Rivalry

Rivalry was an important part of the identity of the Orangemen and Ancient Order of Hibernians. Throughout their existence at Smith, they committed to keeping their rivalry alive. For example, to become a member of the A.O.H. you had to swear your hatred to the “Orange.”¹ It was a fundamental aspect of the group. The Orangemen also stole the A.O.H.’s scrapbook on two documented occasions and left their mark throughout it through notes, writing their name, and generally mocking the A.O.H. and its members.²

It is unclear to what degree the rivalry is based in the historical conflict and tension between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland. As previously stated, the degree to which Irish and religious identities made up membership in the groups is hazy as well. According to Smith College Archives, the purpose of the fraternal order of the A.O.H. was to “[promote] unity, friendship, and charity among its members.”³ Meanwhile the original purpose of the Orangemen was “to foster loyalty to Britain and support the Protestant succession to the English throne” when it was founded in 1795.⁴ At the time that the Orangemen were founded, Irish Catholics were beginning to gain back some rights.⁵

The two groups held “chasing” activities during St. Patrick’s Day each year. The goal for the A.O.H. was to have 2/3 of their secret meetings and they were followed everywhere by Orangemen who sought to stop the meetings from occurring in secret.⁶  It is clear that the groups had to collaborate for each of their sake’s to continue as a group. They worked to make their members abide by the rules and were bound by stipulations of the Warden (or Dean of Students).⁷

Footnotes