What Is The Orange Institution?
The Loyal Orange Institution is a worldwide Brotherhood which exists for the establishment and preservation of Civil and Religious Liberty and the Protestant Religion. 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 in Church and State, the laws of the Realm, the Legislative Union, 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 principles of the Reformation, and will not admit to its Brotherhood persons whom an intolerant spirit leads to persecute, injure or upbraid a man on account of his religious opinion. They associate also in honour of King William III, Prince of Orange, whose name they bear as supporters of his glorious memory.
Why is the Orange Order necessary today?
Because the involvement of the Church of Rome, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and other totalitarian or authoritarian bodies and regimes, in politics, society and religion constitute an ever growing menace to democracy, social progress and religious toleration. Recent events, both at home and abroad, make it clear that the aggressive character of these bodies are actively organised working to undermine our faith and limit our freedom. Wherever Orangeism is established it seeks to counteract the subtle activities and encroachments of every system opposed to the mental, political and spiritual freedom of the individual.
What are the Principles of Orangeism? Supreme loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the recognition of the Bible as the Word of God, the sole rule of faith and practice. To bear witness to, and contend earnestly for, that faith which has been delivered once and for all mankind in the Scriptures. The cultivation of Christian character, and the promotion of brotherly love and mutual fellowship.
What are the Aims of the Orange Institution today? To live at peace with all men, and to ensure that all men have peace in which to live. By constant vigilance it seeks to maintain intact the Protestant Constitution and Christian heritage handed down by our Protestant sires. To expose and resist by all lawful mean every form of attack upon our freedom by any system, religious or political.
Where, when & how was the Orange Society founded?
The Orange Association was first founded at Exeter Cathedral in Devonshire on 12th November 1688 in the presence of William, Prince of Orange, who later became King William III of England, Scotland and Ireland. One week earlier, at the request of many prominent members of the Nobility and Clergy, the Prince of Orange landed at Brixham with a large expeditionary force. The purpose of this expedition was to curtail James the Second's tyrannical rule, to end the prorogation of Parliament and to prevent Britain from acceding to the political and religious aspirations of Louis XIV of France. The Prince's expedition brought about The Glorious Revolution of 1688 and succeeded in guaranteeing certain rights and privileges which, today, are often taken for granted. These rights and privileges are embodied in The Bill of Rights of 1689 and The Act of Settlement of 1701 and in particular stress that the British Monarch cannot become, nor marry, a member of the Church of Rome. The origin of Orangeism consisted of an "engagement of the Nobles, Knights and Gentlemen of Exeter to assist the Prince of Orange in defence of the Protestant Religion and the Liberties of England". Dr. Gilbert Burnet, the Prince's Chaplain and later Bishop of Salisbury, drew up the following declaration:-"We whose name are hereunto subscribed, who have now joined the Prince of Orange for the defence of the Protestant Religion, and for the maintaining of the ancient government and the laws and liberties of England, Scotland and Ireland, do engage to Almighty God, to His Highness the Prince and to one another to stick firm to his cause in the defence of it, and never to depart from it till our religion, laws and liberties are so far secured to us in a free parliament that they shall be no more in danger of falling under Popery and Slavery".