IRELAND. THE ORANGE LODGES IN ARMAGH.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 244, 30 September 1848, Page 3

IRELAND. THE ORANGE LODGES IN ARMAGH.

A meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of the county Armagh, was hold at Armagh on Tuesday, the 25th Ap >1, Sir William Vcrnei, Birt., Grand Master, in the elm r. Ii was resolved as follows :— "Tha' at thin season of unusual excitement und alarm, when false rumouis arc insi luoiuly cii ciliated, anil Mlence on the part of the trn luccd is tli might to justify suspicion, we feel cal'ed on to rciter.ite the a surance, that our principles and those on whu k the institution was originally based, remain umiltered. With the unswerving loyalty ot fdtLhfu! subjects, we love our gracious Sovereign. We love the true nlig.on established amongst us, ami neither the wiongs inflcted on our children and ourselves, nor the lavish concessions by which ejiemms to the public peace have been emboldened and made strong, have pie vailed to shake oar attahment to BtiiUh connection, or to weaken in our hearts and minds the conviction that it is our wisdom, as it is in accordance with our most cherished (''■eliups, to contribute our [oi lion to the stiength of the united empire, while sharing, even the limited extent we do, in its privileges and benefits. And while thus dcclaihg our strong perciiasion and demre, we feet that the declaration would be incomplete and misleading, weic we not to accompany it by an avowal of our serious apprehension, that the necessity lor more than ordinary ■vigilonce and (xertion on ihe part of loyal m« will nut speedily pan away. AdiMnembeiment of the empue is contemplated by a large portion ot the liisli people; some proposing to compass their otid l»y open war; some hoping to bucco d by proci'ssji ot most pernicious agitation. To meet the dilliculty thus creatfd, her Majesty's mii'isteis li>ve devi&wl meabures well calculated, we have no doubt, to oppose one foim ol hostility, but which oflcr i o assurance of protei tion against ilie other. It !)■ II on, ll it hasten to show itself openly, will be j ut down, und yet the subtile fcpiiit ot a»it*Uon may continue at work uniebuked, ntt arreucd, nay (-ueh aiv the signs of tlie tunes), may be strengthened a id stimula'cd i>y indulgences and concessions, m which great principles are wantonly sacrificed, by which loyalty is dijcourug.d, and dib,il>e<i^kjn rendered more fo midable. " In tin/ state ol tliflLulty a d alarm, our course of duty is man te.-.t and direct. We should nuke, un<!eiGod's b'essin?, sndi prepan tlon as law peum 8 ,n 1 circumsianies render p s a .bl.-, not only agan st ihe dangiTA immed.alely ul hand, but agdmst iliubc also in t less i e tl in fie distance. We should be p.cpired to guard our hoim s and to prove our O-aliy. Weaie last ineiids ol liritish connexion. Our punciplen, our affections, our intciests, bind us to it; so long as its great purpohe is rcspeUed we "ill, 'o he inmost; ot our power, mam am it, and we pledge our elves in the spirit of a declaration recently made by the iirst minister of the Cr.iwii Unit, * While we have lile and breath anil stien»tli,' we will appo ir.at thi com naud of our beloved feove eign, jeril our foi tunes and our lives, to preserve her kingdoms undiviJed." This document was sign«d by the cliairman, and also by the district masters, on behalt of twohuudied and twenty-eight lodges.