"Over the past number of years a lot of books have been published about the Orange Order, many of them quite academic, " said Dr Hume.

"We thought it was time we told the story from the Orange Order's point of view.

"Our archives have been open to many researchers but we had this feeling we had all this information but something was missing from existing studies.

"Our aim is to provide a popularist book. The last time a book of this scale was written was in 1939 by RM Sibbett. This is not an attempt to replace that book but, since then, the trend has been to provide more accessible books."

An interesting feature of the new book is the world history of Orangeism. Beyond the Banners - launched last night in Carrickfergus Civic Centre - looks at countries where the Orange Order used to be, including Cuba, Gibraltar, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Hong Kong and Trinidad.

"We can see how in India the Orange arrived through a military lodge," said Dr Hume.

"In Trinidad an individual from Montreal brought it in and in South Africa British immigrants introduced it."

The book is packed with photographs from the Order's archives and museum.

"We have photos here of many books and reports that you are just not going to see anywhere else. It is like a potted visit to our archives," he said.

Help has also been contributed by Orange members from across the world, in particular Australia, England, Scotland and the US.

"It is a coffee table book. Unlike some weightier tomes it is designed to dip into," he said.

"Beyond the Banners shows that Orangeism is much more than the Twelfth of July. For many people it is a way of life, including faith, heritage, ethos and culture going back to the 1680s.

"We look at the benevolence of the Order, charitable giving, within and without. There is still Orange insurance in Canada, which originated in times when there was no state help to provide such things.

"We also support benevolence for orphan charities and students.

"Dr Barnardo, the founder of the famous children's homes, was a member of the Order."

Another interesting angle covered is the history of banners, regalia and artefacts, which Dr Hume describes as "much understudied".

"The tradition of bands and Orange halls on the landscape are also often taken for granted," he added.

"We look at Orange halls and what they mean in tradition. Very often they were the earliest community halls in their areas."

Beyond the Banners, written by Dr David Hume, Dr Jonathan Mattison and David Scott, costs £20. It's published by Claude Costecalde of Booklink in Holywood, and is on sale from the headquarters of the Orange Order and bookstores across the Province.