Delegates of Grand Orange Lodges from around the world meet in a different country every three years for consultation and discussion on matters of common interest. The weeklong meeting also affords the opportunity for Orangemen of different nationalities and backgrounds to socialize and to get to know each other. The delegates to this triennial meeting constitute the Imperial Orange Council. (Some prefer to call it the World Orange Council.) The Council has no legislative, judicial, or executive authority. However, in the rare event of a dispute between two or more Grand Lodges, the Council may, if requested, provide mediation and/or arbitration to resolve the issue.
The Council elects a number of
Officers. The principal
officers are the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, who provide
continuity between meetings, and who assist the Grand Lodges of
host countries in coordinating arrangements for upcoming meetings.
Other Imperial Council Officers, including an Imperial Grand Master,
are also elected. While Imperial Council offices do not have any
executive authority, they carry high prestige and influence throughout
the Orange world.
American Orangemen take an active
role in the work of the Council. A Past Grand Master of the Grand
Orange Lodge of the USA, Brother Frederick E. Stewart, Jr., was
the President of the World Orange Council for the 1997 2000
term. Brother Ian Wilson, Grand Master of Scotland is the current
Council President. Brother Robert Saulters, Grand Master of the
Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland, holds the office of Imperial
Grand Master. The Imperial Secretary is Brother John McCrea, JP,
Past Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the Imperial
Treasurer is Brother David Griffin, Grand Master of the Loyal
Orange Association of Canada.
The World Orange Council will next meet in Glasgow, Scotland,
in July 2003.