Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland

Media Release

ORANGE ORDER ENJOYS MEMBERSHIP BOOST IN REFORMATION YEAR

The Orange Order in Scotland has seen its adult membership increase dramatically in a year which marks the 450^th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation. The upturn has also resulted in the inauguration of two entirely new lodges, both of which will be on parade for the first time this Saturday (3rd July).

The Reformation Anniversary has given added zest to this year’s celebration parades. Specially commissioned vinyl banners will appear alongside the Order’s traditional oil-painted ones. These will proclaim the Order’s attachment to the dramatic events of 1560, when Scotland ditched the corrupt mediaeval Church and adopted the new Protestant ideas.

Ian Wilson, the Scottish Order’s Grand Master, will be guest speaker at the Glasgow march on Saturday when the city’s 182 lodges, accompanied by almost 100 bands, will process through the city centre to a rally on Glasgow Green. He will tell the gathering that the Order’s core Protestant principles are more relevant today than ever before in the organisation’s 200 year history.

He will say: “The open Bible carried at the head of every Orange parade is no empty gesture. It symbolises the Order’s commitment to the transforming power of the Christian Gospel and the religious liberties won for us by the Scottish Reformers and Covenanters. 1690 is a date powerfully associated with the Orange Order because of William of Orange and the Battle of the Boyne. But let’s not forget that 1690 was also the year that Scotland’s Covenanting struggle ended and the Church of Scotland was finally established and guaranteed in law.”

As the city lodges celebrate, a second big Orange march will also take place in Greenock, where 78 lodges and 50 bands from Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Argyll will rally at Battery Park. The following Saturday (10^th July) it’s the turn of 123 lodges and 90 bands from Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire to gather at Wishaw.

Sister Helen Whiteford, Worthy Mistress of Ladies LOL 184, Coatbridge presents a cheque for the tremendous amount of £2,670 to Sister Helyne MacLean, Grand Mistress and Secretary of the Scottish Orange Home Fund. The money was raised by Sister Glen and McCrone who took part in this years 'Great Scottish Walk'

LOCAL LADIES GROUP CHARITY CASH GIVEAWAY

Two charities were over the moon this week when they were presented with cheques raised by local members of the ladies branch of the Orange Lodge.

Each year the Lodge chooses a charity to be the benefactors of their fundraising efforts. This year, the ladies decided to nominate two charities and spread the goodwill a little bit further. The charities, MS Society Scotland and Breast Cancer Care, each received a cheque for £7,150.

The cheques were presented this week at the Ladies Annual Conference in Scotland held in Glasgow.

Speaking on behalf of the MS Society Scotland, Maureen Chalmers said,

“We are a completely self-funded organisation so we rely on generous donations such as this to keep providing the support we do.

“The money will be spent on the many and varied services that we provide. This ranges from direct support to sufferers, to training and advice for health workers.

“MS is the most common neurological disease that affects young people in Scotland. Scotland also has the highest incidence of MS in the world. This means that the work we do is very important and I am very grateful to the ladies of the Orange Lodge for their generosity.”

Speaking on behalf of Breast Cancer Care, Lorna Simpson said,

“It is said that nowadays, we will all know someone who has had personal experience of breast cancer. That could be a family member, friend or work colleague. At Breast Cancer Care we work with over 70 volunteers from right across Scotland to provide peer support and produce leaflets and information packs to anyone who asks.

“We also organise educational days and run helpline support as well as a range of other activities. As the leading provider of support and information in the UK, this amazing donation will be of great help to us in providing care and support to men and women throughout Scotland.

“All of our volunteers, both men and women have themselves suffered from breast cancer. This gives them an insight into the thoughts and fears of people who get in touch with Breast Cancer Care. Keeping our services running costs money which we need to raise ourselves. This donation today will go a long way to helping us help others.”

ENDS

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GRAND ORANGE LODGE OF SCOTLAND SIDELINED

BY FIRST MINISTER

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has criticised the First Minister for breaking promises made to involve them in drawing up plans to end sectarian bigotry in Scotland.

The First Minister today launched an ‘ACTION PLAN ON TACKLING SECTARIANISM IN SCOTLAND’. However, the Orange Lodge has never been asked to contribute in any way, shape or form to the plan.

Despite promises made at the Sectarian Summit held by the First Minister in February 2005 that there would be working groups established to take matters forward, the Orange Lodge has never been invited to take part in any groups or to comment on any group activity or reports.

It appears that other groups in Scotland who attended the Summit, including the Catholic Church, have also been ostracised by the First Minister and have joined in the criticism of the handling of this issue.

Grand Master of the Orange Lodge, Ian Wilson said,

“We are very disappointed that so little has happened since the summit held almost a year ago. We publicly stepped forward and offered to help and cooperate but to this day we haven’t been asked to get involved in any of the promised working groups or to contribute to the Action Plan being launched today.

“Indeed, we only found out on Thursday of last week that the First Minister had drawn up this Action Plan. We were advised of this in an email which informed us that we would not be invited to the launch of the document.

“If the First Minister is serious about tackling this issue in Scotland then he needs to start including, rather than excluding, different groups within Scottish society.

“Thus far, our only involvement seems to have been in providing photo opportunities for the First Minister. That has to end. We want to be involved in a serious way and we would like to reiterate our offer of help and cooperation to tackle this issue.”

ENDS

GRAND ORANGE LODGE OF SCOTLAND.

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland is disappointed to learn that there were 20 arrests after the annual 12^th July parade involving local lodges in Bridgeton, Glasgow. Strathclyde Police has since confirmed that they had very good relations with the organisers in the lead up to the event and that none of those arrested were members of the lodge, or band personnel, or in any way involved with the parade. We can be proud that our efforts to continue the excellent behaviour from those officially connected with the Orange Order has been maintained and can only express our sincere disappointment that a small number of the 1500 people who watched the parade have caused the police concern.

Robert McLean

Executive Officer

Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland

Olympia House, 13 Olympia Street Glasgow. G40 3TA

Tel: 0141 414 1418 Fax: 0141 414 1419

MEDIA RELEASE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MONDAY 24^th JANUARY 2005

ORANGE ORDER WELCOMES REPORT

Ian Wilson, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, makes the following comments on Sir John Orr’s Review of Marches and Parades in Scotland:

Scotland has been fortunate that someone of Sir John Orr’s stature and experience was available and willing to undertake this review, and I would wish to pay tribute to the thorough and professional way he has conducted it. We were delighted to meet with Sir John, to submit our opinions, to discuss our ideas and to share our experiences. As Sir John observes, marches and parades are a traditional way of life in Scotland, of which those of the Orange Order play a large part. Our celebration parades and rallies, giving pleasure to thousands of spectators, have been an integral part of Scottish culture for more than two centuries.

It is right that the regulations and practices surrounding marches and parades – whether traditional ones such as ours or those more recent on the scene – are regularly looked at and reviewed to ensure that they are planned and conducted within a framework which ensures the safety both of those parading and spectating. It is vital that all applications to parade are treated fairly and the criteria used are the same; and that the process of application and decision are understood by all, are transparent, and have the confidence of everyone involved – applicant, local authority, police, and community.

The sharing of best practice has to be welcomed and should ensure that all such parades and celebrations are conducted within a framework which creates a genuine partnership between those who organise a parade, the local Council who must regulate and license, the local police who must be content with the proposed route and public safety, and the local communities in which parades are held. We believe Sir John has delivered a measured and inclusive report that balances rights with responsibilities.

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland wholeheartedly welcomes the recommendations made by Sir John and hopes that all other affected organisations involved will do likewise. The recommendations must be seen as a complete package and must not be cherry picked. We would now expect any legislation arising from the report to reflect both the spirit and context of Sir John’s report, and we look to Ministers to give that assurance at the earliest opportunity. For our part we have no hesitation in pledging ourselves to work with the relevant individuals and bodies to ensure that these recommendations are adopted and implemented.