On one hand, the Order of Doves is a mystic society founded in 2012, holding its first ball on Lundi Gras 2013 at Bishop State. On the other hand, according to the OOD vice president, the group is a reboot of Mobile’s very first African-American Mardi Gras mystic society, founded in 1894. “We felt like the younger generation doesn’t have any ownership in Mardi Gras,” said the OOD vice president, who is also a founding member. “We wanted a fresh new start, but we also wanted a name that would gain support in the community right away.” And although they adopted the name and history of the Order of Doves, and the 75-member group is almost entirely African American, it also has an open-door membership policy, the vice president said. “This is a group of young men who are active in the community, and we embrace the mayor’s ‘One Mobile’ motto.”
The original Order of Doves held its ball on Lundi Gras night, and that made the date important for the rebooted group, the vice president said. The current group also considers the original incarnation to have been a parading group, and from the start, the intention of the rebooted group has been to parade. According to the Mobile Daily Register in 1897, for example, the Order of Doves walked in procession on Lundi Gras night, marching “from their quarters” down Dauphin, Royal, and St. Louis streets to the Gilmer Rifles Armory, where their ball was held. According to the newspaper account, about 30 of the 50 members were in costume, including princes, knights, and cavaliers. The ball was followed at midnight by an “elegant supper.” Most histories state that the original Order of Doves lasted until 1914.
The members of OOD consider their organization to be a reboot of Mobile’s first Black mystic society, founded in 1894 and disbanded in or about 1914. Since the original organization held its procession and ball every Lundi Gras, it was important to those in the modern version to parade and hold their ball on that same night. “We felt like the younger generation doesn’t have any ownership in Mardi Gras,” OOD leadership said. The modern society was founded in 2012.
Expect a full 36 units in this year’s parade, including four OOD floats, six floats rented from the Pharaohs, marching bands, truck bands and car clubs.
In 2025, the Order of Doves paraded on Lundi Gras, March 3, behind the Infant Mystics. The parade included four floats rented from the Pharaohs.
