It was a truly glorious Twelfth this year, with the weather
smiling on the tens of thousands of Orangemen and their supporters
as they celebrated the 312th Anniversary of the Battle of
the Boyne.
Orangeism has always been noted for its resilience, its ability
to bounce back from adversity and to draw on the enormous
goodwill and support it enjoys from the Protestant population
of Northern Ireland.
That was proved to the full this year, and, in a B.B.C. radio
programme on Sunday, July 14, Billy Kennedy, the noted author,
historian and journalist put it so well when he pointed out
during the discussion that the Order’s strength does
not just lie in the fact that it could put over 70,000 Orangemen,
Orangewomen and Juniors on parade.
Billy Kennedy said the important factor that the extended
family and friends of each Orangeman on parade means that
up to half-a-million people support the Twelfth by their presence
at parades and demonstrations.
What other organisation in these islands can draw on such
support? It’s a moot point and one that should be borne
in mind by those who are so quick to dismiss the Orange Order
as an outdated and largely irrelevant organisation.
The truth is that in the two centuries since its formation
the Orange Order has had its difficult periods – the
mid-1800s when parades were banned is the most obvious example.
The Second World War, which happened in the lifetime of many
people living in Northern Ireland today was another example,
when parades did not take place.
Yet these two periods were followed by some of the most enormously
successful periods in the history of the Orange Order and
its sister organisation the Royal Black Institution. The same
thing is happening today, and judging by the huge success
of this year’s demonstration, and the size of the crowds
at the 19 demonstrations across the Province, the large bulk
of the Protestant people still put their faith and trust in
this illustrious Order.
There are enemies of Protestantism and evangelical and Reformed
Christianity today not just confined to the traditional one
of Roman Catholicism, secularism, atheism, and materialism
threaten this Province and indeed this nation, with their
Godless and anti-Christian messages, barren of any hope and
recipes for continued national decline, morally and spiritually.
The Orange Order stands four-square for the Bible, the Gospels,
and the total opposition to further inroads into the Lord’s
Day and the spread of the worst excesses of gambling such
as casinos, or the legalisation of any drugs, or the further
loosening of what laws remain governing the sale of alcohol.
True Protestantism is what the Order seeks to defend, along
with loyalty to the Crown and the union with Britain.
The Order also seeks to defend the right of all law abiding
people in this country, irrespective of their religion, and
also respects and supports better relationships based on mutual
respect for each other’s institutions, with our neighbours
in the Republic.
But this Twelfth to a large extent proved that the difficulties
of recent years have not dented the Orange Order’s appeal
to the Protestant people or the size of its parades. They
were massive, and it was noticeable that many, many young
men were on parade for the first time with their lodges.
The parades were disciplined and peaceful, as well as being
colourful, spectacular and enjoyable to the eye. The fact
that the sun shone brightly throughout the day – and
also at Scarva the following day – was an added bonus.
The crowds were out in huge numbers in Belfast, Newtownhamilton,
Carrickfergus, Lisburn, and every where else, and their behaviour
too was exemplary. Rarely has a Twelfth of July been celebrated
with such enthusiasm and with such gusto and fervour.
Here was an Order on the march, brimming over with confidence
and determination, but certainly not complacent or smug and
self-satisfied. There is a realisation within the Order that
stern challenges have to be met and that it will require the
utmost dedication and determination to face them successfully.
But July 12, 2002 was a hugely successful affair, and it
won many friends and admirers among the legions who watched
from the sidelines.
There had been dire warnings in some quarters, and forboding
about what the “Twelfth” might bring, especially
in troubled parts of Belfast and other areas of the Province.
Extreme republicans did their best to cause trouble, but it
was minimal compared to what had been feared.
The police and army did a fine job, the Orangemen refused
to be distracted or provoked, and their supporters went out
to enjoy the day and ignore the taunts from the republicans.
Most Roman Catholics also refused to be involved in the orchestrated
trouble-making “protests” and are to be commended
for doing so.
In short, this was one of the best Twelfths in years and
it was a moral-booster in every sense of the word – an
Orange spectacular which proves that the Order is in fine
fettle and in a position to increase its appeal and its membership.
The aim in the coming year must be to persuade many of those
men who turned up to watch and to support the Order by their
presence at parades to go one step further and take out membership.
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