12th
July 2005 Resolutions
THE FAITH: The secular environment in which we live
compels us to recognise the pressures on us to ensure that
the Gospel of Jesus Christ is heard and clearly understood
by the people.
Our faith is in Christ! It is not belief in certain doctrines,
set rites and ceremonies or a particular denomination but
in a personal union with Him, the Son of God and Saviour of
the World.
This is the message which has in it the essentials of life
- love of God and of people. Jesus sets for us standards of
character and conduct, but most people do not value the motives,
restraints and incentives of the Christian Faith. They need,
though, the life changing and enriching power of Christ in
their lives.
We commend those clergy, pastors and people who tell, teach
and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen
again and who is alive for evermore. We question the commitment
of others who neglect to do their Christian duty as believers
in and followers of Christ. Church growth and influence is
dependent on the sincerity and honesty of Christians.
As Orangemen we resolve to fulfil our obligations as good
Christians, living for Christ, encouraging and persuading,
others to turn to Him.
LOYALTY: That we, the Orangemen assembled at
.
in commemoration of the 315th 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.
As Her Majesty's Loyal Subjects across the United Kingdom
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the ending of the Second
World War, we remember with pride those members of the Orange
Institution throughout the world who served in the cause of
freedom, many of whom gave their lives for the futures of
other generations. We give thanks that the world was saved
from the evils of Fascism and Nazism and recall the suffering
which many peoples had to endure before the dark shadow of
evil in Europe and elsewhere was banished.
We express our deep pride that Northern Ireland played such
a major role in the war effort, ensuring that supply lines
remained open, that a bridgehead was prepared for Europe,
that industry and agriculture assisted the national war effort,
and that men and women from Ulster and the rest of Ireland
served with courage and honour. We remind the people of the
United Kingdom of the remarks of Winston Churchill that Ulster
stood like a lonely sentinel in the cause of freedom, and
re-iterate that the cause of civil and religious liberty was
the same in 1690 as in 1945.
THE STATE: The recent elections have brought many
new faces into positions of political leadership. They have
also shown that for devolved government to work in Northern
Ireland it must have the clear consent of a majority of the
unionist people.
We live in expectation that the political picture has changed
so that we are no longer the victims of broken promises from
Blair.
As Orangemen we want devolved government with politicians
whom we elect and who are accountable to us and working for
us.
The strong unionist voice must be heard loud and clear. We
shall have the fair, just, peaceful and prosperous society
we need and deserve when the will to produce it is shared
responsibly, peaceably and honestly by all others involved
in politics and life here.
We also note with concern the latest attempt by the unelected
quango, the Parades Commission, to attack the Orange family
through its unrealistic requirements to make parade organisers
responsible for all those who gather to watch our parades.
We hereby declare ourselves determined to see the Parades
Commission de-commissioned and call for a fair and just replacement
which can seek to win the confidence of the majority of people
in Northern Ireland.
We resent the petty and trivial bureaucratic wranglings which
have been perpetuated against our Institution at every level
this year through the new Order in Council and Parades Commission
forms, and urge all unionist elected representatives to unite
in a campaign to have the anti-Protestant Parades Commission
replaced.
Back to Resolutions Index
|