The following resolutions were among those affirmed by the Orange Order yesterday:
Faith: As Orange brethren, we are proud of our Protestant Reformed evangelical faith . . . . While deploring the misuse of Protestant as a secular, social and political term, we are most concerned by the weakening of Protestantism, especially by those who fail to stand fast in their faith.
We regret the conduct of those Protestant clergy and laity who are less concerned with the promotion of the faith of their particular denominations than with the ecumenism which brings them into close relations with Roman Catholic clergy and laity.
Loyalty: That we, the Orangemen assembled in commemoration of the 310th 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.
The result of the referendum in Australia brought pleasure to all who value the constitutional monarchy.
. . . . It is probable there will be further campaigns in the Queen's realms to remove the Monarchy, oblivious of the fact that the Sovereign provides the ultimate protection of liberties of the citizen.
State: Although the Northern Ireland Assembly has been reinstated, there is no indication Sinn Fein/IRA has any intention of decommissioning weapons and explosives.
When, in the near future, that refusal is maintained, there is an obligation upon unionist members of the Assembly and the Executive to act in accordance with their pledges and withdraw from a position unacceptable to the greater number of law-abiding citizens.
In that event, the Orange institution will support Her Majesty's government and our elected representatives in parliament in devising a workable, modest system of governance similar to that granted to the people of Wales.
Notwithstanding, we remain committed to the maintenance of the Union and the defence of our Unionist heritage.