ORANGEMEN The Orangemen, rival society to the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) was founded in 1890. The group was originally a take-off on the Loyal Orange Association, a society founded in 1795 by Protestants in Ireland to foster loyalty to Britain and support the Protestant succession to the English throne and soon became one of Smith’s most popular secret societies. Membership was highly selective (only twelve members of each class were inducted) and new members had to complete their initiation by “serving” an upperclassman for a week. In general, the Orangemen participated in a variety of activities, including dinners, nighttime parades across campus dressed in black capes and orange hats, singing, and, of course, intense but friendly competition with AOH. Both societies flourished until 1948, when President Davis abolished secret societies at Smith, calling them “undemocratic.” Both the AOH and Orangemen were forced to end all official activities, but records indicate that both organizations continued unofficially until the mid-1960s. There is no documentation of either society’s activities available for any time after the 1965-1966 academic year. See also Ancient Order of Hibernians
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