Loyal Orange Institution of the
United
States of America, Inc.
_________________________
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, in
Jesus Christ, His Son our only Mediator, in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and
in the Bible, His revealed will.
We believe in the right of private judgment, and in the untrammeled
freedom of opinion; that intelligence promotes the establishment and conduces to
the perpetuity of good government; that public schools are essential to the
safety of the state; that such schools should be free from ecclesiastical
influence and control; that persons disloyal to the government or to the public
schools should be rigorously excluded from teaching therein.
We
believe that primary temporal allegiance is due to the government which protects
our lives, liberties and property; that ecclesiastical authority should not be
permitted to interfere with civil government, nor meddle with the relations of
the citizen and the state; that coercion of the citizen in the exercise of his
rights and franchises, under the guise of spiritual or religious authority,
should be punished as a crime against the state; that it is the duty of the
citizen to defend the constituted authorities and institutions of the country
against corrupt and inimical influences, as well as against armed assailants, to
the end that our glorious heritage of freedom may be transmitted unimpaired to
posterity.
We
cherish the memories of noble men of every age and country, who have contributed
to establish civil and religious freedom for the people. Among those worthy to
special honor, we place Wycliffe, Knox, Luther, Melanchthon, Coligny, the
ãPilgrim Fathersä, William of Orange, President of the Dutch Republic,
Washington and Lincoln, and all other heroes in the same cause. Such names are,
to us, an inspiration to noble endeavors, and to untiring vigilance in
perpetuating the institutions purchased by them with blood and treasure.
Our brotherhood is as broad as humanity, and extends to most countries of
the globe in some form. The ãPilgrim Fathersä first planted our principles
on these shores. The Constitution of the United States may be regarded as the
epitome of what we hold and teach. We have no secret principles or hidden aims.
The members of the Order are known in all countries as Orangemen, in honor of
the noble William of Orange, who did so much for the cause of universal liberty.
We, in the United States, where every one loyal to our government and
institutions is necessarily an Orangeman at heart, though he may not wear the
regalia, adopt the honored name, because of its universality.
To propagate and defend these principles, we are united by a solemn
covenant of friendship and fraternal fidelity. We constitute a brotherhood whose
bond of union is ãJustice, Truth and Righteousness.ä As a fraternity, we aim
to practice the precepts of our profession, to relieve those who are in
distress, to help the widow and the fatherless, and to encourage virtue,
industry, frugality and patriotism.
Orangeism in USA | Structure of Orangeism in USA | The Orange Foundation | Declaration of Principles | Qualifications for Membership
Birth of the Orange Order