N.Y. General Business Law Section 134
Fraudulent use of the name or title of secret fraternity

Any person, firm, association, society, order or organization, or any officer, agent, representative or employee thereof, or person acting or pretending to act on behalf thereof who in a newspaper or other publication published in this state, or in any letter, writing, circular, paper, pamphlet or other written or printed notice, matter or device without authority of the grand lodge hereinafter mentioned fraudulently uses, or in any manner directly or indirectly aids in the use of the name or title of any secret fraternal association, society, order or organization which has had a grand lodge in this state for ten years, or any imitation of such name or title or any name or title so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive, or who without authority publishes, sells, lends, gives away, circulates or distributes any letter, writing, circular, paper, pamphlet or other written or printed notice, matter or device directly or indirectly advertising for or soliciting members or applications for membership in such secret fraternal association, society, order or organization, or in any alleged or pretended association, society, order or organization, using or designated or claimed to be known by such title or imitation or resemblance thereof or who therein or thereby offers to sell, or to confer or to communicate or to give information directly or indirectly where, how, of whom, or by what means any alleged or pretended degree or any alleged or pretended secret work or any alleged or pretended secrets of such secret fraternal association, society, order or organization or any alleged or pretended association, society, order or organization designated or claimed to be known by such title or imitation or resemblance thereof can or may be obtained, conferred or communicated, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Source: Section 134 — Fraudulent use of the name or title of secret fraternity, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/GBS/134 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Nov. 1, 2025).

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Nov. 1, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 134. Fraudulent use of the name or title of secret fraternity's source at nysenate​.gov

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