12th Statement from Orange Reformation

We have been encouraged by contacts received from Orangemen and women in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

In the relatively short time we have been active, Orange Reformation can claim several achievements including providing a voice and source of information to grassroots Orangemen, a successful No Pope Here campaign which culminated in a statement from Grand Lodge rejecting a papal visit as a direct result of Orange Reformation pressure, the establishment of a network of Prayer triplets and a greater focus being placed on Protestantism as a result of Orange Reformation opening the debate.

Much work still has to be done, particularly in relation to Orangefest and festivals which dilute the Protestant element and promote agendas which are foreign to Orangeism and some which have indeed proved blasphemous in their content.

The very existence of Orange Reformation has helped inform brethren of the goings on within Orangeism, informing them of disgraceful developments that contradict the Christian ethos of Orangeism, for example paganism being brought in alongside Orangeism in public events at 12th celebrations , the outrageous and offensive content of the 2009 Belfast Orangefest and attempts to soften the Protestant image of the Orange Order by attempting to remove all references to Roman Catholicism from the ritual, by meeting the Roman Catholic Archbishop Sean Brady and by promoting a new symbol of a orange lily instead of the bible and crown which speak clearly of our Protestant Faith and our British heritage.

Orange Reformation acknowledges that the past year has been difficult as we take our stand to put Protestantism back into Orangeism. Shamefully, Orange Reformation supporters have been threatened with suspension and expulsion by the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

This threat to ordinary Christian Orangemen who have established a prayer network and who are genuinely concerned about the direction being taken ought to be revoked and a previous call to the Grand Master to do this following his Unionist Unity call has been ignored. Once again, we take this opportunity to call on the Grand Master to regain credibility by withdrawing the threat of expulsion to Christian members of a Christian organisation.

We call on the Chaplains within the Orange Institution to have the courage to speak up and take their stand, whether this has got to do with weakening of the protestant element, or the misuse of alcohol, or the claiming of lottery money to fund various projects. Orange Reformation has provided a standard for them to rally to, and we would encourage them to join with us in our stand and be bold and stout hearted (Psalm 138 v3).

Orange Reformation welcomes the recent decision by Grand Lodge of Ireland to reject the Hillsborough parading proposals agreed by DUP-Sinn Fein/IRA. Following three Grand Lodge meetings debating this issue, during which the majority of speakers opposed the proposals, we call for this matter to be closed and the result of the vote accepted as the will of the Grand Lodge.

We are disturbed by calls in the media to have this vote taken at a further meeting and think that if this should be permitted it amounts to gerrymandering on the part of those who refuse to accept the views of the membership. Grand Lodge should not allow themselves to be dictated to by the DUP as they seek to please their republican friends in Sinn Fein/ I.R.A. instead they should actively promote what is best for Orangeism itself and reject further DUP meddling in Orange affairs.

Orange Reformation advises brethren to remain vigilant and urge them to continue to oppose these proposals which will not only result in suppressing Orange parades but also the preaching of the gospel in the open air.

Orange Reformation looks forward to the days when the Battle of the Boyne is once again celebrated with public demonstration of our Protestant faith as the central aspect of the twelfth celebrations and is heartened by recent research that has shown 90% of people did not attend any Ulster Scots festivals in the last year.

Brethren can keep updated on Orange Reformation by visiting our website, www.orangereformation.co.uk.

Yours ,etc

Orange Reformation

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