Societies, Orders and Lodges

Have you seen these symbols on the gravestones of your ancestors? Or among their papers, or on a badge?  If so, that person once belonged to a lodge of the Orangemen, the OddFellows or the Freemasons. These are fraternal organizations which have their roots in the medieval trade guilds, and that count as its members like-minded men of all ages. The Orange Order came about after the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland, in which one of my ancestors fought in 1690. You might want to read a bit of the history of these lodges to understand more about your ancestor, and what they stood for.

There were other groups in the 1800’s that attracted members, to name a few:

•  Independent Order of Rechabites, which was a temperance group.  
•  The Salvation Army began its work in Canada in 1882
•  The Knights of Columbus is a catholic fraternity founded in 1882.
•  B'nai B'rith is the oldest Jewish service organization and it was founded in 1843.   
• Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization founded in New York in 1836.
• Ancient Order of Druids is an English organization founded in 1781.         

             

 Montreal Salvation Army Citadel Band 1901

(My great-grandfather Alexander Mavor far right front row)

Do a search on any of the Lodge names with your city, then you can do a search with what you find at archive.org for possible books of by-laws, services, and members. In the 1800’s you may also find your female ancestors belonging to a Ladies Aid Society, a Temperance group, or the National Society for Women's Suffrage.

Relevant Links:

The Orange Order (Irish) History

OddFellows

Illustrated Fraternal Directory 1889 (USA)

Zetland Lodge Masons - 1876

Lodge of Social and Military Virtues, no. 227, I.C., instituted March 4, 1752, in the 46th British Regiment, now the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

History of the Salvation Army

Rechabites Honour Roll 1919 - Queensland, AU 

Early Woman’s Associations of Newfoundland and Labrador

Yearbook of the Holland Society of New York (several years)

Geschichte der Deutschen in Syracuse and Onondaga County 1897

The Pennsylvania - German Society

Society of Mayflower Descendants Membership Roll - 1908

Souvenir programme fifty-seventh annual conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Pennsylvania : Lancaster, May 23-25, 1910

Constitution and list of officers of the Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania

YMCA Yearbook and official Register (various)

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America