Origin of the Loyal True Blue Association
In the year 1867, a number of young boys, living in the neighbourhood of Queen, Chestnut, and Elizabeth Streets, Toronto, and the surrounding Districts having seen the Orange Young Britons turn out on the 12th of July previous, 1866, conceived the idea of forming a Juvenile Orange Society so they organized themselves into a Lodge and held meetings daily after school hours. For some time the meetings were held in an unoccupied house, owned by a Mr. A. Jardine, on Queen Street, second door west of Elizabeth Street. This is the section where the City Hall now stands. When this house was rented, the meetings were held on the street.
It was customary at that time for the Orangemen of Toronto to hold their 12th of July Celebrations every alternate year outside of the city, and it so happened that in the year 1867 they went to the City of Hamilton. So the boys determined to have a procession of their own, and paid two cents a week for a short time till they had sufficient money collected to buy a yard of cotton and get a picture of King William drawn on the same with crayons, and with that Banner the first procession of what was afterwards to be the True Blue Association took place around the streets of what was then known as St. John’s Ward, Toronto.
They continued to hold their meetings and have daily processions with their Banner until March, 1869. The Roman Catholic school children in that year turned out on the 17th of March procession. It was seeing this that two Orangemen, Brothers Simon Nichols and John Farrell, who had often seen the boys parading around the streets, got the idea of taking them in hand and seeing if they could not make a more creditable appearance than the Roman Catholic children did. They went to the boys and asked them if they would consent to do as they were told. The boys, feeling proud that they were being recognized were only too glad to agree. Brother Nichols then opened his house and the Lodge "Canadian True Blue" was organized, Brother William Fitzgerald as the first Worshipful Master and Brother Nichols, Director of Ceremonies.
The Orangemen of Toronto on the 12th of July in that year, 1869, went to St. Catharines, so Brothers Nichols and Farrell determined to give the Lodge a picnic in Queen’s Park. They went among their friends and in a short time had collected sufficient funds to get a very handsome Banner painted with the picture of King William, and the name of the Lodge on one side; and the picture of Queen Victoria on the other side, with the words, "Rally ‘round the Flag boys". With this Banner the boys walked in procession to the Park where a large number of Orangemen and their lady friends, who did not go to St. Catharines, had a very enjoyable afternoon.
The Lodge continued to hold their meetings in Mr. Nichols’ house until the following March when they withdrew and on the evening of March 21, 1870, in the Temperance Hall, Toronto, the first Lodge of our Beloved Order was organized under the name of Derry True Blues No. 1, with Brother Alf. Robinson, at that time the Worshipful Master of Derry Orange Young Britons No. 1 as Guardian and Brother Fitzgerald as Worshipful Master. The Lodge grew with wonderful rapidity and in a few months the Canadian True Blues disbanded, when most of the members joined Derry Loyal True Blue No. 1.
The following July they turned out in procession carrying the old Banner, which Brother Nichols had kindly presented to them and through the efforts of other Brothers, they were supplied with straw hats and blue cloaks and an Orange Sash. Shortly after this other Lodges were being formed across the Country. In the year 1875, the Toronto Lodges which had organized themselves into a District, corresponded with True Blue Lodges throughout the Country and requested them to send delegates to Toronto for the purpose of forming a Grand Lodge of the Order, and on November 30, 1875, in the Orange Hall on Yonge Street, Toronto, the Grand Lodge was organized.
When the Grand Lodge meeting was held in Kingston in 1888, in the month of May, a petition was presented from a number of young ladies living in West Toronto, who were organized under the name of the Ladies Protestant Advance Society, requested the Grand Lodge to organize ladies’ lodges in connection with the Association. This request met with some opposition, but this was soon overcome. Without the efforts of Brother Robert Newman and a few others, Toronto would not have had the honour to have the first Ladies Lodge of the True Blues. This is Victoria Coronation No. 1, which I am happy to say is still very much a True Blue Lodge. This was organized on June 01, 1888. Other True Blue Lodges were then formed throughout the Dominion of Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, and Princess May No. 53 was a mixed lodge.
There is much that can be said about our Order today that was said and dealt with in the very early days. They also were disturbed about the suspensions and disharmony in their Lodges, and urged all to remember their obligations, and may I quote from the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of 1894, when the meeting was adjourned so that the Delegates could parade to the Church of the Redeemer, in Toronto, for the annual Church Service, and then returned to continue their deliberations.
The Minister was Brother the Reverend H. C. Dixon, and he had taken for his text Psalm No. 119. "Peace have they shich live Thy Law, and nothing shall offend them." When taking our obligation we place our hand upon the Holy Bible and solemnly vow that we will never betray the Principles of the Loyal True Blue Association, inside or outside the Lodge room, nor bring discredit upon our Association by our actions. We also promise we would observe strictly the Constitutions and Laws, Obligation, obedience to our Officers, and decisions of our Lodge, and to abstain from unkind words or actions that would hurt the feelings of our Sisters or Brothers.
When the principles of our Association are not properly known, its aims and objects have been misunderstood by some and by others misrepresented. Founded upon such broad principles it declaims the under rating spirit and demands, as necessary, qualifications that the Candidate shall not persecute anyone. It is the duty of every Loyal True Blue member to assist and protect all members, in the enjoyment of Freedom, rights and privileges.
We are Dominion wide and our purpose is Social, Educational, and Political, having the utmost toleration for the Religious opinions of all persons. Our work is to rescue, protect and educate the Protestant children who have been orphaned or neglected. We at all times try to support the principles and practice the teachings of the Christian religion, maintain the Laws of the Country, give assistance to those in distress, and support any benevolent undertaking.
It was with these ideals that in May, 1890, at the Annual Grand Lodge session, when a statement was made that a number of Protestant children were being admitted into Roman Catholic Institutions. After some discussion a committee of sixteen members was appointed to devise ways and means of having a Home of our own for the protection of Children of their own Faith. In 1891, Mrs. Hilton, who was the first President of the Home (Orphanage it was called then), discovered a boy named Percy Wright, born of Protestant parents, was an inmate of the Sunnyside Roman Catholic Orphanage, then situated on the present site of St. Joseph’s Hospital. Steps were taken to get possession of the boy. It was some time before this was accomplished and arrangements were made with the Protestant Orphans Home, Dovercourt Road, Toronto, to take this boy in and also other children. At the end of 1894, sixteen children had been placed in this Home. In the meantime, appeals were sent out by the Committee to all Loyal True Blue Lodges in Ontario for funds, and in 1897 the people of the Town of Picton offered $1,200 if the Home was located in their town.
The following year, 1898, a site was purchased, with a good size building on it, at the cost of $4,500 - $1,000 was paid and a mortgage of $3,500. Steps were taken then to prepare the building for occupation. The Home in Picton was opened on August 23, 1899, seventeen children, who had been housed in various sections of Toronto, until the building was ready, were admitted to this Home. All expenses in connection with these children were paid by the Loyal True Blue Association. This Home was owned and operated by the Loyal True Blue Association until 1916 when application was made to the Loyal True Blues, at its Annual Session in Preston, for admission of representatives from each of the Provincial Grand Orange Lodges of Ontario East and Ontario West. Since the Loyal True Blue Association alone had the power to decide, it voted unanimously to grant this request, and since that time they have had four Members on the Board of Directors.
On April 30, 1919, a special meeting was called of the Board of Directors for the purpose of raising the sum of $80,000 to add a wing to the building in Picton. The Home was filled to capacity and applications for admission were many due to circumstances brought about at the end of the First World War, and a severe flu epidemic. At this meeting it was pointed out that if this money was spent in Picton, it would be necessary in a few years to replace the old building at a cost of another $80,000. The building was old and of frame construction which made it a fire hazard, so that it might be well to get out as soon as possible. It was also suggested that funds raised for the erection of a new building on one of the main highways, to and from Toronto.
Following a long discussion, it was decided to raise the sum of $300,000 to build near Toronto. The following were appointed to start a campaign and to continue until the completion of the building: W. Bro. W. Fitzgerald, Toronto, Chairman; W. Bro. Chas. Carrie, Toronto, Secretary; W. Bro. Geo. Farley, Toronto, Treasurer; W. Bro. F. M. Clarke, Belleville; W. Bro. R. Martin, Toronto. This committee was at once prepared and they sent out circulars to all lodges in Ontario and the response was very good. In December of the same year, 1919, there were sufficient funds to purchase the land upon which our Home now stands, having an area of 37 acres, for the sum of $15,500. An architect was engaged to prepare plans, excavation was started June 21, 1921. The building was completed, equipped and officially opened July 2, 1923. In Oshawa, August, 1920, at the Annual Sessions of the Supreme Grand Lodge, a resolution was unanimously passed that two members from the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association be added to the Orphanage Board. In October, 1921, one representative from each Grand Lodge was elected to the Board, and at a later date this was increased to two from each Grand Lodge.
During the construction of the building, on two occasions when monthly payments were made to the contractor less than a $1,000 balance was on hand. The Committee made arrangements with the bank, if necessary for a loan of $50,000, but fortunately they never had to resort to any loan and the building was opened free of debt. The cost of land, building and furnishings was $322,000. In October, 1926, 100 acres of land to the north and east of the Home was purchased at a cost of $15,000. The Home was incorporated by letters patent on August 11, 1921, and by supplementary letters on June 16, 1952, through the efforts of W. Bro. Chas. Carrie, who while a member of the Toronto Board of Education, was able to have our Home placed under the supervision of the Toronto Board of Education.
The L.T.B.A. are still ardent workers for the Home, as are other branches of the Orange Order, the L.O.B.A. and the L.O.L. We have to give our appreciation to the former members of the Board in the foresight they had to invest monies which was collected from the various tag days and other means why they had of receiving money, for the good financial standing we have today, although it won’t last forever, and we still need to continue to work to maintain this Monument to our Orders.
Ontario is not alone in this work. Other Provinces have Homes of their own too, as well as supporting Homes in their respective Provinces. In Nova Scotia, they have the Bible Hill Home in Truro, owned by them; New Brunswick have members on the Children’s Home in Saint John; New Westminster, B.C., is supported by L.T.B.A. members also serving on the Board. We are closely allied to our Orange sisters and brethren, and our Foundation and Guide the Holy Bible.
It was customary at that time for the Orangemen of Toronto to hold their 12th of July Celebrations every alternate year outside of the city, and it so happened that in the year 1867 they went to the City of Hamilton. So the boys determined to have a procession of their own, and paid two cents a week for a short time till they had sufficient money collected to buy a yard of cotton and get a picture of King William drawn on the same with crayons, and with that Banner the first procession of what was afterwards to be the True Blue Association took place around the streets of what was then known as St. John’s Ward, Toronto.
They continued to hold their meetings and have daily processions with their Banner until March, 1869. The Roman Catholic school children in that year turned out on the 17th of March procession. It was seeing this that two Orangemen, Brothers Simon Nichols and John Farrell, who had often seen the boys parading around the streets, got the idea of taking them in hand and seeing if they could not make a more creditable appearance than the Roman Catholic children did. They went to the boys and asked them if they would consent to do as they were told. The boys, feeling proud that they were being recognized were only too glad to agree. Brother Nichols then opened his house and the Lodge "Canadian True Blue" was organized, Brother William Fitzgerald as the first Worshipful Master and Brother Nichols, Director of Ceremonies.
The Orangemen of Toronto on the 12th of July in that year, 1869, went to St. Catharines, so Brothers Nichols and Farrell determined to give the Lodge a picnic in Queen’s Park. They went among their friends and in a short time had collected sufficient funds to get a very handsome Banner painted with the picture of King William, and the name of the Lodge on one side; and the picture of Queen Victoria on the other side, with the words, "Rally ‘round the Flag boys". With this Banner the boys walked in procession to the Park where a large number of Orangemen and their lady friends, who did not go to St. Catharines, had a very enjoyable afternoon.
The Lodge continued to hold their meetings in Mr. Nichols’ house until the following March when they withdrew and on the evening of March 21, 1870, in the Temperance Hall, Toronto, the first Lodge of our Beloved Order was organized under the name of Derry True Blues No. 1, with Brother Alf. Robinson, at that time the Worshipful Master of Derry Orange Young Britons No. 1 as Guardian and Brother Fitzgerald as Worshipful Master. The Lodge grew with wonderful rapidity and in a few months the Canadian True Blues disbanded, when most of the members joined Derry Loyal True Blue No. 1.
The following July they turned out in procession carrying the old Banner, which Brother Nichols had kindly presented to them and through the efforts of other Brothers, they were supplied with straw hats and blue cloaks and an Orange Sash. Shortly after this other Lodges were being formed across the Country. In the year 1875, the Toronto Lodges which had organized themselves into a District, corresponded with True Blue Lodges throughout the Country and requested them to send delegates to Toronto for the purpose of forming a Grand Lodge of the Order, and on November 30, 1875, in the Orange Hall on Yonge Street, Toronto, the Grand Lodge was organized.
When the Grand Lodge meeting was held in Kingston in 1888, in the month of May, a petition was presented from a number of young ladies living in West Toronto, who were organized under the name of the Ladies Protestant Advance Society, requested the Grand Lodge to organize ladies’ lodges in connection with the Association. This request met with some opposition, but this was soon overcome. Without the efforts of Brother Robert Newman and a few others, Toronto would not have had the honour to have the first Ladies Lodge of the True Blues. This is Victoria Coronation No. 1, which I am happy to say is still very much a True Blue Lodge. This was organized on June 01, 1888. Other True Blue Lodges were then formed throughout the Dominion of Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, and Princess May No. 53 was a mixed lodge.
There is much that can be said about our Order today that was said and dealt with in the very early days. They also were disturbed about the suspensions and disharmony in their Lodges, and urged all to remember their obligations, and may I quote from the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of 1894, when the meeting was adjourned so that the Delegates could parade to the Church of the Redeemer, in Toronto, for the annual Church Service, and then returned to continue their deliberations.
The Minister was Brother the Reverend H. C. Dixon, and he had taken for his text Psalm No. 119. "Peace have they shich live Thy Law, and nothing shall offend them." When taking our obligation we place our hand upon the Holy Bible and solemnly vow that we will never betray the Principles of the Loyal True Blue Association, inside or outside the Lodge room, nor bring discredit upon our Association by our actions. We also promise we would observe strictly the Constitutions and Laws, Obligation, obedience to our Officers, and decisions of our Lodge, and to abstain from unkind words or actions that would hurt the feelings of our Sisters or Brothers.
When the principles of our Association are not properly known, its aims and objects have been misunderstood by some and by others misrepresented. Founded upon such broad principles it declaims the under rating spirit and demands, as necessary, qualifications that the Candidate shall not persecute anyone. It is the duty of every Loyal True Blue member to assist and protect all members, in the enjoyment of Freedom, rights and privileges.
We are Dominion wide and our purpose is Social, Educational, and Political, having the utmost toleration for the Religious opinions of all persons. Our work is to rescue, protect and educate the Protestant children who have been orphaned or neglected. We at all times try to support the principles and practice the teachings of the Christian religion, maintain the Laws of the Country, give assistance to those in distress, and support any benevolent undertaking.
It was with these ideals that in May, 1890, at the Annual Grand Lodge session, when a statement was made that a number of Protestant children were being admitted into Roman Catholic Institutions. After some discussion a committee of sixteen members was appointed to devise ways and means of having a Home of our own for the protection of Children of their own Faith. In 1891, Mrs. Hilton, who was the first President of the Home (Orphanage it was called then), discovered a boy named Percy Wright, born of Protestant parents, was an inmate of the Sunnyside Roman Catholic Orphanage, then situated on the present site of St. Joseph’s Hospital. Steps were taken to get possession of the boy. It was some time before this was accomplished and arrangements were made with the Protestant Orphans Home, Dovercourt Road, Toronto, to take this boy in and also other children. At the end of 1894, sixteen children had been placed in this Home. In the meantime, appeals were sent out by the Committee to all Loyal True Blue Lodges in Ontario for funds, and in 1897 the people of the Town of Picton offered $1,200 if the Home was located in their town.
The following year, 1898, a site was purchased, with a good size building on it, at the cost of $4,500 - $1,000 was paid and a mortgage of $3,500. Steps were taken then to prepare the building for occupation. The Home in Picton was opened on August 23, 1899, seventeen children, who had been housed in various sections of Toronto, until the building was ready, were admitted to this Home. All expenses in connection with these children were paid by the Loyal True Blue Association. This Home was owned and operated by the Loyal True Blue Association until 1916 when application was made to the Loyal True Blues, at its Annual Session in Preston, for admission of representatives from each of the Provincial Grand Orange Lodges of Ontario East and Ontario West. Since the Loyal True Blue Association alone had the power to decide, it voted unanimously to grant this request, and since that time they have had four Members on the Board of Directors.
On April 30, 1919, a special meeting was called of the Board of Directors for the purpose of raising the sum of $80,000 to add a wing to the building in Picton. The Home was filled to capacity and applications for admission were many due to circumstances brought about at the end of the First World War, and a severe flu epidemic. At this meeting it was pointed out that if this money was spent in Picton, it would be necessary in a few years to replace the old building at a cost of another $80,000. The building was old and of frame construction which made it a fire hazard, so that it might be well to get out as soon as possible. It was also suggested that funds raised for the erection of a new building on one of the main highways, to and from Toronto.
Following a long discussion, it was decided to raise the sum of $300,000 to build near Toronto. The following were appointed to start a campaign and to continue until the completion of the building: W. Bro. W. Fitzgerald, Toronto, Chairman; W. Bro. Chas. Carrie, Toronto, Secretary; W. Bro. Geo. Farley, Toronto, Treasurer; W. Bro. F. M. Clarke, Belleville; W. Bro. R. Martin, Toronto. This committee was at once prepared and they sent out circulars to all lodges in Ontario and the response was very good. In December of the same year, 1919, there were sufficient funds to purchase the land upon which our Home now stands, having an area of 37 acres, for the sum of $15,500. An architect was engaged to prepare plans, excavation was started June 21, 1921. The building was completed, equipped and officially opened July 2, 1923. In Oshawa, August, 1920, at the Annual Sessions of the Supreme Grand Lodge, a resolution was unanimously passed that two members from the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association be added to the Orphanage Board. In October, 1921, one representative from each Grand Lodge was elected to the Board, and at a later date this was increased to two from each Grand Lodge.
During the construction of the building, on two occasions when monthly payments were made to the contractor less than a $1,000 balance was on hand. The Committee made arrangements with the bank, if necessary for a loan of $50,000, but fortunately they never had to resort to any loan and the building was opened free of debt. The cost of land, building and furnishings was $322,000. In October, 1926, 100 acres of land to the north and east of the Home was purchased at a cost of $15,000. The Home was incorporated by letters patent on August 11, 1921, and by supplementary letters on June 16, 1952, through the efforts of W. Bro. Chas. Carrie, who while a member of the Toronto Board of Education, was able to have our Home placed under the supervision of the Toronto Board of Education.
The L.T.B.A. are still ardent workers for the Home, as are other branches of the Orange Order, the L.O.B.A. and the L.O.L. We have to give our appreciation to the former members of the Board in the foresight they had to invest monies which was collected from the various tag days and other means why they had of receiving money, for the good financial standing we have today, although it won’t last forever, and we still need to continue to work to maintain this Monument to our Orders.
Ontario is not alone in this work. Other Provinces have Homes of their own too, as well as supporting Homes in their respective Provinces. In Nova Scotia, they have the Bible Hill Home in Truro, owned by them; New Brunswick have members on the Children’s Home in Saint John; New Westminster, B.C., is supported by L.T.B.A. members also serving on the Board. We are closely allied to our Orange sisters and brethren, and our Foundation and Guide the Holy Bible.