ORANGEISM

What is the Orange Order

What does Orangeism stand for today

The Religious Basis of the Order

Basis of the Institution

The Qualifications of an Orangeman

WHAT IS THE ORANGE ORDER?

The Orange Order - as it presently exists - more correctly the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland, as you will see later, came into existence after the Battle of the Diamond in 1795. In his book "The Narrow Ground"  A.T.Q. Stewart says: "Because the Orange Institution has often been held to be the cause of fermenting sectarian strife it has long ago been forgotten that its birth was not the cause but the consequence of prolonged and severe sectarian conflict lasting over 20 years in a part of Co. Armagh".

The purpose of the Institution was to bring the Protestants of various denominations - Episcopalian - Presbyterian - Independents - Huguenots - Quakers - into one united group to maintain their Protestant religion and way of life and as a distinctive affirmation that they intended to hold fast to the FREEDOM of religion won at such a high cost at the Reformation.

WHAT DOES ORANGEISM STAND FOR TODAY?

It should be remembered that the Order has a world-wide membership and that wherever its Lodges exist there is to be found a brotherhood of men pledged to uphold the ancient concept of the Protestant faith and liberty under the law. They are neither bigots nor extremists. They are pledged not to "injure or upbraid any man because of his religious beliefs". They stand for tolerance and compassion towards all men, but they stand also for that underlying principle of the Christian faith, the dignity and rights of the individual, against the tyranny either of a soulless state or of an authoritarian Church.

The structure which is Orangeism has its basis in the coming together of men of goodwill who are determined to use what power and influence they can muster to ensure ;that civil and religious liberty is maintained in Ulster; that the Christian Faith, Reformed and Protestant, will be preached and taught here; that the British connection will be maintained; that every effort will be made to make Northern Ireland happy, prosperous and outward looking, a good place for everyone who lives in it. The Orange Institution takes no pleasure in anything that curtails the liberties of the individual. It has the utmost respect for the rule of the law and the Christian ethic. It never condones violence or bigotry. It stands for the great principles in faith and conduct. While it accepts the fact that the Protestant Religion must be self-propagating faith it will not deny the same rights to other religious persuasions.

THE RELIGIOUS BASIS OF THE ORDER

The Orange Institution is a Christian organisation. As Orangemen our trust is in God and our faith and dependence is in Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Lord of mankind. Our purpose is to maintain the Christian faith by word and deed; to propagate and defend that faith which we have received from the Church of the New Testament through the faithfulness of the Protestant Reformers. It is Christ-centred, Bible-based, Church-grounded. By it we are moulded in character and conduct.

The Orange Institution is set for the defence of Protestantism. This is true to the intention of Orangemen who are committed to the Christian faith with its Reformation emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of mankind. There are also the Protestant beliefs in freedom of conscience; the priesthood of all believers and the primary place and purpose of the Holy Bible in Christian faith and conduct.

We proclaim "Civil and religious liberty for all: special privileges for none". We do not deny to others their civil and religious liberties; we expect the same tolerance from them. We shall be strong for truth, for peace, for the making of a good, fair and just society to which we shall contribute liberally as good citizens.

BASIS OF THE INSTITUTION

The Institution is composed of Protestants, united and resolved to the utmost of their power to support and defend the rightful Sovereign, the Protestant Religion, the Laws of the Realm, and the Succession to the Throne in the House of Windsor, being Protestant; and united further for the defence of their own Persons and Properties, and the maintenance of the Public Peace.

It is exclusively an Association of those who are attached to the religion of the Reformation, and will not admit into its brotherhood persons whom an intolerant spirit leads to persecute, injure, or upbraid any man on account of his religious opinions. They associate also in honour of King William III, Prince of Orange, whose name they bear, as supporters of his glorious memory.

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ORANGEMAN

An Orangeman should have a sincere love and veneration for his Heavenly Father, a humble and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, believing in Him as the only Mediator between God and man. He should cultivate truth and justice, brotherly kindness and charity, devotion and piety, concord and unity, and obedience to the laws; his deportment should be gentle and compassionate, kind and courteous; he should seek the society of the virtuous, and avoid that of the evil; he should honour and diligently study the Holy Scriptures, and make them the rule of his faith and practice; he should love, uphold, and defend the Protestant religion, and sincerely desire and endeavour to propagate its doctrines and precepts; he should strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome, and scrupulously avoid countenancing (by his presence or otherwise) any act or ceremony of Romish Worship; he should, by all lawful means, resist the ascendancy of that Church, its encroachments, and the extension of its power, ever abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions, or sentiments towards any Roman Catholic; he should remember to keep holy the Sabbath day, and attend the public worship of God, and diligently train up his offspring, and all under his control, in the fear of God, and in the Protestant faith; he should never take the name of God in vain, but abstain from all cursing and profane language, and use every opportunity of discouraging those, and all other sinful practices, in others; his conduct should be guided by wisdom and prudence, and marked by honesty, temperance, and sobriety, the glory of God and the welfare of man, the honour of his Sovereign, and the good of his country, should be the motives of his actions.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN