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They are at it again - attempts to downgrade the Orange Order
and to portray it as an organisation in decline.
In recent years, in the aftermath of hugely successful 'Twelfth'
demonstrations, we have had what can only be described as
'begrudgers' producing unsubstantiated figures seeking to
show that the Order is on the slide.
This year a Sunday newspaper carried a story, under the heading
'Numbers of Orangemen have dropped to 40,000".
The story quoted "a leading Queen's University academic",
who it says has documented "the rise and fall of the
Orange Order."
The story continued, "The inclusive, family occasion
the Order wishes the Twelfth to become is a long way from
the annual outing for the 'household troops of the unionist
army" - a reference to a story back in 1911.
The story declared that "although the Order is eager
to present a new image for the 21st century, most commentators
agree its golden era has passed."
One wonders who "most commentators" are, because
the widely held view of this year's 12th July parades throughout
Northern Ireland were of hugely attended rallies, both in
terms of the Orange Order members on parade, and the mammoth
crowds watching them.
Tens of thousands of Orangemen took part in spectacular parades
throughout the Province, from Antrim to Armagh, and from Belfast
to Fermanagh. Over 800 bands were on parade, scores of Lambeg
drums, and almost 1,400 lodges.
That hardly supports the view of the few observers who seek
to persuade everyone that the Orange Order is a spent force
and no longer commands mass support.
Well, no doubt it will be disappointing to some, but the
facts about Orange membership disprove the negative view made
by some pundits.
Orange membership, like that of every church and other organisation,
has fluctuated down the years. All sorts of issues influence
such things.
In the case of the Orange Order, two World Wars resulted
in thousands of Orange brethren losing their lives as they
made the supreme sacrifice for King and Country, and for freedom
and liberty.
In the recent 35-year Troubles, over 300 Orangemen lost their
lives.
Periods of high emigration in Northern Ireland have affected
Orange membership - the 1920s and 30s were obvious examples.
The end of British rule in the 26 counties of Southern Ireland
also hit the Orange Institution very hard, with the forced
closure of scores of lodges throughout the country, and the
'ethnic cleansing' of two-thirds of the Protestant population.
In spite of all this the Orange Order today has a huge membership,
and is still able to attract many new recruits each year.
An independent study carried out a few years ago revealed
that Orange membership in the six counties of Northern Ireland
is exactly the same as it was in 1901.
And as the recent impressive demonstration in Rossnowlagh
proved, the Orange still maintains a vigorous presence in
counties Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, and Dublin &
Wicklow.
The writer in that recent Sunday newspaper claimed that what
he believes to be "the decline of the Orange Order and
traditional Unionism can be linked."
In support of this case he seeks to show that the Orange
Order once provided "economic and political patronage",
and all this had collapsed due to the economic decline and
the end of Unionist rule at Stormont.
Few people gained pecuniary or any other advantage by joining
the Orange Order. Indeed, there are many examples of how Orange
membership has resulted in discrimination against members
as regards employment.
There may have been a few individuals who were perceived
to have advanced their political careers by joining the Order.
Such people always formed a tiny percentage of Orangemen,
and were certainly not a significant section.
The simple fact is that the vast majority of Orange members
join because they have the urge to do so. A large proportion
belong to families whose Orange links go back many years.
The Orange Order forms an important part of the Protestant
ethos in Northern Ireland and the border counties, and in
spite of changes in social, economic and political spheres
- and demographic changes in large parts of Belfast and other
parts of Ulster - it continues to enjoy huge community support.
Complacence of course, must never be an attitude of mind
on the part of the Orange folk and there must be a constant
reappraisal of the Order's role, its ability to recruit, and
its attitude to the issues which concern the Protestant people.
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