Behind Closed Doors - the Hidden Structure Within the Orange Order [the Royal Arch Purple Order] Examined from an Evangelical Perspective - Softcover

Malcomson, W.P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0953587304 ISBN 13: 9780953587308

Publisher: Evangelical Truth, 1999

Synopsis

An examination of Secret Society - the Royal Arch Purple from an evangelical (Christian) perspective.

About this title

Review

"This book provides an evangelical assessment of what the author terms "the hidden structure within the Orange camp", namely the Royal Arch Purple Order. Although separate from the Orange Order in Ireland, (but not in other countries, nor from the Independent Orange institution), it is reckoned that around 95% of Orangemen also take the RAP degree. The RAP is an oath-bound secret society which claims to support the Protestant faith. As Malcomson shows in great detail, however, much of its ritual and practices are derived from Freemasonry and ultimately from paganism. In many respects it presents a counterfeit gospel and all through the book the author is careful to set out the truths of Scripture which the RAP so blatantly contradicts. The examination is thoroughly carried out and Malcomson's concern is both that believers would come out of the RAPO and that the unsaved would turn to Christ for salvation. Only one question remains : why would any true Christian want to be a member of such a body?" -- (THE COVENANTER WITNESS - Magazine of the Reformed Presbyterian

"This explosive book - behind closed doors - is a must for anyone interested in Orange, or Northern Ireland, affairs. The popular book, which is written by former Orangeman Paul Malcomson MA, goes 'behind closed doors' and exposes for the first time publicly the highly secretive and deeply ritualistic practices of the Orange Order. The successful campaign by the author over recent years has seen many Orangemen resign from the Order." -- Evangelical Truth News, 08/04/00

... Mr. Malcomson's book undoubtedly highlights a very unpalatable element within Orangeism.

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.

`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. -- The Burning Bush - A Publication Of The Free Presbyterian Church Of Ulster, October, 1999

An explosive new book published today reveals to the public for the first time the practices and bizarre initiation rites of the mysterious brotherhood, the Royal Arch Purple Order. Entitled Behind Closed Doors, it has been written by a former member of the order, 33-year-old Co Down man Paul Malcomson. Neil Johnston reports. In the book, which has taken him seven years to research and write, he looks at the Royal Arch Purple Order from an evangelical point of view - he himself is a born again Christian. In the book, Mr Malcomson describes the inauguration ceremony as follows: "The oath-bound Royal Arch Purple aspirant is prepared for initiation in typically Masonic manner, by being stripped of much of his clothes. "He is divested of his coat and vest, collar and tie, shoes and socks. One shoe is then placed on the candidate's left bare foot, and the legs of his trousers rolled up above the knee, his left breast being bare. "The candidate is then blindfolded and a piece of purple ribbon is fastened to the front of the candidate's shirt or other garment. "Clearly, the Arch Purple initiate by participating in such a ceremony is aligning himself with those initiated into the mysteries throughout the centuries. -- Belfast Telegraph, June 17th, 1999

Man lifts lid on secrets of Arch Purple Order by Paul McKillion A FORMER member of a secret society intimately linked with the Orange Order yesterday revealed the bizarre and degrading "unchristian" oaths and rituals which intimidate members . Paul Malcolmson said he was exposing the underground world of the Royal Arch Purple Order in his book Behind Closed Doors to "break through the veil of mystery" which surrounds the order. An evangelical Protestant, Mr Malcolmson said he believed the order's rituals were "incompatible with the Protestant faith" and wanted to let members of the Orange Order "know what they were getting into" before joining the shadowy group. -- Irish News, June 18th, 1999

Paul Malcomson has been campaigning in Northern Ireland to persuade fundamentalists in the Orange Order to throw away their sashes and bowler hats. A born-again Christian Loyalist, he now poses a bigger threat to the Protestant organisation than the fiercest nationalist residents' groups. Malcomson recently published a book, Behind Closed Doors, which claims to lift the lid on the Orange Order, which claims 80,000 members in Scotland. He hopes the book will have a similar effect on the reputation of the Orange Order as The Brotherhood did on the reputation of the masons. -- The Observer, Oct. 24th, 1999

From the Publisher

This amazing book, and the meetings the author has conducted on the subject over this past few years, has rocked the Orange world in Ireland and has resulted in the resignation of scores of good Christian men from the Institution. The author, Paul Malcomson MA, a committed Christian, is a former member of the Royal Arch Purple Order who resigned from the organisation several years ago on Scriptural grounds. Being aware of the great ignorance which surrounds many of the practices and teaching of the Order he undertook an in-depth study of the institution from a Christian perspective. With much research, over the years, he discovered that many of the practices and teaching to have originated in Pagan Masonry.

The authors overriding desire on this matter is to see men separate from such secret societies and commit their lives totally to the cause of Christ and the open spread of His infallible Word.

Like others in the past who have taken an unambiguous stand for God's Word, the author has come under deep opposition from those who would oppose his strong separated stand. Furthermore, like any Christian who stands against the evil encroachments of secret societies, he has been slandered and defamed from one side of his homeland to the other. Nevertheless, Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you"

'Behind Closed Doors' explains, "Obtaining any useful information on the highly ritualistic Royal Arch Purple initiation is fraught with many difficulties due mainly to the fact that both the Orange Order and the Independent Orange Institution are secret societies which zealously guard their secrets and mysteries from the uninitiated. It is fair to say they have succeeded in guarding their practices, teaching and symbolism over the years where even Freemasonry has failed. Published material on the degree is therefore rare."

Not only has many men resigned from the Royal Arch Purple Order recently from right across the evangelical family but many more have been thwarted from joining this mysterious order through the reading of this book. The trumpet has indeed been sounded! As no one is aware of the demeaning character of this ceremony before being initiated, it is imperative to warn young Protestants males (the only people eligible to join) before joining.

This book addresses the important subject of ritualism within the domain of the Church and outlines how the "Reformation dealt a shattering blow to ritualism within the Church because the Reformers believed in the supreme authority and simplicity of the Word of God. To such an end they purged out all the ritualistic false practices of Rome and replaced them with a simple living faith in the risen Lord." Lorraine Boettner in his book 'Roman Catholicism' explains: "Protestantism has the truth, due largely to its emphasis on the reading and study of the Bible. That truth is set forth as a life to be lived, not as a formula or a ritual. Its emphasis is upon a change of heart and a life of fruitful service" (p. 297).

This elaborate, highly ritualistic, Arch Purple initiation clearly belongs far outside the bounds of evangelical Protestantism. Such an outrageous theatrical display becomes a barrier to truth for the initiate rather than an appropriate channel to reach him. This type of nonsense is contrary to the traditional mode of service that Protestants have always enjoyed. In no place in Scripture do we see any semblance of instruction for believers to behave in such an unseemly manner. As evangelicals we must therefore oppose such evil encroachments. God's Word says: "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32).

Edition details

• Publisher: Evangelical Truth
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0953587304
• ISBN 13: 9780953587308
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160