The Royal Black Institution, also known as the Royal Black Preceptory, or The Imperial Grand Black Chapter Of The British Commonwealth is a Protestant fraternal society formed in Ireland in 1797, two years after the formation of the Orange Order in Dan Winter`s Cottage, Loughgall , County Armagh. The society is formed from Orangemen and can be seen as a progression of that Order although they are separate institutions. Members of the Order refer to each other as "Sir Knight" whereas in the Orange Order members are referred to as "Brother" or "Brethren". The Order's basis is the promotion of scripture and the principles of the Protestant Reformation. It has Lodges throughout the world, mainly in the major English speaking countries. In Ireland it holds a very colourful parade every year in the village of Scarva, County Down on the 13th July (the day after the Orange Order's 12th July celebrations) and often has as many as 100,000 people in attendance. The other major parade of the year is "The Last Saturday" held on the last Saturday in August at several location throughout Northern Ireland.

External links

• Royal Black Institution
• Orangenet
• Orange Chronicle