Order of Alhambra
 |
|
| Formation | February 29, 1904 |
|---|---|
| Type | Catholic Fraternal order |
|
Founder
|
William Harper Bennett |
|
Supreme Commander
|
Edward Smith |
|
Supreme Chaplain
|
Rev. Paul Ballien |
| Website | www.orderalhambra.org |
The International Order of Alhambra is a Catholic fraternal order founded on February 29, 1904, in Brooklyn, New York, by William Harper Bennett. Since then it has spread throughout the United States and Canada, with plans to expand throughout the rest of the world. The order, open to men and women alike, currently has "caravans" active in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, California, Washington D.C., as well as a handful of "caravans" in Canada.
The Order derives its name from Alhambra, the Moorish palace in Granada, Spain, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain conquered by the forces of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1492. It was after the completion of the Reconquista that the Spanish monarchs decided to fund Christopher Columbus' initial voyage to the Americas. Spanish, and arguably European, culture changed significantly with this change of leadership, especially since the Catholic religion became the dominant religion in the Iberian Peninsula. The significance of the conquest of the Alhambra in the spread and free practice of the Catholic faith, in Iberia and the Americas, greatly inspired the founder, much as Columbus himself has inspired the Knights of Columbus.
The Moorish origin of the order's name carries over into the white fez and insignia worn by members, as well as the names of parts of the order's structure and titles.
...
Wikipedia