The Belfast Telegraph recently ran a series of articles documenting
the destruction of the Ulster Sabbath, and these confirmed
what the Orange Standard has been saying for years - Northern
Ireland is losing a priceless asset.
The Telegraph didn't moralise on the topic, leaving it to
readers to form their own conclusions, but their articles
certainly spotlighted the almost unbelievable change in attitudes
towards Sunday in this Province.
The Standard has always taken the view that the loss of the
traditional Ulster Sabbath would be a devastating blow for
Northern Ireland, and this paper sees no reason to change
its stance. We believe that God's call on people to keep the
Sabbath holy and as a day set apart is as relevant as it was
in past centuries.
Northern Ireland Protestants, by and large, did not clamour
for a change in the Sunday observance laws. Most of these,
like the laws affecting Sunday opening of public houses and
Sunday trading were introduced through direct rule, with little
or no consideration for Protestant and Reformed religious
views.
But it has to be said that now that almost everything goes
in Northern Ireland on Sundays, many Protestants have forsaken
their hitherto strong observance of the Sabbath and have adopted
to the new secular and materialistic way of life.
The Sunday shopping centres are, by all accounts, doing brisk
business, more and more Protestants are attending sporting
fixtures on the Lord's Day - cricket and golf are examples
- and public houses, many of them within sight of churches,
doing brisk business. The social clubs have been doing this
for years and it was the introduction of these that gave so
much ammunition to the owners of public houses who argued
they were being discriminated against.
Protestant churches have not been happy at the secularisation
of the Ulster Sunday, but it has to be said that with honourable
exceptions, their campaign to prevent inroads into the traditional
way of life on Sundays here has lacked the fire, passion and
commitment of those seeking to open everything.
The Protestant churches did not present a united front across
the Province, and their opposition was low-key and patchy
- strong in some parts of the Province, weak in others. Perhaps
it did not get the media coverage it deserved - the press
has generally supported the relaxing of Sunday observance
laws - but whatever the reason, it has not succeeded in stemming
the tide.
If what remains of the Ulster Sabbath is to be retained and
Northern Ireland is to be saved from having a complete Continental
Sunday forced on it, then those opposed to this trend will
need to get their act together and be more forceful and strident
in their views.
The Orange Order will continue to witness for the traditional
Sunday and would appeal to all brethren to not only be diligent
and regular in their own church attendance, but do their utmost
to ensure that their families also attend their places of
worship and refrain from supporting Sunday opening by having
anything to do with premises and facilities open that day.
It is only when Protestants who oppose inroads into their
traditional values adopt a vigorous approach that their views
will be listened to and respected. Make no mistake about it,
the Protestant churches and society at large will be the loser
if Sunday loses completely its special ethos.
It used to be the proud boast of Ulstermen that their Province
was an oasis of calm and peace on Sundays compared to the
noise and bustle of the Republic of Ireland. People could
enjoy a special day without the noise and the activity associated
with trading and sport. That difference is fast disappearing,
and if Northern Ireland is to be spared any further erosion
of its Sunday atmosphere, then people must be prepared to
stand up and be counted.
Empty pews in the churches and declining numbers attending
Sunday Schools are only one manifestation of the trend. Rising
crime figures, drink driving, violence, and a general deterioration
in the atmosphere on Sunday are other indicators.
Britain, sadly, is no longer a Christian country in the sense
that the majority of people observe Sundays in a religious
sense, although there are encouraging signs that Evangelical
churches are experiencing a revival. Northern Ireland was
the exception, but unless Orangemen, and other concerned Protestants
take their stand, this Province will quickly catch up on the
secularism which has transformed the face of mainland Britain.
Secularism and materialism are as alien to true Protestant
as Roman Catholicism and republicanism, and it is time for
people to face up to this face and act accordingly.
|
