The Orange Order has been written off by its
enemies, and by 'observers' on many occasions since the formation
of the first Orange Lodges in 1795.
Yet, in spite of the many predictions of it being a spent
force or in decline, the Order today has a massive membership
in Northern Ireland and is still regarded by the Protestant
and Unionist people as its main bulwark against a united Ireland
and the threat to the Protestant religion.
This must be borne in mind when reflecting on a recent 'Insight'
programme on Ulster Television which dealt at some length
with the events of this past summer, especially the Drumcree
crisis.
People are entitled to their opinions, and political commentators
and historians also come into this category, but it was surprising
to hear some of the points being made.
One historian declared that the Order had "declined
considerably" as a force and in support of this argument
claimed that membership had fallen from 100,000 in the 1950's
to "more like 50,000 to 60,000 today".
It was also claimed that the Order is now mainly working-class,
and that it has lost much of its middle class section and
that the 'landed gentry' have gone!
This historian even went as far as to suggest that Orangeism
is such a spent force that it has become a Protestant version
of the Ancient Order of Hibernian - fossilised at the end
of the 20th century!
What utter bunkum. If Orangeism was as irrelevant today as
this historian and others seek to convey, why is it that the
Orange Order makes press headlines every day?
It is not just Drumcree that puts the Orange Institution
into the national and international headlines, but the fact
that it is still such a vibrant force - a force to be reckoned
with.
Orangeism forms a vital part of the Ulster Protestant psyche,
and in saying that, this is not making threats against Roman
Catholicism or any other aspect of Ulster society.
But Orangeism is part of the very fibre of the Ulster people
- it is the motivating force which has inspired Ulstermen
to great gallantry in wartime, and to make an impact in their
country and communities in peacetime.
That contributor to the 'Insight' programme was placing too
much reliance on numerical figures - a tendency of many writers
and observers in recent times.
The Ulster Television programme showed the Orange parade
in Belfast in the early 1960's, and tried to contrast what
was undoubtedly a mighty spectacle with today. The inference
was that the parade today bears no comparison.
Well, the writer stood on the Lisburn Road this year and
watched a huge, impressive and dignified procession of Belfast's
10 districts return from Edenderry and it took several hours
for the 250 lodges and almost 100 bands to pass a given spot.
How many other organisations in these islands today could
put on such a spectacular show? What church, political party
or organisation of any consequence has not had a membership
decline in recent decades? The answer is none. Yet, the Orange
Institution has such a huge membership that it can still put
on the most impressive demonstration in these islands on one
day - the Twelfth of July.
The man who made his observations on the 'Insight' programme
omitted to mention the massive Orange parade through Belfast
in 1990 to mark the Tercentenary of the Battle of the Boyne,
or the equally great parade at the Diamond and Loughgall in
1995 which celebrated the Bicentenary of the Orange Order
in Ireland.
And anyway, for goodness sake, numbers do not tell the whole
story. For every Orangeman on parade there are many times
that number watching on the sidelines who are in support of
the Order and its principles.
As for class distinction, the Orange Order has none. It welcomes
Protestants of every class who measure up to its requirements.
But the Order would strongly refute the general claim that
it is now a mainly working-class organisation.
The truth is that the Order has members from every profession
and trade. There are Orangemen who are ministers of religion,
politicians, journalists, doctors, salesmen, accountants,
labourers, electricians, fitters, and all other professions.
The 'Insight' programme was interesting, and it did have
commendable aspects. It very fairly mentioned the recent conference
in the House of Orange when a number of people including Monica
McWilliams, Alban Maginnes and David Ervine made contributions.
In this connection, a recent newspaper article claimed that
Orangemen were naive in their perception of Roman Catholics
in years gone past respecting the 'Twelfth' to such an extent
that they not only watched the parades, but in rural areas
farmers looked after the cattle of their Orange neighbours
to let them enjoy the day.
Well, that in fact was the truth, and many rural Orangemen
and farmers can provide evidence of the fact. The truth is
that in 1968, the last year before the Troubles erupted, Orange
parades passed off peacefully and were watched by many Roman
Catholics.
The Orange Order is far from being an irrelevant force, and
no matter how much some people may like it, the Order commands
as much respect and admiration as it ever did where it really
matters - with the Protestant people of Ulster.
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