VTR LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—I was very pleased to see the letter of Mr. H. S. Verschoyle which appeared in your issue of November 8th, as there are still a vast number of people who seem to think that an Orangeman is a bigoted fanatic, and never happy unless in a row and assaulting some inoffensive Romanist. This opinion, in the majority of cases, is due to statements made by enemies, which unfortunately are not investigated, and consequently we are judged and condemned in a most unjust manner by those who are absolutely ignorant of our institution and its work. To such it may come as a surprise to learn that every Orange Lodge, whether private, district, provincial, or grand, must be opened and closed with prayer, and that after a portion of Holy Scripture has been read, the Bible has to remain open on the table to show that whatever is discussed must be iu accordance with the Divine teaching of its sacred pages. Both in the orange and purple degrees the candidate is instructed "to abstain from all unkind words and actions towards the members" of the Roman Church, and if he takes the solemn obligation of a Royal Arch Purple- man he has to declare, with his hand upon the open Bible, that he "will not upbraid, persecute, or molest any man on account of his religious opinions." If he is also a member of the Royal Black Institution of Ireland, he will hear at every meeting the sublime prayer that the great and glorious precepts of the Everlasting Gospel of Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace and good will to all men, may be inscribed on every heart, and having taken every degree I can honestly say that this is repeatedly taught in every one of them. We do not bear the slightest to Roman Catholics as such, although we oppose their Church as a great political organisation. Our chief opposition to Home Rule is because we believe it to be an attempt by the Roman Catholic priest- hood to make Ireland a papal colony, entirely independent and separate from England. It is this that caused the Orangemen throughout England to assemble on Sunday afternoon, November 2nd, and solemnly pledge themselves to stand by Ulster, and if ever the Government are mad enough to order troops to shoot down the Protestants of Ireland, I can truly say, as editor of an Orange paper for many years, and constantly in touch with brethren in China, Australia, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Canada, United States, Germany, &c., that, despite what Radicals may say to the contrary, civil war will not be confined to the shores of our sister Isle.—I am,
Sir, &c., W. J. Sims, D.G.M.,
Previous page
