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.

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