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A PUBLICATION OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ULSTER(October 1999 Issue)INTRO … Mr. Malcomson's book undoubtedly highlights a very unpalatable element within Orangeism. NO NEW ISSUE This is no new subject, as is evident by the author's quotations from many articles and books by evangelical writers. Christians, those who were Orangemen as well as those who were not, have written against the particular ritual, which is the main subject of Mr. Malcomson's book, from early last century up until the present time. Bible-believers have always been opposed to the ritualistic paganism of Freemasonry and all that pertains to it. Orangeism, with its ritualism, in this matter bears a close resemblance to Freemasonry. MAJORITY The author claims that 95% of Orangemen have been initiated as Royal Arch Purplemen and that every member of the Royal Black Institution as well as the Independent Orange Order, is likewise an initiated Purple man. That means that the vast majority of those belonging to the Loyal Orders have been participants in a ritual which the author, like many before him, says is pagan in its origins, irrespective of the attempts to give it some veneer of "Christianity" by the employment of phrases and terms from the Word of God. The book details what is claimed are the exact procedures used in initiation into the Royal Arch Purple Order. If the book is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt it, then no Christian should submit himself to such a pagan ritual. Those being initiated become involved in a denial of gospel truth that beggars belief. This can not rest easily upon any Christian's conscience. It must surely trouble those who are true Christians and who have submitted themselves to this ritual. I cannot believe that any Christian who has been initiated into this Order can look clinically at this initiation rite without a sense of shame both for its anti-Christian character and its plain foolishness. It is at best schoolboy tomfoolery of the lowest order and, at its worst, bordering on the occult. REFUTE Unless Christians who belong to the Royal Arch Purple Order can refute Mr. Malcomson's claims and those of successive Christian writers, then they must find it very difficult to justify a claim that they have God's approval for their membership of an organisation that engages in such a ritual. Editor - Rev. Ivan Foster Back to reviews Email us
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