The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 2 – Historical Background
ethical, the Orange Order political aims: "Masons existed for the sake of
Masonry; the Orange Order was specifically directed towards the suppression of
Catholics and the maintenance of Protestant ascendancy as established by the
victory of the Williamite forces at the Battle of the Boyne." 111
Through colonialism and the spread of the armed services abroad, Masonic as
well as Orange lodges were established wherever the British Empire extended.
Thus, they were introduced to Australia, India, and America. The good
reputation of Freemasonry helped the Orange Order to a similar acceptance by
the populace: "Whenever Orange activities came in for criticism in the
nineteenth century - as they often did - a stock excuse was that the Order was as
respectable as the Freemasons. Nobody ever questioned the respectability of the
latter." 112 A big difference lies in the composition of the lodges - Masonic lodges
mostly attracted aristocrats, while lodges of the Orange Order were for the lower
classes. However, there must have been and possibly still are men of double
membership, due to the religious conflict in the country:
In 1795 there were serious disturbances in Armagh, and it was in the
evening of the day of the Battle of the Diamond, a contest between
Defenders and Protestants, that the Orange Society (later to be known as
the Orange Order) came into being. At first the upper class held aloof.
This was one sharp difference from Masonry, which was markedly
aristocratic in its origins. But the Orange Order took the word 'lodge'
from Masonry, its members were bound by an oath of secrecy as in
Masonry, masonic [sic] titles and practices were also adopted, and as
Catholics were specifically excluded from its ranks, a great many
Masons must have been Orangemen as well. 113
The distance of the Irish Masons from the members of the Orange Order does
not mean that Irish Masonry never engaged in politics. Although the Masonic
doctrine forbids its members to meddle with political affairs, there were brethren
of anti-British ideas. Further, Irish Masonry got into trouble with the Catholic
church that prohibited its adherents to become Freemasons. Several Irish lodges
became fighters for the independence from England, and armed lodges of Irish
guerillas were formed - a problem that has been overcome, if we can believe the
German Masonic author Kischke: "Einige irische Logen schlossen sich dem
Unabhängigkeitskampf gegen England an, was dazu führte, daß sich bewaffnete
Logen irischer Unabhängigkeitskämpfer bildeten. Die irische Freimaurerei hat
jedoch alle diese Schwierigkeiten überwunden." 114
The ritualistic practice in Ireland is somewhat different from the proceedings
in other countries. Thus, unlike the English and Scottish Grand Lodges, the
Grand Lodge of Ireland possesses a uniform ritual. Nominally, the Irish ritual is
111 Williams (ed.), p. 52.
112 Ibid, p. 53.
113 Ibid, p. 52.
114 Kischke, p. 30.