It was viewed as being incompatible with, and contrary to, both Protestantism and Orangeism. Orange Marksman degree → Royal Arch Purple degreeįrom its inception, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland looked upon this neo-Masonic Royal Arch Purple degree with understandable abhorrence. This elaborate degree became known as the ‘Royal Arch Purple degree’. The Arch Purple Chapter’s book ‘History of the Royal Arch Purple Order’ explains: “Sometime between 18, possibly in 1802, a new degree was devised.” This degree was “developed from the three pre 1798 ‘old degrees’ ” (p. Some continued to practise these illegal degrees in a clandestine manner, in blatant violation of the rules of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.įacing strong persecution from a now powerful Grand Lodge and realising their beleaguered position, they merged the three old degrees into one large ritualistic degree. Those ritualistic Orangemen inside the Order who bore allegiance to the former neo-Masonic degrees were far from happy at this radical reform. That they might eradicate any lingering injurious behaviour by spurious characters, they abolished the old Orange Order in 1800, with its ritualistic connections, obliging every Orangeman to rejoin a now simplified new Orange Institution. Between 17 Grand Lodge began a process of implementing this simplification by standardising procedures throughout every lodge in Ireland. This resulted in the disposal of the original three (elaborate) degrees of the Orange.įrom this date forward, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland accepted only simplicity within its Order.
Grand Lodge immediately addressed the bewildering amount of unnecessary ritualism that had found its way into Orangeism, and here began a process of reform which purged out all the ritualistic baggage which had settled itself within the Order. This body brought much needed stability and leadership to the Order at a strategic period in its history. Purple Marksman degree → Master Mason degreeĪ ruling authority over the Orange – a Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland – wasn’t formed until 21st April 1798. Orange Marksman degree → Fellowcraft degree Orange degree → Entered Apprentice degree Whilst little is known of the exact content of these three degrees it seems certain that they were highly ritualistic in character, being modelled on the first three degrees of Freemasonry, namely, Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason. These were – the Orange degree, the Orange Marksman degree and the Purple Marksman degree. There were three main degrees worked within the Orange Order in its early days between 17. 12, 25).Ī biblical analysis of the Royal Arch Purple degree They state, “It has to be admitted that this is the most ‘Masonic-like’ part of our ceremony.” They later describe it as “a Christianised or ‘Reformed Freemasonry’ ” (pp.
Brian Kennaway comment on the Arch Purple degree. Ian Meredith and Irish Arch Purple man Rev. In their book ‘The Orange Order: An Evangelical Perspective’ Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland (which owns the Royal Arch Purple as its second degree) Rev. The draft to the Arch Purple Chapter’s book diplomatically traces the roots of the Royal Arch Purple degree, stating that, “In light of the evidence available it would appear that the degree given today evolved from certain practices which had their origin in the Masonic Order, together with some innovations which had been introduced by those brethren conferring the degree in different areas being added to the original theme of the pre 1800 degrees to form a new ritual.” Irish Orangemen view the Royal Arch Purple degree as a natural progressive step of advancement from the Orange Institution to the Royal Black Institution. It is actually sandwiched in-between the two.
The Royal Arch Purple degree is operated within the Royal Arch Purple Chapter in Ireland, which is a separate Order to the Orange Order, although inextricably linked to the both the Orange and the Black on the Loyal Orders ladder. It is also placed as the 3rd degree in the Independent Orange Order degree system. The Royal Arch Purple degree is an integral part of the Orange Order in nearly every jurisdiction throughout the world today, normally as its 2nd or 3rd degree, apart from Ireland.
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