The Glorious 12th - the Orange Lodge and my family

I inherited this picture from my dad after he died. I found it rolled up in a box of photos. You can see from the cracks on the paper that it had not been unrolled for some time.

From the writer's personal collection

In the middle are my grandfather Bill Brooks and my dad who had just had his third birthday. I know who and where (Kew Gardens in the Beach area of Toronto) but wasn't sure of the occasion. What was the RBP and who were these serious looking gentlemen? 

I knew my family were Orangemen and my sleuthing revealed that there was a connection. But first some background. The Loyal Orange Lodge was inspired by the July 12th 1690 victory of the Protestant William of Orange over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne near Dublin in Ireland.

grandorangelodge.ca

The first Orange Lodge was founded in Northern Ireland about 100 years later to uphold the Protestant Ascendancy during another period of Protestant-Catholic strife. Its goal was to defend Protestant civil and religious liberties. The order spread to Scotland, primarily around Glasgow and then to Canada in the early 19th century. Most of the early members were Irish but many Scots and English also joined. And this is where my family comes into the story.

My great grandfather John Andrew Brooks was a staunch Tory and a staunch Orangeman. He belonged to the Malvern Lodge 3019 and I believe he was one of the founding members. At one point he was the Grand Master of the Lodge. 

              Toronto Telegram, date unknown

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find out much more about his involvement with the Lodge. Like many societies the Orange Order is somewhat secretive about their rules and operations. I found an interesting Catalogue of Orange Supplies that had paraphernalia for sale but no real explanation of what the goods were to be used for. 

Guess this is where the term "hoodwinked" came from.

Toronto Public Library "Catalogue of Orange Supplies"

Or you could order your own flag:

Toronto Public Library "Catalogue of Orange Supplies"

My grandfather followed his father into the Order, no doubt feeling that involvement would give him status and a step up in the world. This 1920 letter talks about his moving from a lodge in the Dufferin Bloor area to one closer to home in the East end.

From the writer's collection

Bill became quite involved in the Lodge and two of its brother organizations. There is even less information available about the other two orders but I do know you had to be a member of the Orange Lodge before you could join the other organizations. The first was the Royal Arch Purple. My grandfather had this handsome certificate. It's huge and I was only able to scan it in two pieces.

From the writer's collection

And the other organization he belonged to was the RBP that started my story: The Royal Black Preceptory. It appears that the other two orders were stepping stones to get to the RBP which was seen as a more dignified and religious group. It was interesting to note that my grandfather apparently reached the Red Cross Degree which was the highest level of the RBP.

From the writer's collection

The Catalogue of Orange Supplies had some interesting stuff for this group:

Toronto Public Library "Catalogue of Orange Supplies"

But the most interesting item in the Catalogue is this page which clears up helps clear up the mystery of the picture and an item that's been in my sister's possession for a number of years:

Toronto Public Library "Catalogue of Orange Supplies"

We just knew them as Grandpa's jewels but didn't really know what they meant. Here they are in the handsome case. He sprung for the higher level jewels in the "original and artistic design" to show he belonged to York Royal Black Preceptory No. 686 that met at the Ulster Temple at 214 Main Street on the 3rd Friday in every month

From the writer's collection

This organization was obviously very important to my grandfather as $15 was a lot of money in the 1920s/30s. It was interesting to read about these groups as I never thought of him as a religious person. Religion was an important component of the Orange Lodge and the other organizations but I think the fraternal and benevolent side was also important and clearly filled a place in men's lives in the 19th and 20th centuries in Toronto. As the Order declined in relevance and Lodges closed my grandfather didn't continue his membership though I can't say for sure when his involvement ended.

From the writer's collection

Today is the 12th of July. The Orangemen still march but the event is nowhere near as popular as it used to be. Thankfully the 12th is no longer the day for sectarian violence and riots (at least not in Canada). Their slogan today: "Civil and religious liberty for all, special privileges for none".

Work, work, work...

First post of the year! A little late I know but my full time job has taken up a large part of my time and energy to date. It seems appropriate therefore to write about work on this Labour Day weekend. In particular, the work of my ancestors. I have personal knowledge of what my parents and grandparents did for a living. Through voter lists. census returns and death/marriage certificates I have been able to document how my earlier ancestors earned their keep.

My parents are easy. After graduating from high school my father worked as a sales clerk at Birks Jewelers in Toronto. That experience left him with a love of jewelry that we always appreciated! He completed a degree in Music at the University of Toronto then earned his teaching certificate. He spent many enjoyable years as a high school teacher teaching Music, English and Art. 

Originally he taught vocal music as not all schools could afford the cost of instruments for a full band. 

Teaching vocal music in Uxbridge. From the writer's collection.

Newmarket High School eventually developed an instrumental program. Many of his former students will remember this look!

Mr. Brooks in class. From the writer's collection

As was common at the time my mother stopped working when she had me. Before that time she worked as a bookkeeper for several companies using her excellent math skills. I love this picture of her at work at her first job at Sinnott News in Winnipeg.

Nellie Besler at work. From the writer's collection

Many of my ancestors were farmers as many people were in earlier times. My maternal grandfather Jacob Besler emigrated from Galicia to McNutt Saskatchewan to become a farmer. The Depression was difficult for prairie farmers and Jacob lost the farm. The family later moved to Winnipeg where my grandfather worked for Canadian National Railway. Here is one of the few photographs that we have of the farm.

Jacob Besler in McNutt Saskatchewan, date unknown. From the writer's collection

I know a bit more about my paternal grandparents. My grandfather William Thomas Brooks trained as a stenographer. After serving in World War One he found work with the John Hillock Company, a refrigerator manufacturer in Toronto.

William T. Brooks, from the writer's collection

He worked there for several years until he lost his job in the Depression. After moving around to Brantford and Owen Sound the family returned to Toronto and Bill began working for the East York Fire department. He worked there for many years before retiring.

Member of the fire department, with Gertie in the background, from the writer's collection

This picture makes me smile - the firemen were testing the equipment at the new fire station for an article in the Evening Telegram. Not sure what year this was but my grandfather was the test subject!

Tough day at the office, from the writer's collection

Finally my paternal grandmother Gertrude Kingswell Brooks was also trained as a stenographer. However, she stopped working when she was married in 1921 as was the custom at the time. She eventually did go back to work in the offices of the Toronto Telegram. Here's a picture taken at her retirement party.

Gardening time anyone? From the writer's collection

Retirement sounds good but until then Happy Labour Day everyone!