The Orange Institution is expanding, and not only in Northern
Ireland but throughout the world.
The encouraging upsurge of interest includes the formation
of new Lodges, and an influx of new recruits. A significant
number have joined after connecting with the Orange websites,
not just in Northern Ireland, but in Canada and other countries.
The past year saw the formation of a very impressive new
Lodge in Alabama, USA, while in neighbouring Canada, the Orange
membership in Toronto increased by an impressive 10 per cent.
Closer to home, new Lodges have been formed in Scarborough
and other parts of England, while north of the border the
Scottish Orange Institution continues to grow at a remarkable
pace.
Here in Northern Ireland, the numbers on parade these past
two years have reached pre-Troubles numbers, while in the
Republic, the brethren continue to witness in large numbers.
This is all highly encouraging and all Orangemen must redouble
their efforts to attract more recruits, ever bearing in mind
the need to ensure that these welcome newcomers meet the high
requirements placed on membership, especially that relating
to Christian commitment.
In an increasingly changing and complex world, the Orange
Institution can be a bulwark for the Protestant faith in any
country, expecially those where the Roman Church has a dominant
position.
In the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth nations like
Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Orange Order is in
the forefront in standing firm for the Crown and the Monarchy.
In non-Commonwealth countries like the United States, Togo,
and other countries, the Order has no difficulty in identifying
itself with the defence of Protestantism.
New recruits have come from countries like Poland and Germany
in recent times. A Lodge has been formed in Wales, where the
Orange Order once had a significant membership, and there
have been inquiries from South Africa which once had a number
of Lodges.
The Reformed faith is under pressure in many parts of the
world, while the British ethos is being challenged by republican
groups in Australia and New Zealand.
Canada, long an Orange stronghold, and in the days of Empire
the premier dominion, is still strongly attached to the British
link.
But Toronto, once the great fortress of Orangeism, and peopled
mainly by folk from the British Isles, is now mutli-cultural,
and the British presence is now a minority one.
The province of Ontario is overwhelmingly British in chararcter
and that is where the Orange is strongest. But as parades
of every ethnic group in Europe take place in Toronto each
year, the need was never greater for the witness of the British
'founding fathers' and that is performed by the Orange Order
each July 12.
It is a tradition now recognised as vital by the Canadians
of British extraction, and they are dertermined to maintain
this proud tradition.
The constant clamour of Roman Catholic and French Quebec
for special treatment by the Canadian Government means that
people in the other Canadian provinces, mostly founded by
British people, look to the Orange Order to make their views
known. And in the great island of Newfoundland, the Orange
Order continues to prosper, with membership steadily increasing.
In Australia, the Orange Order created a new interest a few
years ago as it stood firm during the constitutional referendum
for the Queen and the Crown.
Republicans lost that particular battle, but they will be
back, and that means the Orange Order must continue to be
vigilant and to make its stand for the Monarchy.
No lack of issues there to keep Orangeism on its toes, and
when one adds things like growing secularism, materialism,
the debasing of traditional morals and principles, and the
inroads on Sunday observance, then the great need for the
Orange Order is underlined.
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