ORANGE SOIREE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 165, 14 July 1891, Page 2

ORANGE SOIREE.

An enthusiastic meeting was held last night in the Foresters' Hall, Karangahape Road, in connecbion with the anniversary of tho Orangemen. Tea was provided in the lower halt at 6.30 o'clock, the tables being presided over by the lady members of the Lily of-the Valley Lodge. Aboub 250 friends partook of tho. ample tea, which was provided by' Bro. Rolleston, of College Hill. After tea the hall was crowded by a largo thoR.W.G.M., Bro. Robert Farrell, presiding. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. -' . After an overture had been played on the piano by -Mrs McLeod,'. the Chairman delivered a short address. ' He said thab they had departed from tho , usual order of procedure ab these annual gatherings, having dispensed with; : the series;of resolutions usually passed. * Ib must be admitted that the Orangemen of Auckland and elsewhere had little need ab this - period of their existence to pass resolutions affirming bheir ■ loyalby to the Crown and unity to ? its extended empire. They could also claim thab the religious liberty now possessed by Roman Catholics and Protostants alike were the results of the principles of Orangeism—tho liberty of every man to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. He thought it would bo better for all if they heard more sermons like tho one preached on Sunday afternoon in the Choral Hall. He wished thab all Protesbanb minisbers and their congregations would become Orangemen and Orangewomen, and then the church union—about which they had heard and road so much lately—might become an accomplished fact, for Orangeism was the only equal platform for Protestants. It was to be regretted that so many ministers preached the Protestantism without sympathising wibh Orangeism. They admired their cause, but took exception to the forms of Orangeism—perhaps from the same cause as the editor of the Evening Star—because they knew so'little about ib. He was astonished that an editor of a paper like the Stak should have given utterance to such things as what appeared in Saturday's issue—statements which ho had no hesitation in declaring were not facts. (Applause.) It was a pity that aspersions should be cast upon such a loyal body as the : : Orangemen of Auckland. (Applause.) ;He would scorn -to belong to any socioty whose object was to persecute Roman Catholics or any other body on account of their religious belief. If it was required, the great gathering on Sunday at the Choral Hall showed that public sympathy was still with tho Orange Institution (applause), more especially when they considered the great counter attraction that there was elsewhere. He could not help thinking that such a gathering as that favoured the establishment of a United Orange Church, where they could learn something about the great Reformation of other days which was not preached about'at the present time. He could not help thinking that there was some hypocrisy in this ignoring of such an important movement. He could honestly affirm thab Orangeism pure and simple was just what was set forth in the printed rules that were placed in the hands of eacli candidate prior to admission, and those principles if '■ carried out would tend to make better men and women of all who became members of the Institution. Orangeism was the pure essence of tho doctrine, as taught and handed down from the Reformation. They were a loyal body of men who took a pride in the welfare of their Institution. If it was only known by tho outride world that Orangeism enunciated such grand principles as ib did, it would be still more respected. He was astonished to hear people say that Orangemen were holding out a red flag before the Roman Catholics. Id waß nob so, and he could testify that Orangeism had made a better man and a better father of himself. Ib made young men rospecb the daughters and wives of Orangemen as if they were bheir own sisters. It taught them to respect women. They also had another object in view, social companionship. When he started on Sunday ab the head of tho procession from tho. Protestanb Hall, ho was sorry, when looking at tho crowds on the pavemonb, to see amongst them many Orangemen who were no doubt carrying their regalias in their pockets. (Applause.) Ho liked to see men show which side they wero on. (Applauso.) They were a loyal body of men who took a pride in the heroic deeds of their ancestors. Here they were in a British colony, claiming British privileges under a British flag, and any church, minister or people who ■ cast blamo on them for so doing were well worthy of being watched, and their descendents would have little left to be proud of or keep jn remembrance. THE CONCERT. A pleasing programme was then gone through in a manner that reflected credit on tho performers. Mr Menzies sang " The Four Jolly Smiths ;" Mrs Edmonds, " Scotland Yet ;" Mr Kilpatrick, " Good Company ; " Mr W. J?. Forbes, " Gipsy John ;" Miss Walker, " Tho Winter's Story ; " Mr Taifc, Mary of Argyle;" Mrs Pick, "Carrissima;" Mrs Anderson, "Waiting;" Mr Vinnicombe. "Anchor's Weighed;" and Mr Grindrod, " The Warrior Bold." The following duets were also rendered : —" Larboard Watch," by Mrs Anderson and Mr Vinnicombe; "To the Woods,"by Mesdames Edmonds and Pick ; and "Night Attack," by Messrs Tait and Menzies ; Miss Grindrod recited " Nail tho Colours to the Mast," and "Aunt Tabikha;'' Mr Robertson recited "Corporal Dick's Promotion " in excellent style. Mr Collis also delivered a humorous Irish reading. Mr T. S. Gibbins moved a vote of thanks to all who had assisted. During an interval the Masters Taylor played "The Boyne Water" aud "Protestanb Boys" on the piano. A most enjoyable evening's entertainment was brought to a close by all joining in the National Anthem and giving three cheers for the ' Grand Master.