The History and Evolution of Fraternities How did fraternities begin, and what is their true essence? Today, many ask whether these organizations should be exclusive to collegiate environments or if their scope is much broader. The term fraternity is derived from the Latin word "frater," meaning "brother." Historically, religious fraternities like the Knights Templar in the 1100s were among the first formal brotherhoods established to promote peace and protection. Long before the rise of college-based groups, socio-civic and community-based societies such as the Freemasons, Independent Order of Oddfellows, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles were already widespread, laying the foundation for large-scale community service. The first college-based fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa , was founded on December 5, 1776, in America as an honor society. In the Philippines, this system officially began on November 19, 1918 , with the establishment of Upsilon...