14
D iscove r Ma ine
— Aroostook County —
(Continued from page 13) Catholics. It needs to be noted that the Ku Klux Orange Order demonstration in New York City. Klan also claimed members in Aroostook County in Claude Clark was not the only Houlton-area man the 1920s. None other than Aroostook County involved with the Orange Order. Businessman and Sheriff George Knox was a member. farmer Charles Starkey was, too, during the same From time to time, the curtain is drawn back to time that Clark was. Starkey also had New reveal disturbing, often tragic activities stemming Brunswick associations. He was born there, in from a clandestine group. The social violence in Queens County. And not only was he a member of New Brunswick and New York of the mid- ninethe Houlton Orange Lodge, Starkey also claimed teenth century is a clear example of this. It has been membership in the Royal Black Knights of Ireland. indisputably connected to Orange Order practices. The Black Knights are a subgroup within the OrIt is generally accepted that the Orange Order in ange Lodge. the United States came here from Canada. Given Orange Order membership requirements include that many Canadians immigrated here in the mid- to belief in the Trinity. This excludes Unitarians and all late 1800s, it is not surprising that some brought non-Christians. Orange Order members face extheir particular prejudices with them. Thus, we have pulsion for attending any Catholic religious cerean explanation as to how it was that Houlton came mony. Some chapters exclude Protestants with a to have an Orange Lodge. Catholic parent from membership. The Orange Order almost completely died out in Dressed for Orange Order The Orange Order does support some charities. the United States in the 1940s. The Orange Lodge These charities include cancer research, support for of Houlton was so small as to be almost- but not orphans and unemployment insurance and death benefits for mem- quite- insignificant. Today the fact that the Houlton Orange Lodge, bers. along with The Royal Black Knights of Ireland did exist stands a good While the Orange Order of the days of Claude Clark and Charles reason for being a bit paranoid about the ultimate goals and objectives Starkey did perform some worthwhile functions, it is also clear that of certain clandestine societies.❖ the Order had a darker side. While there is no definite evidence to back up certain allegations of the time, it seems that the Houlton OrOther businesses from this area ange Order may have directed some of its negativism at the town’s are featured in the color section. Unitarian church. The same is true in regard to Aroostook County
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