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Outreach
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternity with members throughout the world. separate Grand Lodges are found in Scotland, England, the United States of America, West Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Our name comes from William III, Prince of Orange, and is kept because his victory over dictatorial power laid the foundation for the evolution of Constitutional Democracy in the British Isles.
Support for William of Orange in the British Isles led to the formation of Orange Societies to commemorate his victory at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690, but the largest and longest lasting groups were the Boyne Societies in Ireland.
The Orange Institution was formed in 1795, following the culmination of attacks on Protestants in County Armagh at the Battle of the Diamond, in which Protestants routed those who had attacked them and their properties. After which it was decided to form an organisation which would protect Protestants. This body, drawing on existing Orange Clubs in the neighbourhood, was named the Loyal Orange Institution.
In modern times the Loyal Orange Institution continues to function, with thousands of members in Ireland and many others across the world. Today defending Protestantism is not so literal as it was in 1795, but it requires us to take a stand for truth in an age of secularism and in order to defend our culture and traditions. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland was established in 1798.
We hope you will learn more about us and the Orange tradition through this website.
Christian Faith
The Orange Institution is a Christian organisation Christ-centred, Bible-based, Church grounded and firmly rooted in the Protestant Reformation.
As Orangemen our trust is in God and our faith and dependence is in Jesus Christ, the saviour and Lord of mankind. Our purpose is to maintain the Christian faith by word and deed: to propagate and defend that faith.
Parading Tradition
Some ten months, after its formation, the Orange Order held its first Boyne Commemorative Parade on 12th July 1796 at Gosford, outside Markethill, County Armagh.
The concept of parades was a feature for many years, long before the formation of the Orange Institution.
Orange Parades are commemorative and various events in the history of the Institution are commemorated by parading and take different forms. These range from the solemn remembrance of the fallen at the Somme to the cultural extravaganza that is the 12th July, commemorating the Glorious Revolution secured at the Battle of the Boyne.
Charitable Work
The Orange Order is deeply committed to helping those in need. Charitable giving is an essential part of Orangeism and it is not insular. Certainly, we have our own charities, but we also help to raise large sums of money for various deserving causes such as equipment for local hospitals, supporting Children’s charities and "third-world" relief.
Of course, we do not only give financially we also give of our time and talents. It is central to our ethos that as part of the community we provide a service to that community.
Annually the Order raises tens of thousands of pounds through its collections at church parades and similar functions to assist those in need.
As well as the established Grand Master’s Charity Appeal, the Institution has many established charities offering support to the wider Orange family