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Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 27 Oct 2010 8:02PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for the web site. IT does explain my grand father's membership in this organization. His family goes way back into American history. Having ancestors who fought in the American Revolution and the War Between the States.

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 11:23PM GMT
Classification: Query
How did you make out researching the ribbon from the United American Mechanics. I also have a ribbon in the name of Capt. David Hoag, of Wingdale, New York. It says council no. 5. I can't seem to find any info. I can not narrow down David Hoag ( in our lineage there are many.) Any suggestions where to look.

Thanks
Robert Hoag
New York

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 4:09AM GMT
Classification: Query
HI, Did you do a search on google? Its been a while but I think there is infromation on line. See jrouam.org for New York and there is a listing for a secretary. Maybe they have records.

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 10:53PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have yet to find any links to the Klan. They see to believe in the same thing I beieve in - LEGAL citizenship only. There was no reference to any hatred of Catholics or Klan associations. I own a 1906 medal belonging to a "Treasurer". The ribbon is a variation of the American Flag. Except for a few loose threads its in wonderful condition. It even has the original paper stamp on the back. I repaired the threads from the back and it looks wonderful and will last much longer with the repairs

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 17 Mar 2013 4:23AM GMT
Classification: Query
To answer the question from 2005 that was posted online, the Order of United American Mechanics was a nativist organization that opposed unrestricted immigration, supported public schools, and opposed foreign influence on our American way of life. In recent years it runs an orphanage and old age home and provides pastoral visits to the old and infirm and sells insurance and burial plots to its members. The original Nativist in the period 1840-1898 violently opposed foreign intrusion into America. The current OUAM still supports public schools that have not been trampled by foreign influences or any one particular religion.

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 3 Apr 2013 3:18AM GMT
Classification: Query
Oh wow. I have my third great cousins medal that was given to him for his service in world war one.

I haven't found any links to the Klan or the Vatican either...
Number one, the sites that claim there are links are clandestine and do.not cite any credible sources.

Two, my family had no involvement ever with the Klan,

Three, the holy see forbade the catholic parishioners from being in a Masonic organization because of the Jacques de molay incident and the fact that the pope had tried to disband the Templars and subsequently Freemasons in general.

I can sort of understand why they would have discouraged immigration temporarily due to ecconomic reasons, but I haven't found anything credible to support this. They were for proper and legal immigration .

Cheers

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 5:07AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McDonald, Buchanan, Miller, Lee, Sellars, Cason
First of all, they had NO ties to the Klan. Originally the goal of the organization was simply to protect their jobs from the great influx of immigrants who would work for minimal wages. The SOLE requirements for membership were that you be "White, male,and BORN in America!". Not to make excuses, but they were simply trying to protect their jobs from what they saw as a threat from these "immigrants". The group was not affiliated with the Masons and later came to include Jews, Blacks, etc., in their membership. They had a particular focus on funding Orphanages. This was where quite a portion of their membership dues were allocated. From what I could learn, one or more of the original orphanages are still standing

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 26 Oct 2014 9:02PM GMT
Classification: Query
I am a Past Master of a Masonic Lodge and also a Past Councilor of a Jr. Council. The Jr's are not a racist hate group. That being said, like any organization there are always a few bad apples within. Personally I have found more racists as members of my Masonic Lodge than any other organization I belong to, which is why I don't really attend Lodge anymore. The issue arising with the Irish Catholics, and I am a born and raised Irish Catholic, stems from what others have stated on this list. You have to understand that during those times (early to mid 1800's) the majority of Americans were descendants of Protestant immigrants fleeing the oppression from Catholic rulers in Europe. The native born Americans resented that they had to wait 21 years in order to vote and all these recent immigrants aged 21 and over were granted the right to vote immediately upon naturalization The mass influx of Irish Catholics after the Potato Famine irritated an old sore. The Irish quickly gained political power by voting for other Irish Catholic politicians, and the non-Catholics felt them pushing their Catholic religious agenda on the general public. The Nativists held many impromptu outdoor public assemblies to state their opinions on this matter. They were often violently broken up by Irish Catholic mobs. At one such gathering in an area known as Nanny Goat Market in Philadelphia shots rang out from the Hibernia Fire Company and for several weeks an all out war commenced until the Militia was called out to settle the matter.
They did not hate Irish Catholics per se, but they resented their sudden strong political influence and the fact that they would work much cheaper and thus reduce or strip the non-Catholics of their livelihood. The Nativists were morphed into several organizations such as the P.O.S.A., the O.U.A.M. and others.
The Jr. O.U.A.M. provided life insurance and death benefits to workers at a time during the industrial revolution when the work place was an extremely dangerous place. They were strict prohibitionists and you could lose your membership if found to be a drinker or owning an establishment that served liquor.

Re: Jr O.U.A.M (Order of the United American Mechanics)

Posted: 8 Jan 2015 5:28PM GMT
Classification: Query
It's important I think to make a distinction between the original O.U.A.M. and the Junior (Jr) order that came after it. Wikipedia has a good explanation, supported by sources.
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