Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland

Eighth Annual Awards Dinner 4th November 2011

Winner

Lodge of the Year

Son's of the Conquerors LOL 162

Member of the Year

Christine McCrone, LLOL 184

Lifetime Achievement

Jean McFarlane, LLOL 127

Media Statement – 09 December 2010

Orange Order dismay at Glasgow City Council’s illegal parade policy

Commenting on today’s decision by Glasgow City Council to implement a new discriminatory and illegal parade policy, Edward Hyde, the County Grand Master said,

“Glasgow City Council has made it perfectly clear that this new policy is aimed directly at the Orange Order. This is religious discrimination. Furthermore, their attempts to prevent free assembly are completely illegal under European Human Rights legislation. We have the right to celebrate our own Christian beliefs just as any other organisation has the right to celebrate theirs. Just because a handful of politicians decide that they don’t agree with our beliefs and values doesn’t give them the right to banish us from our own City Centre.

For decades, Orangemen have made positive contributions to our great City whilst faith has been a strong part of Scottish culture for centuries. Records show that Orange Parades in the City of Glasgow were first held in 1821. The lodges have paraded through the City each year since that first parade 189 years ago. Yet today, the City Council wants that long tradition and history to be shattered. Our 10,000 members who live within the City of Glasgow are now to be banned from parading in their own city centre. This is something we do not accept simply because not everyone shares our views and opinions.

Glasgow City Council seems to have forgotten that it is their duty to find ways to make free assembly possible, rather than find ways to prevent it. The European Court of Human Rights has made clear that there is a positive duty on an authority (i) to take reasonable and appropriate measures to enable lawful assemblies and marches to proceed peacefully and (ii) to take adequate measures to prevent violent acts directed against the participants in an assembly or march, or at least limit their extent. [This duty arises out of Article 11 which confers the right of peaceful assembly and association. See United Macedonian Organisation Ilinden and Ivanov v. Bulgaria (2007) 44 E.H.R.R. 4.]

It seems however that the City Council plan to ignore Human Rights legislation claiming that the disruption to city life should outweigh an individual’s freedom of assembly. We dispute that our parades cause a significant disruption. Our July Boyne Celebration parade is a classic example. This is the largest event that we hold in the City. Yet, the time taken to parade past any single given point in the City is one hour. So the disruption is one hour, on one day, in any one year. We do not believe this can constitute a disruption serious enough to overrule human rights laws and legislation.

The City Council also claim that the cost to police resources in attending our parades is too great. This is a flawed and out of date argument. Earlier this year we agreed new policing arrangements with Strathclyde Police that will effectively lead to a massive reduction in the number of officers and resources deployed. The Police have informed the City Council of this new policy and it has been widely reported in the press. For the Council to continue to use old, out of date figures and policies in support of their new policy is dishonest and malicious.

The lodge has always been willing to discuss our parades with the City Council yet our requests for dialogue go unanswered. Instead we are ignored which leads us to believe that some Councillors are determined to pursue a sectarian and confrontational agenda to discriminate against the Orange tax payers of this city.

Our policy of positive working with the City Council seems to have faltered and this is something we must review. This may of course have a knock on effect on how we notify the Council about our parades. Furthermore, we have significantly reduced the number of parades we hold in the naive belief that this would be seen as a positive step by the City Council. Again this is something we must review.

To date it seems that our views have been ignored and we believe that we will once again need to resort to the courts and Human Rights legislation to protect our freedoms. One thing is for sure; we have been part of Scottish life since 1798 and are older than most political parties in Scotland. If a handful of narrow minded people in the City Council think that we are ready to curl up and go away then it is time for them to think again. In a modern multi-cultural society, no-one should be bullied into giving up their right to celebrate their own traditions and beliefs.”

Henry Dunbar, the newly elected Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland said,

“The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland fully supports our Lodges and members in Glasgow and we will give them every support in their fight with Glasgow City Council.”

-ENDS-

Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland

Press Release

15^th November 2010.

Glasgow Orangemen Protest at lack of Consultation.

Six weeks ago Glasgow City Council issued, in the disguise of a consultation document, proposals that would see major changes to the rights of parading organisations in Glasgow. The stakeholders were presented with a series of proposals that would have a major impact in the way the Orange Order celebrates Orangeman’s Day, recognised by City Council as the first Saturday in July. The Orange Order has existed in this City since 1813 and has paraded through the city centre for 189 years. This event is the biggest and most colourful of any procession of its kind and is enjoyed by huge numbers of spectators and tourists.

We believe, as Orangemen and women, that our parades are intrinsically linked to our culture and community, be it a commemoration parade to honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in war or the annual celebration of William’s victory at the Boyne - a turning point in our history in the struggle for civil and religious liberty

We are here today to expose and resist by lawful means the efforts of Glasgow City Council to deprive or diminish the parading culture of the Orange Order in Glasgow. As taxpayers of this great city the Orange Lodge members are entitled to fair representation and equal treatment.

In a word, our basic human right to freedom of assembly.

The protest will take place today at the City Chambers between 10.00am and 12.00noon.

Further information:

Edward Hyde

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

_______________

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.