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Alexander Downing was born in Dreenan, near Maghera, in County
Londonderry in September 1860 and became a strong adherent
of the Orange Order.
The Belfast Weekly Telegraph of June 20, 1903, details that
he was a prominent member of the Order in his new home in
Philadelphia, and had been State Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania.
Downing claimed descent from a family which had fought with
William III at the Boyne, and had been initiated into L.O.L.
No. 1053 in County Londonderry in February 1876, shortly before
he emigrated to the USA.
In his new home he joined Derry True Blues L.O.L. 52, becoming
"one of the most zealous and active members in the Lodge"
according to the newspaper report, and later helping to form
several other Lodges in the city as well as the wider state
area.
Prominent in many offices, he had been Master of Lodges,
the first deputy Grand Master of the State Grand Lodge of
Philadelphia in 1899 and State Grand Master the following
year.
In May 1901, he was elected secretary of a new Lodge just
formed, Victoria L.O.L. No. 42, and was also involved in the
Masonic Order and other fraternities. The Weekly Telegraph
tells us that he had a large grocery business at the corner
of Fletcher and Amber streets in Philadelphia.
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