Secret Societies - Tapa dura

Secret Societies in one form or another have existed throughout the history of human culture. But what is their appeal? What is it that makes so-called respectable people indulge in peculiar ceremonies, dressed in fanciful costumes uttering blood-curdling oaths of loyalty with the threat of death hanging over them should they reveal the inner workings of the cult? Nick Harding describes some of the best known organisations along with their least known counterparts. He highlights the similarities that these cults have and the basic human psychology upon which they operate.