The History of The Orange Order
In 1688, when the conditions in Great Britain became unbearable under the tyrannical rule of King James II, the notables of England invited William, Prince of Orange, and his wife Mary, the daughter of James II, to come from Holland to defend the constitution and maintain the protestant faith.
After James had fled from England, William and Mary were proclaimed King and Queen as joint Monarchs. This began what is now known as "The Glorious Revolution", which included a military campaign in Ireland with victorious battles at Derry, Enniskillen, Aughrim, and most notably The Battle of The Boyne in 1690, which is still celebrated every year by Orangemen throughout the world on the 12th day of July. From this revolution came freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the bill of rights, and the parliamentary system of government, as we know it today.
The original Orange Association was established at Exeter Cathedral, in England, in 1688, when an Orange Document was signed by over 600 people pledging their support to William of Orange and the revolution.
Aftert the Battle of the Diamond on September 21, 1795, outside the Village of Loughgall, County Armagh, Ireland, the order was reorganized and formed into lodges for the defence of Protestantism and for the mutual defence, support, and protection of Irish Protestants. Since then it has had an abiding place in our History.
