The origins of the Society go back to a Masonic youth organization called the Coming Men of America that was active in the 1890s and 1900s. At one point a chapter of the C. M. A. was founded at the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint, Michigan. After graduation many of the alumni of this school migrated to Chicago. In the summer of 1901 they met to discuss the lack of opportunities for deaf people to obtain insurance. At a reunion of the Flint School graduates on June 14, 1901 they decided to form the Fraternal Society for the Deaf, which was incorporated that August. The organization began to founder as deafness insurance became more common in the 1990s. In 1994 the Canadian branch merged with the Croatian Fraternal Union. The National Society began the process of dissolution in 2004, transferring its insurance aspect to the Catholic Order of Foresters. It official dissolved on March 6, 2010. The key players of the organization was Peters N. Hellers, Jr.
Purpose
The purpose was initially for burial benefits. Life, sickness and accident coverage was later added. The organization was established to be a life insurance organization originally for Deaf men. However, it later allowed and voted to include women and children.
Membership and organization
The Society moved into its first permanent office in Oak Park, Illinois in 1936 and to an "ultramodern" office in Mount Prospect, Illinois in 1975. A ladies auxiliary was created in 1953. By 1979 membership was open to deaf men and women. Those not healthy enough to become insured members could become social members, along with non-deaf people. By the mid-1990s people who are not deaf, but who worked in the field of deafness were also welcome to join. Membership in the late 1960s slightly more than 10,000. In 1979 the Society had 13,000 members, a number it maintained through the 1980s. In 1994 the society had 11,000 members. Locals were called "subordinate divisions", of which there were 126 in the US and Can. in 1979. In the 1980s it had 167. The "Grand Division" meets quadrennially in a state were the society has at least two lodges. It had a "Mobile division" with red fezzes that participates in parades and celebrations.
Degrees
The society had an elaborate ritual. There was an oath protecting secrets obligatory at first initiation. Degree system adopted in 1947. It reflected Masonic influence through the Coming Men of America. The second degree was called the 5th, and required the candidate to have held office or served on a committee. The third degree was called the 10th, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. The 34th degree required written examination on the laws and history of the order. Each of these degrees required different commitments. 5th- requires oath of membership and having held a subordinate division office for 1 year or 2 committee chairmanships; 10th required 2 years in an office; 15th having had an office for 3 years; 20th being an officer for 5 years; 25th includes all of the above and passing a written exam on the laws and history of the order; 30th applies to grand officers only, who must hold grand office for at least one year and 34 requires all of the above and accumulating 100-2000 "points" by performing extraordinary service in addition to holding office
Services
Donated clothing and other items to the aged deaf and to hospitals, toys and clothing to needy children. It was also involved in legislation about the deaf and fought discrimination against them.
