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King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Lancaster |
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The Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blew and Orange The Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blew and Orange was founded between 1733 and 1736 by officers of the King's Own Royal Regiment to commemorate the Revolution of 1688 and the accession of the House of Hanover to the English throne in 1714. James Thorne was Registrar of the Society and one of its wardens. The Society of the Blew and Orange is possibly the first ‘Regimental Association’ relating to the King’s Own. The Blew (the 18th Century spelling of blue) illustrated the Royal connection and the Orange illustrated the link with King William III (William of Orange). The Society had formal dinners four times per year, and the last recorded meeting was in 1801. A published list of members of the society as of 1801 survives. As well as celebrating the Revolution and the Accession of the Hanoverians (1st August 1714), the Society also kept the anniversaries of the Battle of the Boyne (11 July) and the Battle of Culloden (16 April). Items in the museum's collection:
The Constitution of the Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blew and Orange. Loyalty to our Prince and friendship to each other are the distinguishing characteristics of the members of this sublime Order. Several Officers of the King's Own Regiment of Foot had the honour of forming this society, and intent of its institution is a grateful Remembrance of King William the third, our Glorious Deliverer from Popery and Slavery, and a just regard to the Inestimable Legacy that Monarch Bequeathed to the Nation in settling the Succession of the Crown in the illustrious House of Hanover. When we reflect on the many blessings derived from the Revolution and continued to us by the succession of His Late and Present Majesty, it becomes our inclination, as well as our Duty, to prefer a grateful memory to our glorious King upon the throne. Let other Orders boast a more Ancient Date, whilst none can vie with this in the Noble Subject of its Institution, for Liberty is our Basis, and Loyalty and Friendship are our Grand supporters. By these motives we are therefore induced to unite together in the strictest bonds of Friendship, and for the regulation of our Society do constitute and ordain the following articles as entered in Folio Three Rules (referred to in the First folio:) to be Observed by the Members of the Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blew and Orange. First, The Society is to consist of a Superior, eleven Wardens and a Registrar, and as many members as may from time to time be admitted. Secondly, That on every Fourth Day of November a new Superior, Wardens and Registrar by elected by the then present Superior, Wardens and Registrar. Thirdly, That no Person be admitted a Member but by the unanimous Consent of all the Members then present and that no less a number than four wardens and five members have a power of admitting any new member. Fourthly, That in case any new member may be thought after admittance unworthy of the Order such member may be expelled by the Vote of Thirteen members Five where of being Wardens. But by no less a number. Fifthly, That the whole society do wear a Blue ribbon in their Shirt collar and a Medal of Gold fastened by a Blue and Orange Ribbon to a button hole of their waist coat of the same size and having the device and Mottos as neatly engraved thereon as possible according to the specimen thereof represented in the frontispiece of this book and that such medal be never omitted to the be worn by each member on every 4th Day of November every 5th Day of August on the Day of his Majesty’s accession to the Crown. And at all Public Meetings unless some sufficient reason to the contrary Sixthly, That as ‘tis reasonable to suppose the quarter number of the Members will always be with the Regiment. ‘Tis therefore agreed that whoever is Chosen as Register may in their absence depute any member with the Regiment to act for them Seventhly, That whoever is desirous of being admitted a member of this Society must present his petition by on of the Members to the Superior etc at least a week before such person be admitted. Eighthly, That the strictest rules of honour and friendship be offered by each member and should any difference or quarrel arise between any of the Members, the whole society is to exact the utmost to make up such differences so that the Character of either part may not suffer. Ninthly, That when any new member is to be admitted the Register do summons all the Members within 5 miles to attend and whoever does not obey such summons is liable to the Censure of the Society. and Tenthly, That on the admittance of every new member such member do make the following declaration, laying his right hand on the Medal and distinctly repeating it after the Register: I A.B., do solemnly promise and declare that I will always have a just regard for the honour, dignity, and welfare of this Loyal and Friendly Society, and will defend its Constitution to the utmost of my power against all opposers thereof, and will from time to time conform myself to the Articles now read unto me as I shall hereafter answer to this Society.
Sound,
Sound ye trumpets GLO PRI AUG Great
George has given us cause to bless,
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