SOIREE OF THE LOYAL ORANGE LODGE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 238, 13 July 1872, Page 3

SOIREE OF THE LOYAL ORANGE LODGE.

Yesterday being the 12th of July the Orangemen of this district held their anniversary soiree at St. George’s Hail. It was, without exception, the largest gathering of the sort we have ever seen on the Thames, as at one time there could not have been less that. 500 sitting down to tea, whilst the re-lays were numerous. The hall had been most tastefully decorated with evergreens and flags; the British ensign and a set of Marryat’s code of signals being used. Over the platform was an oil pain.ting representing a crown and Bilile with the motto, “ The chief emblem of our faith.” The sentence, “ Fear God and honour the king ” was also fixed across the head af the room. On the other sides of the room were the words “God save the Queen, our guide and guard.” The town band had kindly volunteered their services gratuitously, and added much to the amusement of the evening, playing at intervals. The choir of the Grahamstown Wesleyan Church also were present, as well as the Cornish Glee Singers, who satrg very 7 sweetly several times during the evening. After the tea was finished the tables were cleared away, and the band played whilst the audience were being seated Mr William Rowe was called to the chair, the hand playing “ God save the Queen,” the whole of the assembly standing up. Mr Rowe said that he would say but a few words, as he had not much to talk about. He was glad to meet all present, and thought that they all should be thankful that they were British subjects, living under laws»wlrich afforded protection to all. We should also be thankful that we lived in a day when we are taught to h ve all that is good, arid that we had a sovereign over us who was good, and Ire felt sure that all would say with their heart, “ God save and preserve the Queen." (Immense applause). We were here this evening gathered together, and we should preserve law and order, hut our principles were as dear to us as others were to them, and it was our duty to carry out our principles, and teach our children to do so. But we should do so in a proper manner, and not give offence to others, hut to allow them to enjoy their prineiples as they wished. He trusted that we should all see a united people, and he thought that it was a pity that we should have imported to this country any prejudices from home, hut the only way to get rid of the prejudices was to stick to the priuciph s. He felt sure that this meeting would he conducted in good order during the evening. The Grahamstown Wesleyan choir then sang “ ifift Up Your Heads” in a verysweet maimer. Mr T. R. Jones, District Master of the Loyal Orange Lodge, then rose to address

the meeting. He stated that he intended to explain to those present the origin and Views of Orangeisin, as the most of them knew that a great many mnarks had appeared in one of the local papers lately which had evidently been written by some of their enemies. He then gave a history of the formation of the first, society of the kind, which had been formed in London in the time of King James 11. by a number of very influential noblemen and others, who had written over to William of Orange, and what happened after that is a matt r of history, which every one krows. He read the following extracts from the rules of the Lodge, together with a few remarks as to what was required to make a good Orangeman : “ The Orange Institution is composed of an unlimited number of Protestanls, resolved to the utmost of their power, to support and defend the rightful sovereign, the Protestant religion, the laws of the country, the legislative union of Great Britain, Ireland, and all British dependencies, and the succession to the throne in the House of Brunswick, being Protestant, and united further for the defence of their own persons and properties, an 1 the maintenance of the public peace. It is exclusively an association of those who are attached to the religion of the Reforma tion, and will not admit into its brotherhood persons whom an intolerant spirit leads to persecute, injure, or upbraid any man on account of his religions opinions. They also associate in honour of King William 111., Prince of Orange, whose name they bear, as supporters of his glorious memory. The Master and members of any Lodge into which any candidate has been elected must satisfy themselves, with all due solemnity, previously to his admission, that he possesses tiie following qualifications : —An Orangeman should have a sincere love and veneration for his Heavenly Father, an humble and steadfast faitn in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, believing in him as the only mediator between God and man. lie 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 cultivate the society of the virtuous, and avoid the company of tiie evil ; he should honour and diligently read the Holy Scriptures, and make them the rule of his faith and practice ; lie should love, uphold, and defend the Protestant religion, and sincerely desire and endeavour to propagate its doctrines and precepts; lie should strenuously oppose the fatal errors of the Church of Rome, scrupulously avoiding, by bis presence or otherwise, any act or ceremony of Popish worship ; he should, by all lawful means, resist the ascendancy of that Church, its encroachments and the extension of its power, ever abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions, or sentiments towards his Roman Catholic brethren ; he should remember to keep holy the Sabbath da’, and attend the public worship of God, and diligently train up his offspring and all under bis 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, swearing, and profane language, and use every opportunity of discouraging these and all other sinful practices in others ; his conduct should he guided by wisdom and prudence, and marked by sobriety and honesty; the glory of God and the welfare of man, the honour of his Sovereign, and the good of bis country, should be the only motives of his actions.”

In this Episcopacy and Presbytery, Wealcyan and Baptist, are perfectly agreed. Its wide and Apostolic arms ein‘ race all who belong! t° the Church of Christ. The Church which it disowns is the one which has been an apostate and a persecutor from the beginning. We claim then distinctly as essentially a part of the Orange Institution, that it has the kindest feelings of humauity and religion towards the Roman Catholic people ; while we hate the system, we lov6 the men. No doubt we have all heard from time to time the slander that Orangemen take an oath to wade “ knee-deep in popish blood.” I cannot say more than that such is utterly untrue, and altogether contrary to our rules and principles. Our enemies delight in painting us very black, but instead of this doing us liann, as they would wish, it does us good. My brethren, it helps to cement the brotherhood more closely together, and those who join are almost certain to be men who have counted the Cost. The best way for Orangemen to meet such foul slanders is to take no notice of them. Let each one strive to act consistently with the Christian principles laid down in our rules, and, with the help of God, we will live down the slanders, having the assurance that greater is He that is for us than all those that can be against us. Reasonable people will see that such falsehoods proceed from hatred and fright ; but neither the Roman Catholics nor the timid Protestants have any reason to be afraid of Orangemen. .Our principles are “ slow to take offence, and offering none,” but, while acting accordingly, it behoves us also to be watchful. Our enemies need not thinK that we are to be lulled to sleep by their threats, and allow them to quietly plot against and undermine our rights and liberties for which our forefathers shed their blood. No, sir, our motto is just tiie same now as that unfurled on the standard of William 111, of glorious memory. “ The Protestant religion and and the liberties of England we will maintain.”

Mr Jones was immensely applauded on sitting down. The Cornish Glee Singers then sang a glee, and it is quite needless to say that it was excellently 7 well done, so well indeed that they had to answer a rapturous encore. " The Rev. J. Bulleu then spoke. He said that he hailed this very large Protestant meeting with joy. It would indeed be hard if a number of peaceful citizens could not meet together for an evening’s amusement, and drink a cup of quiet tea, without, forsooth, a section of the community putting a wrong construction on their actions. If such things were to take place, we might fancy ourselves hack at the times of James, before the revolution took place, to which we owe the present stability of the British Throne and Constitution. And further, it is not because we assemble to celebrate a political birthday that we are to be considered as encouraging factions. Some of the principal rules of the Society had been read to them by Mr Jones, and were well worth remembering, and worthy of any right-minded man’s thoughts. Those who think seriously of these thinks will see that if any of the liberties of Protestants are lost, it will be the fault of those who neglect to maintain their rights. Lib*Tty we claim for ouiselves, and unhesitatingly yield the same in all others. Law and order should rule all things on earth, and if the law of God he taken from us, chaos will ensue. Not until the Bible tfiiull have obtained thr predominance >n earth, which it is sure to do, shall we have reached that stale when nations shall know war no more, Mr

Buller then proceeded very ably to demonstrate the effects that had been brought about by all the wars of modern times, in every case showing that much good had resulted from them all, and he trusted that England and America, than whom no two nations on Earth were more similar and more brotherly in customs, .language, etc., would not have to go to war, though, should they unfortunately do so, he said that no onus could attach to England in the matter, as the Ministers had done everything consistent with honour to preserve peace between the two nations. Mr Buller concluded his address amidst great applause from all present.

Miss Rowe then sang a song very sweetly, and the Band played a selection front “ Lucrezia Borina,” which was surprisingly well gone through. Brother Rae, W.M., next addressed the meeting, and said that they had met together to-night, not to exult over the views of those who did not agree with their principles, but to commemorate the memory of one of the best kings who over reigned in England. The manner in which the public had come forward showed in what esteem the Protestant' religion was held on the field. He (Mr Rae) would not occupy the meeting long, but would simply give a few facts relating to Orangeisin, as a religious and political society, for that it was such they all must know. He then gave a slight.resume of the start and progress of Orangeisin. The speaker also stated the events connected with the formation of the lodge on the Thames, and said that they were seeking to ally themselves with all good Protestants, and form an organisation for the good of their general religion. lie also referred to the attacks which had been made lately against the institution. He alluded to the Fenians, and asked why they interfered with the Orangemen ? as the latter never interfered with them, hut allowed them to enjoy themselves in their own quiet way. The speaker sat down amidst much applause. The choir then sang the anthem “ God be Merciful unto Us.”

The following programme was then gone through : —Recitation, Bro. Scott Hunter; Duet, “ Norma,” A. and W. Hunter, cornet and horn ; selection, Town Band, “ Wlier the Swallows ;” Song, Mr Shelton ; glee, Cornish Glee Singers. After this votes of thanks were passed to the ladies who had kindly assisted, as also a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting concluded by singing “God Save the Queen,” all standing up. Thus ended the first anniversary soiree of tl’.e Orange Lodge on the Thames, and it was certainly one of the most successful we have ever seen.