How the Finnish epic Kalevala inspired an American secret society
Secret handshakes, arcane rituals and covert political favors define the mysterious societies operating in the shadows. Conspiracy theories involving the Freemasons and the Illuminati persist today. In the early days of the United States, these societies served a practical purpose. They allowed immigrants to form bonds and protect their livelihoods before the era of social security.
Finnish immigrants in America sought similar connections. During the 19th and 20th centuries, they established various temperance, political and religious organizations. Tension between newspapers, churches and societies often resulted in a lack of cohesion within these new communities.
Uniting a fragmented Finnish community
John Stone changed the landscape. Born Johan Oxelstén in Oulu, he arrived in the US in 1887. He eventually moved to Belt, Montana. He anglicized his name to improve his business opportunities in the rough copper mining town.
Stone observed the struggles of his compatriots. Finns faced racism and exploitation by mining companies. Stone also believed they spent too much time in saloons. He wanted an organization to unite Finnish immigrants through their shared heritage rather than dividing them by politics or religion. He aimed to raise the reputation of Finns in America while managing their economic hardships.
A secret society is born
The Knights of Kaleva, or Kalevan Ritarit, was founded in 1898. It operated on the principles of “tieto ja taito” (knowledge and know-how). This was the first Finnish organization in the US without a parent group in Finland. Stone structured the group based on popular American secret societies like the Freemasons while paying homage to the Kalevala.
The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic. It is a collection of ballads and tales compiled by Elias Lönnrot in 1835. Lönnrot collected 65,000 lines by traveling on foot through remote regions of Finland and Karelia. The epic features creation myths, heroes and impossible tasks set in Finnish forests.
Finnish identity in America
The Kalevala was the obvious choice for Stone. No other literary work held such importance. It was a major factor in the growing sense of Finnishness. Finland had been part of Sweden from 1249 to 1809 and a Grand Duchy of Russia from 1809 to 1917. The Kalevala gave people a distinct national identity which eventually led to independence in 1917.
The Knights of Kaleva were influenced by romantic nationalism. In Finland, the epic was a tool against Russification. In America, it expressed reverence for heritage. The society helped immigrants stay in touch with their culture and provided mutual life insurance and employment assistance. Initiation required a good reputation, Finnish ancestry and a thorough knowledge of the Kalevala.
Blasphemy and distrust
The society claimed political neutrality but appeared conservative compared to other left-leaning Finnish groups. Meetings involved prayer and the Bible. However, some members wanted to replace the Bible with the Kalevala. This led the National Church to condemn the Knights for blasphemy. Other churches spoke out against the order, causing some Finns to distrust the group. The Knights responded by claiming they were a closed group rather than a true secret society.
Secret meetings and rituals
Membership was divided into degrees. New members underwent rituals testing their loyalty and morality. Participants sometimes wore Kaleva-themed costumes including special jackets, belts, plumed hats and swords. Meetings included readings from the epic, intellectual lectures on Finnish history and rituals based on the poem’s tales.
Wow! I would love to know what the rituals were like.
They all got buck nakedand then they fasted on porkmeat
and tripped on mushrooms for a day or two. Old folktales
were told and ancient hymns were hummed. No one relaay
knows the origin of those stories,it seems that they were different
every time, depending on the teller’s state of drunkeness etc.
Reminds me a little of the story of Joseph Smith starting the Mormon faith.
This article is not accurate. The Kalevala lodges of Wa. Or, CA. and British Columbia (not associated with this organization was founded prior to 1890 in San Francisco, spread to possibly over 30 West Coast lodges, predated this organization. It also was not affiliated with any organization in Finland.
My grandfather Johan Kentta (John Kentta) took the idea of the Knights of Kaleva to Eveleth or Sparta MN from Butte, MT – ca 1901 or 02 – established a lodge and then returned to Montana – the family moved to Siletz Oregon ca 1903 – he carried money for other Finnish families and put money down on properties for them – they all rode the train out
Families that came with the Kentta’s were: Huhtala, Ojalla, Paananen, Bentilla, Heikkila, Saari, grandpa bought a piece of land to build a retirement place for elderly Finns who had ruined themselves in the mines – but the org didn’t support the idea. He was a store owner, surveyor, county commissioner, then when his wife died suddenly after birth of 8th child, he moved to Portland and painted houses
He had met and married his wife in Butte MT ca 1895. She was Selma Julianna (Niemi) Kentta, born 1875 Alajarvi Finland, died 1912 – Siletz Oregon – her mother Annaliisa (Anttisaari) Niemi and siblings lived around Lake Sylvia MN – Annaliisa and most of the siblings followed grandma to the US after Annaliisa’s husband died in Alajarvi.
That is my grandfather Oscar Wanhainen on the left in the picture. He lived in South Range, Michigan.