Resolutions for The Twelfth celebrations

Faith: “As members of the Loyal Orange Institution we give thanks to Almighty God for His salvation, planned by God the Father in eternity, purchased by God the Son by His substitutionary sacrifice on Calvary and applied to sinners by the work of the Holy Spirit.

“As Bible-believing Protestants we declare that while salvation is received by faith alone, without works, moral or religious, it leads to a life of humble obedience to the law of God and to Christian service.

“We deeply regret the increasing immorality and opposition to God’s Word at all levels within our society and the determination of many to deprive Christians of their liberty to live in obedience to their Lord. We call on all Orangemen to stand fast for the faith that is ours by heritage and conviction and to live lives that glorify God and demonstrate the high principles of our Institution.

The second declares loyalty to the Queen, while the third, for The State this year welcomes the outcome of the Scottish Referendum.

“We believe that, as the outcome of the general election has shown, threats to the Union remain strong. We urge our political representatives to stand firm on unionist principles.

We are mindful of our brethren who are subject to attacks on their property and attempts to prevent their parades. We call on those who protest against us to show tolerance and respect for others. We re-iterate our support today for all lodges who have had traditional parades restricted and been treated unjustly and unfairly. We say ‘Let them home’. We remind everyone that peaceful and dignified protest remains our best means of opposition to the illogical decisions of the Parades Commission. In this 40th anniversary year of the massacre of five Orangemen in their hall at Tullyvallen in County Armagh we bring to mind all our brethren who lost their lives through terrorism. They will not be forgotten. Their story will continue to be told.

As we look ahead to the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, we are reminded of the sacrifice which many Orange brethren made during World War I. We pledge to commemorate them with pride and dignity in 2016.”