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The Secretary of State, Peter Hain, M.P. has opened the new
Williamite Archive Exhibition at the headquarters of the Grand
Orange Lodge of Ireland.
The Archive is based at Schomberg House, Cregagh Road, Belfast,
and is open to the public as an educational resource.
Among the items owned by the Orange Order are a bible from
1690, the saddlecloth used by William at the Battle of the
Boyne and his gauntlets.
The most recent purchase by the Orange Order was a letter
written by William on June 9, 1690, to the Marquis of Carmathen.
This was the last letter which the Prince of Orange wrote
before he left England for Ireland, subsequently arriving
at Carrickfergus.
In the letter William states: All remaining troops are already
in Ireland or so I am assured by a warship arriving yesterday
from Carrickfergus which had left there the day before."
The Secretary of State was welcomed to Schomberg House by
senior members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland including
the Grand Master Robert Saulters, Deputy Grand Master Edward
Stevenson, Grand Secretary Drew Nelson, Grand Treasurer, Mervyn
Bishop and the Director of Services, Dr. David Hume.
Mr Saulters said; "We are very pleased that the Secretary
of State found time in his busy schedule to come along today
He is the first Secretary of State to visit the headquarters
of the Orange Order.
"We have certain issues with the Government about how
they have treated the Orange Order and the wider Protestant
community and recently presented Mr Hain with a 50 page dossier
outlining our concerns. We feel confident that Mr Hain and
his people at the Northern Ireland Office are listening to
the issues that are concerning us and his presence today is
very important as we try to build better relationships with
the government.
"We already have a constructive working relationship
with the Irish Government because of the huge project they
are undertaking at the site of the Battle of the Boyne in
Drogheda and today's visit by Mr Hain will hopefully strengthen
our relationship with our government. The Orange Order is
a huge organisation representing all shades of Unionism. We
have members in all six counties in Northern Ireland and nine
counties of the Irish Republic. We are very well represented
throughout the rest of the United Kingdom and have lodges
in 42 cities in England as well as most of the major cities
in Scotland. The Orange Order is also strong in other parts
of the world such as Togo, Ghana, the United States, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand.
"This wonderful archive which we are opening today
reflects the history of our organisation and will help people
from all walks of life better understand our role in society."
The Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland,
Drew Nelson, said that it was vital the whole community understood
the history of Orangeism and the positive part it could play
in the community.
"The Orange Order speaks for many people in the Protestant
community on the issues that affect them. Every year more
people attend our Twelfth parades than vote for any single
party in Northern Ireland. We will continue to represent the
Protestant community at the highest level on behalf of people
in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic. We will not
be sidelined from playing a full role in the civic and public
life of Northern Ireland." he said.
The Battle of the Boyne and the period surrounding it was
a formative one in the history of the British Isles.
The victory of William of Orange was about much more than
the success of a Protestant ruler over a Roman Catholic monarch.
The future direction of the United Kingdom as a constitutional
monarchy was, literally, decided on the banks of the Boyne.
There was also a major European dimension to the conflict,
highlighted by the number of European troops who fought on
both sides.
Several societies were formed to commemorate the Boyne and
the Williamite victory in the years afterwards and when the
Loyal Orange Institution was formed in September 1795, it
naturally looked back to the legacy of William of Orange.
Immediately prior to the Battle of the Boyne, William of
Orange was struck by a cannon ball as he viewed the Jacobite
Army from the banks of the river. In the Williamite archive
is a handsomely carved chair, dated 1692, which shows the
fortunate escape of William.
His exquisite saddle cloth of crimson velvet embroidered with
pure gold also features in the archive.
The ship which brought William to England in 1688 was the
Princess Mary and it was later known as the Betsy Cairns.
The vessel was later wrecked but a pen holder made of timber
from the ship is one of the more unusual items in the archive.
There is also a collection of books and paintings from the
Williamite period.
The exhibition will be open to the general public between
10.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
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