., New York. 1871. The
chapter "Senior
Societies" is reprinted in full as an appendix to this book.
An extremely rare document, it is reproduced in full as an appendix to
this book.
The pamphlet begins:
"As long as Bones shall exist the night of September 29th (1876) will
be to its members the anniversary of the occasion when their temple
was invaded by neutrals, their rarest memorabilia confiscated and their
most sacred secrets unveiled to the eyes of the uninitiated."
This is reference to a break-in by a group of Yale students, and the
pamphlet describes in minute detail the contents of the Temple. For ex-
ample, it describes the walls, e.g., ". . . the walls are adorned with pic-
tures of the founders of Bones at Yale and of the members of the Societ-
ty in Germany when the Chapter was established here in 1832."
This sentence becomes of interest when the Illuminati aspect is
discussed in Memorandum Five below.
Here's another interesting paragraph from this pamphlet:
"Bones is a chapter of a corps in a German University. It should prop-
erly be called, not Skull & Bones Society but Skull & Bones Chapter
General R------ (Russell), its founder, was in Germany before Senior
Year and formed a warm friendship with a leading member of a Ger-
man society. He brought back with him to college, authority to found a
chapter here. Thus was Bones founded."
Think about this: Skull & Bones is not American at all. It is a
branch of a FOREIGN secret society.
Presumably this is one reason why intense secrecy is vital. It also
raises the question of just who and what this foreign organization is and
whether its objectives are compatible with those of the Constitution of
the United States.
(2) The Order, The Fall of Skull and Bones (New Haven, 1876)
This is an anonymous satire published 1876 apparently in New
Haven, Connecticut by a group calling itself The Order.
The subtitle reads "Compiled from the minutes of the The 76th regular
meeting of The Order of the File and Claw."
The opening paragraphs are as in Skull & Bones cited above (1)
however, the text continues with considerably more detail and appears
to have been written by another member of the break-in crew.
In particular, this book gives the identification of the owner of the
human skull found in one of the rooms of the Temple:
"A light is always kept burning in the Jo (D) which is ornamented with
a dilapidated human skull . . . here is also a tombstone marked
SPERRY, seemingly taken from the same grave as the skull."
In brief, it appears this "respected" Order of Yale Gentlemen is no more
than a coven of Grave robbers hoarding skulls, skeletons and
tombstones.
Then further down is the following:
"In the Pantry (F) are large quantities of dishes, each piece of
crockery ornamented with a picture of a skull and crossbones, each
spoon and fork marked S.B.T." (Skull and Bones Trust).
This suggest a preoccupation with skulls and human bones is built
into the cultic structure of The Order.
Then on page 4 we learn that each member of Skull & Bones (as well
as Scroll & Key) has an "inside name" and these names bear a
remarkable resemblance to those used by the Illuminati, e.g., Chilo
Eumenes, Glaucus, Prisaticus and Arbaces.
The conclusion of this pamphlet is:
". . . we will say that a thorough examination of every part of the
Temple leads us to the conclusions that the most powerful of college
societies is nothing more than a pleasant convivial club."
This conclusion ignores other evidence presented elsewhere. It is ac-
ceptable given only the findings of the break-in crew.
(3) The Iconoclast, New Haven 1873
Only one issue of this journal has been found, and only a single copy
of that issue exists. It is reproduced as an appendix below. The editor of
The Iconoclast considered Skull & Bones "a deadly evil" and em-
phasized their interest in political control. Moreover, the Iconoclast
states that The Order obtained control of Yale, and its members care
more for their society than for Yale:
Out of every class Skull and Bones takes its men. They have gone
out into the world and have become, in many instances, leaders
in society. They have obtained control of Yale. Its business is per-
formed by them. Money paid to the college must pass into their
hands, and be subject to their will.
(4) Chapter "Senior Societies" in Lyman Bagg, Four Years at Yale.
This is the reference cited above at the beginning of this chapter.
Other sources include an article in Esquire Magazine by Ron Rosen-
baum entitled "The last secrets of Skull and Bones" (September 1977)
>From this article we learn such tidbits as:
"Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart . . . dressed up in a skeleton
suit, howled wildly at an initiate in a red velvet room inside the tomb
. . ."
"McGeorge Bundy wrestled naked in a mud pile as part of his in-
itiation."
According to a dossier obtained by Ron Rosenbaum, the 1940 initia-
tion ceremony went like this:
New man placed in coffin - carried into central part of building.
New man chanted over and reborn into society. Removed from
coffin and Given robes with symbols on it (sic). A bone with his
name on it is tossed into bone heap at start of evening. Initiates
plunged naked into mud pile.
Again, we have a sordid preoccupation with coffins, skeletons
death.
This about summarizes sources of information.
Strangely enough, the long-time proponent of conspiracy theories,
the John Birch Society, has made little contribution to our knowledge of
The Order. Apparently JBS recognizes its existence but considers it
merely a "recruiting ground," which, of course, it is.
This "recruiting ground" interpretation suggests several points. First-
ly, the documentary evidence is quite clear: Knights, i.e., the just
recruited initiates, spend only one year as Knights. They become
Patriarchs after leaving Yale and spend a lifetime as Patriarchs. Second,
continual correspondence and meetings as Patriarchs continues after
leaving Yale. In fact, the Deer Iland Club is specifically for annual
meetings of Patriarchs and the Russell Trust Association is run entirely
by Patriarchs.
In brief, the JBS "recruiting ground" theory just doesn't match all the
facts.
Furthermore, The Order is the ONLY fully documented example, we
have of a secret society within the U.S. establishment. JBS has never
produced membership lists of any other society and yet seems unwilling
to recognize the existence of The Order.
Similarly, New Solidarity, i.e., the Lyndon LaRouche outfit, claim to
have exposed The Order back in 1979. Unfortunately, neither Lyndon
LaRouche nor anyone else can produce documents dated 1983 and
1984 in 1979. In any event, the degree of documentation in our
volumes on The Order has not been matched elsewhere.
The answer is that this author does have�and fully admits to having
�clandestine sources within The Order. We understand that for
specific reasons these sources are not available to either JBS or Lyndon
LaRouche. At that point we will leave our discussion of sources and
move on to the ritual aspects of The Order.
Memorandum Number Two:
The Organization of The Order
The Yale Senior society system is unique to Yale University. There is
nothing like it elsewhere in the United States or for that matter in the en-
tire world. According to Lyman Bagg in Four Years at Yale, "the senior
societies are such peculiarly Yale institutions that it will be difficult for
an outsider fully to appreciate their significance" (Bagg, p. 142, see page
following for full context). Nothing like them exists elsewhere and ac-
cording to Bagg, "Harvard is the only college where, under similar con-
ditions they possibly could exist."
There are three senior societies, Skull & Bones, Scroll & Key and
Wolfs Head. Each year 15 male Yale juniors are tapped for admission.
They spend only one year in the society, an entirely different procedure
to fraternal organizations found on other campuses.
Skull & Bones was founded in 1832 and has initiated 15 members
each year since 1832 (except for 1945 when only 10 were tapped).
Every year during commencement week 15 Yale juniors receive an in-
vitation "Skull & Bones. Accept or reject?" Those who accept,
presumably the greater number, are invited to attend the Bones Temple
on campus to undergo an initiation ceremony. (See next page)
Tap day in modern times is a private, almost concealed operation; it
was not always that way.
Before 1953 juniors were herded into a yard and representatives
from senior societies would circulate among assembled students, select-ing
those wanted for initiation.
In those days rejection by a senior society was considered social
suicide, so Yale ordered tapping a private affair, to avoid the traumatic
wait and fear of rejection by the assembled juniors.
For the ambitious, "tapping" is the magic password to a future career.
Wherever he turns, the success of the Yale senior society system is ob-
vious. Today's Yale University President, A. Bartlett Giamatti, is a
member of Scroll & Key, while George Bush, Vice President of the
United States is a member of Skull & Bones.
The Yale campus student is well aware that the senior society system
is geared to the affluent outside world, to the world after graduation.
Money and connections flow from membership. Reportedly, Skull &
Bones donates $15,000 and a grandfather clock to each initiate. Cer-
tainly alumni pay for everything associated with society meetings. In
one case reported by New York Times (April 16, 1983), the alumni
paid for a three-hour phone call from Colorado to Yale by two members of
Scroll & Key unable to attend a meeting in the Scroll & Key tomb.
Although the John Birch Society, the long time conservative pro-
moter of conspiracy theory, emphasizes that these senior societies are
merely recruiting grounds, in effect the societies are the source of a vast
establishment network, a formalized "old boy" network that effectively
buts out the newcomers and the non-Yale talented from the halls of
power. Because these are senior societies, the emphasis is not on
campus activities but on post graduation ambitions. That is the fun-
damental difference to all other campus societies in the U.S.
As Bagg points out:
"The statement is therefore again repeated that Bones and Keys are
peculiarly Yale institutions, genuine outgrowths of a system that
flourishes nowhere else, the only organizations of the kind existing in
the country" (p. 183) and the senior society "is an association with no
weak members whatever and the history of the matter shows that unless
this ideal is adhered to with reasonable closeness, such a society cannot
live long at Yale" (P. 144).
CLUBS OF THE ORDER
Each annual class of new initiates forms a club consisting of 15
members. Initiates are called Knights in the first year and thereafter
Patriarchs.
The annual announcement of new initiates has not varied over the
years. We reproduce on page 194 the announcement of new members
for 1917 and on pages 195-196 those for 1984 and 1985.
Each club has a number. This is located in the top right hand corner
of the announcement sheet (i.e., D 115 for 1917 and D 183 for 1984).
Further, one member is designated a "club chairman" or agent, with the
function to act as liaison with the Secretary of the Russell Trust Associa-
tion in New York.
THE SECRET CATALOGS
Each member of The Order receives an updated annual catalog of
members. At one time it was a single volume bound in black leather.
CATALOGUE
OCTOBER 1983
VOL. I
LIVING MEMBERS
The latest practice is to issue the catalog in two clothbound volumes:
Volume One for Living Members and Volume Two for Deceased
Members.
Preceding is the title page of the October 1983 catalog, the latest
issued. Volume Two is the same with "Deceased Members" in place of
"Living Members."
Inside the title page is the address of the Secretary of the Russell Trust
Association responsible for administration of the current affairs of The
Order:
"Please send any corrections or changes of address to:
The Secretary
RTA Incorporated
P. 0. Box 2138 Yale Station
New Haven, Conn. 06520"
Then follows an alphabetical listing of members and brief information.
on the following:
Name and class year with awarded degrees.
A brief notation of occupation, i.e., law, education, finance,
business.
Date of birth is followed by current business and private addresses.
Then follows a list of positions held starting with current position.
Military and civilian awards and honors follow, usually extensive because
The Order "old boy" network can guarantee awards to each other - an excellent
means of mutual support to build up collective power and prestige.
The final item is a listing of wives and children.
DEER ILAND CLUB
The Order's retreat is the Deer Iland, (spelled Iland after the request of
Patriarch G.D. Miller) Alexandria Bay on the St. Lawrence River, New
York. The island was donated in 1906 by Patriarch Miller and
renovated over the years, but particularly in the 1950s and 1980s.
.
Here's an extract from the latest February 29, 1984, report to
Patriarchs:
Deer Iland had another successful year in 1983, the 76th season
of the Club since its establishment under the direction of George
Douglas Miller, D. 68(*) in 1907. Was it the best year ever? Maybe.
They're getting better and better. The results of the past five or six
years have seen the Club become a much more viable enterprise
from the years of the late '6Os and early '70s when its future was
much in doubt.
The positive response made by Patriarchs is seen in the following
paragraph from the same annual report:
Increased use of the island is not the only factor in its present
sound financial footing. Your generosity through your contribu-
tions to our annual fund drives has kept the Club going through
lean times and supports it today. Most recently, the splendid
response to the special capital fund drive in 1981-82, com-
memorating the 75th anniversary of the Club, has enabled us to
make major capital improvements to our facilities - a process
which is still underway. I should add that those special contribu-
tions are not being used to meet current operating expenses but
are specially designated for capital improvements. Current in-
come from all sources - guest receipts, the G.D. Miller trust, and
the annual appeal - has met or exceeded our expenses for seven
years, giving us both welcome security and the means to improve
further the island's classic river-style structures. (I don't want to
use the word "modernize" except perhaps in reference to the
plumbing. You may so inform your wives.)
In brief: the organization of The Order both as Russell Trust Associa-
tion and Deer Iland Corporation is essentially geared towards the post
Graduation world, the outside world. It is a senior society. Knights
spend only one year as Knights. The rest of their lives are spent as
Patriarchs in an active influential organization able to guarantee wealth
and ambition.
(*)D. 68 - It is a practice for members to place their Club identification
after their name in writing each
other.
pps. 185-199
--cont.--
Aloha, He'Ping,
Om, Shalom, Salaam.
Em Hotep, Peace Be,
Omnia Bona Bonis,
All My Relations.
Adieu, Adios, Aloha.
Amen.
Roads End
Kris
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