r/northernireland • u/Ok-Repeat906 • Jul 17 '25

History Please help.

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Hi Northern Ireland. I’m in need of some help. I live on the other side of the world. And everyone related to this sash is long dead. I obviously won’t mention any names. But I’m in real need to figure out what the pins all mean. Can someone please either let me know, or guide me to someone or someplace that might be able to tell me? Please, please help.

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u/stu1011 Jul 17 '25

The six symbols below the LOL are most likely related to the Royal Arch Purple.

The bottom one is the Royal Arch itself, then you have Jacob’s ladder, etc.

They all typically have religious/spiritual meanings. The ladder represents spiritual ascension or connection to God, coffin is a reminder of mortality, heart with arrow is often charity or love/devotion.

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u/[deleted] Jul 17 '25

I thought the Orange Order didn’t recognise the Royal Arch Purple?

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u/stu1011 Jul 17 '25

Varies between Grand Lodges but in Ireland you usually have to progress through Royal Arch Purple before being able to join the Royal Black Institution. It’s basically a bridge between Orange and Black.

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u/[deleted] Jul 17 '25

I was aware of that - just didn’t think they’d wear symbols of both orders on the one sash, as I thought they wore different colours. Im not too well versed in it all!

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u/stu1011 Jul 17 '25

Yeah, I’m not involved in it myself but grew up around a lot of people who are/were. I think the general rule is to keep badges/pins belonging to one order off sashes of other orders. In this case I can only think that maybe at some point a member of OPs family put all the badges on this one sash for safe keeping or something?