| (Page 2 of Canadian Orangeism) WORLD WARS Since confederation in 1867, Orangemen have defended Canada in the Boer War in South Africa at the turn of the century and in two world wars. In World War I, some 55,000 Orangemen enlisted in the armed services and some 8,000 laid down their lives on the battlefield. Similarly, in 1939, when democracy and freedom were again threatened, Canadian Orangemen enlisted, fought and died for King and country and as a result many of our lodges were depleted in membership and many had to close. It was Sir Sam Hughes, an Orangeman, who directed Canada's war effort in World War I. PARADES The Orange Association has existed in Canada officially for 165 years. No other fraternal or patriotic society has such a long history in Canada. The first Twelfth of July Orange Parade was held in the city of Toronto in 1822 and has continued uninterrupted ever since. In the 1920s and 1930s when the Orange Association was at its peak, Toronto was known as the 'Belfast of Canada' and parades in the city were known to take some four hours to pass a given point. Parades were held in every provincial jurisdication in Canada. LEADERS IN PUBLIC LIFE From the local school trustee to the highest position of prime minister, Canadian Orangemen have given leadership and distinguished service in every sphere of Canadian society. Three of our members have been prime minister of Canada, namely Sir John A. Macdonald, the father of Confederation, Sir Mackenzie Bowell, a Past Grand Master, and John Diefenbaker. Premier Joey Smallwood who brought Newfoundland into Canadian Confederation in 1949 was also an Orangeman. It was also an Orangeman, Alexander Muir, who wrote Canada's first national song - The Maple Leaf Forever. The maple tree that inspired him to write the song in 1867 still stands in the city of Toronto and has been suitably marked by a plague erected by the Grand Orange Lodge of Canada. ORANGEISM SPREADS The 1860s saw some great changes as Orangeism spread across Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Lodges were formed later in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Manitoba, and British Columbia and the membershiip continued to increase in large numbers. In 1860 the Grand Orange Lodge was restructured to include Provincial Grand Lodges because of the great number of lodges that were being instituted during that period. It has been said, but never confirmed, that when Canadian Confederation came, Sir John A. Macdonald was influenced by the new structure of the Orange Association when the Canadian provinces were formed in 1867. IMMIGRATION Since the end of World War II, the membership of the Orange Association in Canada has steadily declined to this day, but it still remains a viable Association in Canada with lodges still operating from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Immediately following World War II, immigrants from the British Isles and Europe were the largest source of immigration to Canada. Because they were familiar with the Canadian form of government and the English language, the Orange Association was able to recruit members from this immigration. In recent years, immigration from these sources has been decreasing and the door has now been opened to Asians, Africans, and people from the Caribbean Islands. Asia now accounts for 54% of the immigrants to Canada. BENEVOLENT PROJECTS In 1881, the Loyal Orange Association in Canada introduced an insurance programme generally known today as 'Orange Insurance'. This programme provides protection for its members at the time of death and has proved beneficial over the last century in alleviating the financial burden that often occurs at this time. |