An Orangeman should have a sincere love and veneration for his Heavenly Father; a humble and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, believing in Him as the only Mediator between God and man. He should cultivate truth and justice, brotherly kindness and charity, devotion and piety, concord and unity and obedience to the laws; his deportment should be gentle and compassionate, kind and courteous; he should seek the society of the virtuous and avoid that of the evil.
He should honour and diligently study the Holy Scriptures, and make them the rule of his faith and practice. He should uphold and defend the Protestant religion and sincerely desire and endeavour to propagate its doctrines and precepts. He should strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome, and scrupulously avoid countenancing (by his presence or otherwise) any act or ceremony of Popish Worship. He should by all lawful means resist the ascendancy of that Church, its encroachments and the extension of its power, ever abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions or sentiments towards Roman Catholics.
He should remember to keep holy the Sabbath day, and attend the public worship of God, and diligently train up his offspring and all under his control, in the fear of God, and in the Protestant faith. He should never take the name of God in vain, but abstain from all cursing and profane language, and use every opportunity of discouraging those, and all other sinful practices in others.
His conduct should be guided by wisdom and prudence, and marked by honesty, temperance and sobriety. The glory of God and the welfare of man, the honour of his Sovereign, and the god of his country should be the motives of his actions.
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Photograph Details:
There are a number of items which people tend to associate with an "Orangeman", the sash, white gloves, umbrella and 'bowler hat'. Of these only the sash is an actual requirement.
In keeping with the Ulster Protestant ethos an Orangeman on parade tends to dress in his best suit and the gloves, hat and umbrella are really only accessories.
The sash, or more usually today, the collarette is Orange in honour of King William III, Prince of Orange, and is worn either as a sash diagonally across the shoulder and chest and returned, or as a collarette around both shoulders in a 'v' shape.
Whichever is chosen they will have identifiable ensignia such as the number of the Lodge the member belongs to, any office he holds in that Lodge and various symbols which depict his faith and heritage, such as the Open Bible.
The 'bowler hat' is associated with the Orange Order in the minds of many but it has no real significance. Its popularity rose when such hats were worn by the well dressed gentlemen many years ago and the tradition was retained. Today however the 'bowler' is worn by a minority of members.
The white gloves are again simply an accessory often worn by entire Lodges on parade. The umbrella is merely a practical consideration for any outdoor gathering in Ulster when rain is probably never far away! (GOLI)
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