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​“And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Corinthians 13:13

 

As Orangemen we are obligated to cultivate truth, justice, kindness and charity. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Orange Institution, and indeed the wider ‘Orange family’ are involved in a host of charitable fundraising initiatives right across the organisation. Sometimes there are high profile national charities, and in other cases they are small local causes in need of support.

 

The Grand Master has in recent years highlighted a particular charity and encouraged members to support that cause. This initiative has encouraged support for a range of charities including Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, Action Cancer, Help for Heroes, Kidney Research and the Christian Institute. Most recently, funds were raised to support the work of Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer during 2024.

 

These initiatives have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds over the past decade. There are also countless examples of individual members, lodges and Districts involvement in fundraising initiatives – from concerts, barbeques, running marathons to leg waxing - and everything in between!

 

One notable initiative which received much justified recognition was the efforts of a group of Orangemen, mostly from Banbridge District, who undertook a series of challenges in order to raise support for Children’s cancer charities following the diagnosis, and tragic death of Adam Watson (9) from Leukaemia. The efforts of the ‘Hiking for Little Heroes’ group culminated in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – where they held a high-altitude Lodge meeting on the slopes of the highest free-standing mountain in the world. To date, that group alone has raised over £280k.

 

The pages of the Orange Standard and the numerous social media posts from Lodges capturing cheque presentations to various causes illustrate the ongoing charitable initiatives undertaken by our members and the selfless commitment to helping the lives of others.

 

Our members also generously support the work of our own Orange charities – particularly the Lord Enniskillen Memorial Orange Society which helps care for and support members and their families in times of tragedy and need. Members may also apply for educational bursaries and grants to support post-secondary educational pathways. This benevolence to widows, orphans and those unable to work through illness or injury is an often-overlooked benefit of Orange membership. For many years, charity has been and remains an important pillar of the Orange Institution.

 

Our members are motivated not only to help each other, but also to do their duty by helping the poor, weak and vulnerable – regardless of their background, religion or political affiliations.

 

Wor. Bro. Iain Carlisle, CEO GOLI

Orange Standard April 2025

A great time to join the Orange Institution!

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The latest recruitment initiative being spearheaded by the Grand Lodge Recruitment and Retention Committee will take place on Saturday, 19th April 2025. The initiative - entitled “The Orange Invitation” - will encourage all members to invite a friend, family member, colleague or neighbour who is not already a member, to become one on that date.

 

Chairman of the Recruitment and Retention Committee Wor. Bro. Keith Harbinson stated: “The wonderful thing about this venture is that every member from every level of the Institution can get involved. There is no specific skillset required, it is as simple as having a chat with a friend.”

 

The date has been chosen for its historical significance and it is hoped that the spirit of 1689 can be recaptured in 2025.

 

The Chief Executive of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland confirmed that the idea for this project came as a natural progression to recent growth within the Orange movement. Wor. Bro. Iain Carlisle said: “The Orange family continues to grow in many areas, and we wanted to provide a focal point for the increased interest in membership by providing a platform to continue that momentum.”

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Orange Standard April 2025