David Carson is Chairman of the United Protestant Council. In October 2001 the Royal Black made a representation to United Protestant Council (an evangelical umbrella group embracing different Reformed organisations within the UK) to affiliate with it. After a thorough enquiry into the practices and teaching of the Black (which took years) this application was declined on biblical grounds. As Chairman, Mr Carson supervised this in-depth investigate.
The Royal Black Preceptory is a very familiar organisation in Ulster Loyalist circles, as well as in places like Scotland and Liverpool. What is not known, except to those in the organisation, is its history and secret rituals. In fact, probably very few of its membership know that it was outlawed by all the Orange Grand Lodges until the beginning of the last century.
The author of this work, Paul Malcomson has lifted the veil of secrecy that has hitherto kept the history and rituals of this organisation hidden from public knowledge since its formation. He has done a great service to Evangelical Protestantism by exposing the secret rites at the heart of, what many consider to be, the most respectable and Christian of the Loyal Orders. There will be many, among them Evangelicals, who will object to this book even being written. However, surely it is far better to bring the rituals of this order out into the light of day for all to see, and where Christians can test it with the light of Scripture.
Mr Malcomson, in this publication, has done a great deal of detailed research so that all the information contained in this book is backed up with the sources from which it was extracted. Mr Malcomson proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Black degrees have their roots in the Roman Catholic Knights Templar. He demonstrates that the Knights of Malta, the Jesuits and the Freemasons use very similar rituals.
To most Ulster Protestants, the Blackmen, as they are commonly called, are the most well ordered and well presented of all the Loyal Orders. Members of the organisation claim it is the most scriptural. But is this the reality? As one studies the various degrees one is struck by the misuse of Scripture, the misapplication of Scripture and the contravening of Scripture.
I would strongly encourage every Protestant, especially those who claim to be Evangelical, to carefully, and with an open mind, read this book. They will find that things are not as what they appear to be. Having then read the book, and in the light of Holy Writ considered its contents, they must then decide where they take their stance. They must not allow a sense of misplaced loyalty make them disloyal to their Lord and Master whom they claim to love and serve.
The battle cry of the Reformers was “Sola Scriptura.” It is therefore the responsibility of all who call themselves Protestant to make sure that whatever they do or whatever organisations they are involved with do not contravene biblical precept. History teaches us that as denominations and organisations depart from the Word of God they lose their strength and ability to withstand the machinations of their enemies.
For more information:
Irish News
Secrets of Royal Black Institution revealed (Irish News report on Inside the Royal Black Institution – 17th September 2009)
Banbridge Chronicle
Macabre rituals detailed in book (Banbridge Chronicle story on Inside the Royal Black Institution, 16th Sept 2009)
Black Response to this story by prominent County Down Blackman Drew Nelson (who is also Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland)
Evangelical response to Mr Nelson from Paul Malcomson
Full Evangelical Truth response to Blackman Drew Nelson
Roy Garland (Irish News)
Roy Garland (Irish News) response to book – “Fundamentalists, not Jesuits, infiltrated the loyal orders”
John Coulter (Irish Daily Star)
John Coulter (Irish Daily Star) claims this book is “the best piece of anti-Protestant propaganda since the notorious Proclamation of the 1916 Easter Rising” ( 1st December 2009)
Reviews of Inside the Royal Black Institution from Rev. Canon Brian T. Blacoe (former Deputy Grand Chaplain of the Royal Black Institution), Malcolm McClughan (former Royal Black Lecturer) and David Carson (Chairman of the United Protestant Council).
A book for Blackmen to seriously consider by Cecil Andrew of Take Heed Ministries.
The Royal Black Institution and British Israelism
United Protestant Council reject the “Royal” Black Institution