12th July 2009 Resolutions

THE FAITH: We the Orangemen assembled at ………………………… on the 13th of July 2009 give thanks to Almighty God for the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit throughout the world.

As members of the Loyal Orange Institution we declare ourselves to be a Christian organisation, which embraces cultural, social and political aspects. Our Christian foundation is supreme and on this foundation these other aspects rest. It behoves us never to forget that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone on which our Institution is built.

In this year of 2009 we mark two significant dates. We remember the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, who was born on 10 July 1509, and we give thanks to God for the impact he had upon the Reformed Church. We also remember with deep gratitude and thanksgiving to Almighty God the 150th anniversary of the Great Revival of 1859 here in Ulster. That great spiritual awakening is challenging us today as a Christian organisation, once again to play our part as a reviving influence in our land, through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Let us get back to the simple purity of Christ's teaching and example; back to the evangelising spirit of our forefathers; back to the basics of our Protestant Reformed Evangelical faith; back to the reviving power of the Cross of Christ that was so powerfully evidenced here in Ulster in the Year of Grace 1859.

LOYALTY: That we, the Orangemen assembled at …………………………………………………..in commemoration of the 319th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne do hereby reaffirm our devotion and loyalty to the Throne and Person of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms, Defender of The Faith.

We urge all the members of the Orange Institution to display their loyalty to full measure by playing their part in the civic life of their communities and our country, and set an example of good citizenship for the well-being of Northern Ireland.

THE STATE: We stand firm for the Union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We re-affirm, along with the members of the Loyal Orange Institution in England and Scotland, our commitment to the Act of Settlement of 1701 and urge those in authority to uphold the Constitution as handed down to our generation.

As an Institution which has lost 335 members to a vicious terrorist campaign in Northern Ireland, we re-iterate our belief that there is a clear moral distinction between innocent victims and those who killed and maimed them. We will never accept the false premise that those who committed acts of terrorism and murder should be granted an amnesty. Ultimately all those who involved themselves in terrorism must answer to their consciences and to God.

We acknowledge that there are many within society who bear the scars of terrorism, who still live with the pain and trauma of the past. May they be assured of our continued support.

We are also mindful that 2009 is the 65th anniversary year of the D Day Landings, which helped secure victory in Europe during the Second World War, and we give thanks that through the efforts of Allied soldiers at Normandy a bridgehead was created which defeated the terror of the Nazi regime. We are mindful that at this time brave soldiers stand on our behalf in Iraq and Afghanistan, defending democracy in these troubled times. As we extend our sympathy to the families of those killed or wounded we thank them and those continuing the campaign on behalf of the free world.

We issue a warm welcome to the delegates from across the world attending the Imperial Orange Council in Belfast this week, and trust that their visit will strengthen our links as a worldwide fraternity. We are reminded by their presence that we are the largest Protestant fraternity in the world and give thanks to God for the work and witness of the Orange Institution in past and present generations.

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