Loyal Orange Lodge No'5
Brampton

THE "ORANGE FAMILY" IN CANADA

The Loyal Orange Association in Canada, along with its affiliated Branches, provides a democratic forum of action for like-minded Protestant men and women who, concerned about their Faith and Heritage, wish to preserve, maintain, and promote those great institutions and principles of democracy upon which Canada may enjoy equal rights under the law.

The following is a list of organizations that constitute the "Orange Family".

Loyal Orange Lodges (L.O.L.) are open to men 16 years of age and over who subscribe to, and comply with the principles of the Association.

Lodges of the Ladies' Orange Benevolent Association (L.O.B.A.) were founded in 1894 to provide women with an opportunity to actively support Orange Principles and the exercise of benevolent activities.

Executive Officers and Provincial Grand Mistresses

Lodges of the Crystal Chapter (C.C.) are referred to as Chapters and only admit into its membership, ladies in good standing from the L.O.B.A., who desire to advance to a fuller knowledge and understanding of the aims and objectives of the Association.

Lodges of the Loyal Orange Young Briton Association (L.O.Y.B.A.) which currently only operate in the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland were founded in 1881 as a Junior Branch of the Association, which membership is open to all Protestant young men between the ages of 12-25. It prides itself on being the initial training ground for the Orangemen of the future, and provides participation in various social, sporting and community activities.

Junior Orange Lodges (J.O.L.) are a still further extension of the Association's young people's programme which provides a vehicle for both boys and girls (mixed lodges), from the ages of 6-16, to be educated and trained in the basic principles of Protestantism, Orangeism and Good Citizenship. Many of its members have graduated from its ranks into other Senior Branches as outstanding leaders.

Royal Black Preceptories (R.B.P.) are lodges referred to as Preceptories, and its members Royal Black Knights. They are qualified Orangemen in good standing who have a desire to further their knowledge of the ritualistic aspect of the Association and to further promote the spirit of friendliness and brotherly love. they are not under the jurisdiction of the Loyal Orange Association, but considered an integral part of the "Orange Family".

Loyal True Blue Lodges (L.T.B.) like the R.B.P. are not under the jurisdiction of the Loyal Orange Association, but also considered a part of the overall "Orange Family". Its basic principles closely relate to those of the Association, and its members have distinguished themselves with contributions in the field of benevolent and charitable programmes. Lodges comprise both men and women, with a special Branch for young people.

ACTIVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

This is the motivation that has prompted Orangemen and women to serve in public office, from the person of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, to the many others who, as individuals, have played a great part in promoting these ideals as Elected Representatives on School boards, Municipal Councils, in Provincial Legislatures, and in the Parliament of Canada.

In addition to Sir John A. Macdonald, the Association's membership rolls have recorded the names of many other distinguished Canadians such as the Hon. John Hillyard Cameron; Sir Mackenzie Bowell, Prime Minister; the Hon. N. Clarke Wallace; Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Squires, P.C., K.C.M.G., K.C.; and the Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker, Prime Minister.

ITS HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS

One would need to review the complete history of the Protestant Reformation and the history of Britain before they could appreciate the necessity of why the Loyal Orange Association came into being.

A brief sketch would reveal that when James II ascended to the English Throne in 1688, he made a concerted effort to reestablish Roman Catholicism as supreme in Church and State. After he had sent the Archbishop of Canterbury and six bishops to the Tower for failing to comply with his order to read a "Declaration of Indulgences" in their churches, the Bishops were charged with "false, malicious and seditious libel"; but, in the public image they were popular martyrs. Tried on June 29th, 1688, the Seven Bishops were acquitted, much to the rejoicing of their supporters.

History records that an English Admiral, disguised as a sailor, left London with a message signed by a coalition of English political parties, inviting William, Prince of Orange, to come to England and defend the cause of Protestantism and Liberty. As a result, William left Holland on October 16th in 1688 in defence of the Protestant Religion. At the ship's masthead were the Arms of Nassau, quartered with those of England. The words "I will Maintain" remain to this day the motto of Holland and to these were added the words: "The Protestant Religion and the Liberty of England." On Nov. 5th, 1688, William landed at Torbay, Devonshire, England - the 83rd Anniversary of the infamous Gunpowder Plot.

Orange Societies, in one form or another, have been in existence in various parts of the world since 1688, when Prince William of Orange came to England, at the request of a coalition of parties, to defend "the liberties of Englishmen and the Protestant Religion". These Societies were organized so that people of like mind might join together to support and maintain those principles, and the democratic concepts that were established by the Act of Settlement. The Terms of that Act placed William and Mary on the Throne of England, and were enhanced by William's wise and intelligent use of the Parliament that placed them there. Thus, the Constitutional Monarchy was born, securing the principle of freedom of worship, and spelling out all the basic principles of a Constitutional Government that was to be the model for all Western democracies to follow.

William and his army defeated James II at the Boyne River in Ireland when James attempted to regain the throne of England with an army he had raised in Spain and France. The "Battle of the Boyne", as it is called, is widely recognized for securing the widest measures of civil and religious liberty for all inheritors of this first great step toward the 'democratization' of the western world.

The progress of William and his army from his landing in England at Torbay until his arrival in London, is an interesting story in itself and a very important event in the history of the world's continuing journey to "democracy". Suffice to say that historians dubbed it the "Glorious Revolution" because the throne of England was taken without a drop of blood being shed.

The eventual showdown for civil and religious freedom of expression came on July 12, 1690 (July 1st - old calendar) when William and his army defeated King James II at the Boyne River in Ireland.

THE FIRST ORANGE LODGE

The first Orange lodge was established at the Diamond in the north of Ireland in 1795 and the first general meeting of the Society in Ireland is recorded as taking place on July 12th, 1796, at Portadown. When religious terror broke out afresh that same year, it is said that some 20,000 Orangemen were called to assist the civil authorities, and were subsequently armed to establish peace and order.

The Orange movement rapidly spread all over Ireland and subsequently later into other jurisdictions around the world such as England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Togo and Ghana, West Africa, the U.S.A. and Canada. The seeds of active Protestantism had, at one time, sprouted Orange Lodges in Cuba, British Honduras, Bermuda, Hong Kong and South Africa.

THE ORANGE ORDER AND THE CANADIAN SCENE

Orangeism, born as it was in great tribulation, encountered many difficulties in its formative years. There are no available records that can confirm where or by whom the first Orange Lodge in Canada was instituted. One must keep in mind the history of Orangeism and the settlement of Canada which provided a far different background to that prevailing in the old land during the its early days. Many new settlers were glad to be away from the extremities of persecution and in some cases, poverty of the homeland while others were concerned that the oppression of liberty - whether civil or religious, should not be allowed to raise its head in the Land of the Maple Leaf. Most historians agree that Orangemen were in Canada previous to 1812 and by 1822 the 12th Parade in Toronto had become the most popular event of the day.

Ogle Robert Gowan, the Order's first Canadian Grand Master is recognized as the founder of Canadian Orangeism. As a recent new-comer to Canada, the territory the Grand Lodge was intended oversee, he brought to his adopted land a conviction that a Branch of Orangeism should be nurtured and cultivated in Canada as a recognized organization. Its birthplace was Brockville, Ontario, a centre of Protestant and Loyalist settlers dedicated to maintaining their religious convictions and loyalty to British Institutions symbolized by their flag - the Union Jack.

Prior to that year, lodges of the Orange Order had operated as independent units, planted in Upper and Lower Canada, principally by pioneers who brought with them, from the British Isles, "Certificates of Membership," some by settlers retired from military service where Orange Lodges had existed within units such as the Fourth Regiment of Foot - known generally as King William's Regiment. As early as 1808 there is evidence that an Orange Lodge existed in Ontario, and a transfer certificate issued by L.O.L. 109, County Armagh in Ireland, had found its way to the loyal province. In New Brunswick there is a record of a lodge meeting in 1783 under a Charter issued in 1694 bearing the name of Colonial Patent No. 6, issued from the Guild Hall, London, giving authenticity to information that a number of Societies or Clubs under the name of "Orange" existed since the arrival of William, Prince of Orange, in England in 1688.

WAR SERVICE

Canadian Orangemen were first to the colours in time of war in their allegiance to the Crown and Canada as an integral part of British identity. Orangemen participated in the War of 1812-1814; the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837-38; the Fenian Raids of 1866; the Riel Rebellions of 1870 and 1885; the South African (Boer War); and the Two World Wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45. During the Rebellion of 1837 Gowan served as Commanding Officer of the Queen's Royal Borderers and was wounded at the Battle of the Windmill near Prescott, Ontario. Orange Halls throughout rural Ontario and elsewhere were used as common recruiting despots during World Wars I and II and history records that many thousands of its youngest members paid the Supreme Sacrifice with some being recognized as recipients of the Victoria Cross.

PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE LOYAL ORANGE ASSOCIATION IN CANADA

• The Loyal Orange Association in Canada is a Patriotic, Benevolent and Protestant Society which purpose is to:
• Encourage its members to actively participate in a Protestant Church of their choice;
• Actively support the Canadian System of Government;
• Anticipate Legislation and its impact on the civil and religious liberties of all Canadians;
• Provide social activities which will enrich the lives of its members;
• Participate in benevolent activities which will enrich our communities and our country.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE LOYAL ORANGE ASSOCIATION

• "Working Together for the Betterment of Family, Community and Country" 

WHAT THE LOYAL ORANGE ASSOCIATION STANDS FOR

• Democratic Government - For the People and by the People
• Promoting and Maintaining the Protestant Faith
• Preservation of the English Language
• The Public School Concept
• Maintaining the Monarchy
• Supremacy of Law
• A United Canada