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Orangeism intends to move forward to a more positive future
deeply conscious of the great responsibilities it has to the
broad unionist population in Northern Ireland and, totally
sensitive to those in the wider population in the Province
who may disagree with the ideals of our Institution, both
religiously and politically.
The political and violent upheaval of the past few weeks
over the Garvaghy Road parade impasse in Portadown has tended
to place an unfortunate emphasis on the more negative aspects
of communal life in Northern Ireland, and tragically the Orange
Order has quite wrongly been put in the firing line over violent
deeds that were committed by wilful people on the fringes
of our society.
A special meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in
Belfast on August 1 will take full stock of the situation
and representatives from the various counties and districts,
both north and south of the border, will have a chance to
speak on the serious matters which have been greatly exercising
and even troubling the minds of our membership throughout
the country.
Grand Lodge will not shrink from its responsibilities in
giving leadership to the grassroots lodge membership and those
in the Orange family, but the fundamental principles on which
the Institution is based will not be sacrificed and the brethren
of Portadown District L.O.L.No.1 will continue to enjoy our
solid backing over their right to parade from their church
service in Drumcree over the traditional route.
The Orange Institution is a large organisation with members
of differing opinions from across the Protestant denominational
and unionist party spectrums. On the fundamentals, however,
all Orangemen and women sing from the same hymn sheet: on
the absolute need to protect our Protestant Reformed Faith
and the British way of life in this part of the United Kingdom.
Civil and religious liberty for all and special privileges
for none is the important watchword of our Institution, which
unequivocally rejects violence or the threat of violence,
from any quarter.
We would counsel our members to be diligent in upholding
these fundamental principles at all times and to be ever watchful
of the malevolent designs of the enemies of Orangeism and
Unionism, who are to be found not just in the ranks of pan-nationalism,
but in the corridors of power in Westminster and Stormont
and within ecumenical church circles.
There has been much talk of resignations of clerical chaplains
and splits within the Orange Institution in relation to events
and decisions taken last month, and the weeks and months preceding.
However, closely examined, these reports are found to be
have little substance in fact and, whatever the press and
media may perceive, there is very clearly overwhelming support
for the leadership demonstrated within the Grand Lodge of
Ireland and at county and district levels by teams of dedicated
Orangemen who always act in the best interests of Orangeism
and the Province they all love and seek to defend at every
opportunity.
The integrity of the Orange Institution remains intact, notwithstanding
the highly orchestrated attempts by Government authorities
and the opinion formers both inside and outside the Province
to denigrate all that the Institution nobly stands for and
seeks to propagate. Orangeism is an honoured tradition on
this island and will remain so. We will not let anyone try
to negate our culture and traditional expression in free democratic
assembly, whether they be Government ministers or extreme
politically-motivated spokesmen for nationalist residents'
groups.
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