The Supreme Executive Order of Royal Purple (OORP) was a Canadian fraternal and charitable organization for women. It was the official female auxiliary of the Elks of Canada. It was also called the Royal Purple of Canada and the Order of Royal Purple. The order ended its affiliation with the Elks in 2014 and became a new organization, the Canadian Royal Purple Society.
In 1913, some women whose husbands were members of the Elks of Canada formed an informal group to help the men with charity work. It was an officially recognized female auxiliary of the Elks of Canada in 1914 as the Order of Royal Purple. The Order of Royal Purple was a fraternal and charitable organization for women founded in Vancouver, British Columbia in September 1914. In 2013, the order had 190 active lodges with 5,000 members. Its national charity was the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children.
In 2014, the Supreme Executive of the Order of Royal Purple decided to secede from the Elks and start a new organization, the Canadian Royal Purple Society. The new group was incorporated on May 25, 2014 and is open to men and women. Approximately 75 of Canadian Royal Purple lodges were formed between August 2014 and February 2015.
Some local lodges did not withdraw and were integrated into the Elks of Canada as Royal Purple Elks Lodges.
The Order of Royal Purple's motto was "Life sweeter, women better, and the world happier". Its principles or pillars were Justice, Charity, Sisterly Love and Fidelity. Its crest was, a diamond that had an elk's head in the center; below the elk was a clock face pointing to 11 o'clock, a pansy, and a banner with the word "Canada".
The Order of Royal Purple's badge featured its crest in purple enamel, surrounded by a gold frame and topped with gold leaves. It could be worn alone or attached to hang from a lodge pin. The lodge pin was rectangular and was inscribed with "Lodge No xx", with a maple leaf on either side.
The order's flower was the pansy. The pansy was selected because it was found throughout Canada and symbolizes "pleasant thoughts". The order's publication was Pansy Express. Following the Elks of Canada, its colors were purple, white, and gold.
Members wore pillbox hats with tassels in various colors depending on status. A white tassel indicated a lodge member. White and purple mixed was worn by a local president, called an honored royal lady. District deputies wore gold tassels. The national leader, called the Supreme Honored Royal Lady, wore a purple tassel.
The order's fraternal signs were not allowed in a lodge until the Bible was open or after it was closed. The order had passwords and formal dress regalia. During the initiation rite, the candidate was asked to promise "never to divulge any of the secrets of the order to anyone." The candidate also had to promise "to defend every worthy member's reputation, never to wrong a member and always help a member in need". This obligation followed a prayer by the lodge chaplain and the singing of "In Charity's Sweet Name".
Local units of the order were called lodges and the national structure was called the Supreme Lodge. In 1979, their national office was located in Brandon, Manitoba. Its last national office was located at #200 - 2629 - 29th Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan.
In 1979, membership was open to women who believed in a Supreme Being, were 18 years or older, and a male relative in the Elks of Canada. Women who did not have a male relative who was an Elk could also be admitted, but could not make up more than 25% of a lodge. Members were accepted or rejected by a black cube system, with three black cubes being sufficient to reject a candidate for membership.
However, membership requirements at the time of the dissolution of the organization were: fourteen years of age, a resident of Canada, supporting democratic and lawful government, and the purpose and objectives of the Order. The order also awarded honorary membership to non-members who made contributions to the lodge.
Following is an incomplete list of chapters or lodges of the Order of Royal Purple.