Brown Fellowship Society

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The oldest funeral society in Charleston, The Brown Fellowship Society was founded on the 1st of November, 1790. The motto "charity and benevolence" did not apply to those African Americans of darker skin color or lower social status. The preamble of the Rules and Regulations states: "Whereas we, free brown men". Application for membership was similar to that of the Friendly Union Society, except that the prospective member was voted on at three meetings before being allowed to join.

The members of the Brown Fellowship believed in superiority on the basis of skin color. In their Rules and Regulations, when discussing themselves, they are referred to as "brown men" (as stated above), however, when referring to other African Americans, the title "poor colored" was used.