Justice Antonin Scalia died vacationing with the fraternal Order of St. Hubertus

St. Hubuert, patron saint of hunters, and the International Order of St. Hubertus

(Image credit: Liszt Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

last updated 25 February 2016

Because there aren't enough conspiracy theories already surrounding the Feb. 13 death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the conservative jurist died while at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in West Texas with at least several members of the International Order of St. Hubertus, The Washington Post reports. Members with leadership positions in the exclusive fraternal organization include ranch owner John Poindexter and the friend who accompanied Scalia from Washington to the ranch, C. Allen Foster, a Washington lawyer. At least two more of the 35 weekend guests are also known to be members of the Order, The Post says.

Scalia was at the ranch for a hunting party, and Poindexter has hosted the Order of St. Hubertus at his ranch at least once before, but it's not clear if the Feb. 13 weekend gathering was exclusively for members of the hunting fraternity. "There is nothing I can add to your observation that among my many guests at Cibolo Creek Ranch over the years some members of the International Order of St. Hubertus have been numbered," Poindexter told The Post by email. "I am aware of no connection between that organization and Justice Scalia."

The fraternal "true knightly order in the historical tradition," is named after St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunters, according to the group's website.

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The international, male-only order was founded in Bohemia in 1695 by Count Franz Anton von Sporck, an avid hunter and patron of the arts, and carries the motto "Deum Diligite Animalia Diligentes," Latin for "Honoring God by honoring His creatures." Members wear dark green robes with that motto and a cross. The Order of St. Hubertus counts among its past members many members of the Hapsburg family and other Holy Roman Empire nobility, including Emperor Charles VI, and its current Grand Master is "His Imperial and Royal Highness Istvan von Habsburg Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary."

The U.S. branch was inaugurated in 1966 at San Francisco's Bohemia Club, which, The Post notes, "is associated with the all-male Bohemian Grove — one of the most well-known secret societies in the country." You catch that, Donald Trump?

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.