The Origins of Yale’s Not-So-Secret Society and Its Continuing Influence

Much has been written about the vague and nebulous Illuminati, but one shadowy ivy league secret society in particular has continued to rivet Americans’ attention for nearly two centuries.  The “Brotherhood of Death,” otherwise known as Yale’s Skull and Bones, while secretive in nature, undoubtedly boasts many powerful members who have influenced, and continue to influence, American society at the absolute highest levels.

The infamous society was founded at prestigious Yale University in 1832 by William Huntington Russell and Alphonso Taft.  To this day, at Yale, the secretive group chooses new members among students every spring as part of “Tap Day”, and has done so since 1879.  According to Time magazine:

A young Yale junior named William Russell founded the group after spending a year in Germany among members of some of the most mystical and elite clubs in the world, including organizations that mimicked the Enlightenment-era Illuminati. Russell returned to the U.S. determined to found a secret society of his own and “tapped” Alfonso Taft, whose son would later become President William H. Taft, to be among the first members of “The Brotherhood of Death,” or as it was more formally known, “The Order of the Skull and Bones.”  Members worship Eulogia, a fake goddess of eloquence, glorified pirates and reportedly hatched schemes of world domination at the “Tomb” — which is rumored to have a landing pad on the roof for the society’s private helicopter.

The term eulogia (ευλογία), Greek for “blessing”, was used in the early Christian Church to signify the Holy Eucharist, and has a special use in connection with monastic life.  In the Benedictine Rule, monks are forbidden to receive “eulogias” without the abbot’s permission.  Here, the word may be used in the sense of blessed bread only, but it seems to have a wider signification, and to designate any kind of gift.

There was a custom in monasteries of distributing in the refectories, after Mass, the eulogiae of bread blessed at the Mass.  Therefore, in this context, the Skulls’ reverence for a fake “deity” named Eulogia is strangely reminiscent of the Black Mass’ reputed desecration of the Holy Eucharist.

Among prominent members of Skull and Bones are former President and Supreme Court Justice William Howard Taft (a founder’s son); former Presidents George H. W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush; U.S. Supreme Court Justices Morrison R. Waite and Potter Stewart; James Jesus Angleton, “mother of the Central Intelligence Agency”; Henry Stimson, U.S. Secretary of War (1940-1945); U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert A. Lovett, who directed the Korean War; and Henry Luce, founder and publisher of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated magazines.

Today, John Kerry, the current U.S. Secretary of State and former U.S. Senator; Stephen A. Schwarzman, founder of Blackstone Group; Austan Goolsbee, Chairman of Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers; Harold Stanley, co-founder of Morgan Stanley; and Frederick W. Smith, founder of FedEx, are all reported to be “Bonesmen,” as the title befits members of the society.

When initiated, Bonesmen are assigned strange and often pagan nicknames (e.g.,
“Long Devil”, “Boaz,” etc.).  Averell Harriman was known as “Thor”, Henry Luce was “Baal”, McGeorge Bundy was “Odin”, and George H. W. Bush was “Magog.”  For those unfamiliar with these names, Baal is a Middle Eastern demon and Magog is a demon referenced in the Book of Revelation. Thor and Odin are, of course, Norse deities.

What is the significance of the ‘322’ in the society’s logo?

No one (apart from its members) knows for sure, but since William Russell imported the society from Germany, it has been argued the 322 stands for ‘32 (from 1832), plus “2” for the second chapter, of this German organization.

Another theory is that Skull and Bones is descended from a Greek fraternal society dating back to Demosthenes in 322 B.C.  This has perhaps some credibility because Bones records are dated by adding 322 to the current year, i.e., records originating in 1950 are dated Anno – Demostheni 2272. (Anthony Sutton, “America’s Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones”).

Members of Skull and Bones are reportedly required to make financial sacrifices to the society—and are threatened with blackmail so that they remain loyal—but are remunerated with honors and rewards, including a hefty graduation stipend and a wedding gift of a tall grandfather clock.

Though they must tithe (give 10%) of their estates to the society, each member is reportedly guaranteed financial security for life.  In this way, Bonesmen can ensure that no member will ever feel the need to sell the secrets of the society in order to make a living.

Bonesmen are also supposedly offered high-paying jobs at the many investment banks and law firms dominated by their secret society brethren.  They are also given exclusive access to the Skull and Bones island, a lush retreat built for millionaires, with a lavish mansion and a bevy of women at the members’ disposal.

The influence of the cabal begins at Yale, where Skull and Bones has reportedly appropriated the university’s funds for its own use.  Skull and Bones’ corporate shell, the Russell Trust Association, supposedly owns much of Yale University’s real estate in Connecticut.

Off campus, the “Tomb” where the society secretly conducts its meetings, is a large mausoleum that supposedly contains the following strange items:  Geronimo’s skull; Pancho Villa’s skull; President Martin Van Buren’s skull; a set of Adolf Hitler’s silverware; and the full skeleton of Madame Pompadour.

The location of these stolen artifacts is not without controversy.  Descendants of Geronimo actually filed a lawsuit against the University and the group, seeking to repatriate his remains.

According to NPR:

In an e-mail, Yale University spokesman Tom Conroy wrote: “Yale does not possess Geronimo’s remains. Yale does not own the Skull and Bones building or the property it is on, nor does Yale have access to the property or the building.”

Apparently, the news media’s efforts to reach members of Skull and Bones for comment were met with an unsurprising silence.

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