LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WASHINGTON LOYAL ORANGE LODGE NO. 43

4 ft.

MSS 60

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

This society's origins are traced to Ireland, where in 1795 a group of Protestants loyal to the British crown founded a fraternal order in honor of King William III of England, Prince of Orange.  Lodges were subsequently formed in Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada, and the United States.  The first American lodge was created in New York City in 1867.  In Philadelphia the Washington Loyal Orange Lodge No. 43 was founded in 1872.  There were 100 lodges and 10,000 members in the U.S. by 1873, and by 1914 the society had increased to 364 lodges with 30,000 members.

The primary causes the society upholds are Protestantism, patriotism, freedom and separation of church and state.  To qualify for membership one must be eighteen years old, Protestant, and temperate.  Although it is not based on ethnic background, most of the members are Scotch-Irish or of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

Over the years, the Loyal Orange Institution in the U.S. has become philanthropic in its interests.  In 1902, The Orange Home, for orphans, was founded in Hatboro, Pennsylvania.  It became a retirement home in 1948, with reconstruction and additions made in 1964 and 1974.

The Loyal Orange Ladies Institution was organized in Philadelphia in 1876 with the same guiding principles as the men's society.  However, it was not recognized as an auxiliary order until 1906.  The men's and women's societies now meet at the same time and location, and both support the Orange Home.

PROVENANCE

The records were donated to the Balch in 1986 by the society.  The collection is restricted to accredited scholars and genealogists.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The most important aspect of the records of the Washington Loyal Orange Lodge No. 43 is the almost complete run of meeting minutes from 1885 to 1986.  Other records in this collection are sparse and scattered and include correspondence, financial records, and membership records.

Accession # M8667.