Pomeroy True Blues Flute Band are affiliated to the local lodge of Pomeroy True Blues  Loyal Orange Lodge 293 whom are in Pomeroy District, County Tyrone. Throughout each year we lead LOL 293 on Church Parades and on the Annual Twelfth of July Celebrations. The Band and Lodge share an Orange Hall where our weekly band practice takes place and regular Orange Lodge meetings occur.  The hall which has been attacked many times in its history is also used by many youth groups and other community groups.


The Orange Order, also known as the Loyal Orange Institution, is the largest Protestant organisation in Northern Ireland, where it has a membership of 80,000. The membership of the Orange Order is worldwide, with members belonging to lodges in the Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, USA, New Zealand, Australia and West Africa.

The Orange Order was founded in 1795 after a Protestant victory at Loughgall, County Armagh, in what became known as the Battle of the Diamond. Orange "lodges" as we know them today did not come into being until 1795, when a small group of men gathered in the village of Loughgall and resolved "that at all times they would stand together, fight for the faith of the Reformed Church, and by all lawful means support, maintain and defend the Sovereign and Protestant Succession to the Throne, and to the utmost of their power keep the peace and public safety".

The Orange Order's name was chosen to commemorate the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James in the Battle of the Boyne on July 12, 1690. Portadown was at the forefront in adopting the new Orange organisation. Influential members in various lodges in the area felt that the time was right to establish a new District Lodge. Portadown Orange District LOL No 1 came into existence on 21 August 1796. The Orange Institution is a Christian organisation.



Orange Order parades are an essential part of Protestant culture and tradition. The organisation demonstrates their faith through parading - to give thanks to God for the democratic revolution in Britain in 1690 and the Battle of the Boyne. The Orange Order proclaims "Civil and religious liberty for all". The routes the parades take were established long ago, but some of the areas have since been subject to demographic changes, with Protestants moving out and Catholics moving in. The processions take place from Easter and throughout the summer. This period is often called the marching season.


The marches and parades are colourful occasions. Orangemen traditionally wear bowler hats and orange sashes. They carry banners and are most often accompanied by musical bands.The flags and banners are full of religious,cultural, and political symbolism depicting,biblical scenes,famous people or events in history and in themselves portray the rich cultural heritage of our people in picture form.Orange Parades are mostly commemorative. Various events in the history of the Ulster Protestant people are commemorated by parades that take different forms.These range from the solemn remembrance of the fallen at the Somme to the culture extravaganza that is the 12th of July commemorating the Glorious Revolution secured at the Battle of the Boyne. On July 11, on the eve of the Twelfth celebrations, bonfires are lit in Protestant areas throughout Northern Ireland. Lodges traditionally have monthly meetings, which normally begin with prayers or bible readings and conclude with the singing of God Save the Queen, the national anthem. The Orange Order acts as the focal point for many people's social lives in Northern Ireland. It is through the lodges that meetings, lectures, band practice and social events like dances are organised. There are also junior lodges and women's lodges.


The Orange Order has members both male and female, young and old, in many countries including England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Togo, Ghana and the USA. Traditionally the Orange Order is seen as a marching organisation. But much work goes on unseen, such as caring for orphans and supporting widows. The Orange Order has also supported numerous good causes including hospitals and hospices, as well as a multitude of charities and missions. That is in addition to individual contributions by many members. More recently the Orange Order has embarked on aid to churches in Eastern Europe and support for modern communication of the gospel overseas. The Orange Order has been encouraging young people, through bursaries, to develop their own business, commercial and industrial skills in order to improve the economy of Northern Ireland



Large bonfires are also lit on the night before the 12th of July to celebrate victory at The Battle of the Boyne


QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ORANGEMAN




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 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.



Apprentice Boys od Derry Orange Order Royal Black Perceptory
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