The Orange Chronicle

Resolutions: Royal Black Institution Demonstration at Scarva, 2011

RESOLUTIONS

Read by: Rt. Wor. Sir Knt. W.G.C. Abernethy, I.G.T., Deputy County Grand Master, Co. Tyrone.

Proposed by: The Most Worshipful Sir Knt. W. Millar Farr, Q.P.M.,

SOVEREIGN GRAND MASTER Seconded by: Wor. Sir Knt. J.D. Livingstone, I.D.G.T., Deputy County Grand Master, Co. Armagh.

FAITH:

We, the members of the Royal Black Institution, being a Christian organisation which promotes and teaches the Reformed, Protestant and Evangelical faith, give thanks to Almighty Godfor His faithfulness to us and His inspired word, the Bible. This year we celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the publication of the Authorised Version of the Bible. We rejoice in its publication as it upheld the Reformation principle to give the Word of God in the language of the people.

As an Institution, we confirm our commitment to the study of the Bible to fulfil our Mission Statement and call upon all Sir Knights to commit themselves to the daily reading and prayerful study of the Bible and to make it the rule and guide of their faith and practice in today's society.

LOYALTY:

We are proud today to be able to reaffirm our loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen and the principles of democracy within the United Kingdom.

We have seen the joyous occasion of a Royal Wedding when the second in succession to the throne, Prince William, married Miss Catherine Middleton. We wish the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge every possible happiness for their future together. Her Majesty made an historic visit to the Irish Republic which gave an important boost in confidence to members of this Institution who live there and are proud of their British heritage and traditions.

Further afield, members of the Crown and other Commonwealth forces served with honour in many areas of conflict. These men and women are true heroes and their loyalty to Crown and Country is an example to us all.

Our loyalty to Queen and Country must be equally unwavering and steadfast.

CONSTITUTION:

We remember with gratitude to Almighty God the services rendered to this Institution by Most Wor. Sir Knight Sir Norman Stronge, former Sovereign Grand Master, and his son, Sir Knight James Stronge, who were murdered by terrorists thirty years ago this year, and give thanks for their work and witness as well as those of many other Sir Knights who also made the supreme sacrifice.

We resolve to continue to witness within our communities in a world where militant humanism and secularisation seek to destroy the principles of democracy and freedom which we cherish.

To do so, we urge our Sir Knights and people to practice the Faith we profess by following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION

Proposed by: Wor. Sir Knt. R.S.A. Gardiner, D.C.G.R. Co. Armagh. Seconded by: Wor. Sir Knt. R.H. Diffin, C.G.R., Co. Armagh, D. Tandragee.

We express our sincere thanks and deep appreciation to Sir Knt. Alf Buller and Mrs. Buller for their continuing hospitality and use of Scarv; House and Demesne, to Sir Knt. Rev. J. M. Batchelor for having officia at today's Service of Worship, to the members of the Sham Fi Committee and the Alfred Buller Memorial RBP 1000 for the excell arrangements, to Sir Knt. Baird for the use of the platform i Hamiltonsbawn Silver Band.

To the remainder of the Platform Party and the Security Forces toget with those who helped in any way, not forgetting the relatives and friends members of the Royal Black Institution who have attended here today give support, we offer our very best thanks.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

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ORDER OF SERVICE

Conducted by Sir Knt. Rev. J. M. Batchelor, County Grand Chaplain.

HYMN
1. To God be the Glory,

PRAYER SCRIPTURE READING ADDRESS

Rt. Wor. Sir Knt. Rev. N.J.E. Reid , A.S.G.M., I.D.G.C., C.G.C., Co. Tyrone.

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

HYMN
1. When I survey the wondrous Cross

RESOLUTIONS

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Independent Loyal Orange Institution Resolutions 2011
http://www.iloi.org/...ticleNewsID=119

RESOLUTION 1 - LOYALTY

We the members of the Independent Loyal Orange Institution assembled on the 321st anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, return thanks to Almighty God for his preservation and deliverance in times past and for those who have defended our civil and religious liberty. Once again we declare our steadfast loyalty to the British Throne and Constitution and re-affirm our continued resolve to support and defend the Protestant religion, the Laws of the Realm, the legislative Union and the succession to the Throne in the House of Windsor, it being Protestant. We note with concern ongoing efforts to repeal the Act of Settlement of 1688 and call upon those in authority in our nation to do all in their power to ensure that the Act remains unchanged.

We assure the members of the Royal Family that they will always receive a warm welcome in Ulster. We also commend Her Majesty the Queen for her personal courage in carrying out her first ever visit to the Irish Republic.

We rejoice in the recent marriage of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton, and we wish the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge God’s richest blessing as they embark on married life together.

We pay tribute to all those who are serving in Her Majesty’s Forces in Afghanistan and other theatres of conflict, and in particular we remember with pride those soldiers from Ulster who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of their Queen and country.　

RESOLUTION 2 – THE LORD’S DAY

As an Institution committed to the Word of God, we are greatly saddened and dismayed by the ever-increasing disregard for and desecration of the Lord’s Day at all levels in our society. The Sabbath Day was given to mankind by God as a day of worship and of rest. It is a core part of our evangelical Protestant heritage and, properly observed, produces a wide range of physical, material and spiritual benefits to individuals, families and society.

We reject any proposals to extend the opening hours of shops or licensed premises or to encourage gambling or sporting events on the Lord’s Day. We remain concerned at the ongoing pressure on Protestants to work on a Sunday.

We urge our elected representatives in Westminster, the NI Assembly and local councils to do all within their power to ensure that the decline in the observance of the Lords day is not only halted but reversed, and that the rights of Christians are fully respected.

We exhort Christians to be diligent in their observation of the Lord’s Day and in their attendance at church. 　

RESOLUTION 3 – THE PROTESTANT RELIGION

In this the 400th anniversary of the publication of the Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible, we thank God for the positive and beneficial impact of this faithful translation of His Word on so many aspects of society. We reaffirm our unswerving attachment to the great truths of the Protestant Faith. We totally reject the false teachings and blasphemies of Roman Catholicism and remain resolute in our opposition to false ecumenism. As an Institution, we will “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness”. We trust that no attempts will be made by those in church, state and the media to demonise or persecute Protestants who, on grounds of conscience, are unwilling to attend the Roman Catholic Mass.

We note with concern that the Pope might visit Northern Ireland in 2012. Whilst we hold to the great principles of civil and religious liberty for all and have no desire to deny our Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen the right to see their leader, however the arrogant and unparalleled temporal and spiritual claims of the pope make it impossible for his visit to be merely pastoral or low-key. It will be hugely symbolic, both politically and spiritually, and we urge all Protestant churches and organisations to unite in dignified, lawful and spiritual opposition to it and to use it as an opportunity to reassert the truths of Biblical Protestantism.

Over one hundred years ago, our founding fathers took a courageous stand on the failure to inspect the convent laundries, and the issue remains relevant today in light of the ongoing scandal of child-abuse allegations in the Roman Catholic Church. That Church must not be allowed to remain immune from justice and there can be no hiding place for those who are guilty of vile crimes against children

RESOLUTION 4 – CONSTITUTIONAL

The Independent Loyal Orange Institution has always been constitutionally unionist and democratic in its structures and beliefs. We are alarmed that increasing numbers of unionist voters appear to have disengaged from the democratic political process. The right to vote is a privilege hard earned by our fathers, and we urge all unionists to exercise their franchise at the ballot box. We are also saddened by ongoing friction and divisions within the unionist family and urge all unionist politicians to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to heal the wounds and deepen bonds of friendship and co-operation.

We call on all unionist politicians to do all they can within the current political structures to ensure that our Protestant faith and way of life is promoted and protected.
Over the next few years, we will mark several very significant centenaries - the signing of the Ulster Covenant (2012), the Battle of the Somme (2016) and the formation of the Northern Ireland state (2021). We urge all in authority to ensure that these historic milestones are properly acknowledged and observed.

RESOLUTION 5 – SOCIAL ISSUES

We, the members of the Independent Loyal Orange Institution call on the Government at Westminster and our own local Assembly to ensure that Tuition fees for university students, if at all necessary, are kept to an absolute minimum to ensure that our young people can afford a University education without having to worry about entering the workplace with a large burden of debt.

We also call for the incomes of our pensioners to be protected from the ravishes of inflation by granting them regular and meaningful increases and also measures be taken to ensure their safety and security in their homes.

Resolution 6 - CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

As an institution we remember the persecuted church across the world and those who for their faith continue to face imprisonment and in many cases death. We call upon the government at Westminster and the European Parliament to intervene and place all necessary sanctions on those countries involved in such a breach of civil and religious liberty.　

Resolution 7 - THE INSTITUTION

We return thanks to Almighty God for the principles of Orangeism and place on record our firm determination to continue the noble work begun by the pioneers of the Independent Loyal Orange Institution in 1903. While we wish to maintain our distinctiveness and our witness, we desire to continue the development of fraternal bonds of friendship within the Orange family and welcome the continuing good relationships between the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and our own institution.. We believe that unity within the Orange family helps to defend and promote the Protestant religion, the Union with Great Britain, our heritage and culture and our right to parade. 　

Our motto as ever is,
PROTESTANTISM NOT POLITICS, PRINCIPLES NOT PARTY, MEASURES NOT MEN.





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LOYALTY

We, the Orangemen and women of the County Grand Lodge of …………….. assembled at ………… to commemorate the 321st anniversary of victory at the Boyne, reaffirm our loyalty to the Throne and person of Her Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms, Defender of the Faith.

Her Majesty occupies the throne subject to the constitutional statutes that followed the Glorious Revolution of 1688. These laws established a Protestant monarchy and democratic parliament that have served our nation well for over 300 years. The interests of all our people of whatever faith are best served by a Protestant monarchy.

We condemn the political agenda and dictatorial attitude of local government in their attempts to deprive us of our basic human rights. Our Cultutre and Heritage was won at a price. It was fought for over many a well fought field and we will resist, by lawful means, any further erosion of our culture..

We now have a Nationalist Government who will attempt to take away our Britishness and undermine our Loyalty to her Most Gracious Majesty and her Heirs. They would have our Sovereign compromise the Coronation Oath in order to achieve their political aims and objectives and take us down the road to disaster. The claims and dictates of a Nationalist Government are contrary to Her Majesty’s hereditary right as constitutional monarch of this realm and we pledge ourselves to resist all attempts to alter the British Constitution in any way that would put our cherished liberties at risk.

Her Majesty the Queen continues to be an exemplary monarch who has been a great example to us all. We acknowledge with pride her wonderful record of service to nation and commonwealth.

God Save the Queen! Long may she reign

I beg to move the resolution on Loyalty.

OUR PROTESTANT HERITAGE

As we cellebrate the 321st Anniversary of the battle of the Boyne let us remember the conviction, valour and fortitude of those great reformers who delivered us from the the Catholic Church. A church who held a rigid control over the Bible and would not allow it to be translated from Latin into other languages. Holding any view contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church was seen as heresy and punishable by death.

Until the mid-1500s, attempts to give general population access to an English-language Bible had resulted in severe punishment. Finally, in 1611, came an officially approved version that also had enduring appeal; the King James, or Authorised, Version. Today we celebrate with thankfulness and satisfaction the 400th Anniversary of the publication. To this day it remains the most-printed work in English in the world.




We acknowledge the preachings of Martin Luther, who in challenging the authority of the Pope, lit the flames of Protestantism across Europe in the 1520s.

We commend the actions of William Tyndale who treated with contempt, the ban on his translating the Bible, by working abroad. William Tyndale published his English version of the New Testament in Germany in 1526. Some copies were smuggled in to Britain, but many were burned - as was Tyndale, at the stake, in 1536. His last words were reportedly, "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes." Open they did and Henry VIII by the Act of Supremacy, agreed by Parliament on 3 November 1534, established Henry as head of the Church of England and no longer answerable to the Pope.

The "Great Bible" as it became known, was now available,by Royal Decree, to the people in a language they could understand.
Our Protestant Heritage and Reformed Faith would not have been possible but for the sacrifices made by those men who were willing to pay the ultimate sacrific. Our Heritage is a reflection on practices that are handed down from the past by tradition and can be summed up in a few words as "a heritage of freedom.

We therfore pledge ourselves today to remain true to the authority and liberating power of the Gospel and to the heritage of faith and freedom won for us at great personal cost by our Protestant forefathers.



I beg to move the resolution on Our Protestant Heritage

STATE OF THE NATION

As loyal subjects of the British Crown, committed to the preservation of the United Kingdom, we pledge ourselves to oppose all attempts to sever the legislative Union that binds us to our kith and kin in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Should we be concerned about David Cameron’s policies? In the short term perhaps. Despite having to do some U-turns on his reforms the coalition government at Westminster has been rebuilding the nation’s economy, albeit with painful cost cutting measures. However, despite all the economic hardship experienced at the present we believe it to be beyond argument that Scotland’s interests lie within the combined power and refuge of the United Kingdom. Attempts by the First Minister to convince us that we would be better off as a small independent nation have been discredited by world events. The British Union is our best option and we pledge ourselves to maintain it.

The Scottish Government attempted to fast track tough new anti-bigot laws, championed by non other than Roseanna Cunningham MSP. Are we to believe that this new legislation Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications is designed exclusively for football matches? We think not. She has already declared “there is a great deal more work that needs to be done right across society in order for us to tackle the bigger problem which is endemic across Scotland." Such has been the profusion of pressure put on Alex Salmond he has deferred legislation for further consultation. However it will happen.

We reaffirm this Institution’s commitment to peaceful procession and free assembly, which are fundamental rights in a democratic society.

The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, promoting Britain's wider security interests, and supporting international peacekeeping efforts. They are active and regular participants in NATO and other coalition operations. Recent operations include the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and more recently participation in the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya At a time when our forces are serving with great distinction and personal sacrifice throughout the world, we declare from this gathering today that we stand with them and are immeasurably proud of them.


I beg to move the resolution on the State of the Nation.



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Qualifications of an Orangeman according to the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (revised)

The Master and Members of every Lodge into which a Candidate is proposed to be elected must satisfy themselves with all due solemnity previous to this admission that he possesses the following qualification. It is to these criteria that every Orangemen should dedicate himself:

An Orangeman should have a sincere love and veneration for his Heavenly Father, a humble and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, believing in Him as the only Mediator between God and man.

He should cultivate truth and justice, brotherly kindness and charity, devotion and piety, concord and unity, and obedience to the laws; his deportment should be gentle and compassionate, kind and courteous; he should seek the society of the virtuous, and avoid that of the evil;

He should honour and diligently study the Holy Scriptures, and make them the rule of his faith and practice;

He should love, uphold, and defend the Protestant religion, and sincerely desire and endeavour to propagate its doctrines and precepts;

He should strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome and other Non-Reformed faiths, and scrupulously avoid countenancing (by his presence or otherwise) any act or ceremony of Roman Catholic or other non-Reformed Worship; he should, by all lawful means, resist the ascendancy, encroachments, and the extension of their power, ever abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions, or sentiments towards all those who do not practice the Reformed and Christian Faith;

He should remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day, and attend the public worship of God, and diligently train up his offspring, and all under his control, in the fear of God, and in the Protestant faith;

He should never take the name of God in vain, but abstain from all cursing and profane language, and use every opportunity of discouraging those, and all other sinful practices, in others;

His conduct should be guided by wisdom and prudence, and marked by honesty, temperance, and sobriety, the glory of God and the welfare of man, the honour of his Sovereign, and the good of his country, should be the motives of his actions.

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Orange Order 12th July 2011 Resolutions : Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
http://www.grandoran...utions/2011.htm

THE FAITH: We the Orangemen assembled at ……………………. on the 12th July 2011 give thanks to Almighty God for His own inspired Word revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. This year we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication under King James I of the Authorised Version, much beloved by the members of this Institution.

We thank the Lord for the free access to the Scriptures which we enjoy and encourage all men to read the Holy Bible for themselves and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand and apply it to their own lives. We further commit ourselves to the daily reading of the Word of God which is "able to make men wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

LOYALTY: That we, the Orangemen assembled at ……………………………………………..in commemoration of the 321st 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.

We congratulate Her Majesty the Queen on the dignity and manner in which she conducted her recent visit to the Republic of Ireland and look forward to the landmark anniversary of the Diamond Jubilee of her Ascension to the Throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We also congratulate Prince Phillip on his service and dedication in public life as the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

We are delighted that His Royal Highness Prince William has taken the title of Baron Carrickfergus this year, on the occasion of his marriage to the Duchess of Cambridge, and we wish them well for their future together.

THE STATE: As an Institution we reflect with pride on our British citizenship and inheritance. It is a legacy which has been treasured by generations and we as custodians of that heritage must ensure we safeguard it for the future. We are concerned that political parties which have as their aim the break-up of the Union are in positions of influence within government in Northern Ireland and Scotland and in the latter context we believe that the aim of the Scottish National Party to have a referendum on the Union is a dangerous and divisive road to travel.

We reflect on a society which has many problems and issues at this present time of economic recession. It is easy for many to despair of their own personal situations and sadly this has led some, particularly young men, to take their own lives. As a caring Institution we call on our brethren to remember the example of the Good Samaritan, who bore the burden of another and helped him on his journey. Society must also reach out to those who need encouragement and help in a modern age which is in danger of losing the traditional values of faith in God and compassion for others.

We express thanks to our servicemen and women, who are employed in the cause of freedom and democracy in Afghanistan, Libya and other areas, and reflect on the losses which have been sustained in the former and extend our sympathy to families who have lost loved ones. We welcome home the soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Guards in particular, and other local servicemen and women who have safely returned, and assure them of the warmth of support for them by the Institution and the majority of people.

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Anniversaries Must Be Marked
http://grandorangelo...1/article6.html
Article 6~ April 2011


The opportunity to mark very important historic Northern Ireland anniversaries between 2012 and 2021, outlined in the March issue of this paper is exciting, and must be seized by the Unionist parties, as well as by the Loyal Orders.

It is a wonderful opportunity for all sections of the Unionist population to stand together, united in their determination to pay tribute to the men and women who stood firm for justice, freedom, and for Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom.

Unionism has been badly divided for some years, with rival politicians hurling insults at one another. This has caused dismay among many unionist people, and has been reflected in mediocre voting trends, resulting in some seats falling to republicans and nationalists.

It is time for Unionism in general to look back with pride on the origins of Northern Ireland and to be fired with renewed pride in their country.

It is very encouraging that the Orange Order has given the lead in calling for a programme of events to commemorate the historic moments in the history of this province and part of the United Kingdom.

The 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme will be a most important anniversary. The ranks of the 36th (Ulster) Division contained thousands of Orangemen, and a large proportion gave their lives on July 1, 1916.

No doubt the Easter Rising in Dublin will figure a lot in the events in the Republic of Ireland when 2016 comes around, and there will be little reference to the hundreds of young British soldiers who were killed in cowardly ambushes at Mount Street bridge and other parts of Dublin.

It is vital that the world learns that there was a great deal more happened in 1916 than the Easter Rising which was largely confined to Dublin.

It was a year when thousands of Ulstermen, and many southern Irishmen paid the supreme sacrifice to defeat German aggression, and protect small nations like Belgium.

When the Rising took place in Dublin it involved only a small proportion of the Irish population. Indeed, as the rebels were marched into captivity after their surrender at the GPO, they were jeered and heckled by many of the Dublin poor, who also waved Union Jacks at them.

That is a historical fact, and is largely ignored by modern historians, and it was the execution of some of the leaders of the rebellion that transformed the situation and allowed Sinn Fein to portray them as martyrs.

Far more Irishmen were serving in the British Army in 1916 and fighting the Germans in France than the comparative few who rose in revolt against the British in Dublin.

That is why it is so important that the 100th anniversary of the Somme is marked in a big way, and especially by the Orange Order, remembering its brave brethren who died in action.

The other big commemorative on the horizon will by the centenary of the state of Northern Ireland, and it is imperative that the Unionist parties sink their differences to get the message across that Northern Ireland is very much part of the United Kingdom.

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has visited Londonderry to meet with community representatives and view the ongoing regeneration work.

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland at the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall, Londonderry, with, from left, John Kelpie, Director of Development, Derry City Council, James McIvar, Apprentice Boys Peace III Project Manager, and Billy Moore, General Secretary, Apprentice Boys of Derry, during his visit to hear about the proposed refurbishment of the building.

‘2012 a big year for parades’ says PC chairman
http://www.newslette...irman_1_3370192

Peter Osborne
Published on Wednesday 28 December 2011 11:08

THE chair of the Parades Commission, believes the Orange Order as well as political and civic leaders have a duty to resolve the issue of disputed parades.

In a platform piece published in today’s News Letter Peter Osborne, said he believed that many members of the Orange Order disagreed with their policy on non-engagement with the Parades Commission.

He also highlighted the forthcoming centenaries of the Somme and the Ulster Covenant which will be comemmorated in 2012.

When I took up the position of Chairman of the Parades Commission at the beginning of this year I was under no misapprehension as to the scale of the task facing myself and my colleagues. Unfortunately parading continues to be one of the last outstanding issues to be resolved as we all work through our peace and political process. Some of my main goals at the start of 2011 were: firstly that progress in managing and resolving parades disputes was maintained, and secondly that more people were talking to each other in December than had been the case in January.

People may think of the parades ‘season’ as reaching its peak in high summer but our work is spread over the 12 months of the year. Near the start of our first year we held a series of open meetings all over Northern Ireland which brought Commissioners into direct contact with hundreds of people. During the close season towards the end of the year we have all been on the road, visiting areas where contention remains and encouraging, facilitating or in some cases supporting by our presence, dialogue between parade participants and others.

We also undertook in December – in partnership with the Community Relations Council – a series of conversations, each one examining a specific area such as centenaries, interface work, and our own Parades Commission code of conduct.

Whether dialogue takes place in front of a room with hundreds of delegates, or a community hall with half a dozen people, we view it all as equally valid and equally valuable. That commitment to talking to people will continue to be a trademark of this Commission over the coming months and years.

At no time will this be more important than next year, 2012, which starts a decade of 100-year commemorations that will be an opportunity to recognise our different past but will also highlight our shared present and may help further build toward a shared future. While there is a danger that the next decade could pose a threat to our respect for each other, it is a greater opportunity for us to recognise further what is important to the different communities on this part of the island. That is why we need these commemorations to be non-contentious, respectful, and as inclusive as possible. I am sure those volunteers from the Ulster and Irish Divisions who fought and died side-by-side at the Somme and Messines in 1916 and 1917 would agree with that.

How we commemorate in the decade from 2012 will reflect more about the society we live in now than it will reflect on the events we are remembering.

That is the challenge for all leaders of this society from grass-roots to high office, but especially for parade and event organisers.

The Orange Order last week stated that it was working on proposals to find a new way forward for parades. That is to be welcomed as new thinking and a new approach will help move us away from old arguments and an old way of dealing with each other.

However the Order still won’t formally engage with both the Parades Commission, a body established, it should be noted, by the UK Parliament, and with some others.

I believe most people in the Order know this is the wrong approach with members of the loyal orders actively engaging with us on a weekly basis. If the Order were to stop, reflect and shift their thinking toward formal engagement with us and others, I believe it would be welcomed positively by almost everyone in this community and any negative criticism would be over in an instant.

That really would be a new approach; a shift in the paradigm that might help move everyone and everything on. But it requires leadership to do and leadership from others to support those who do it.

I believe there is a duty on all local leaders from the political world and civic society to face up to the challenge of dealing with parades where disputes remain, and that includes the Orange Order. The Parades Commission is ready for the challenge, and aware of the importance of getting this issue right.

After our first year, meeting and talking to literally hundreds and thousands of people across the community, at interface areas, in rural and urban areas, I believe people want to move on from disputes around parades. People want closure – it is up to us all to try to bring this about but especially those local leaders who can make such a difference for our shared future.

LODGE TO THE RESCUE
http://www.lurganmai...escue_1_3321682

'Helping Hands Healing Hearts' mission recieves a £500 cheque from Bro David Martin Lurgan District No 6
THIEVES once again targeted a charity shop - stealing almost a full tank of oil from a premisis in Dollingstown.Joyce Mcpherson from the
The compassion charity shop in the village was targeted last Friday., but there was some good news for the charity as the local Orange order stepped in to help.

The Lurgan District No 6 and members of Dollingstown LOL 62 Wickliffes Invincible Morning Star rallied round for the shop and this week presented a £500 cheque to help refill the tank - the proceeds from a table quiz between the district and Lower Iveagh.

Joyce McPherson at the oil tank.

Shop manager Joyce Mcpherson described what had happened: "I came down on Saturday morning and went to put the heating on but nothing happened. I thought we couldn't be out of oil yet as we'd only had it filled the previous week." She said that there was a lock on the tank but as she was to discover, the thieves had circumvented this by cutting the oil pipe to drain the tank.
Joyce went on, "I have to confess I just stood there and cried, I didn't want to be spending the charity shop money on this."
The shop supports the 'Helping Hands Healing Hearts' mission working in the Philippines with sick children who have nothing, getting them medical aid and care they need.

Joyce said, "Im sad this happened and sad people have such a mindset." She went on, "It's hard to know what to do to keep it safe, we had a lock on the tank but they just cut the pipe."

Joyce said she was delighted when the local Orange Lodge stepped in to help with their donation.
If you would like to help the charity by making a donation you can contact Pastor David Gowdy on 092612701

Boys to step out for Lundy event
http://www.newslette...event_1_3302519
Raymond Walker and Billy Moore pictured at the Memorial Hall on Monday putting the finishing touches to the Lundy effigy in preparation for Saturday's Annual Apprentice Boys Parade. 2911JM21

Published on Friday 2 December 2011 08:26

UP to 1,500 Apprentice Boys are expected to step out in Londonderry on Saturday.

The annual burning of Lundy and associated march takes place in the city to commemorate the 323rd anniversary of the shutting of the gates before the Siege of Derry in 1689.

Members of the loyal order – accompanied by a number of bands – will parade through the city centre and attend a religious service before an effigy of the traitor Lundy is burned in Bishop Street.

Robert Lundy, who was a governor of the city, advocated surrendering to the advancing troops of James II in the late 17th century.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s parade, Apprentice Boys general secretary Billy Moore said the December commemoration was one of the most significant of the anniversaries in the loyalist calendar.

“If it hadn’t been for the shutting of the gates there would have been no relief of Londonderry in August and probably no Battle of the Boyne in 1690,” he said.

“The shutting of the gates was one of the most important aspects in the history of the Glorious Revolution.”

Mr Moore said that local clubs would be joined on the day by visiting brethren from across the province and further afield.

Among the visitors expected to attend are members from Scotland, London and Liverpool.

Indeed, the Apprentice Boys have undergone a resurgence in recent times through the formation of a number of new clubs.

Mr Moore said: “There are applications for nine new clubs next year, including in Northern Ireland, Scotland, London and the Republic.”

It is believed that the newly-formed clubs locally are in Portadown, Belfast and Kesh in Fermanagh.

The general secretary said he was in “no doubt” that tomorrow’s parade will pass off peacefully.

“I think there is a lot of goodwill in the city and there has been a degree of understanding which has been created over the years through dialogue and discussion.”

Mr Moore added: “I think the overwhelming majority of people in Londonderry accept that the Apprentice Boys are part of the fabric of the city and recognise we are part of the history of the city.”

As is tradition, a cannon will be fired at midnight from the city’s walls which will be followed by the “touching of the gates” when members symbolically close each of the four main gates into the city centre. Later tomorrow, visiting branch clubs are asked to assemble at the Waterside railway station prior to parading to the memorial hall at 11.30am.

The main procession is scheduled to leave Society Street at 1.15pm when members will parade to St Columb’s Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving.

Following the religious service, the parade will reassemble and return to Bishop Street for the burning of the effigy of Lundy.

A salute will be taken by officers of the General Committee – including Apprentice Boys governor Jim Brownlee – as clubs depart.