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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Orange Standard

Order Still Vibrant And Crucial To The Future Of Unionism

Article 4 ~ September 2003

Normally a comment by a Southern Irish writer on the future prospects of the Orange Order would hardly merit a second thought, writes 'Observer'.

So there is a temptation to dismiss warnings of "doom for the Orange Order" attributed to leading Dublin writer and historian Ruth Dudley Edwards out of hand. But Edwards is one of the few Southern writers to express positive feelings about the Orange Order, and in recent years, during the height of the Drumcree controversy, she was spot on in her comments on Sinn Fein/IRA's plan to demonise the Orange Order. Ruth Dudley Edwards is one of those few Southerners prepared to acknowledge that there is a legitimate Orange culture and one which deserves to exist.

But her remarks reported in the 'Impartial Reporter' on August 7, in which she supported the view of Sam Foster against those of Jeffrey Donaldson in the current debate within the Ulster Unionist Party.

Edwards was reported as saying that she supported Sam Foster's views that the Orange Order "should not be indulging in politics", and went on to claim that the Orange Order's involvement in Unionist politics is "ill-judged and divisive. It is helping to destroy both Unionists and Orangeism."

Excuse me, but I have been under the impression since old enough to understand politics that Unionism and Orangeism have been strongly linked for over a century. Indeed, if I am not badly mistaken, it was the Orange Order surely which was responsible for forming the Ulster Unionist Party. Down the years Unionist politicians have gone through the ritual at each General Election of appealing to Orangemen and Orangewomen to support their candidates.

It was not Orangeism which sought to involve itself in Unionist politics, but quite the contrary, and no less a distinguished politician than the late Brian Faulkner, one of the finest in his profession in these islands, declared that without involvement in politics, Orangeism in Northern Ireland could become irrelevant.

He argued with all the force of his considerable oratory that the Orange Order should continue to be deeply involved in Unionist politics.

It is only in recent years that this long-standing involvement has been seriously challenged, mostly by the pro-Trimble Unionists, and it is no secret that many within that section of the Ulster Unionist Party would love to break the link.

The jury is still out on that one, and with so many other problems confronting it at the present time, it is unlikely that Ulster Unionism will put the possible severance with the Orange Order high up on its priority list.

One other claim made by Ruth Dudley Edwards at the same meeting in the Clogher Valley suggests that she is more than a little out of touch with current events involving the Orange Order. She is quoted as claiming that "the Orange Order offers nothing to young people and its membership is rapidly depleting. Its only hope is to concentrate on its religious and cultural mission, otherwise Orangeism is doomed."

Unfortunately for Mrs. Edwards she made this comment on the heels of one of the biggest, most successful Ulster Twelfths in many years. Newspaper reports, mostly written by non-Orangemen, referred to record turn-outs and attendances at all Twelfth venues. At all these places including Markethill and Belfast, the numbers taking part and watching crowds were back to 1960s pre-Troubles proportions.

As for her comment about young people, photograhers in the papers, and pictures on television showed many young men and women proudly parading in their first Twelfth demonstration!

While sharing the general delight at the massive attendances at the Orange parades on the Twelfth and the reported record attendance at Scarva on the Thirteenth, I believe it is an opportune time for the Loyal Orders to take stock. Grand Lodge has set an admirable lead in its constant assertions that Orangemen must be diligent in their adherence to the Scriptures and their constant attendance at church. Lodges must resist any temptation to lower their standards by accepting candidates who fall below these requirements, otherwise they face the danger of diluting the Christian principles and message of the Order.

It is also time surely for evangelical Christians who are not members of the Orange Order to seriously consider whether it is not time they took the step of becoming members. There are many supporters of the Orange Order who line the streets of our cities and towns and watch the parades, also making a point to attend demonstration Fields.

But what an impact such good Christian folk could have on the loyal orders if they were to take out membership. They would be in a position to influence decisions within the Order, and they would also help strengthen the Orangemen who seek to hold the line in Northern Ireland against further inroads into the once great Ulster Sunday.

It is not just Roman Catholicism which presents a threat to the Reformed Faith these days. Perhaps a far more invidious and dangerous threat to true Protestantism comes from the increasingly materialistic and secular society in Northern Ireland.

Roman Catholicism is reeling from the internal divisions and the disillusionment of many of the faithful over the revelation about immorality among numbers of the priesthood. It has enough domestic problems of its own at the moment without concentrating its resources on defeating Ulster Protestantism. But materialism and secularism is different, and it is on the march, with more and more Sunday trading and sporting events. Shopping centres are the new temples of worship on Sundays for too many who would describe themselves as Protestants.

On the sporting scene, golf, cricket, horse racing and many other events play an increasing role. The Irish League, to its credit, has resisted calls from some quarters to go down the same road, but those who make a stand for Sunday to be a special day have their backs to the wall.

In Northern Ireland recent statistics show that one in three babies are born out of wedlock - a few years ago it was one in five - and divorce and separation statistics are appalling. Many evangelical Christians who could help the Orange Order make an even firmer stand for the Reformed Faith declined to take out membership.

The fact that many Protestant churches are either hostile or indifferent to Orangeism does not help, so evangelical Protestants who are prepared to stand up and be counted and join the Order will be helping to defeat the ecumenical trend and moves towards unity with Rome within their churches.

Ruth Dudley Edwards claims that the Orange Order "offers nothing to young people", so the onus is on lodges to prove her, and others making similar claims, that they are wrong.

Those lodges which are making progress tend to be the ones who have a varied programme of events throughout the year - special speakers at meetings, 'twinning' with other lodges, quizzes, barbecues, outings to places of historic interest, and many similar things.

There is no reason why lodges cannot be an attraction for young people, and it helps a lot when young Orangemen and young Orangewomen are given the chance to serve in high office.

Many Districts now have young committees who produce all sorts of stimulating ideas - those Districts lacking such committees at the moment should get their act together.

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