whether the violent outrages committed by the low and ignorant
men who belong to their body, are defensible by the regulations which
are laid down for their guidance.

"On looking over the general declaration of the objects of the
institution, one is certainly struck by the fairness, and liberality,
and moderation, joined to a becoming avowal of attachment to the
Protestant religion and the throne, which it breathes. Here, however,
it is, _verbatim et literatim_, in its authentic shape, with all that is
good or evil in it laid clearly before you. I deem it right, however, to
preface it by the greater portion of a short but significant Report, to
which are prefixed the following memorable names:--

"'At a meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, November 29, 1798.
Present:--Thomas Verner, Grand Master; J. C. Beresford, grand secretary;
R. C. Smith, jun., deputy secretary; H. A. Woodward; J. S. Rochfort; T.
F. Knipe; Samuel Montgomery; Harding Giffard; William Richardson; John
Fisher; William Corbett; W. G. Galway; Francis Gregory. Harding Giffard
and S. Montgomery, Esqrs., reported as follows:--

"'Having been honored by the Grand Lodge with instructions to revise and
select a proper system of rules, for the government of Orange Lodges, we
beg leave to make a report of our progress.

"'We are happy in being able to say, that in our duty upon this
occasion, we received the greatest assistance from the experience of the
Grand Master of Ireland, and his Deputy Grand Secretary, who did us the
honor of imparting to us their sentiments.

"'Encouraged by their help, we have ventured very materially to alter
the shape of the confused system which was referred to us preserving the
spirit, and, as much as possible, the original words, except where we
had to encounter gross violations of language and grammar.

"'The general, plan of our proceeding has been this, we have thrown what
are, in our opinion, very improperly called the six first general rules,
into one plain short declaration of the sentiments of the body.

"'Next in order we have given the qualifications of an Orangeman,
selected from the Antrim regulations, and the rather, as it breathes
a spirit of piety which cannot be too generally diffused throughout an
institution, whose chief object, whatever political shape it may assume,
is to preserve the Protestant Religion. ******

"'Samuel Montgomery, "'Henby Giffard. '"Nov. 20, 1798."

GENERAL DECLARATION OF