LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTIO.N

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1725, 14 July 1874, Page 2

LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTIO.N

SOIREE CELEBRATION OF No. 6.

Last night the anniversary meeting of the Orange Lodge No. 6 was held at St. George's Hall. • Tho hall was prettily decorated with ferns and emblematic devices. The refreshment tables were presided over by Meadames Hill, Ferguson, Tower, Crump, Jones, Dodd, Heldt, McNeill, Clarke, Scott, and other ladies whose names could not be ascertained. After the refreshment tables had been removed, the Tier. J. Hill took the chauy the Rev. Mr. Crump and Eev. Mr. Davis being also on the platform. The Rev. Chairman, in opening the real business of the meeting, expressed his satisfaction at the position he held relative to Orangfelsm, he (the speaker) being master of the Lodge under whose auspices they had assembled. The rev. ' gentleman referred to Sunday, the 12th; as being the anniversary of the battle of the Boyne, the day being observed by many Protestants, as that was a triumph for civil and religious liberty. King James was a man who, because of his sovereignty, claimed to be amenable-to no one for his actions. He displaced Protestants from positions of trust under government, and expressed his deter-

mination in a message to the "Romish See, to destroy Protestantism in England. James wa» unwise, as ho tried to force on his people a religion in which the people did not believe.' Judgo Jeffries, of legal historic memory, whose doinjis were a blot on the history of England, became Chancellor, but at the cost of 300 Protestant lives he had sacrificed to attain his position. The rev. speaker then proceeded to trace the events that had induced- the Protestants to invite Prince William of Orange to fight their battles, the flight of King James, and his arrival in France, still retaining at claim to the Crown of England. Tho speaker drew a vivid word picture of the landing of William in England, and with what enthusiasm he was received. He was acknowledged by historians to have been the greatest man of his day. The icy. chairman was continually cheered during the address, and concluded by remarking that he was much gratified at noticing that Orangeism was spreading rapidly in Scotland and in the continent of America.

The ltev. J. Crump in addressing the the meeting, said, it was thought by many that the society did. not set forth the true purpose of Orangeism, and that their only bond was hatred to those opposod to them in religious matters; He (the speaker) did not deny that there had been during the existence of Orangeism something not quite in accordance with the gospel, but Orangemen of the present day were not prepared to endorse what had been done but regretted its occurrence. He invited those without the. pale of the Orange Society to join, and if there was any-! thing in their rules that was contrary to the laws of the land then they were at perfect liberty to retire from the association. The Orange Associations had no difference in their real meaning—there; was n»t one meaning in their private and another for their public meetings. The cause of truth must triumph, and Christ must reign till all his enemiea have been overcome, "till the kingdoms of the world have become the Kingdom of Christ.

A selection of music "was given, when the Key. J. Davis spoke. He said he would like to speak of other battles than that of the Boyne tha* the chairman had so eloquently described, the result being that they could now read the bible openly without fear. One battle had been fierce, especially in Wickliffe's case, whose very bones had been dug up some years after his martrydom, and burnt, although it was possible that the wrong bones werei burnt. The rev. speaker stated he be-, lieved in Protestantism without deputies, a real personal acknowledgement of a belief in its doctrine.*, and urged upon his bearers the religious and social importance of perfect liberty for every one to be allowed to read the bible. Some excellent .vocal music was given by the Cornish: Glee Singers and others, Mr. Owen presiding at the pianoforte, and the proceedings closed with votes of thanks to the Chairman and other speakers, and to those who had furnished the excellent music. j OTHER LODGES. , A dance and supper at the Drill Hall, Beach Read, was the mode of celebration of Lodges Nos. 8, 12 and 13. There wasi a large company present, and the enjoy-: ment appeared to be general. An ample supply of provisions and refreshments of; various kinds was provided, and tho even-i ing passed pleasantly enough, a long programme of dances being gone through without any discomfort other than that resulting from a crowd in a room ill-suited; to the requirements of dancing. >