Rosemount Loyal Orange Lodge # 126

06/12/2026

The Brand new Grand Lodge of Canada Officers just voted into office with our very own County of Toronto Brother Mark Aiken as Grand Master

05/18/2026

Happy Victoria Day

05/17/2026

Picture of Queen Victoria. Wishing everyone a Happy Victoria Day Weekend.
May we remain loyal to the Crown.

05/11/2026

04/27/2026

Anyone know the history and significance of this picture.
Caption says “ In the Nick of Time “

04/12/2026

11 April 1689 - the only joint Coronation in British history as King William III and Queen Mary II are crowned.

03/18/2026

Very interesting thoughts and message for the interesting times we are dealing with at the present.

Weekly Bible Study (Week 11)
Oaths, Honesty, and Speaking the Truth (Matthew 5:33–37)

As we continue our Weekly Bible Study, we are thankful for all who read and reflect on God’s Word with us. In Matthew chapter 5, the Lord Jesus keeps exposing the difference between outward religion and a heart that is truly right before God. Today we look at His teaching on oaths and truthful speech.

Opening Prayer:
Let us pray together. Almighty God, Your Word is truth. Teach us to love truth, to speak truth, and to live honestly before You and before others. Cleanse our hearts from deceit and hypocrisy, and make our words reflect Your holiness. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus begins by reminding His hearers of what they had been taught:

“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths” (Matthew 5:33).

The Old Testament warned strongly against swearing falsely in God’s name. But many had begun to treat oaths as a way of making some words “serious” and other words less so, as if truthfulness only mattered occasionally.

Jesus then gives His solemn teaching:

“But I say unto you, Swear not at all” (Matthew 5:34).

He goes on to mention swearing “by heaven”, “by the earth”, “by Jerusalem”, or even “by thy head” (Matthew 5:34–36). People used these expressions to make themselves sound convincing while avoiding the serious thought that God hears every word. Jesus exposes this as empty and dishonest.

At this point it is important to say that the Lord is not forbidding every solemn oath in serious matters. Scripture speaks of lawful vows made thoughtfully before God. There are occasions in life, such as marriage vows, court testimony, promises connected with church or Christian service, or when joining the Orange Institution, where an oath is made carefully and reverently. In such moments, a person is not using an oath carelessly, but is making a serious promise before God and man. What Christ condemns is careless swearing, dramatic or showy language, and the use of oaths to cover falsehood. Any oath taken must be honest, sincere, and kept from the heart before God.

Jesus concludes with these words:

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37).

Christ’s followers should be known as people whose ordinary speech is truthful. We should not need exaggeration, dramatic formulas, or special phrases to make our words believable. A simple “yes” or “no” from a Christian ought to be trusted. This reflects the command of the Law:

“Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16).

From this passage we learn that God cares deeply about our daily speech. Lies, half-truths, broken promises and careless talk are not small matters. Christ calls His people to integrity, honesty, and truthfulness that flows from a heart renewed by grace.

Closing Prayer:
Lord God, forgive us for untrue and careless words. Help us to speak honestly, to keep our promises, and to reflect Your truth in all that we say. Make us people whose words honour Christ and build up others. We ask this in His name. Amen.

Next week, we will stay in Matthew chapter 5, looking at Jesus’ words about retaliation, enemies, and what it truly means to love as children of our Father in heaven.

03/15/2026

Even though it was a snowy morning in Eastern Ontario a great meeting was held yesterday at the Orange hall, with mostly young members in attendance in the city Orange Lodge.
A number of items of business and discussions were dealt with during the lengthy meeting.
We were finally able to conduct the re-election of Officers, with only a couple of changes. We would like to say Thank You to the Provincial Grand Orange Lodge of Ontario East and our Provincial Grand Master RWB Hodgson for his and their assistance with resolving an issue that created this delay.
The Royal Blue Degree was exemplified for Bro. Bates. Also two new members Mr. Boyd and Mr. North were welcomed into the Lodge and received the Orange Degree.
Plans were started to once again hold a July 12th event in the city this summer. Details will follow.

03/07/2026

160 years ago today — on March 7, 1866 — Prime Minister John A. Macdonald put out an urgent call for 10,000 men to mobilize to defend Canada against a potential Fenian invasion.

Rumours were rife that Fenian attacks across the U.S. border were imminent, possibly as soon as St. Patrick’s Day.

The volunteers of Ottawa’s Civil Service Rifle Corps were among the first to respond to the call.
The Fenians were a passionate brotherhood of Irish ex-pats who remained committed to Ireland’s independence, prepared to resort to violent means if necessary.

A large contingent of U.S.-based Fenians had armed up for the Union Army and had been hardened and emboldened by their Civil War experience.

They were now convinced that British North America, once captured, would be the bargaining piece needed to finally gain independence for Ireland.

Other Ottawa area volunteer units mobilized against the Fenian threat as well, including the Bells Corners Company and the Buckingham Infantry Company.

In April, the Fenians mounted an unsuccessful attack along the Maine-New Brunswick border.

In May, residents of nearby Prescott reported hearing the bugles of Fenian soldiers amassing across the St. Lawrence River in Ogdensburg. Volunteer militia were rushed by train from Ottawa but no invasion was attempted.

Ottawa’s volunteers were called back home to patrol the capital’s streets and guard the opening of Parliament.

This was the first session of the Parliament of the Province of Canada to be held in the new capital of Ottawa — and one of its last, with Confederation soon to eliminate this legislative body.

The parliamentarians quickly gave passage to emergency measures needed to deal with the Fenian crisis.

Further Fenian attacks were repelled in the Niagara region and south of Montreal.

The Canadian militia counted a total 32 dead and 103 wounded during the 1866 Fenian campaigns.

This, of course, was not the end of the Fenians. Two years later, D’Arcy McGee, a patriotic Irish-Canadian leader hated by the Fenians, was assassinated on Sparks Street.

Patrick Whelan, a Fenian, was executed for McGee’s murder in what would be Canada’s last public hanging.

Later Fenian border assaults were quelled in Quebec and Manitoba.

Were the Fenians, in fact, Canada's first terrorist threat? Phil Gurski, historian, author and retired CSIS analyst explores that question in a recent episode in our "Time Travelling with the Historical Society of Ottawa" series:

https://www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/resources/videos/time-travelling-series/time-travelling-with-phil-gurski-call-to-arms-the-fenian-threat

James Powell points out how the Fenian threat united British North Americans and actually strengthened support for Confederation:

https://todayinottawashistory.wordpress.com/2019/03/02/to-arms-the-fenians-are-coming

Image: Militia Volunteers from Metcalfe, Ontario, 1866, Frank Iveson fonds, Library and Archives Canada, PA-103906. Frank Iveson is seated centre front