12th July 2001 Resolutions

EMERGENCY RESOLUTION: Covenant for Human Rights

Being convinced in our consciences that the citizens of Northern Ireland are being denied fundamental rights enshrined by International and European charter and convention and afforded elsewhere in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, we humbly relying on God, do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn covenant throughout these times of crisis, to stand together and campaign for the full restoration of our liberties and freedoms.

Using all available constitutional and lawful means we commit ourselves to defend the right of all citizens to live in peace and harmony with their neighbours free from the threat and fear of violence implied and imposed by paramilitary groups, of whatever complexion, who refuse to relinquish illegally held arms.

And further, we commit ourselves to uphold the right of all citizens to assemble peacefully in order to celebrate their history and traditions in the firm belief that society as a whole is enriched through greater understanding of, and tolerance for, its varied cultural components.

To this end we call respectfully on the leaders of all democratic nations to lend moral and political support to this cause and urge them to use their good offices to help us deliver to Northern Ireland a more just and peaceful society based on the principles of freedom, equality and brotherhood. And we ask this acknowledging the words of the philosopher and statesman Edmund Burke:

THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.

Please click to sign Covenant For Human Rights

THE FAITH: Our first responsibility as Orangemen is to be Christian, to think, speak and act as imitators of Christ in the several relationships, situations and circumstances of our lives; to deliberately and constantly witness to our faith in Christ and to serve Him in the service of others.

We must do that "... in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God through bad report and good report". Because we have this commitment to Christ and to people we dare not be silent on what matters to us and to them. We believe that faith in God is the proper motivating force for life and that the lessening in our society of Christian faith and practice has affected us so adversely that terrorism, criminality and lawlessness are rampant.

We utterly condemn all anti-social behaviour.

We are determined to do all we can to persuade people to lift themselves from the lows of self-interest and the gutters of greed, to the heights of a way of life, God centred and people orientated with the credo - God first, others second, self last.

We are convinced that the needs of humanity can not be met by a secular society; nor in the liberalism that belittles and ignores the effectivenss of Christianity to give them the fullness of life.

We believe with St. Augustine who prayed, "Thou, O God, hast made us for Thyself and we can not rest until we rest in Thee".

THE STATE: The Orange Institution is a Christian organisation with concern for the lives of people, spiritual and material. It is the business of Orangemen to bear witness to the sacredness of human personality and to say plainly that any system of government not just and fair to all its citizens stands condemned by conscience and by reason.

We have questioned the impartiality of the United Kingdom Government which has shown a preference for meeting the demands of Sinn Fein/I.R.A. rather than the needs of a society terrorised by them and still under threat from them. Government is only good government when the rule of law is maintained; where the safety and security of the citizen is a priority and decisions are not taken on threats of violence from those who plead for human rights for themselves but deny them to others.

As unionists we are convinced that the Union is essential to the well being of the people of Northern Ireland regardless of class, creed or race.

We desire the devolution which will deliver self government without outside interference.

Our hopes and expectations are with the unionists who will represent us and our interests in local government, legislative Assembly and at Westminster. May they serve us well!

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