Violence and a vigorous marching culture have overshadowed the littleknown friendly society ethos of the Victorian Orange Order. Yet, as with members of many other working-class institutions, Orangemen were impelled by a desire for financial as well as social or political camaraderie. Not that what Orangeism had to offer was in any way comparable to the impressive structures of the vast independent friendly societies of Victorian society. The Order's capital base was too weak, because its membership was too small, to keep pace with the likes of the Foresters or Oddfellows. Nor could it live up to the impressive examples of ethnic and religious mutualism noted in other countries, for example among Irish Catholics in Toronto. Sometimes Orangeism provided quite well for its members; more usually this was not the case. A snapshot comparison that includes one lodge that promoted itself as a benefit society in the 1870s, LOL 395 ‘Enniskillen True Blues’, suggests it occupied a middling place within the world of friendly societies. The lodge's financial structures compared favourably with some friendly societies in the same locality but paled next to others. In 1879 the Orange lodge declared money in hand of £45 15s 8d, which was roughly equal to that of the Edward H. Stothard lodge of United Ancient Order of the Druids. The Oddfellows in Willington Quay, however, had nearly £170 and the Shakespeare lodge of Free Gardeners declared assets of £206. Any man or woman of mid- Tyneside wanting a sound investment and the prospect of a solid return in times of illness or at death could draw only one conclusion as to the safest bet – and it was not the Orange Order. The Lord Byron lodge of the Druids held the huge sum of £1,291 12s 6d.

The Orange movement still strove to provide members with more than a mere nod in the direction of Smilesian collectivism. It may have done so with limited success, but, as the details above suggest, they were right to try. Moreover, such efforts were deep-seated in the movement; indeed, the nurturing of a financially supportive aspect to Orangeism had a long history. In the very early years British Orangeism had served as a sort of benefit society for the ex-servicemen who promoted its transfer from Ireland.