En:Orange Order

The Royal Arch Purple Degree

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Orange Order

A Special "Thank You" to Brother David Allen who supplied the history and many pictures in reference to this group.

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.