12th
July 1996 Resolutions
THE FAITH: Personal commitment to the Protestant
religion is required of every Orangeman.
This will be evidenced by the value he places on the Christian
faith for his life; how it moulds his character and governs
his conduct in both public and private life.
As an Institution we are convinced that unless the Christian
provides in his life such evidence of the benefits of the
faith he will not persuade others that what it offers is obtainable
no where else. Unless the Christian resists the evils and
corruptions in society these things will flourish unchecked.
As Orangemen we resolve to be more diligent in our practice
of the faith, and more determined to support every effort
being made to bring people to God and to patterns of behaviour
Christ-like in their treatment of others.
Our secularised, selfish, society with its inhumanities,
imbalances and injustices is in need of the cleansing power
of the Lord Jesus Christ and the acceptance of the principles
and precepts He gives us.
We believe that Christianity brings health to body and soul.
It gives not just soul salvation but whole salvation.
THE STATE: As Orangemen we stand for the
Union and the unity of unionists in the common cause of maintaining
the Union which is not negotiable.
We regret party squabbling over lesser things and warn against
conflicts personal and pernicious in the impression they give
of unionist disunity. Our Saviour said "If a house be
divided against itself, that house cannot stand". We
need that sensitive insight which can understand the problems
of others. We want peace and prosperity in our country. Peace
making needs the right atmosphere. If people come together
to hate they will hate; to refuse to understand they will
misunderstand; to consider no view but their own they will
see none other.
As Orangemen we determine to work for the making of a country
in which its citizens live peaceably together while holding
beliefs and aspirations different and dissimilar. We want
co-operation not compulsion on ourselves or on others to accept
the unacceptable. No one must demand the unobtainable. Only
by agreement, without threat of violence, can we have peace
and prosperity in this country.
The reality of our situation is that the people of Northern
Ireland must decide their own destiny. Others may help us
to make decisions necessary to bring us to an agreed settlement
but interference from any source which denies this consent
of the people is to be rejected and condemned.
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