Fonds F019 - Royal Scarlet Chapter (District of East Nipissing) fonds

The Royal Scarlet Chapter of the District of East Nipissing was an assembly of members of the Loyal Order of Orange (a Protestant fraternal organization) who held the Order's highest degree, the Royal Scarlet Degree. The Chapter was founded in North Bay, Ontario in 1907; the date of its disbanding is unknown.

The District of Nipissing East, to which the Chapter belonged, roughly covered the area south of North Bay and north of Sundridge, with Arnstein at its western boundary and Chisholm to the east. The membership of the Chapter was made up of Orangemen from primary (local) Orange lodges throughout this area, including: Loyal Orange Lodge No. 429 (Callander), No. 758 (Powassan), No. 812 (Nipissing), No. 1172 (Trout Creek), No. 1323 (Chisholm), No. 1938 (Restoule), No. 2888 (Golden Valley), and No. 3015 (Arnstein). Records indicate that initially the Nipissing East District also covered areas further to the north and east. From 1907 until 1912 (when Royal Scarlet Chapter D.83 was established in North Bay) the Chapter's membership therefore also included Orangemen from Loyal Orange Lodge No. 876 (North Bay), No. 1268 (Whitney), and No. 1709 (Sturgeon Falls).

Meetings of the Royal Scarlet Chapter of the District of Nipissing East were held monthly at various Orange halls throughout the District, although some locations served as more regular meeting places. From 1908 to 1911 most meetings were held at the Orange Hall in North Bay; from 1912 to around 1953, meetings were held in Powassan, and from about 1959 to 1970 Nipissing and Chisholm served as the usual meeting places. Other communities that hosted Chapter meetings include Sundridge, Magnetawan, Sturgeon Falls, Restoule, Trout Creek, Golden Valley, and Callander.