Orange Order
Societies and clubs celebrating the victory of King William III
date back to 1690. The Orange Order itself arose out of disturbances in
County Armagh, Ireland in the late eighteenth century, when Protestant 'Peep
O'Day Boys' conflicted with Roman Catholic 'Defenders'. Following the Battle
of the Diamond in 1795 near Loughgall, the new Protestant organization was
founded. Like Freemasons a Grand Lodge was soon formed. (The founding
members of the Orange Institution were Freemasons as was King William III,
Prince of Orange.) Very quickly after the foundation of the Order, there
emerged a second 'Purple Marksman' or 'Plain Purple' degree. Grand Lodge
tried to stop local lodges from forming yet more degrees, but without much
success. Soon were found degrees with names such as 'Royal Arch Purple',
'Scarlet', 'Black, 'Green' and 'Apron'. By the 1830's, these different
so-called 'Black' degrees were being coordinated by bodies such as the 'Royal
Black Association of Ireland', the 'Grand Black Order of Orangemen ' and the
'Magnanimous and Invincible Order of Blackmen'. There was also a Scottish
order variously called the 'Loyal Black Association of Scotland', the
'Imperial Grand Lodge of Knights of Malta and Parent Black Lodge of the
Universe', and the Imperial Grand Encampment of the Universe and Grand Black
Lodge of Scotland and the most Ancient Illustrious and Military Order of the
Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem' This group began to issue
Irish warrants in 1834 and in 1844 it formed a Grand Priory of Ireland. As
their names suggest these 'Black' organizations were modeled upon the older
chivalric orders-and more directly upon the chivalric orders found within the
Freemasons. In 1847, a body breaking away from the Grand Priory met with
representatives of the Grand Black Order and the Grand Black Orange Lodge of
Ireland, Thus was formed the Grand Black Chapter which exists to this day.
When someone joins the Orange Order today, he usually passes through both the
Orange and Plain Purple degrees. Thence he may be invited to join a Royal Arch
Purple Chapter. He may then become a member of a
Black Preceptory and pass
through its eleven degrees, Royal Black, Royal Scarlet, Royal Mark, Apron &
Royal Blue, Royal White, Royal Green, Royal Gold, Star & Garter, Scarlet
Arrow, Link & Chain and Red Cross.
The Royal Arch Purple Degree (3rd degree) is based on the
original theme of the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt to the
Promised Land. The 2 1/2 reminds us of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad
and the half tribe of Manasseh who, although their inheritance was assured on
the other side of Jordan advanced in the vanguard of the army when crossing
the river to assist their brethren to secure the Promised Land.
Here is what their aprons look like!
Here is what they looked like!
Additional Orange Order related web sites
worthy of a visit are as follows:
http://www.orangenet.org/america.htm
http://www.balchinstitute.org/manuscript_guide/html/royalblackknights.html
http://www.royalblack.org/
http://www.dwilliamso.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/imperial1.htm
A Special "Thank You" to Brother David Allen
who supplied the history and many pictures in reference to this group.
