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The History Of the Orange Order
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FEB 1 5 iS56 PREFACE. '5;Ty CF •?o*^v''^' 35H — -i0 4 3 It has Ions 'jeen felt that a short Weekly News, and to the splendid re- history of the Orange Order would ference boolis of the Toronto lublio be of great ssrvice to the members Lii)rary. one of the very best af its this side and to all desirous of obtainin): ac- kind on of the Atlantic. curate infoimation of the origin of There are many kindred facts which an institution which has done such could be given in connection with the excellent work in the cause of freedom Order's history, but I have endeavored and which now extends to all parts to confine the work to what was of the civilized world. The followiofj directly connected with the formation chapters will be found to contain the and history of the Order. main facts in the history of the Order The favor with which the bare an- up to a quite recent date. The time nouncement of this publication has will doubtless come Avhen a much been received has indviced me to ar- more exhaustive work will be neces- range for the publication on an early sary, but I send this little volume date of other Protestant books, and forth in the hope that it may enable has led me to consider the question
all who read it to form a higher and of establishing a depot in Toronto grander view of the founders and the for the sale of many works which are principles which guided them, take a now almost impossible to obtain in deefer interest in the Institution and Canada. I will be glad to have a post- so become more active and intelligent card from the readers of this little workers in every good cause. work, giving their views on the sub- There are many gaps in the history ject of such new pul)lications and the of such an organization which can sale of works on Protestant subjects. never be filled in any history because If such post-cards are sent to the pub- the pricpless records have been de- lisher they will be attended to. I be- stroyed. There were days of trouble lieve we read too little on these sub- for the brave and loyal men who founrl- jects, and that if we study the issues ed the Order, and rather than allow between us and Rome and thorough- these documents and the books of the ly understand the lessons of the past as lodges to fall into the hands of perse- given to us in the pages of history, we cutors, they were destroyed. In other will be more loyal than ever to our cases the guardians of lodge minutes undying principles and more out- and rolls had not a very clear idea of spoken in our patriotism, whilst at the (he value of these things and threw same time: we will aid every movement them away as useless lumber. It has havinf! for its objects the prevention therefore been necessary to trust to of Romish influence in our affairs, and the memory of old members, and in the spreading of the Gospel amongst all cases the fact is mentioned so that our neighbors of that creed. readers can judge between documen- I trust the reader will accept the tary evidence and the stories handed little volume in the spirit it is issued, down to us verbally. and be lenient in dealing with any I am under a deep debt of grati- errors which may inadvertently have tude to the proprietor of The Senti- crept in. nel, that valuable, loyal and true Pro- testant paper, for access to its fyles, • -, THE AUTHOR. to Mr. Richard Lilhurn, of the Belfast Toronto, Feb. 3, 1898. ;
THE HISTORY OF IHH ORAXGU ORDER.
splendid re-
fill o I ublic of the Orange had won by the blessing INTKOI»II€TIO:V. liest ,)f its of God. That victory secured perfect AtlanLic. After the death of Oliver Crom- religious freedom in Holland, and to briel; protectorate of his that land came the persecuted I'ro- facts which well, and the son, Charlea II. was called to the Brit- testants of Britain, Germany, Krance on wiLli the ish throne, and from 1(160 to 108 J tried and other countries, findinr? there a endeavored by every possible plan to destroy the refuge under the banner of Orange, what was Protestant and liberty-loving spirit of White and Blue. the people whose rights and religious e All Oraiitte AnHo<-lali<»ii. forni.'ition principles he had sworn to protect. During the struggle in Holland the r, his death, in 1085, his son James On lovers of liberty formed an associa- ascended the throne and was more le Iiare an- II. tion to support the Prince of Orange cruel, treacherous and wicked than cation has and the refugees from Britain joined even his father. This is not the place it. But tte&e refugees were, very me to ar- for a review of all the evil deeds of propel ly, not content to see King )n an early these two monarchs, both of whom James II. continue his unconstitution- were the willing tools of the secret books, and al and persecuting career in their l)e- Jesuit society, and as such did not he loved fatherland, and under the guid- question scruple to do any deed hesitate or ance of the gifted Dr. Burnett, a Scotch 1 Toronto which the leaders however monstrous refugee, and Van Dykevelt, an bqiially proposed. Neither is i which are of the Jesuits able and gifted Dutchman, an Orange this the place to give a history of obtain in Association was formed and many of in so the glorious Revolution except the English, Scotch and Irish Pro- lave a post- be necessary to make far as it may testants .joined. The one object of this little clear what we desire to say of the the Association was to secure religious of Order. in the sub- origin the Orange liberty for all persons in the United Patiently the people in Eng^land, ms and the Kingdom. The members of the Asso- Ireland, Scotland and Wales bore the ciation soon found that the surest and it subjects. tyrannical conduct of these two n^on- safest way to ensure the success of to the pul)- archs, hoping against hope that they their cause was to have a Protestant would see f.he errors of their way and i to. 1 be- Sovereign on the throne, for bitter ex- act up lo the constitution. The flower perience had shown them that a Roman these sub- of English literature, the truest of Catholic king violated his coronation the issues England's Christian men and women oath as soon as he made it. Who, then, thorough- were imprisoned and done to death was the min to look to as the future ''• the heath-clad hills and lovely dales" Protestant Sovereign of their realm? the past as of Scotland were dyed with the crim' on The one individual who had l)y right history, we gore of her martyred saints, and the a claim to the throne was the brave, ver to our blood of brave, true Irish ]'rot'.?st- God-fearing William, Prince of Orange, ants ran like water, shed by the cruel and to all turned. nore out- him eyes were He hands of her own sons who were, alas, had no desire to make a descent on lilst at the too willing instruments in the hands Britain, an I would not lift a hand movement of the Jesuit priests. unless invited by the people to be their " prevention Finding that James II., like his Sovereign. God and the people's faithless father, soon broke his corona- rights" were ever his watchword. iffairs, and tion oath and promises and set all Many cor.sultations of the able and I amongst law^ at defiance, with sorrowing hearts patriotic men guiding the movement d. some of England's noblest sons began took place in England and at the to cast about for a way of deliver- Hague. Although the Roman Catho- accept the ance. Across the German ocean they lics watched closely thay were unable t is issued, looked, where in the low lands of to secure any documents, for there with any Holland the people were free to wor- were no traitors in the ranks of the ship God as their conscience dictated pat^-'otic party. It is known that ?ntly have the and where a noble prince, the next leaders in the Orange movement in heir in the Protestant line, to Britain's England included such men as the throne, had bravely and successfully Marquis of Halifax, the Earls of UTHOR. battled for his country. The people of Shrewsbury, Danby, Downshire and Holland had passed through a struggle Nottingham, Lords Mordaunt and for religious liberty and the followers Liunley, the Bishop of London, Ad^ —
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miral Russell and Admiral Herbert, tically King, reached Exeter and next IjroLlier oi. Liie martyred Sydney Her- day attraded service in the cathedral. bert, The vritten communications be- He also attended service on Sunday, tween the I'rotestants of Urilain and Noveml>er 11th, and the services were the refugees at the Hague were gen- patriotic and I'rctestant. Seldom has erally cari.ed in the hollow of the there baen bo august an assembly stout walking stick of Skipper Hawk- of Orangemen in a sacred edifice as shaws, who commanded a trading ves- that in Exeter Cathedral on that his- sel running iween Dutch and Eng- toric 11th of November, 1(588. Al- lish ports. was known as the though that was not the first service Orange Skipper. of the Orange Order as we know it All IllVllHliOII. to-day, yet few will be disposed to Early in ll«8 the lixitish organiza- dispute the fact that the great ox-
tion beat Admiral Ku.s.sel I to the Hague ample of Protestants and patriots to consult with the refugees anl to uniting in defence of liberty was set find out if the i'rince of Orange was by the men who organized the willing lo become sovereign of Jin- "(jlorious Revolution" and who thank- tain and Ireland. On his return with ed God for their success and prayed a satisfactory report gatherings of for the Divine blessinfjj on their fu- the patriots tuoK: place at various ture efforts ill Exeter Cathedral more out-of-the-way localities, but some of than two hundred years ago. the meetings actually touk place in All Kilt{iiK<>lll('li<. London. A central gathering of the trusted leaders was held and long On November 12th Sir Edward Sey- and anxious were the deliberations, and mour, an able politician and true then on September 30th, 10S8, these patriot, suggested to Dr. Burnett the gatherings closed, after deciding to advisal)ility of having an organization invite William, Prince of Orange, to bound together in a formal manner to accept the throne. support the cause they had espoused, The invitation to the Prince of and the idea was considered so valu- able Orange to accept the British throne, that it was acted upon at once. the right to which had been forfeited The following was drawn up and in- by the treacherous and cruel con- scribed on parchment, the capital let- ters are somewhat quaint phraseology, duct of James II., was signed amongst being otners by the Earls of Shrewsbury, characteristic of the literature Danby and Devonshire, Lord Lamley, of that day : the Bishop of London, Dr. Sydney An Herbert and Admiral Russell. Lore* Engagcruent Shrewsbury and Admiral Russell went of the Nobles, Knights and Gentlemen of to the Hague and presented the mem- Exeter to assist the Prince of Orange orial to the Prince. in the defence of the Protestant On g':ii«:iiMii s»ii. Religion. As this is not a history of the glori- We do engage to Almighty God and ous Revolution, it is only necessary to his Highness the Prince of Orange to say that William, Prince of Orange, and with one another to stick firm to accepted the Invitation of the people this cause and to one another in de- of the United Kingdom of Great fence of it until our Religion, Laws Britain Ireland to deliver and them and Lilierties are so far secured to their Popish oppressors, from and us in a Free Parliament, that we shall that on November 5th, 1G88, the no more be in danger of falling under Prince and his followers landed at Tor- Popery and Slavery. And whereas. bay on the English Channel, and were We are engaged in the common cause by the people as their welcomed de- under the Protection of the Prince of All liverer. the men who had been Orange by which means his person for expelled from Britain their Pro- may be exposed to Danger and to the accompanied Prince, testantism the desperate and cursed Designs of Pap- and the next day after landing, the ists and other Bloody men ; We do, march to Exeter began, and in a therefore, solemnly engage to God and sense that was the first great Orange to one another that if any such at- procp-ssion. The famous declaration of tempts be made upon him, we will the Prince was everywhere in circu- pursue not only those that made lation anfl the one point they all them, but all their Adherents and all understood was that the people's lib- we find in arms against us with the erties and the Protestant religion utmost Severity of just Revenge in would be maintained and defended. On their Ruin and Destruction, and that j November Mh, the Prince, now prac- the executing any such Attempts !
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(wliich God of His Infinite Mercy The Irish Parliament met on June forljid) shall not deprive us from pur- 27th, ll)j(i, and the principal business suing the Cause which we do now of the session was the passing of a undenaiie, but that it shall encourage declaration like that adopted by the Ua to carry it on with all the Vigour English Parliament, the only mem- thai so barbourous approach shall ber who refused to sign being xVir. deserve,' Robert Saunderson, M.P. for County This engagement was signed by Cavan. many of the best and ablest men of All OruiiKe Loilgc. the day and has often been quoted The Exeter Engagement was every- as the declaration of principles of the where accupteJ. in i^ngiand and tocot- fii'st Orange lodge. In one sense it liuui, and King William was Siovereign was the declaration of principles of of these two countries, whilst brave Orangemen, for that was the name and true men were battling lor his given to all supporters of William cause in Ireland. Mow, the Asjocia- in those days and for many years after. tion formed at Exeter was open to In sojue publications another de- all, had no secrecy aoout it, and rose claration said to have been drawn up and fell as the personal safety c f tne liy br. liurneLt is given as the genuine King seemed to demand, it was thus document, but the papers referred to in no seinse the Orange Order as we as deposited in the Tower and the know it to-day, Lut nevertheless there Exeter Engagement clearly show that were direct and continuous links oe- the alleged Burnett declaration is not tween it and the existing Order. Now, genuine. however, we turn to an organization The Orangemen of those days were which can claim to have been L^rotea- tireless workers and fearless advocates lant, patriotic, and secret, and which of their cause. Ten days after sign- has aL any rate a claim to be con- ing the Exeter engagement Lord sidered the first of its kind, 'ind this Danby with one hundred horse rode was formed amongst the soldiers who into the City of York, which was from 1G80 .to 1G88 were encamped on garrisoned by soldiers and militia, who Hounslow Heath ready for the defence proposed to hold it for King James. of James II. Students of history will The gallant Orangemen, with drawn know that James gave an order, on sabres, and shouting "iNo Popery,' "A the solicitation of his Popish advisers, Free Parliament," and "The Protes- to destroy a pamphlet which detail- tant Religion," terrified the traitor- ed how the Protestants of France ous King's guards and so captured were being persecuted. This order York for King William. These men gave cause for grave anxiety to the had no hesitation in raising the cry lovers of liberty, for it showed that of "No Poi;ery." They knew ^ he evil the British and French Kings were it had wrought to their country and in accord in opposition to Protes-
were determined to do their I. est to tantism. This anxi ^ty was increased put an end to Popish supremacy. by the establishment of several Romish When, however, William was safely orders in London, and the celebration seated on the throne the associations of mass in the tent of Lord Dum- formed for his aid naturally fell into barton, second in command of the dormancy. In lOi/'G they were revived Hounslow garrison. The excitement owing to the dastardly conspiracy of was intensified by the circulation the Romanists to murder the King. early in 1G88 of a pamphlet which A declaration was drawn up by the earnestly appealed to the soldiers and House of Commons and another by others not to ally themselves with the House of Lords and signed by the bloodthirsty and idolatrous Roman the members of each Ibody, The Catholics. In the end a secret so- principles of the original associations ciety was formed, many officers of the were embodied in the declarations and Hounslow Heath garrison taking the the House of Commons asked the King initiative. The documentary evidence to lodge the documents relating to of the formation of this secret asso- these associations for safety in the ciation of Protestants, mostly, if not Tower of London, and this His Majesty entirely composed of soldiers, is simply did. The House of Commons passed a overwhelming. The action of these resolution declaring that "Whosoever soldiers was, of course, condemned by should by word or writing affirm that the partizans of James, but he had the Association was illegal should lie violated in every particular his cor- deemed a promoter of the late King onation oath, and thus freed soldiers James and an enemy to the laws and and civilians alike from all future al- liberties of the Kingdom," legiance to him. The defence of the I ^'aP5?^'S'*t?®^!^^
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Constitution of the United Kingdoms portant position of High Sheriff of the of Great Britain and Ireland and the City of Dublin. Here, then, we have maintenance of the I'rctestant re- the authority of the Supreme Govern- ligion were the objects of the secret ment of the Order for the claim of association, which sprung from the continuity of the Orange Institution, soldiers of Hounslow Heath. They and it. is further confirmed by state- were perfectly justified on every ments madein i8i;3 l,y the Duke of Cum- ground, and so too were the heroes of berland, Grand Master of the Orange the Diamond, as we shall see later Order in England, at a time, too, when on. vicious attacks were being made on the organization. Two 4;i-f'at Aullioi*lli<>s. It is not yt course, pretended that here it may he well to give Now the lodf^e established at Hounslow, or greatest authorities we can the two the other military lodges els where, confirmation of the fact quote for the used the same ritual and formula as secret char- that Orange lodges of a the lodge established alter the Battle in if not before acter did exist 1088, of the Diamond. There are necessarily a revised edition of the that year, tn varieties in some ol these rituals, for the Orange Rules and Regulations of an order w hich extends over all the Britain and Ireland, Society of Great world must have certain traits due to printed in Dublin in 1810, the follow- the needs of each country in Avhich it ing is by authority of the Grand is at work. Lodge published with the revised edi- — We could fill a volume with records : confute the tion " To obviate and showing hoi/ the Orange hxlges spread which have been circulated calumnies in the army and how the uniforms of Institution, it concerning the Orange several regiments were made to suit will necessary to state briefly only be the feelings of the officers and men, the principles on which it rests and but it is time to turn to Ireland, and which it the circumstances out of trace raore closely the events which grew.'" led to the formation there of the " The enlarged Institution was copied Orange lodge which is inseparably from one which since the Revolution associated vt ith the Diamond, and which the 4th Foot regiment, existed in many hold to be the parent lodge, raised by King William, into which which no doubt in a sense it is, for Orange lodge (in times when attach- from the blood-red field of the Dia- principles of the ment to the Whig mond comes the order as we generally Revolution ivhich seated the House of know it, although of course we also Brunswick on the throne was neither know that the men of Ireland very represented as bigotry nor as the frankly acknowledged the original abandonment of the cause of civil Orange lodge of the 4th Foot .as the liberty) several princes of the House Parent Lodge, which it undoubtedly not thought it he- of Hanover have was. neath them to be initiated, we believe Ill li'claiMl. the King vi as, we know the Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick - now The triumphant march of the Prince Duke of York—were made Orange- of Orange through England and his men." loyal acceptance hy the people of 'This Institution, nearly constituted Scotland as their lawful sovereign as at p~>isent, dates, therefore, from added fuel to the flames of hatred the Revolution, and was kept up in with which the Roman Catholics of small numbers, there being but few Ireland endeavored to consume their lodges till the French Revolution, and Protestant fellow-citizens. Richard its train of attendant horrors Imrst Tall;ot, created Earl of Tyrconnell, upon the world during the early part was James' deputy, and as soon as of which a most atrocious conspiracy he heard of the Orange landing at wai formed, both in this country and Torbay he made an appeal for thirty in Ei.gland, to overthrow the consti- thousand more troops, and history tution and Government, under which shows that these were the very dregs the Empire had attained an unexampled of the country, men who many of them state of prosperity and opulence. To deserved hanging and all the re- resist and defeat such dangerous de- mainder imprisonment. They were, signs is the obvious duty of every good however, the fit tools of Tyrconnell, subject, and this laudable determina- for he had driven all Prtoestants trora tion gave extension to the Orange office, filled their places with the Institution." creatures of his choice, seized Dublin These words were written by Mr. University buildings, turned the lec- John Gifford who was Deputy Grand ture halls into offices and apartments Master at the time, and held the im- and made the cellars prison holes for
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unoffending J'rotestants. Ths story their own defence and for securing as Ql; Llie indignities and persecutions much as in them lies the Protestant l<.'ri;et,raled on llie peat'^iul people of religion, their lives, liberties and Ireland by Tyrconnell and nis minions properites and the peace of this king- would fill volumes. Tnose were in- dom, which are so much endeavored deed dark days for liberty m the to be disturbed by Popish and illegal "Green Isle." counsellors anu their abettors. And it became known that on the [>th inasmuch as union and dispatch are of lecembdr, 1(J8J, the Kcman tai holies necessary for affectixig the same, we, proposed to massacre all 1. rotestants the nobility and gentry of Antrim and this added to the terrors of the (!o assojiate together, firmly resolv- day. The terrible stoiy reached the ing to adhere to the laws ot the king- eai-::< OJ. Lord Mount Alexander, who dom and the Protestant religion, and found on inquiry that the rumor to act in subordination to the Gov- was well founded. He did not hesitate ernment of England, and the promo-
a moment. It was clear that united tion of a free Parliament ; and we do action was necessary to save the lives desire if we be forced to take up of many thousands of innocent rntn, arms, as it be contrary to our in- women and children. Well did many clination, so it shall only be on the of the older people recollect the ter- defensive, not in the least to invade rible massacres of l(i41, and it was the lives, liberties or estates of any dreadful to think of their repetition. of our fellow-subjects, no, not of the Munster and. Ulster were roused, but I'opish persuasion whilst they demean Wie work and cost of organising fell themselves peaceably with us. on I he lattsr, for Munster was less "The reasons which induce us to put prepared. At this time, too, the gal- ourselves in some posture of defence lant sons of Derry and Enniskillen are so obvious and urgent upon us began to rouse themselves and sj gave when we consider of the great levies great encouragement to the Protestant made daily of Popish soldiers, and at party. The preparations made by the this time especially when the King Protestants cowed the Tyrconnell is retired, and then arming can in cut-throats and the dreaded day passed no wise be serviceable to His Majesty's over without much trouble. The men interests, it were consistent with of Ulster, however, did not cease the common prudence not to suspect their work of organization and prepara- designs to be such as will tend, if tion for eventualities, and in the not to the destruction; yet to the great meantime the Presbyterians and some endangering of the lives, liberties and others sent addresses of fealty to King properties of the Protestant subjects William. So far had the organization of this Kingdom if not prevented. of the Protestants proceeded that in And we do declare, though at present January, ICSO', the first convention we will admit none but Protestants was held at Mount Alexander. There into our Association, yet we wiil to have been many Irish conventions our power protect Papists from vio- since, but probably never one frought lence whilst their behaviour amongst with so much importance and so full us is peaceable and quiet. And we of danger to those who attended, for doubt not but all good Protestants in every man would have been butchered this Kingdom will in their several had Tyrconnell been in a position to stations join with us in the same do so. At this convention the Antrim public defence and that God will bless Orange Association was formed, with these, our just, innocent and necessary Hugh, first Lord Mount Alexander, and undertakings, for our lives, laws and Clotworthy Sheffington, Eso.. were ap- religion. pointed the commanders of the Asso- "And whereas it will be necessary ciation. The following address or for the successful and more effectual declaration was issued to the people carrying on these mutual endeavours for the preservation of our religion ^Vliat Aiiti-liM S:ilil. and properties, and to avoid confusions "It being notoriously known not only and destructions which in su'^h cases to the Protestant inhabitants of the may otherwise happen to appoint some northern counties, but to those eminent person or persons to whosie throughout the whole Kingdom of conduct we ma^ entirely submit our- Ireland, that the peace and quiet of selves in this undertaking. this nation is in great _and imminent "We do, therefore, by these presents danger, and that it is absolutely ne- elecl and appoint the Right Hon. Hugh, cessary for all Protestants to agree Earl of Mount Alexander and the Hon. within their several counties upon Clotworthy Sheffini^ton, Esq., or either some speedy and effectual method for of them .lointly or severally as they —
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Hllgo oil Itccoi'd. shall think fit, to be our commander or commanders in-chief of all the forces The men of Sligo when organized in the County of Antrim, an I do hereby made the following declaration the oblige ourselves to serve under their bond for their Association : or either of their commands in such We, the Protestants of the County manner, place and station as they or of Siigo, at present assembled for our one of them in their discretion and common safety, do hereby declare the judgment shall direct. And that we occasion and motives of our Associa- will from time to time obey all such tion and what is intended by it. orders and methods for the better carry- 1. We resolve to adhere to the law ing on this enterprise and procuriiig of the land and the Protestant reli- of horse and foot and such numbers gion. of men, arms and ammunition as our 2. We shall, as we ought, unite our- County Council of five shall think fit, selves accordingly with England and there- and that with all expedition imme- hold to the lawful government diately to be arranged and formed of and a free Parliament. into troops and companies and to be 3. We declare that our taking tip is not in the disposed of from time to time accord- arms only offensive, and invade the lives, lilierties or ing to their or either of their orders, least to fellow-subjects, whether they or one of them acting with the estates of our whilst advice and consent of the said County Roman Catholics or others, they demean themselves in peaceable Council of five, or the major part thereof." manner to us. 4. Our reasons for this doing are so signed by This declaration was urgent that we could no longer with Franklin, Arthur Masserene, William piudfncf- forljear putting ourselves in William Lesley, Upton, Robert Adair, soma necessary position of defence, for Stuart, Edward Harrison, Charles the Reman ' holies arming in such Cunningham, John Donelson, William vast numbers oughout all the king- William Shaw, James McCartney, Pat- Mc- dom do give us just apprehension of rick Shaw, William Shaw, Harry ill-designs in them, they pretending Cullogh, John Guest, George Bott- the King's commission for what they Tell, George Johnston, Henry Clem- do; whereas we are assured that the ents, Richard Dobb, jr., William King has commanded all Roman Catho- Shaw, Michael Harrison, Jauies Shaw. lics to lay down their arms, which Ave The County Down men chose Lord conceive should as well extend to Ire- Mount Alexander as their chief also. land as to England, and, therefore, we The Down Association was added to doubt not that the leaders of the Irish Antrim, and the union is often re- army do act from their own heads up- ferred to to as the North East Asso- on designs of their own, which we ciation. may .justly fear will be prejudicial to The organization of other counties the lives, liberties and properties of was now vigorously begun. Lord the Protestant subjects of the king- Blaney roused Armagh and Monaghan, dom, if not prevented. whilst the notorious Lundy was asso- Lastlj', we declare that as we will ciated with Major Gustavus Hamilton assault uone that molest not us, so we in organizing Derry, Donegal and Ty- will to our power protect all from rone. We would like very much to violence, even Roman Catholics them- dwell on the work of organizing these selves, while they behave themselves counties and to show how the Associa- peaceably and neighborly amongst us, tion leaders armed their followers, though we will admit none but Pro- placed them in positions to be ready testants into our Association until we for all emergencies; but here we must we have ascertained from the lawful deal only with facts pertinent to the authority and Government in England Orange Order. Suffice to say that what further orders we are to obey. braver men never took up arms, and And we doubt not but that all good that with their bravery several of the Protestants in this kingdom will, leaders combined the necessary quali- where they are able, join with us in fications! of generals, and knew how to the same public defence, and that God conduct a campaign. Lundy's treach- will bless this so just, innocent and ery from the very first worked some necessary undertaking for our lives, mischief, because he was not then laws and religion. suspected, but in Lord Kingston, who And, whereas, it will be necessary organized Sligo, Lundy found a man for the more effectual and successful who formed his own opinion and had carrying on of these mutual endeavors the courage to carry them out. for the preservation of our laws, reli- gion and country, and the security of —
9 our lives and properties and to avoid cause we are persuaded that there are confusions and distractions, which in even of the Romish Communion many such cases might otherwise happen, to who are desirous to live peaceably and appoint some eminent person or per- do not approve of the violent and ar- sons to whose conduct we may entirely bitrary proceedings of some who pre- submit ourselves in this our under- tend to be in authority, and we think- taking. ing it just to make distinctions of per- The remaining clauses of the Sligo sons according to their behaviour and declaration appointed Lord Kingston deserts, do hereby authorize you to and the Hon. Chidley Cote as .loint promise in your name to all su^ch who commanders and pledged the Association shall demean themselves peaceably and to raise men and arms for the defe-^ice inoffensively our protection from such of their liberties. pains and forfeitures which those only It may be well to mention here that shall incur who are the maintainors and the first Ulster convention was at abettors of said illegal authority as- Hillsborough, where all the county as- sumed and continued contrary to law; sociations were represented, and at or who shall act anything to the preju- that convention the plan of county and dice of the Protestant interest, or the provincial lodges was put in actual disturbance of the public peace in that practice, although of course the Or- Kingdom. And for further particu- ange Association of to-day has made lars we refer you to the report you many necessary changes and improve- shall receive from Capt. Leighton, who ments in the representative lK>dies hath acquitted himself with fidelity compared with that famous Hills- and deligence in your concerns, of oUr borough convention. intentions toward you. And so we re- When traitor Lundy ordered Lord comm.^-nd you to the protection of Al- Kingston to leave Sligo he latter re- mighty G'od. fused until the Council sided with "Given at the St. James', the 10th Lundy, and then Lord Kingston reluct- day of February, 1C89. antly returned to Ball} hannon, and at "WILLIAM H. ORANGE. the passes of the Erne iie did splendid "WILLIAM JEPHSON." work. Some of the Sligo men went "To the Earl of Mount Alexander, to Coleraine, but the "hero parson," to be communicated to the Protestant the Rev. George Walker, with the regi- gentry and nobility in the North of ment he had raised, marched to gallant Ireland.' Derry. As the first Parliament of England Tli4> HIiik'm MrHsnite. under William met on January 22nd, On January 10th, 1G89, Cap't. Leighton 1689, ii will l)e seen that the above left Ireland as the representative of the letter was written with the consent loyalists and proceeded to London, of the King's advisers and expressed where he laid the position of affairs the opinion of the English people. in Ireland, before the Sovereign. He From the declarations of the Antrim was; graciously received by King Wil- and Sligo associations and the above liam, and started back on February letter, it is made clear that the fullest 10th with the following gracious mes- guarantees of safety and of religious sage : liberty were offered to Roman (yatho- "Having received an account from lics, on the one condition, of living Capt. Leighton of what he was inter- at peace with their fellow-citizetls of ested to represent to us in relation the Protestant faith. This condition to the condition of the Protestants of was openly rejected by the Romanists Ireland, we have directed him to almost everywhere, and in places where assure you in our name how sensibly accepted they frequently violated their we are affected with the hazards you pledges, and the moment they thought are exposed to by the illegal power they could do so with safety, they at- the Papists have of late usurped in tacked, plundered and even killed the that Kingdom, and that we are re- loyalists. solved to employ the most speedy and On the 9th, 10th and 11th of March, effectual means in our power in res- 1689, William, Prince of Orange, and cuing you from the oppressions and his wife Mary, were proclaimed Sov- terrors you lie under, that in the ereigns of Ireland. The ceremony took meantime we do well approve of the place at Enniskillen on March llth, endeavor we understand you are using and from that date until the Battle to put yourselves into a position of of the Boyne the gallant Enniskilleners defence, that you may not be sur- had one continuous fight for their prised wherein you may expect all the litevties. It was in those dark and encouragement and assistance that can troublous days that the value of the sec- be given you from hence. And be- ret associations was fully recognized. If ; :
10
this secret organization had not ex- even a Parlistment called in Dublin. ititecl the Protestants would have been It would be an interesting task to dwell at the mercy o£ any Romish spy who here on the story of the Protestant simply said he was a Protestant and fight against their Roman Catholic per- came among them for traitorous pur- secutors, to repeat the ever new .story poses. The password for a time was of the Seige and Relief of Derry, the OXFORD. It was used in this wisa:A Battle of the Boyne and other stirring member of the Assoc", xtion wishing to events of that period. That grand test a stranjrer would say, "Did you story, however, properly belongs to the happen to see a stray OX to-day ?" historj of Protestantism, and our busi- Anyone not a member would of course ness is to tell the story of the Orange answer yes or no as the case might Order. lye, but a member would reply, "I saw TIm> 4;iiteN of Oorry. one down at the FORD." Tyrconnell ordered Londonderry to In addition to the general password, be occupied by McDonnell, the Roman which was changed as required, there Catholic Earl of Antrim, who had a were local passwords, the most popular vile rabble under him. The men of l^eing Danby's shout as he rode into Derry were however warned in time ^ork, "No Popery." of this intention and were soon ready. It was to this cry of "No Popery" Early in December an anonymous letter that the heroes of Enniskillen lUshed addressed to Lord Mount Alexander, into action at Newtonliutler, and was found on the street of Comber, and routed to enthusiasm by the shout they on the 7th of December a copy of it won a glorious victory. No wonder reached Derry. It read as follows that even to-day Enniskillen men, 3rd December, 1C88. whilsi honoring the memory of the "Good My Lord: an- Boyne, and many other Protestant "I have written to you to let you 12th of Aug- niversaries still hold the know that all our Irish men through their ancestors ust to be to them as to Ireland are sworn that on the i)th day the greatest anniversary of all. of this month they are all to fall or Jsiiiicfii III IrvlaiKl. to Kill and Murder Man, Wife and The arrival at Kinsale of the traitor Child, and I desire your Lordship to King James, with 2,200 soldiers, reus- take care of yourself and all others ed Tyrconnell and his vagabond army that are judged by our men to be to renewed atrocities on Protestants heads, for whosoever of 'em can kill and increased armaments among loyal- any of you they are to have a captain's ists. In connection with the royal place. So my desire to your Honor is J usurpers' visit to Dul)lin it may be to look to yourself and give other well here to mention the Aldermen of Noblemen warning and go not out Skinner's Alley, as an association of neither night nor day without a good loyalists in that city was called. Some guard with you, and let no Irish man have claimed for this old and peculiar come near you whatever he be. So association the honor of the parent this is all from Him who was your lodge of the Orange Order, but the Father's Friend and is your Friend, claim is not well founded. It is now and will be tho' I dare not be known established beyond doubt that this ap. yet for fear of my life." Skinner's Alley Association was formed The superscription was simply "To by the loyal Aldermen who were driven my Lord, this deliver with haste and from office by Tyrconnell. They met care." in a room in Skinner's Alley, having Copies of the letter or similar warn- some of the regalia of their office, and ings reached other Protestants, and it at their meetings they used the names IS doubtless true that these warnings and titles of the Aldermen. This or- were from Roman Catholics who had ganization flourished for many years, previously been treated kindly by Pro- and was probably, for the longer part testants. The Earl of Antrim's men of its career, a social affair for more were rapidly nearing the city and con- than it was secret and political, and sultations were being held continuously in any case it was not as we have al- asi to whether they should be admitted ready shown the parent Orange lodge or not. The Presbyterian Minister of that honor belonging without doubt Glendermot, the Rev. James Gordon, to the secret society formed amongst was opposed to their admission, l)ut the officers of the 4th Foot, as it lay Bishop Hopkins counselled submission. encamped on Hounslow Heath. In the meantime the Redshanks, as they The Irish Romanists now having at were called, had advanced within sixty their head the traitor to his coronation yards of the gate when nine young oath, the creature of the wily Jesuits, men, shortly afterwards joined by four they dubbed him Kii nr again, and had others, proceeded on their own re- MMHMH
11
sponsibility to close the gates. Their from Enniskillen?" (or Londonderry as names will live in history as long as the case might— be.) wise and heroic deeds are honored and Answer. "I am.' liberty loved. These nine young heroes '*Quite sure you come from Mr. were Henry Campsie, William U rook- Hamilton?' (or Dr. Walker.) shanks, Rol}ert Sherrard, Daniel Sher- "That I am.' rard, Robert Morison, Alexander Cun- "What other words do you bring?' ningham and Samuel Hunt. The four The messenger, turning a little aside other young men who promptly .joined and placing his left hand on Ins fore- them were James Sykes, John Cunning- head, replied, "I am that hath sent ham, Samual Harvey and William me unto you.' Cairns. These thirteen Apprentice Boys The recognition being thus com- had grown tired of the wearisome pleted, the message brought was ac- discussion between parties and they cepted. decided to act- a noble part. They Another sign of recognition, for closed the gates of Derry on the 7th which good authority exists, was of Teceraber, 1CS8, qld style. the word "Orange" used as follows: "Are you for Derry OR Ennis- Tliii Traitor LniHly, killen?' Yey 1 Derry gates were closed by. "Are you AN enemy or a friend t© decisive action of brave young the ask me such a question ?" men, and one of them, Campsie, was "GE (pronounced almost like "go") shot shortly after by an enemy's bullet on man, 1 meant no offence.' so close were they to the walls. Un- The words in capitals were em- fortunately all the traitors were not phasized somewhat and so completed outside the gates, and now Lundy be- the test. gan his treacherous work. The heroic defenders, however, were again and DellvrrniK'e Coiiics. again saved by what may be properly The brave men and women of Derry called even miraculous means. Lundy's held the town for one hundred and counsels were shown to be wrong, by five days. They were proof against
the most marvellous escapes ; messen- a treacherous gang, led by a j)rince gers eluded the lines of the beseigers of traitors; they defied even Camine, and brought important messages to the preferring to die the death of heroes beleagured people. In one case a mere to sacrificing their liberties. When child was the messenger. Lundy found the Romish horde brought to the that he was foiled at every step, and city walls the women and children at last sneaked out of the city at the they had captured and threatened to dead of night and went over to the torture and kill, unless the town sur- Romish Camp. rendered, the heroes of Derry flinched
'I'lie INiHHWord. not, but prepared to retaliate by exe- The value of the secret organization cuting all the prisoners they held, ' was once more put to the test and and this old act cowed the Roman- proved itself invaluable. It had been ists and f '^.d the lives of the women arranged by the Rev. Dr. Walker, of and phi'. And now deliverance Londonderry, and the Rev. Mr. Hamil- was at hand, for on the 3Gth of July ton, of Enniskillen, that no mes- the Mountjoy, of Derry, and the Phoe- sages should pass between Lon- nix, of Coleraine, two vessels loaded donderry and Enniskillen except by with provisions, came gallantly sailing men who knew the secret password on the booms which were broken, and and token. These two knew that the thus was food brought to the starv- common enemy would endeavor to ing, heroic people. Deliverance had spread false news in both places, and come, and the story of the uncomuer- a passage of Scripture was selected ed Maiden City will go echoing down as the test for all who came to the ages and forever be an encourage- either place. It enabled the garri- ment to those who are engaged m son at each place to keep each other the conflict for right. informed on the progress of the On the night of July 31st, IPgf), the struggle, as well as to defeat the ob- seige was raised and James, with his ject of the Romanists in spreading false twenty thousand baffled and dispirited news. tjoops, went on to Strabane, plunder- The selection of Scripture was the ing and thieving as they went. 14th verse of the third chapter of I>iik(> Sriioiiihors. Exodus, and the words "I am that On August 14th, 1689, Duke Schom- I am ... I am hath sent me berg, landed at Groomsport, near Ban- unto you."— gor. County Down, with 10,000 men. Question. "Are you a messenger and speedily Belfast, Carrickfergus and 12 other places were joyfully welcoming the last day of June, old style, a coun- the liberators, whilst the Romanist cil of war was held, and William an- army Avas mustering in Dublin and nounced his determination to force the vicinity. The winter months were the passage of the lio^ne. Many of full of anxiety owing to a serious his generals urged delay, in the face outbreak of disease among the loyal- of the superior numbers and strong ist troops, but notwithstanding this position of the enemy, but the King's there were many brave deeds done in choiw. had been made, and .so at 4 relieving I'rotestants, and in this a.m., on July 1st, old style, the armies work the Inniskillingers as usual were in motion, and early in the day greatly distinguished themselves. the fighting was general. Both sides James was nominally king of Ireland, displayed great bravery and endur- but William was preparing to visit ance. In a critical moment the Duke the island and secure his own. The of Schomberg, pointing his sword to- Queen was made Regent, and the Sov- wards the enemy, said, "There, men, ereign set out oto his task of liberat- are your persecutors." 'And onward ing Ireland. By this time the King went the Orange forces till victory and Queen had, by their Christian crowned them, although their gallant lives and wise rule, endeared them- commander, Duke Schomberg, fell selves to the English people and there •mortally wounded, and on that ever were many who tried to dissuade him memorable battlefield the Rev. Geo. from going to the front in the Irish Walker, the hero of Derry, was mor- campaign. His answer was that of a tally wounded, as were many others brave man: "I will go on with my of the bravest men Ireland has ever seen. the victory of the work or perish in it." ;• From Boyne King William pressed on to Dublin, lloyiie. At llie where he attended divine service in On Saturday, June Wh, 16&0, King St. Patrick's Cathedral on July 6th, William landed at Carrickfergus about old style. 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and was Other VlrlorlOH. given a great reception. He at once proceeded to Belfast, and there he was From Dublin, William pressd on to welcomed by the heroic Rev. George Waterford, which was occupied, and Walker and other clergymen with the to Limerick, which was beseiged, but tjoops and citizens who had gathered not then taken, and after he had ar- to the place, for Belfast itself was ranged for the government of Ireland then only a small town with but three in a manner calculated to secure the or four hundred houses. The Royal lives, liberties and properties of the party attended divine service on Sun- people, he returned to London on Sep- day, and four days after he went on tember 4th, 1690. It is not necessary towards the valley of the Boyne. At to enter into the details of work done Loughbrickland he began getting his during the autumn and winter by the army in order, and his stay in this officials William left in charge, suf- neighborhood is yet the theme of many fice it to say that the work of consoli- a lo a! story and legend. But all these dating the government, routing wan- we must pass over, as in fact we must dering bands of rebels, and an unsuc- many other incidents n i losely ger- cessful attempt to capture Athlone mane to our story of the Orange Order. kept the army fairly busy, and was Soon the two forces, that of William also of value to the Protestant militia numbering 36,000 men, and the army raised in various places and employed of James fully 46,000, with 20,000 more mostly on garrison duty. The anni- in various places near to. The Roti- versary of William's birth, November ish hosts held what has been always 4th, and the Gunpowder Plot, Novem- considered an almost impregnable ber 5th, were both celebrated in position. To the right was the town Dublin and elsewhere with great en- of Drogheda, held in force by the thu8' sm )iy the Orangemen, as the Romanists, to the left an impassable loy ts at that time were called. bog, and in front the dangerous fords Abo L January 16th, 169»1, the perse- of the Coyne. The foes of freedom had cuting traitor Tyrconnell returned to a brief spell of joy, for when Wil- Ireland from France, to which coun- liam was wounded as he rode among try he fled after the Romanist de- his men. Dublin and Paris shouted feat at the Boyne. In the summer with delight, when it was told that of the same year the loyalists suc- the Protestant King was dead. It ceeded in capturing all the strong- seemed, however, as if the belief of his holds of the Romanists. Athlone was true, that followers was no ball of the taken on July 1st, old style. St. Ruth, enemy could kill the Liberator. On the commander of the followers of : ;
13
James, with a stroag force encamped gentle Christian piety, the wise states- at Aughrmi Castle, a place ever mem- man, the able general and the un- orable in Orange history, and lymg flinching lover of liberty was dying, about three miles from Ballinasloe. and that, too, like the true Christian
-^ On Sunday, July 12th, after a I oi t c he was. On Sunday night, March 8th, speech to his troops by St. Ruth, de- 1702, between the hours of seven and sultory fighting began and continued eight o'clock, and in the 52nd year until 5 p.m., when, although contem- of his age, William died. His loyal, plating a postponement of the gen- loving Queen, Mary, had died of small- eral engagement, the loyalists, led by pox on the 21st of December, 169»t. General Ginckle, suddenly decided on a The closing of William's earthly forward movement, and after a desper- career but added to the veneration ate struggle they gained a great vic- in which the principles he represented tory, t-'t. Ruth, with thousands of his were held by his followers, and they followers, being killed. Flushed with accepted as a sacred trust the task of victory, General Ginckle went on to maintaining these principles at all Limerick, which, after a stubborn cost. And here it is that we begin resistance, surrendered on the 3rd of to see the first sign of the Orange October, leftl. These three great Order as we know it to-day. victories in so short a time practically The OraiiKe Tree. for completed the conquest of Ireland We have ill heard the old-fashioned King William. song beginning Htrarty TrogreHH. Sons of Hibernia attend to my song One is almost tempted to linger over Of a tree called the Orange, its the few years of comparative quiet beauteous and strong which followed and dream, as it were, 'Twas planted by William—immortal of the great and brave men who took is he. part in the struggles which ended in May all Orange brethren live loyal the final triumph of the cause of civil and free. and religious liber.t(y and ensured for The story we have been telling so Britain the inestimable blessing of far has been but a brief outline ot Protestant sovereigns. the life and labors of William, Prince It should not be imagined, how- of Orange, King of the United King- ever, that all the foes of freedom were doms of England, Scotland and Ire- those who took the field against King land, and who, by his wisdom and his William. They were braver than the patriotism, laid the solid foundation hidden and treacherous enemies of of the civil and religious liberty we liberty, who met in darkness and enjoy in all parts of the Empire. And planned murder and other secret means yet in the early years of his life, of thwarting the champions of free- and even for some time after, it looked dom. There were many secret con- as if he was never to see the fulfilment spiracies formed by the Jesuits, and of the longings and desires of those attempts on William's life were of who loved God and sought the right more frequent occurrence than the to worship Him as they believed His ordinary historian cares to admit. We spirit and precious Bible directs. know now that he had secret and im- Yet, when he was but seven years placable foes who strove to take his of age, his mother and grandmother life again and again, but who were had the fullest confidence in his fu- providentially baffled. The men of ture, and they had a medal struck on Kent were roused by one of those das- one side of which were the words, tardly attempts and broke out in wild "William III., by the Grace of God, enthusiasm over its defeat. Bonfires Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau," were lighted and bells were rung, and and on the reverse side, "Though the to this incident we owe the "Kentish Orange Tree be fallen down, thi'=^ noble Fire." sprig has been preserved by Divine In spite of all this, great progress care in the bosom of Mary (his mother). was made in Britain, the famous Bill Thus the father arises after his death * of Rights was passed, and in Ireland like a phoenix in his son. May he grow, i! the Orange spirit was everywhere may he flourish, and in virtue excel spreading, for had not its principles the greatest prince, in the glory and been bought by the blood of its best safety of his country." History shows and truest members. us how abundantly fulfilled was this The MliiHiow ol l»eatli. prayer. And now the shadow of death hov- Protefitniit 8o«letleH. ers over the royal residence. The In Ireland, we shall show as this man of iron will, of giant intellect, of history proceeds, the Protestants were 14.
not allowed to forget the blessings Constitutional Club of Gentlemen of conferred on them by William's vic- the County of Kerry, County of Mayo tories, for ever and anon the Roman- Club, the Aughrim Club, and others. ists would threaten rebellion, at- Several of these clubs met in the tack isolated Protestants wherever Tholed, in Skinner's Alley, and here they dare and destroy the property of they banquetted General Ginckle, the the loyalists. No wonder if thoughts conqueror of Athlone, Aughrim and of united action constantly filled their Limerick. minds, and they would have been in- Iiinllaiit BniMloii. if they had not revered grates, indeed, We have hitherto said but little of Orange. the memory of the Prince of K'llhint Bandon, called the IJerry the liberator That theiy did not forget of the South. The town sient a splen- for we know isi abundantly proved, did contingent to aid W^illiam, and this in Kn- that in Dublin, at the Boyne, body of brave men was allied to the William's niskillen and elsewhere, Londonderry regiment and did splen- the an- birthday, November 4th, and did service at the Boyne and after- regularly niversary of the Boyne, were wards. When the news of the victory processions of celebrated. There were of the Boyne reached Bandon there the military and civilians, and when was great rejoicings, but the climax were with- gradually the military in the jubilation was when the parish these gatherings, the drawn from ^ clerk of Kilbrogan, as the story goes, demonstrations. people continued the immediately after the First Lesson at There were processions, church ser- the Sunday morning service rose and committees vices and banquets as the said, "Let us sing to the praise and initiative in in charge decided. The glory of William a Psalm." It was of was taken many of the demonstrations his own composing, the first verse by the associations of Protestants and being as follows: as the Derry, En- loyalists known "William is come home, come home, niskillen, Boyne and Aughrim associa- William home is come. tions. In Dublin there was the Royal let us in his praise afterwards known as the Royal And now Society, Sing a Te Deum,' Boyne Society, commonly called Or- I angemen, and a higher order formed, The sentiment was loyal at any rate. presumably out of the former and Now as all students of history know called the Knights of the Most Glori- Bandon suffered much before the ad- ous Order of the Boj'-ne. It is gener- vent of WMIliam, their Romanist ally believed that this Order was es- neighbors plundered and harrassed tablished early in the last century, them on every possible opportunity but so secretly was it carried on that and murdered men and women when in 1880 Sir James Tennent, at onetime able to do so. No wonder then that M.P. for Belfast, was unable to secure Bandon welcomed the advent of Wil- particulars about it through "Notes liam and kept him in "loving memory." and Queries," that fountain of infor- Asswiations on strictly Protost.nnt mation. There are two paint'^d panels lines were formed. In 1777 a Boyne in existence yet representing the corps was raised which commemorated Knights of the Order. It had secret th^ Relief of Derry, the birthday of signs and passwords and only Protes- William and the Battle of the Boyne. tants born of Protestant parents could The citizens used to have a gathering be members. Early in this century and sham fight on July 12th just like a Boyne Club met at Tandragee, to that held at Scarva in our own day. which the late Major Stewart Blacker In 17»3 Col. Bernard raised the Pan- was taken at times by his uncle. As don Loyal Legion of three companies late as sixty years ago a Boyne Club or sections called respectively the
i met in Drogheda, and the membership Boyne, Union and True Blues. This of this club was confined to those aegion with other organized and who could trace their descent trom trained men of the town and neighbor- men who fought under King William hood continued to take part in the at the Boyne. And in fact the rem- Boyne celebrations until 1809, when nants of the Boyne Society were Col. Auriel,, the inspection officer, merged into the present Orange Order refused to muster the mien on the 1st about the year 1850 or shortly before, of July, old style, for the usual Boyne thus completing the link of the Order demonstration. The legion was called of to-day with the past. Other Pro- together five days later, when every testant orders formed about the time man appeared with an orange lily m the Boyne Society was called into exist- the button-hole of his coat. Col. ence were also absorbed by the Auriel lectured the men on the evils Orange Society, among them being the of political partisanshLip and ordered
li 15
them to remove the Orange emblem the agitation for the establishment of or lay down their arms. ii.very man free trade between England and Ire- of the Boyne and True lilues; com- land. panies laid down their arms, and so
( proces- men, history shows emphatically that no held under the auspices of the.se dis- vere not alliance, open or secret, ever existed loyal societies. Irish Jacobn societies history or in fact could exist between the appeared in ITDS, and it will be evident rrendor. ever loyal organized Protestants and from what we have written that the vas held the disloyal factions we refer to. country was in a very disturbi'd state. against This statement is true even of asso- On July 12th, 1701, the Protestants .er some ciations formed of Protestants at first, met a superior body of Roman Cath- of the but which afterwards der-ayed and olics at Lisnagacd, and althcugh the uy Fer- were revived by l^oraan Catholics with Romanists were very strongly posted lat, God the STm« name as the ori,!3:inal T'rntest- they were totally route! with .serious urch on ant association had borne. There were loss. On October 25th, 1793, the Rev. ;he pro- Right Hoys another nam > for Wliite- Richmond Butler was shot dead near jllowing hoys, in the South of Ireland, and his own house by the Defenders, his urely a Peep O' Diy Boys in the \orth. These only offence being a sincere attempt in 1G88 latter were sometimes called Brea'c O' to si'>p the t' rribl'j series oC oiitrafxes sermon Day Boys becaus'^- they committed out- going in all over Armagh, Antrim be very rages just about the hour the day and other Ulster counties. o listen began to dawn. Tlie Itmiisr Roys. OS3 the Tlie norniilors. On June 24, 1794, James Wilson, a >r's de- We Avi'l now turn to one of the vilest Godly well-to-do farmer of Dian, a ittended organizations ever known in Irish his- village of Couifty Down, attended his al, and tory. It was called the Defenders. Masonic lodge. On that day there had curate, Its first appearance is given by Mus- been a funeral of one of the Defenders, flcatftd grave as 1781, by Froude as 1787, whilst and as was usual with them the men ssjd off a constitution found on one of the who wiere at the funeral got drunk ary and leaders called Sharkey said it was and began to insult and abuse the of the formed at Louth in 178^. However, Protestants. Mr. Wilson urged his 'Pren- we know that on July -Ith. 1784, tv,o brethren of the Masonic order to aid is, sur- Protestants foughi; at Markethill, in the protection of the oppressed vatched Armagh, and that a Roman Ctholic Protestants, but they refused, when n if he and his son helped one of them, and he turned on them and shouted "I will .s play- the defeated man vowed vengeance. light a star in Dian which will eclipse to the The fight was renewed a few weeks you for ever." horitiea later and the Roman Catholics again Some enemies of the Orange Order or, was helped their friend, and he won. Out have tried to make out that Wilson, le City of this arose factions each of which "Bauldra" Wilson, as he was called cheers called itself a fleet. These "fleets' by his neighbors and friends as a token lookers, drifted into the Peep O' Day Boys of homely friendly regard, was not a de Gov- and Pefenders. It was arranged that Freemason in good standing, but that rentice on Whit Monday, 1785, a fight should slander is refuted by the fact that rrested, take place near Markethill, but Mr. he was at the lodge ireetings, before, d with- Richardson, the member for Armagh, on and after the d?' i here named, being with some other friends, came on the took part in the proc^jedings and tliere 18
or any- righi hand and I eat him with dubs. Lh not a Vim in i\w roa^nU slMn.li'r. Thej <'ul off (he fingers and thiiiul) of thing «'.lw lo Hii|'P'>«"t' Uio with tlio hi.s wife's hand and terribly a msi-d H« wont liomo to Di.in, an 1 an;i Ahraham her. They concluded (heir hellish ttiil of isaa Jo-f and.lohn parent W(trk liy cutting out the boy's tongue Dill, l)rotht',rs, he fonne-d tho iilth' later and cutting th<' c:ilves of his legs off. OranK<'. Hoys SocU'ly, an I a He lived and was aide to give evidence oi«m
' 19 villi cluhs.
1 tliiiiiiU of or so it has hcen in the Arolidioceso reinforce the Defen;lers. Mr. Verner, >ly a iii.scd of Armagh. A numi er of its iieoplo with his small body of militia, went ir lii'llish were liUt to death by that butcliur of away to intercept them and only par- y'x tdii^ue Rome, the notorious Dougherty, in 1(141 tially succeeded. is It'K-i off. in the massacre of Loughgail. This is 'ti evidence TlM> I Inn I Ittillh'. a lirief .siiet were tb« fame of which will live till time During the night of the 20th, the : terrihle ^ shall he no more. Defenders took up a position on Kaug- join for hart hill, the place from which they hoy were "i"or liide a wee, and you shall see, will be again." said they would fight and defeat the on 'J he Diamond trumps of the Protestants. On the morning of the hen th(Mi- TlM> or Kalllo. l»a.v 21st it became known that the De- l.ant men, On heptemlier 18th, 1795, word was fenders had made a change in their tcliered in to the Protestants that the commanding officers for reasons not e uiiuincr. brought Uefenders, whose origin and objects we quite clear. Capt. McGarry, of White- roLcst inis have previously pointed out, were cross, was put in command, with Capt. fence, and mustering at Annamore gravel pits for Donnolly, known as the "Switcher," as t ions nere an attacic on the iieacelul, loyal citi- his deputy. Quigley had charge of a Wilson or- zens of the district. The officer in good sized brass gun, almost a cannon. ' In this at that time was I'rieat It was the kind of gun used in larger story up command Quigley, a notorious hater of the shij) boats. It is not known whether 1795. In liriti^h. The Protestants quickly ral- Quigley was paciffed, for his deposi- lollcs )i;id hill of Orana- tion from the chief command, by be- murder lied the same day at the gill. The Defenders came in regular ing i)Ut in charge of the gun. It is, d life lie- military style from ail the surround- however, known that the Defenders had "otestanta. ing di.stri.;t:!i, carrying green flags. One brought carts and other conveyances .d taken flag had a while ground with sham- with them, for the purpose of carrying s and the oif the of the Protestants rock gjeen 1 order. In the centre of property lity now this flag was a female figure repre- they proposed to plunder. It is also crisis was senting a presiding goddess with a known that a quarrel arose amongst siring of beads in her hand. The m- them about the ownership of the Ver- scription underneath read as follows: ner mansion, at Churchill, for they of nd was a "leliver us from heretic dogs, and made sure of victory, and owning quarrel- ind West, then we will i)e free." There were the whole country side. The en houses, several little fights before nightfall ling was evidently ended very early in the 21st Lses l)eing on the 18th, and a Defender named the morning of Monday, ime from McCann was killed in Teague Town- of September, for at 5 a.m. they made a furious attack on Dan Winter's house, iverge in land. On the 19th the Defenders were partially destroying it, ate the food uling to enilioldened by the arrival of more sup- they found, and, of course, drank all r's I'ridfre orlers, but the same day Mr. James the liquor. fight then became prosper- Verner, of Churchill, also arrived, The general, and at one time; the advant- vould al- h'lving with him a small body of North ages seemed to be with the Defenders, g an in- Mayo militia from Dungannon. Nego- but the Protestants rallied splendidly, nuyst of tiations for peace were opened and although they only numbered barely lere are in Sled part of two days. The nego- 200 to the 1,200 Defenders, and in the )ut there tiationi= were in Mr. Atkinson's house, afternoon the who had come on substan- one of the leaders of the Protestants. men the scene boasting of what they were oughgall There were present Archdall Cope, to do were running from the field, a s, one on RoVert Camden Cope, — . Hardy, Coun- helpless, defeated rabble, leaving pro- on St. sellor Archdall, and three priests, Tag- bably thirty dead on thei scene of the irds per- gart, Traynor, and McFarland. Dur- conflict, whilst no Pntestants were fairs in ing the negotiations word was brought slain. ler and that the Defenders were violating the Roman- truce and firing into the houses of As illustrating how the feeling^ of ivith the Protebtants. Mr. Atkinson gave orders parties ran, it is told, how young Wm. necessity the lat- that only in cases of urgent Blacker, who afterwards became Col. for self-defence were the Protestants Is of the Blacker, hearing of the mustering of at fair to use their weapons. The proposal was the Defenders, took into hig confidence )eople of made that the Protestants p'^'^uld dis- an apprentice lad named McCann, who arm, but they, of course, ^ 1 that was employed on the additions being ! others. in the the disturbers of their peace and the made to the mansion at Carrick of their peaceful district got and ec- invaders Blacker. The two youths some of part of should first disarm, but to this the the lead being used for the roof and paid no priests would not consent, and in the made bullets, which they took with large used the rish of meantime word had come that a them and at Diamond. body of men were on their way to ;y years •*i
20
T(i«« *l«lor)s' l*r«'
I — — —
21
3ver-Iook- The copy of a later warrant is sup- declared he would have that number Kogers. or know the reason 11 was in- plied by the late Mr. Edward why. No one dis- he Order It reads as follows: puted his claim. the first "One hundred and seventeen, No. 8 was secured by Richard Robin- ry, there "Armagh, August 14lh, 17%, son, of Tinakeel. No. i> went to ' present- "James Sloan.' Pcrtadown, and is also irly still alive. war- Thi.' Btory gcfcs that alter it v»a3 No. 10 went to a Mr. Templeton, her stout decided to issue warrants, the Diamond and the number is still in the Dorta- men a> nt out to get pen, ink, ;ind down district. It was this Mr. Tem- paper, ad in their absence .sLv. Wil- pleton who gave the Purple Degree. son, of Dian, came in and asked for a . full No. 28 went to Jemmy Sloan, of re- warrant. Sloan told him the Diamond organiza- Loughgall, and, although it has had men had gone for writing maLeiial, 3ure they many ups and downs, it is still work- when Wilson said the first warrant ^hich the ing. should not be written with man-made " Wilson, No. 33 went to a spot near the Dia- materials, and he got a twig from a d fouglit mond—Grange O'Neiland—Mr. George hysop tree, with which Mr. Sloan ; Wilson, Innis being the fortunate holder of made out the warrant. When the iJia- the document. e fellows, mond men returned and found the igreed on No. 40 is alive, and works still in No. 1 warrant issued, they refused for Portadown district. a time to take a warrant at all, but No. 85 was given to one of the joint are men- finally accepted No. 118. secretaries at Sloan's, Henry Spencer, jre many truth of the probably The matter of Causnagh, near Loughgall. took part is that the Orange Boys who had done No. 118 was S3curod by the other joint Among such splendid work and had an or- secretary at Sloan's, Bernard Lamb, Sampson ganization were turned into \o. 1 lodge at that time residing at Druminis, of Cran- of Orange Order, ana that the the near Hamiltonsbawn, but afterwards Wiliiam men of the Diamond, generous and at Castleran, near the Diamond. The i his two brave as they ahvays were, allowed lodge is still working at Sumner's those from a distance, and the impa- Island. One of the original members ;ion that tient ones, to have warrants as iiuick- was Dan Winters, who after the battle igall, the ly as Sloan could make them, whilst was known as "Diamond Dan." dges and they themselves waited until the rush It is admiitted generally that the d by the was over. warrants cost one shiilin,gs an old pound, two TiM> l/ii«-k.y
22
"1, A. B., do freely and willingly 1 was not, am not, and never will be, swear that I will keep the peace with an United Irishman ; and that I never ail my neighbors and lellow-subjects, took the oath of secrecy to that so- and not designedly injure any of them ciety." except it be in my own defence, and In a modified or rather abbreviated that I will never join with or encour- form, the Master, Deputy Master, bec- age any party of men whatever, who retary, and Treasurer, on appointment meet together for purposes whereby to office, again took the oath. In 1800 the peace of the country may be violat- the words "or any other treasonable ed. And this oath I take in the fear society" were added to the obligation, of God and the true faith of a Chris- and in 1810, at the meeting of the tian." Grand Lodge on July 10th, the obli- The subscriptions were high, run- gation was made to read as follows: ning from $10 and upwards to more "I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely than $500. swear that I was not, (jim n .t, nor When the Orange Order was launch- ever will be, a member of the soci- ed at Loughgall it was necessarily the ety called the United Irishmen, nor crudest possible form of organization, any other society or body of men who and the only means of general consul- are enemies to his Majesty or the tation was that of a casual meeting Constitution of these realms. That I of the officers and members on the never took the oath of secrecy to occasions of Portadown fairs and mar- that or any other treasonable or se- kets. This was not a very satisfac- ditious society.'' tory way of doing business, but it was In 1814, 1817 and 1820 the obliga- the best they could adopt in the pe- tion was made equally stringent culiar conditions existing. Early in against all disloyal societies, and at the year 179'3 Dan Winter held a con- the Grand Lodge meeting, held in Dub- sultation with Mr. John Templeton, lin on August 4th, 1823, the obliga- a sound Protestant, a member of the tion was changed and the oath of al- Order and probably a Freemason. Mr. legiance, supremacy and abjuration in- Templeton gave ^he party some good troduced. advice and instituted the Purple De- A I Whys Loyjil. gree, to which ail the leading mem- We will turn back again a few bers of the Order are said to have years to show how the Protestants gravitated. He also showed them under all circumstances were the loyal-
how to utilize rooms for meetings, ists. In 1793-4-5 and fi the criminal and so avoided in almost every case records show that Roman Catholics the hedge and ditch initiations which were the evildoers. The risings of did not always secure perfect secrecy. 1796 were opposed by Grattan, and m About this time also the open the debates in Parliament on the sub- enemies of the Order assailed it and ject no charge was ever laid against charged its membiers with committing the Order or its members. There is various crimes. The strictest investi- a speech said to have been delivered gation proved these charges to be un- by Lord Gosford, in which he is al- true, and since then the enemies of the leged to have described the Order as Order have altered history and mis- "Oran^ bandits." Grave doubt ex- quoted records in their vain effort to ists as to whej:her he ever made a cast odium on the most loyal and law- speech at the time, although his son III nil abiding class of men the world has said his father had done so. It must ever seen. All these slanders have be remembered, however, that Dr. been refuted again and again, but so Francis Plowden, one of the writers long as the Orange Society stands as quoted against the Orange Society, it does to-day, against bigotry and was not reliable, and had to pay five disloyalty, it will be slandered by the thousand pounds for libelling certain enemies of freedom and the foes of our parties in his unreliable history of Empire. Ireland. That Lord Gosford's speech, Thr Ohltii.-iUoii. attributing crime to Orangemen in the The obligation of the first members County of Armagh, if ever delivered, was as loyal as it is to-day. In the was untrue is proved conclusively by first authorized rules and regulations, the statement of General Sir Thomas revised by the Grand Lodge of Ireland Molyneux, who was in charge of the for the use of all Oramge Societies and troops stationed in Armagh at that approved on November 22, 1798, the time, and whose special duty was to obligation of an Orangeman is given maintain order. The official records as follows: i of the troops show that very little "I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely crime existed, that the offenders were Bwear, of my own will and accord, that Roman Catholics, and Sir Thomas ;;
23
wrote a letter about the year 1835, abeyance, and in reviving r will be, the lodges atom of proof that numbers were it I never challenging any mixed. Another cause Orangemen caused trouble. The chal- of duplicating was the issuing of I that 30- lenge remains unanswered to this day. warrants from Dublin and by the proceedings of >breviated In the parliamentary Armagh Secretary, in which county ITJCi is of any offences the Grand Lodge originally ister, bec- no mention made existed. The fact pointment by Protestants or Orangemen, and of possessing a warrant, there are references to crimes by however, Vhich was correct, was, and t. In 1800 once for is all that •easonable others. This should settle was necessary to be legal all the stupid and falsa charge that and entitled to hold •bligation, the lodge. the first organized members of our The Order by the beginning g of the of 1196 present Orange Order committed crime. was progressing rapidly. the obli- The advice of Mr. Templeton was of great follows:— Tli« ViMMiiaiii-y. value in the work. Mr. James Hunt, of sincerely In 179G the ytjomanry of Ireland was Lis- burn, did a great deal to spread the n .t, nor formed as a sort of mounted volunteer Order in Antrim. He was assisted by the soci- force for the defence of the country the Rev. Philip Johnston, the Rev. men, nor and to aid in keeping the peace, which Dr. Cupples, Messrs. Watson, men who was threatened by the Roman Catho- Coulson and others. At Belfast Mr. Hart was or the lics who daily expected French aid. assisted by Messrs. Henry Moore, E. I. That I The oath of the Yeomanry was of May, jr., Major Fox and others. crecy to course one of complete submission to In Tyrone the opposition was strong, )le or se- the proper authorities and unfalter- but in the spring of 1798 Mr. Thos. ing loyalty to the Crown and Con- Boyd, of Killycoran, got a warrant e obliga- stitution. It was only by committing and the Order slowly progressed. stringent perjury that Defenders and United John Emmerson brought the first ), and at Irishmen could join, but they did not warrant into Fermanagh early in 17;-^. d in Dub- scruple at that. One of them who It was No. 173, at Rosslea. The e obliga- joined was hanged for a base act of next day after the Rosslea lodge was opened ith of al- treachery. He was sent with a de- Mr. John Johnston went back with ration spatch to General Lake, but he de- m- Mr. Emmerson for a second warrant, liberately Avent to the insurgents m and the number of th's second Wexford and delivered there the im- war- rant was 184. This pro/es how quick- a few portant message. When the Roman- ly warrants were being taken up. otestants ist libellers said the Yeomanry were These lodges are still working. An- the loyal- Hot loyal, a secret inquiry by Parlia- other old lodge in this district is No. ment was held, and it was shown that criminal 315. The first Master was Mr. Samuel only a few Romanists were disloyal, Catholics Johnson, farmer. The first Treasurer and the great body of the force re- sings of was Mr. David Beatty, of Lisbellow. ceived thanks for their services. In a, and in The records of the lodge show their ranks were many Orangemen that in the sub- 1796 there were 198 members on the and Moira Yeomanry L.OL. No. 554 i against roll, Lord Cole and other promin'^nt is justly proud of its origin the There is m men being of that number. Yeomanry company raised by Mr, At the delivered same time the Purple list had 149 James Sharman Crawford, of Moira. he IS al- names. The minutes show that We need not dwell on the miserable Wil- Order as liam Haire was exipelled for associat- story of the landing of the French oubt ex- ing with the United Irishmen. made a invaders at Bantry, on January 2nd, his son 17^7, with Wolfe Tone strutting about Tlio I ii-st lliiiroriii. in French uniform. It It must came and The first actual reference to a uni- went, and the story is told in the his- hat Dr. form appears in the records of this tory of the Empire. Suffice it to say s writers lodge. It is in the following form:— here that the Society, Protestant Yeomanry "December 4th, 17»8—Resolvt -That did their duty in defence of their pay five there should be a committee held in country, as did the Orangemen. ? certain David Beatty's, on Monday, ye 10th, itory of l>ii|illciilo Xiimltoi's. 179i8, in order to take into considera- 3 speech, As might l)e expected, there are tion of mode of Dress for this county. en in the missing numbers, owing to lodges hav- The committee appointed for such lehvered, ing ceased to exist. There are also business is as follows, and to trans- 3ively by several duplicate numbers ; among act other business :—William Chart- Thomas these are Nos. 7, 11, 181 and 228. These res, Aughnaloo; Wm. Montgomery, e of the duplicates arose through various Drumreany; Wm. Chartres, Curragh Jas. at that causes, such for instance as mixing Crawford, Kilmore ; Walter Scott, r was to the numbers of the Purple Degree Lisbellaw; James Dane, Drunard;
records Lodges, and Primary, the issuing of John Ha 11, Tattyneacall ; Henry Dix- ry little some English warrants, to the fact on, Lislea ; John Thompson, Shanco that Ulster Blac'c, ers were the Grand Lodge was in James Clogheur ; Robert Shaw, Thomas ;
2h
Lisbeilaw; and John F ivis, Drumud. "QUALIFICATIONS REQUI3TE FOR tigne.l.by order o£ theji-oster, Ifamuel AN ORANGEMAN. Johnston.'" "He should have a sincere love and The Yeomanry and militia dii a ycod veneration for his Almighty Maker deal towards spreadini^^ the cause in productive of those lively and happy Ireland. the south and other parts of fruits, righteousness and obedience to
I'lif l*r«M-4>s>>ioiis. His commands ; a firm and steady fauh Regularly organized piocehsion^ oi in the Saviour of the world, convinced Orangemen began on the 12th of .iuiy, that He is the only mediator l)etween 17%. At many places the gatherings a sinful creature and an offended were very small. Two Icxlgfes >uet at Creator. Without these he can he no
Kilevan. At liullagh, Tyrone, > nly Christian. Of a humane antl compas- fifteen members turned out. At Lui- sionate disposition and a court^'ous and gan, however, more than 2,000 i)eople affable behaviour. He should be an
assembled, when one of the Queen's utter enemy to savage brutality an 1 County militiamen killed an Orange- unchrl:cian like cruelty. i^et hini man named McMurdle. For the crime be a lover of society and improvmfj; the militiaman was convi.,t3d of man- company, and have a laudable regard slaughter, burned on the hand and for the Protestant religion an I a sin- then discharged. cere endeavor to propagate its pre- Banners of various descriptions were cepts. Zealous of promoting the honor carried, and several of these had a of the king and country, and a hearty
picture of King William en horseback. desire for victory and success : but In 1772 Mr. Cope raised a regiment convinced and assured that God only of mi'itia. antl his sister made, a silken can grant it; a hatred for cursing and banner for the corps. This lianner swearing and taking the name of God was presented to Little Jemmy bloan's in vain (a shameful practice); taking lodge. No. IGl. Derryscollop Lodge No. all opportunities to discourage it 2 had donations from Lieut. Sinclair among his brethren. Wisdom and and Major Dal ton for a banner. The prudence should guide his actions, Roman Catholics have often said that hone.sty and integrity influence his these demonstrations caused trouble, conduct, and lienor and g'ory l)e the but that was only true when they motives of his endeavors. interfered with the processionists. "Lastly, he must pay the stri-'test Hugh ]\rcCall, in his honk on "Staple attention tn the religious observance \ranufactures of Ireland,' shows how of the Sabbath, and also of temper- the Orangemen protected even priests ance and sobriety." from the turbulent classes. The Armagh Orange claim issued be- !1 Each County, or two or more united fore this contained the very same sen- Counties, had a system of self-govern- timents, and all other counties copied J ment for the lodges in the jurisdic- the words and the deeds. tion. Thomas Verner was the first iilli t'roMii. 4'oiiiitr.r >iim1 FtiKli. ill! Master of the United Counties of Tyrone Fermanagh, an^ TiOndonderry. Reader.s of course irnow that at this The Grand Lodfre of "Boyno men reriod Ireland had a separate Parlia- commonly called Orangemen" of An- meni and laws of its own. which ac- trim, was comp<"sed as follows: —Dr. counts for the fact that the early seals of Wi'liam Atkinson of Del fast. G.M.- the the Order had the crown and harp clos- Rev. Phi ip Johnson ('17V Pallyma.'ash, combined. The lodges opened and li for G. Chap.: Wm. Hart. Li".biirn G. «ec. ed with prayer. The mottoes were Beside the Grand officers the General seals. l)anners and certificates almost Committee consi«'ted of Edward Hogg, always the words**for Crown. Country.
ill' Constitution and Fnith." The Order 354. Lisburn : Thomas :\rcCully, 224, was thi^s religious, loyal and Protest- SoldierstowB : Michael Boomer. 137, ant to the true Deriaghy; Stephen Daniel. 238, Bel- core, the foe of no patriot, but all good fast. James Innis. 152, Lisburn; 'ohn the friend of citizens. Every effort was made to Johnston 224. Lisburn ; Thos. Briggs, keep the meml.ership exclusively for 121. Maze: Wm. Johnston, 143, Bal- the sober, honest, God-fearing people, linderry: Thomas Shillington. 403, who, loving right, were determined at Aehagallon. and William Murphy, 140, Magheragale. al! costs to preserve the liberties they and their forefathers had won. <)n:i1lfirattnii 3TE FOR to crush out the Protestant religion volt in that district, laid seige to En- in Ireland. The rebel United Irishmen niscorthy, and finally encamped with made an appeal to the Orangemen to his rei)el host on Vinegar Hill. The love and join in the revolt. Grand Master cruelties the priest's army committed y Maker; Atkinson took action to circumvent the on Protestants are beyond description. nd happy rebels, and with military aid did arrest There were 230 prisoners in Sculla- jdience to some conspirators in Belfast. A con- bogue barn, and all were ordered to eady faith ference of Ulster Orangemen was held le icilled. The order was given by convinced at Armagh, with Mr. James Sloan, of Priest John Murphy. Thirty of the r l)etween Loughgall, in the chair, when the prisoners were lifted on pikes and held offended rebel ar-iJeal was indignantly rejected until dead, and then the barn was set "an be no and a solemn declaration made that on fire, and the remaining one hundred I cpinpas- the Orangemen would do their utmost and nintey-nine burned to death. At t^ous and in defence of King and Constitution, the trial at Wexford, on Septemlier Id be an to retain Protestant supremacy, to 12th, 1799, of \Vm. Fenton, one of the ality anl maintain law and order, and defend men charged with some of the of- I jet hun themselves from attack. fences, it was proved that when it mprovina: I'oii.siilrulors 4'aiii:lit. thundered during the killing of a Pro- le regarti Events rushed after each other testant, one of the rebels said that 1 a sin- "God was sounding his m rapidly, and the traitors to King and horn of joy its pre- because an countrj' were busj', but the Govern- Orangeman was killed." the honor Another remark was "Come on, lioys, ment was not idle. On February 28, a hearty to the camp (Priest Murphy's Vine- 1798, Priest Quigley, who was at first on ess ; gar Hill), we have sent their but in command of the Defenders, was ar- souls to hell." God only rested at Margate, England, with trea- On June 20th, rsing and sonable documents in his possession. 1798, the butchery of Wexford Bridge took ae of God He was in disguise and going under place. Two pikes were stuck in ; the back and two ) taking the name of O'Coigley. He was tried, in the breast of jrage it found guilty of treason, and on June each Protestant, and the four pikemen lorn and 7th hung as a traitor. then threw the body over the bridge. The rebels actions, On March 12th, 1798, Capt. Swan, an had a banner ence his Orangeman, captured the fifteen Leins- with the letters "M.W.S." on it, which has generally Ijeen 'y t)e the ter re!;el delegates in Dublin. accepted as meaning Murder Without Sin. On May I9th, 1798, Lord Edward stri'-tost Fitzgerald, whose Roman Catholic On June 21st General Lake attacked Murphy's host on Vinegar Hill and ^servance wife got him to .ioin the rebels, was defeated it. temper- captured, after a desperate resistance, Priest Clinch, one of the chief officers in which he received wounds which among the rebels, being killed. ?sned be- proved fatal on June 4th, 1798. Capt. iame sen- Rj'an, an Orangeman, who assisted at Oraiige L»yalt.y. es copied the caiiture, was fatally wounded by There were many other exciting in- Fitzgerald, and died twelve days after cidents in the South, North and West, Capt. but we can h. the struggle. Swan and Town only mention briefly the Major Sirr, both Orangemen, assisted troubles in the North, where the rebels t at this at the capture. were equally cruel when opportunity I^arlia- It had leen planned that on May offered, as witness the burning alive '^hirh ac- 23rd, 1798, the reliellion should openly of Hugh McKee and family at Saint- arly seals commence. This decision was come to field, the Donaghadie and other ind harp trage- aft a conference held at Harold's Cross dies, in which Protestants were killed, and clos- a month earlier. The first skirmish simply because they were Protestants. were foi' was at Rathfarnham, three miles from No wonder if at times nen's blood i almost Dui)lin. The tactics of the rebels were ran wild, as they learned of these Country, soon made clear. They liegan and con- atrocities, and no doubt in some cases le Order tinued the whole struggle, by the most a terrible vangeance was enacted. Few Protest- atrocious butcheries of Protestants. men living to-day would have re- no true The story of those terrible days need frained from retaliation, but there are all good not be dwelt on at any length, be- records of but very minor offences of to made yond what is pertinent to the history this description against the loyalists, vely for of the Order. Suffice it to say, that and not one against any organized people, a at Dunboyne and Prosperous the Pro- body of Orangemen. nined at testants were killed wherever found. Many ble, but misguided men, ies they The same story can be told of many- joined the rebels in Leister, but most of 1. places all through the south and west them left when they found out the days in of Ireland, and wherever the rebels had real character of the rebellion. On re- The a chance to commit these outrages. June 11th, General Nugent, in com- ed long, On Saturday, May 26th, Priest John mand of the King's forces in the I French Murphy, of Boulavogue, led the re- North, issued a proclamation offering n effort 26 pardon to all who surrendered, hut if were committed. The rebels, led by the surrender did not take place one Humbert, pressed on until they promptly he declared he would destroy reached CasLlebar, where they met all houses and execute all the people some loyal troops, but \vith the loyal- he caught. It was a cruel order, and ists were, most unfortunately, volun- many innocent people suffered. This teers from Galway and Longford, is the only official act of harshness and Kilkenny militia, all Roman Cath- recorded, and it has never heen con- lics, and these ra[)idly retreated, so cealed or attempted to be justified by thai it was customary to refer to that the loyalists. skirmish as Castlebar Races, but the On the 12th and 13th of June the Orangemen fought well. The I'^rench Battle of Ballynahinch was fought, General issued a bombastic proclama- the rebels were defeated and Munro, tion forming a government for Con- their captain, eventually captured by naught, but as already noted he met three Orangemen, and afterwards ex- disaster at Colooney, where the gal- ecuted at Hillsborough. lant Orangemen, under Archibald Arm- We have mentioned the fact that strong, did such splendid service. At Orangemen took part in the work of Sligo the Roman Catholics made com- suppressing the rebellion, and will mon cause with the rt')els, but the close this part of the narrative l)y Orangemen rallied in delrnce of their reciting some other incidents to prove homes and were joined by the IMeiho- that members of the Order were then, dists, who came to the rescue singing as now, loyal to the core. Several hymns. At Ballynamuck the rebels memliers of No. 430, of Inch, joined me I disaster, and there again Orange- General Nugent. At Lisburn 400 men and Protestants distinguished Orangemen enrolled for the King's ser- themselves greatly on the loyalists' vice. The orders of the day of several side. regiments show that at Belfast and In September the British squadron elsewhere Orangemen did full duty caught the French fleet, fought and like the regular soldiers, and were defeated it and took the La Roche often detailed for active service. At into Lough Swilly, where the French Castlereagh Orangemen and Yeoman had planned to land, and so they did, did duty together. At Fermanagh the but as prisoners. Wolfe Tone was on board the i Orangemen were summoned lor duty La Roche, dressed as a by the Secretary, just as he would French officer. He was recogni^e'l one ' a special lodge day at dinner, was charged treason, 1 summon meeting. On with September 17th, 1798, John and Archi- sent to Dublin, tried and condemned to bald Johnston were expelled from Lis- he executed. He cut his throat the bellaw Lodge for refusing to mount night before the date fixed for his guard. execution, and after lingering a week In a letter doted August 14th, 1815, died from the self-inflicted wounds. Jas. D. R. Clelland said that although Napper Tandy, the sneaking rebel, m he was not an Orangeman he could, of always ready to save his own skin at his own personal knowledge, testify the expense of others, was arrested, that thej bravery of the Orange con- but whined and prayed for pardon till tingent saved the York Fencibles from he got it as is generally supposed, utter destruction at the skirmish at because he gave others away. Saintfield. For conspicuous liravery at The writer of this would have Colooney on September 4th, 1798, Arch. been gla could the exigencies of the Armstrong was made Colonel of the the case nave permitted details of how 71st Regiment. He had 28 Orangemen the gallant Orangemen saved Newton in his company, all from the lodge of Pirry, how they fought and died at which he was Master. The members Three Rocks, Ross, Wexford and Ark- of the Orange lodge, aided l)y twenty low, and how many of their loved ones militiamen, held Borris against the suffered on that "Bloody Friday" rebels. Capt. Gowan's Yeomanry L.O. round Gorey. As we have said all L. 40(i was initiating Lieut. George T. these stories would form instructive Johnston when they heard the soldiers reading, and with others would fill go by on their way to attack the rebels. large volumes. All that we can say lodge at once The adjourned and did now is that every man who had taken to defeat the rebels much at Ballyellis an Orange obligation did his duty to ^ on November 20th, 1798. his King and country. August 22nd, 1798, On further de- How great had been the services of tachments of French tro'^^ps landed the Yeomanry, almost all of whom are at Killala, and this roused the rebels Orangemen, is made clear by the fol- of that district to great enthusiasm lowing general order, issued on Sep- and many cruelties on Protestants tember g-th, 17C8, by the commander of : 27 Is, led by troops. it he said the David intil thoy the Royal In Verner, Grand Secretary, Ar- they met corps of Yeomanry in the whole magh. the has John the loyal- country through which army Crossle, Grand Secretary, passed rendered the greate3t ser- Tyrone, ly, volun- have Longford, vice, and are entitled to the acknow- William Hart, Grand Secretary, nan Cath- ledgments of the Lord Lieutentint, Antrim. that Mr. reated, so from their not having tarnished Wolsey Atkinson, Acting Secre- tary. er to that courage and loyalty which they dis- played in the cause of their King and II. was ordered that— 3, but the by act of cruelty 1st. All lodges shall pay le I'^ench country any wanton the annual sum of proclama- towards their deluded fellow-subjects. threepence for each member to defray for Con- It was not considered good politics the various expenses in- the State officials the mem- curred by Mr. Atkinson in issuing id he met for and the bers of the Government to say much of warrants. i the ^^al- 2nd. No lodge bald Arm- about the services, of the Orangemen, shall be held without had to be largely content a warrant, to be signed by Mr. rvice. At and they Wolsey Atkinson, and a nade com- with the knowledge that they did seal with the likeness and of King William affixed but the their duty. Malevolent opponents thereto. time-serving politicians have tried to 3 of their (irriit llriaoii.stnitioiiM. minimise the services of these l)rave be aiel ho- men, but the records of the day and On the same day the Belfast Orange- le singing the never-dying, never-sleeping vigi- men held a great demonstration, at i;he rebels lance of the leaders of the Order have which military of all ranks and the 1 Orange- secured the recognition from poster- members of the Order were reviewed ;inguished by ity, which was only partially given at General Lake. The Orangemen loyalists' the time. carried banners. The "Protestant could Boys" was played to the tune of Lilli- squadron If necessary a large volume filled but bulero. ught and be with such instances, enough has been said to show that The General left the same day for [ia Roche loyalty always distinguished members Lurgan, going by way of Lisburn, le French where he also of the Order. Small wonder if the saw an Orange parade, they did, at Orangemen of those days doubted the which the memlTers of lodges 104, e was on loj'alty of Roman Catholics. Small 121, 128, 136, 137, 138, 140, 152, lOi, 170, sed as a 207 and 354 wonder, also, if they harboured harsh were present, with many rni^erl one thoughts of Rome and her ways, and military. The Masters and Secretaries h treason, were at still smaller wonder if they were the head of each lodge, and iemned to found loyal to the Order, determined the lodges were in order of seniority iroat the of warrant. to maintain it, and to hand it down The open Bible and war- for his to their children as a bulwark of rant of the lodge were carried, and a ? week safety. fully 30,000 people assembled. tvounds. The County of Armagh Orangemen 4iir:iiMl LodKO Foi'iikmI. ng re))el, mustered in Lurgan. The Govern- The necessity a central to 1 skin at for body ment, was anxious to know the strength arrested, weld the various lodges into a power- of the loyalists, and young Mr. Blacker ful organization was felt as early as irdon till did his best for a good muster. It is the beginning of 1796. prelimin- supposed, A said that 30,000 men, including mili- ary meeting, without authority from y- tary and Orangemen, paraded, and that the lodges was held at Portadown on lid have fully 60,000 people were present in Lur- r- July 12th, 1790, and the question of es of the gan Park. General Lake got a great forming a Grand Lodge was sent to Is of how welcome. the primary' lodges for their decision, The County I Newton Tyrone men met at the result of which was to be laid be- died at Stewartstown, and were assaulted by fore an adjourned meeting. The lodges xnd Ark- some Roman Catholics of the Kerry favored the formation of a central jved ones regiment of militia, but they held their governing body or Grand Lodge, and Friday" own, a sergeant and three privates be- the adjourned meeting was also held said all ing wounded. at Portadown on July 12th, 1797, and structive From these facts it will be seen that therfe the first duly authorised Grand ould fill the Order had grown enormously in Lodge was formed, these officers being less than two years, and that the Gov- can say elected ad taken ernment had a great reserve of loyal- Capt. Wm. Blacker, Grand Master, duty to ists to draw on in case of trouble. As Armagh. we have already seen, that trouble was Thomas Verner, Grand Master, Ty- even then drawing to a head. rvices of rone, Derry and Fermanagh. v^hora are Dr. Wm. Atkinson, Grand Master, T«» l>iil»llii Now. the fol- Antrim. On March 8th, 1708, a meeting to on Sep- Thomas Seaver, Grand Treasurer, aid in the better organization of the lander of Armagh. Order was held in Dublin, at which — 28 :i!i a number of representatives from crease facilities for issuing warrants, lodges were present. Thomas Verner a work aa we shall see directly in- was in the chair. It was decided to volved a good deal of labor. The have a Grand Lodge for all Ireland, Grand Lodge then adjourned until to meet in Dublin. The counties November 80th, 17i;8, when the two were all divided into convenient dis- brothers appointed to deal with the tricts, the District Master to be rules were to be ready to re[iort. chosen by the Masters of i'rimaiy llii|il I I county. It was also resolved that the It is not possible to say just how Grand Lodge of Ireland should be many lodges were in working order formed by members to be chosen by at this particular moment, an 1 our ballot by each County Gran I Lodge, T-eaders will of course have seen that and that the Grand Masters of Coun- hen the party who got a warrant ties, District Masters and Masters of ceased to be in the position of Master lodges in Dublin, on account of their the warrant was changed to the then residence, should be members, and Master. Of the Order we know that that all Masters of County Lodges Mr. Edward Rogers, for many years should be admitted as honorary mem- Grand Secretary for County Arma;,h, bers, and that each regiment having thought that by the end of 17!>^ there one or more numbers should have a must have been 070 lodges in the power of choosing one member by home Counties of the Diamonil. He was ballot to be a member of said Grand able to give a partial list of some Lodge. of the new warrants issued to lodges The resolutions then further pro- as follows: vide that the Grand Lodge elect its No. 2, Loughgall, to James Verner, own Grand Master, who, with the No. 3, Loughgall, to Chas. Munro. Grand Lodge members and the Masters No. 7, l^ortadown, to John Creery. of County, District and Primary No. 10, Portadown, a military march- liodges, were to be elected annually, ing warrant. and that the Grand Lodge of Ireland No. 12, Lurgan, Capt. Blacker. should meet as near as possible to No. 13, Portadown, John Gardiner. the 1st of July, (old style), as it was No. 14, Loughgall, John Jackson. found possible. No. 15, Lurgan, Henry Greer. The meeting then atljournsd until No. 16 Lurgan. Wm. Emerson. Monday, the 9th of April, 1798. No. 21, Loughgall, Thomas Mc- The first Orange lodge opened in Cracken. Dublin was No. 175. It met regular- No. 22, Lurgan, James Best. ly at Harrington's, nn Grafton street, No. 23, Lurgan, John Graham. and many of Ireland's best and brav- No. 24, Lurgan, John Hara. est sons joined. There is a list of No. 26, Lurgan, Wm. Fisher. seventy or eighty names still in exist- No. 27, Lurgan, Richard Wilson. ence which proves this, for in that list No. 35, Portadown, Richard Robin- there are five Verners, every one of son. whom served his country faithfully; No. 36, Loughgall, James Sloan. then there comes such names as Major No. 41, Lurgan, John BRst. Hamilton Archdall. John C. l^.^rf.s- No. 43, Lurgan, Jas. Turkington. ford, M.P.; E. A. McNaunrhten, M.P.; No. 44, Lurgan, Wm. Madden. Rev. John C. Beresford, Mnjor W. H. No. 46, Lurgan, Jas. Wilson. Swan, Henry Vaughan Brot^k, Earl of No. 48, Lurgan, John Greer. Annesley, Earl of Athlone, who was No. 54, Renhill, John Foster. admitted by acclamation ; Vipomnt No. 57, Lurgan, Andrew Curry. of Northland, Dungannon; Hon. Thos. No. 63, Lurgan, Wm. Mach.assy. illli! M.P. for Knox. Dungannon ; the Earl No. 82, Lurgan, Thos. Sheppard. of Kingston, and others. No. 85, Loughgall, Henry Spen-er. As arranged, the Grand Lodge met No. 91, Lurgan, Gowliston Lutton. on April Hh, 1798, in Dublin, in the iNi No. ini. Loughgall, Thos. Obre. of hous^ Thomas Verner. The Marouis No. 103, Lurgan, (reo. Douglas. of and Drogheda many other promi- No. 104, Loughgall, John Locke. were present. nent men Brothers No. 106, Loughgall. John Brownlee, Samuel Montgomery and Harding Gif- No. 109, Armagh. Thos. Jackson. fard were appointed to frame a code No. 122. Tandragee, military warrant of rules. for Armagh militia. good deal of routine A business was No. 123, Lurgan, Geo. Baird. done, the chief of which was to in- No. 161, Loughgall, James Sloan. 29 ? Mairunls, No. 102, Verner's Bridge, Loughgall, Woods easily proved that the origi- irectly in- David Verner. nal No. 11 of Waterloo fame wa9 the tbor. Tlie No. 17t, Market Hi!l, Hugh Mathers. one he had secured. •ned until No. 204, Lurgan, Wm. An'ierscn. Ill lli«> <'i-iiii«>a. n the two No. 229, Keady, James Hughes. 1 with the No. 222, Market Hil, marching war- Another Orange warrant with a re[)ort. rant for Armagh militia. romantic history is that of No. 809. No. 312, lUchill, military warrant to The warrant was with an infantry re- 13th Dragoons, and then to Bdth Re- giment which rendered splendid ser- at see how giment. vices in the Crimea. The lodge met (1 gon3 on. No. 550, Lurgan, the Rev. Holt War- regularly in a cave, only known to the just how ing. members, and many a time the pro- kinj? order No. 072, Armagh, Henry Sling. ceedings have been enlivened by the I shrieking shells flying , an our overhead and At IViitci'loo. s seen that the rattle of musketry. In a skir- a warrant Warrant No. 11 was claimed by mish the Master of the lodge, who of Piaster Down and Armagh, anl it has a roman- carried the warrant, was killed, and the then tic history. It was no doubt issued some prowling Turks got hold of the know that by James Sloan, of Loughgall, on the warrant when rifling the pockets of lany years night of the victory of the Diamond, the dead. An ex-membr of the Irish y Armaj^h, and probably renewed in 17*J8. S«me Constabulary, who was attached to n»^ there have cJaimed that its original date the ambulance corps, came on the 3 in the was June 4th, 179*3, but though on the scene, and being an Orangeman he n;!. lie was face of the document, it is so clearly got the precious document from the t of some an error, or a date marked lor some Turks, who were completely j)uz;zled it over it. 1 to lodges other purpose, that is not worth The brother sent the war- while even discussing it. Mr. Woods, rant to Mr. Rogers, Grand Secretary es Verner. who first claimed this old date for of Armagh, and the story of the war- ( rant with itself .. Munro. the warrant, was himself born n that the document is 1 Creery. very day, June 4th, 1793, and was in- among the many other valuable ar- iry niarch- itiated at Ballyvalgin on July 12th, chives in Armagh Orange hall. 1811. The warrant was a military The year IVl/'S was memorable in icker. one anl held by the 17th Light Dra- Orange circles for more than the is- Gardiner, goons. At Waterloo every Orange- suing of those warrants we have been Jackson. man in the regiment but one was writing about, n The Orange demon- :'eer. killed. He preserved the warrant, and strations on July 12th were greater ^rs')n. on his return to Lisburn several years and grander than ever, and the mili- jmas Mo- after as a pensioner he show^ed the tary turned out at many places. This warrant to James Bell, who gave it year the County lyrone gatherings st. to James Thompson. The latter sub- were numerous and mostly local, no ham. mitted it to the County Down meet- great central gathering marking the a. in,?, anl County Master Connelin la'd event, but every town anl hamlet held sher. it before the Grand Lodge of Ireland. its own gatherings. The Fort Edward Wilson. The authenticity of the document Yeomen Cavalry, all of whom were rd llobin- was at once recognized. A rene.Aval members of Fort Edward Loyal Or- was granted to Mr. Connelin. The ange Lodge, asssembled before march- iSloan. renewal warrant is dated August 2'lth, ing in procession and Mrs. Lindsay, i !St. 1824, and is signed by Col. Verner, wife of the captain of the corps, W. C. int^ton. Deputy Grand Master ; William Stoker, Lindsay, presented them with a Iden. Deputy Grand Treasurer, and Ogle beautiful silk banner of royal blue, n. Robert Gowan. Assistant Grand Sec- with a neatly worked silver loom, the er. retary. Mr. W^oods purchased the re- web in' and a weaver at work pic- tured ter. newal warrant with the right to open on it. Surrounding the device urry. a lodge at Earnamaghery. The lodge was a wreath of thistles, roses and hassy. was opened on October 20th, 1825, and shamrocks, entwined with the motto, ppard. the warrant afterwards renewed by "Pro Rege, texto, lege" (for My King, pen-er. Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, and by my loom, and the law). Lutton. the Earl of Eimiskillen. Mr. Wcorls Perhaps the first Orange speech de- Ihre. died on April 4th, 1883, mourned by livered openly by a lady was that all cla^«^S3S. funeral conduct- of Mrs. s:las. His was Lindsay when she presented the Locke. ed accordin')? tT Orange ceremonial and banner. Catholics attended it out In those days the Drown lee. many Roman Orangemen under a clause ckson. of respect for deceased. in the Bill of Rights were It naay be mentioned that when the enabled to carry firearms, and that ' warrant Benevolent and Loyal Orange Institu- is why they were so valuable in tion existed, the Richill brethren had actual service and so able to i. defend 11, but themselves Sloan. a warrant numbered Mr. when assailed. 1,' 81 mischief. These cruninals, the better to militia and Orangemen. It is calcu- lume, and the dissemination of falsehood against lated that 70,0i)0 lives were lost dur- I'ollows: the Orangemen, wore hats such as the ing the struggle, and many thousands 1(1 .sincere- Yeomanry at first wore—round, with fled from the country in panic. The Will and white tape binding the edges. In sev- annual exi)enses of the Government, utincKst f)f eral districts the Orangemen raised which in 1779. was only ^9,UU0,00'J, was efend the funds to help tlie sufferers, and gave now 5a2O,000,00(), and the debt was in- 'hird, and freely to Roman Catholics as ell as creased to the huge sum of $1::.'),000,0()0. 1 so long to Prolestiints. It was proved before The grant of $4,110,01)0 in relief of the -'rotes tant the Orange Commission that Roman sufferers from the rebel raids did not ution and Catholics did not suffer in any way, nearly cover that loss, and yet so nd that I that Orangemen and Protestants gen- sure did the Orange and Protestant tne of our erally aided them in every |.ossil)le population feel that they could over- he Third, way and got them employment. The come all these difficulties that they o further Rev. Mr. Johnson and the Rev. Dr. preferred to bear the burden, and man- 'as not, a Cupples were the object of many fully hell* to reduce them rather than hat I was slanders by the opponents of freedom, abandon their Parliamentary system of , a United and those forged rules were used to Government, imperfect as it was. To the oath annoy these loyal true Protestants. many of the best men of that day it and I do Mr. Johnson's life was more than once looked just as it would look to the u;e of Al- in danger from the secret foes of the people of our Provinoes or of one of ways con- Orange Order. All these slanders and the States of the Union if the Central ther parts attacks were without one jot or shadow Governemnt proposed to abolish their >vv to re- of justification, and so exasperated Local or State Legislature. That was •r Indite many Roman Catholics even that in exactly how it looked in those days to 'e it, nor 1811 Priest McGreevy, of Deriaghy, many Irish loyalists, and their fears >r, Parch- wrote, stating that his predecessor in of evil consequences were increased by Stone, or the parish always spoke of and looked the united and persistent demands of ;e known, upon Mr. Johnson as a true, kind the Roman Catholics for the abolition ti Orange- Christian, and that he was greatly ad- of the Irish Parliament. r Corrup- mired for his good works and noble It is this which makes it al surd of life. the Home Rulers of to-day to taunt orda were These forged rules, however, got Orangemen about their opposition to pber, and their death-blow when Col. Verner the Union. The Orangemen, or at least als3 pre- gave evidence on March 7th, 1835, be- a large number of them, openly and fore the Orange Lodges Commission. honestly stated their opposition, but reported He showed where the forgeries differ- when in.after years they saw how bene- ayer was ed from the genuine copies. The ficial it worked out, they were not ; referred Rev. Mortimer O'Sullivan, D.D., gave such fools or traitors as to attempt to abridged similar evidence to the Commission. destroy that Union. The Romanists sought the abolition of the Irish Par- >pted and Oraiisenioii aiMl llio I'liloii. liament because they thought thereby copies of During recent years when Home to injure the country and curb the ules still Rule has been so much under discus- onward flow of Orangeism. When ire easily sion it became the fashion for ignor- they found that it was a blessing ocuments to ant, demagogues to point out that the country and that Orangeism was lass words many Orangemen, probably the raajor- triumphant, they began to seek the )iety and ty of them, opposed the Legislative destruction of the Union on the plea challenge union of Ireland and the United Kin,?- of Home Rule. That is in a nutshell raitoroua dom. It is to us, living under a fed- the whole story of the Orangemen and eral system of Government, no surprise Romanist position on the Legislative to know that the brethren in 1799 and Union. es, mak- 1800 opposed the abolition of the Irish During the discusssion of the Union angemen Parliament. The surprise is that any proposals the Supreme officers of the Roman advocate of Home Rule should cast it Orange Order frequently appealed to ther out- up in this year of grace. the members to refrain trom discuss- it creed, Let us consider briefly ho^v the mat- ing the subject in lodge, but all of ledge of ter stood. The rebellirn had been course were at liberty to use then- erly false crushed, and scarcely an Orange fam- own judgment on the matter. The Roman ily could he found that was not in Union Act was finally adopted by the fied vol- mourning for their dead, who had Irish Parliament, and on August 1st, Orange fallen in fighting in the open field 1800, it received the Royal assent. The ered re- or had been butchered by the priest- Act came into force on January 1st, the mis- led rebels. Fully 80,000 men had been 1801, and from that date one Parlia- offences, in the field on the side of the King ment has managed the affairs of the Qes were and 70,000 of these were Yeomanry, United Kingdom. d rebels ids from : — 32 ..-!' ; for their patriotism AlwiiyM l.«»yiil iiiiil Triir. Orangemen, and The agiUiLion over the Union neither readiness to assist in defence of the (il.li, llm slackened the enLhusiasm nor lessened Empire. On April 18U2, Im- also recof\i/e.l I lie by onj iota the loyalty oi tlie Or- perial Parliament angemen. The 12th ol July, the ith services of the Veoiuunry bj a special and nth of ^ovember celebration-* of vote of thanks. 17iW and 18C0, were as larf^e and as Troiil»l<> AbiiIii. enthusiastic as the most ardent Or- The unsettled leelin^i' m iuigl uid iti angeman could wi.sh. When on -May 1801 led to the arrest ot I ol. iJesi-aKl 15Lh, 1800, James Hadfield attempted and a numb'c^r of other conniiiiaiors. to shcot the King in JJrury Lane The Colonel and six of his lol lowers Theatre, London, I he Orangemen were were executeii, and the trouble was then- tlie first in Ireland to manifest felt in Ireland, where a l)ody ( f Tii)- to ex- joy at the King's escape, and p.'rary an I Limerick luililia, all liomnn press their horror at the incident. I'athoiics, attacked the Orangemen of They joined heartily in the spirit of Kilrea. The latter took refuge in a the impromptu verse which Sheridan house, and in their own defence Jired, added to the National Anthem in the killing two militiamen. At the truii theatre the night of the attempt on which followed it was shown that the King's life. The verse is as fol- the Orangemen would all have been lows: killed had they nut fired as they did. "From every latent foe, The brethren charged with the olfence F-om the assassin's blow, were acquitted. God Save the King. In 1802 the 12th of July demonstra- O'er him thine arm extend, tions eclipsed all previous years, For Britain's sake defend and included a review of soldiers and Our Father, Prince and Friend. a levee at Dublin by the Viceroy, and God Save the King." the firing of a volley in honor of the Boyne. '• Ai 4'olei-:ilii<*. In 1803 the talk was of Bounaparte In 1801 Mr. Thomas Verner retired and his intended attack on P^xitam. from the post of Grand Master, which A special appeal was made to Orange- he had so ably filled, and was suc- men to be ready for action in de- ceeded by the Hon. Geo. Ogle, M.P. fence of the country, and to exercise This year Coleraine had a very fine redoubled vigilance to prevent the historic procession on the 12th of admission of traitors to the Order. July. The Orange soldiers of the The 12th of July demon^-.trations were EighLxi Armagh Regiment took the again most successful in every re- lead because th«y held senior war- spect. rants, and many of them had fought at the Diamond; then followed a de- Tile ftiiiiiiK't FlnN4M». tachment of the Royal IrLsh Artillery This year witnessed the hair-brained by lodges, followed by the civilian attempt of Robert Emmet, a brother Orangemen. The Armagh Regiment of Thomas Addis Emmet, and one lodges and Masters were: 174, \Vm. Thomas Russ3ll to raise a revolt which McCracken ; 190, Matthew Pollard ; 223, was to begin on July 23rd. Russell's =iii!i Jeremiah FuUerton; B'i.'), Robert plan in the North was to seize Ma-^is- Sloane; and 1038, Samuel Robb. The trate Forde, of Seaforde, hold him as Artillery Lodge was J>27, and the Mas- a hostage, and then on a l>eacon be- ter, John Foster. The town lodges ing lighted, the whole country was were—256, John Smith ; 316, John Dins- to rise. On the day named about more ; 737, Thomas Bell; »C9, William thirty men, partially drunk, met Rus- Drain; anl 9'20 Benjamin Drain. They sell, who had issued a bombastic pro- had met in the Diamond, and over clamation, which was everywhere re- one thousand soldiers were in that ceived with derision. The thirty men parade, which was witnessed by a soon got so drunk they had to he wildly enthusiastic crowd. They down, instead of rise up, and Russell, marched to the parish church of Rally- who had intended to seize Downpat- angin. where Dr. Heslot, Rector of rick, was on September Mh, 1803, seized Killowen, preached. After service they himself in his hiding place in Dublin, marched to Portstewart, where re- by Major Sirr, and J. S. Emerson, freshments were served, and at night both Orangemen. He with some of his each lodge d'. i in its own place of followers were tried and executed at meeting. On October 31st. 1801, the Downpatrick. Earl of Hardwicke, the Lieutenant- Emmet had also issued a proclama- Governor of Ireland, thanked the Yeo- tion, named his new government, as manry, nearly every one of whom were if he owned the country, and whilst It \v.\ •iotism and Ru.sstill was acting tlu» fool elsewhere, in which 0'\ei! ma I he ter ml his ni'phew, Rev. lUfhard E." 11 hingj 111(1 Ml 180u till 18:0, or even a liitlo Wolfe. The two men wire murdered latei, j1. ljt'si/iU(l there were many disturbing po- by Dinm >t's gang, and the lady ser- )nsi)iiuloiH. litical issues raised. The (luesiion of iously w unded. Col. Drown, of the removing i lollowor.s certain civil di.sabilties oi 2l8t Regiment, wiis also Jdlled, and Catholics, oublo \v!is Roman and of admitting to several others all in c
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allegiance in the Marksman's obli- drawn and replaced by new ones to r, 18. Gee gation. be issued, embodying the labors of 20, Dob The Threshers, the Carders, and the committee. In this edition the *>Jo. 2) was other secret societies were still at Marksman's obligation is again pub- V as 1800, work committing crimes, and the Kid- lished. The other changes were the plicate of man Catholic Committee in Dublin was restoration of the original Orange ob- \ of the busy charging these crimes to the ligation, an i a better arrangement of the town Orangemen. The Threshers, and other the rules. In this year there were no lars later lawless gangs, however, came so to violent attacks on the Order, and this numbers, the front that even Roman Catholic was due no doubt to the tact that its lad spread priests like Father McMuUen, of enemies thought the Order would soon Loughinisland, denounced them, and die. The Grand Lodge officers at any England, had not a word to say against the rate had no thought of this, for they iber 23rd, Orangemen. At Ballynahirch and issued new '•'warrants and took other nonument Garvagh a handful of Orangemen steps to increase and strengthen the I'athedral. routed hundreds of Threshers and Order. A distinguished mc; of the vas made threshed them soundly. Order died this year. This *s Sir for Grand In iLlt the Ribbonmen appeared, and Richard Musgrave, Bart., Gran Treas- successful, the story was then set about that urer. The sad event occurred on er raised the Orangemen had taken an oath to April 7th. Deceased was an able and the extirpate the Roman Catholics. To writer a distinguished politician and resigned give a show of truth to the libel, a true and patriotic Orangeman. Hfe ice. The the famous, or we should rather say, was born in 1757. 2nd, 1821. infamous. Poltiglass pedlar's yarn was The 12th of July anniversaries were I Duke of set afloat. It was told that a man not of much account in 1818, and the ' a ques- had been thrust out of the Order and only assault on the Orangemen was range ob- secretly made away with, because he at Kllrea, in County Tyrone. In 181J) le ablest refused to take an oath to extirpate a spirit of lethargy was again evi- 1 a mere Romanists. The whole exlirpatory dent, but this was only for a time. the obli- conspiracy was shown to l>e the work kv under W»r\i «»r Traitors. of Roman Catholics, and of those who t which secret hoped to gain money or position by For the second time the signs societies, and passwords were made public in angemen. aiding the enemies of the Order. In Parliament, too, the Order had Carrick's Journal, a Roman Catholic and was been assailed by Sir Henry Parnell, paper. The fact was that some Roman stirement but ably defended by Sir Robert Peel. Catholics had joined the Order, and appoint- The question of orders or degrees other gave these things to the Journal. To rlanH, in than Orange and Marksman was now deal with this and other matters the Master becoming troublesome, and on Novem- Grand Lodge met on January 10th, lyon, consider the ber 20th, 1817, a great convention of 1820, in Dublin, to the ques- the Order was held in Dublin, when tion of new signs and passwords. Those the following resolutions were present were : General Archdale, M.P., Grand Master ; Alderman A. B. King, adopted : Ireland, D.G.M.; Captain Cottingham, Grand the only original e condi- "Resolved—That Treasurer; Capt. Kortcn Grand Secre- orders of the Institution are, the natisfac- tary ; Wm. Stokes, D.G. Treasurer ; the us flow Orange and Purple." Rev. John Graham, Grand Chaplain. inst the "Resolved—That the Orange Order, The following committee was ap- •arefaced as improved in the year 1800, is suf- pointed to revise the rules and regu- el they ficiently perfect, and requires no al- lations: Alderman Kin?, Capt. Norton, cral sec- ternative whatever.'' Capt. Cottingham, Capt. Fitzsimmons, and the A committee was appointed to deal Lieut.-Col. Blacker, Joseph Greer, R. organi- with errors which had crept into the Westenra, Capt. M. F. Johnson, Coun- leir ut- Purple Degree. The committee com- sellor Fitzsimmons, Joseph Thetford, Order. pleted its work, and reported on the Robert Duncan, and Lord Viscount h every 24th. In addition to correcting the Mount Morris. This committee de- lar, but errors in the Purple Degree, it was liberated four days, and then brought nd one recommended that greater care be in an able and exhaustive report. It ner was exercised in admitting membrs, and re-affirmed the necessity for simplicity were that the minutes of Grand Lodge be in the forms and regulations, denounc- of this printed for circulation among mem- ed innovations and made several sugges- trations bers at large. The Grand Lodge met tions for improvements in the govern- on the 24th and adopted the com- ing system of the Order. The report net 'ii mittee's report. was unanimously adopted by the Grand mnated At a rtteeting of the Grand Lodge Lodge. The general declaration and :ns and held on the 28th, it was ordered that qualifications were retained as origin- Is "Be- the old rules and regulations be with- ally drawn, am' in the new obligation idge of 36
the Orangeman boun.l himself to be hamilton ; and Richard Warrington, faithful, and bear true allegiance to D.D.M., Newtonhamilton. the King, to support and maintain the These men claimed that the original Laws and Constitution of the United founders of the Society recognized Kingdoms of (..rant i'ritain an 1 [lelaT^d, other orders and degrees than the and the succession to the throne in his Orange and Purple. To a certain ex- Majesty's Illustrious House being Pro- tent they evidently did so at first, testants. bui in 1798 all were excluded but the A new clause was added under v. Inch two named, so that in leas than three members were pledged to assist the years alter the Diamond had been magistrates in the discharge of their fought and won these other orders official duties whenever called upon were barred out. to do so. In 1821 the secret signs and pass- words In the Purple obligation an impor- were again made i)ublic, owing no doubt to some tant addition was made. It reads as Roman Catholic get- ting into the Order as had l;een the follows: "And that I will not make or Id case previously. The Grand T>odge assist at, nor sanction the making of very promptly changed them, hut any member in any other order, pur- ow- ing to the continuance of dissensions porting to be part of the Orange sys- o\er the orders, and to tem than the Orange and Purple, the fact that many thousands of the Yeomanry, al- which are the original orders of the niosi all of whom were Orangemen, Orange Institution." had l;een called to arms the Society was This clause was ur course directly at a low ebb in many places. aimed at the new orders which ^vere The first surrentler of the Orangemen creeping in, and a further clause pro- of Dublin to the Roman Catholics was hibited "the wearing of the regalia or in July, 1821, and that, too, with Aid. colors of any other order in an Orange King, D.G.M. of the Order, in the lodge. Mayor's chair. At the city l)anquet, The principal change in the rules in honor of George the Fourth's Cor- governing the Constitution of the onation, the Mayor presided, and Lord Grand Lodge was that which reduced r'ingal. President of the Roman Catho- the elective body from thirty-one to lic Union, occupied the vice-chair. twenty-one. It was decided that the Dan O'Connell was present and made Grand Lodge should meet half-yearly one of his "blarney" speeches. The instead of quarterly, or often as had Lord Mayor decided to have no pro- been the custom before. cession or decorations on Protestant The Grand Lodge of England sent anniversaries, hut he reckoned without Grand Secretary Woodburne to Dub- his host, for the statue of King Wil- lin to secure the new work. It v as liam was decorated as usual. also arranged that Mr. E. L. Swift The time-serving action of Mayor should act as Grand Secretary for Ire- King did not prevent a great display land, within the jurisdiction of Eng- of loaylty on Coronation Day, and land. The death of George III. brought shortly after the Orange Corporation Capt. Cottingham to London with an of Dublin proceeded to London to pre- address of condolence to the Royal sent an address to King George, for- family from Irish Orangemen. The merly Duke of York, on his accension address was graciously received and to the throne. The procession oi the acknowledged. The visit of Capt. Cot- DuVilin Corporation to the palace was tineham to London gave further oppor- perhaps the most unique ever seen in the relati'ins of London up to that time. There had . tunities for drawing the two Grand Lodges closer together. of course been grander ones, but this was an Orange City Council, going to Divided 4'oiiiisolH. express the fealty of the City of Dub- The opposition in Ireland to the lin to the Crown. In this procession Grand Lodge rules and regulations, the Lord Mayor occupied the first more especially those so rigidly bar- carriage, which was followed by an- III ing out the other orders, was strongest other carriage, bearing the city keys, in Armagh City and County. The the mace and sword, and attended by County Grand Lodge met in June of twelve footmen in livery, and the 1820, to support the Grand Lodge of horses decorated with orange and blue Ireland, and on the same day the op- ribbon. The sheriff's carriage deco- ponents of the new Constitution also rated the same w^ay, came next, follow- met. There were present Thos. Seaver, ed by another carriage, many of them D.M., Carnbugh; Harry Sling, D.M., also decorated. Armagh ; Robert Maxwell, D.M., The deputation was graciously re- D.M., ceived Keady ; John Simpson, Newton- and presented a strong Protest- :n
ant address, to which the King made "i had Rather Die than be Disgraced.' a favorable reiily, in which he slated All the I'rotestant toasts were left out he iinew Orangemen would ever bo of the programme, but the sheriff with ready to defend the Crown and Con- other loyal citizens present, gave si itution. them as usual. In August of the same year King On October 2»th the Mayor and George reached Ireland, and landed at magistrates of Dublin issued an Kingston, then called Dumleary. He order prohibiting the decoration or was cordially welcomed, Dan O Connell King William's statue, but forty- joining in the reception, and was ten- eight members of the City Council dered a great banquet in Dublin. The met on Saturday, October 31st, and familiar toast of'William and Mary, protested, and early on the morning of Immortal Memory," was not on the of November 4th an attempt, par- official programme, but after the tially successful, was male to decorate King, and Mayor King left, the com- as usual, but the police and .soldiers pany asked Aid. Beresi'ord to give the prevented its completion. Gradually It time-honored toast, and, on his refus- the clutch of Rome was tightening on ing to do so, Aid. Darley gave it. It Ireland's capital, and thus was being was vociferously cheered, and after- laid the sure foundations for future wards the Roman Catholic Union ra's- troubles. Orangemen were often ed a great fuss over the matter. charged with bigotry and partizan- The Lodge of Ireland held its Grand ship ; names easily hurled by men who. regular meeting on the 13th of August. having no arguments to use, fling foul Those present included: Earl O'Meil, accusations instead. Testimony to the KP., Grand Master; Lieut.-Col. Black- fairness of the Orange Order came tingham, Grand Treasurer ; Capt. Nor- at this time from a strange quarter. ton, Grand Secretary ; Mr. D. F. For it is worthy of note that the Ryan, Deputy Grand Secretary ; Mr. Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and \Vm. Stoker. Deputy Grand Treasur- Loughlin, the Rev. James Doyle, D.D., er ; and the Rev. John Grs am. Grand issued an address telling his flock to Chaplain. The visit of the Sovereign live at peace with their neighbors, to Ireland was hailed with delight, testifying to the law-abiding conduct and the Grand Lodge renewed their de- of the Orangemen, and pointing out clarations of loyalty to the Crown that the behavior of many of his peo- and Constitution. ple was not in accordance with their More Sei'vllHy. profession of faith. In 1822 "Jack" Lawless and Dan More Tnniblo. O'Connell demanded that the 12th of The incessant attack of the enemies July demonstrations should cease in of the Order, joined with the slavish Dublin. The Viceroy issued a procla- desire of politicians to curry favor mation forbidding the decorations and with Rome, brought increased trouble processions. The loyal Orangemen, to the Society in Ireland, and the at- hoAvever, completed the decorations. tacks led to defensive measures by the The mottoes were "Fear God, Honor members. In 1823 Aid. King, the tem- I the King,' "On the. Lord's Day the porising Mayor of Dublin, now an Debtor shall go Free." alderman again, appeared at the Par The demonstrations elsewhere were of the House of Commons and deliv- very successful. In Glasgow 127 men ered an able and eloquent plea in de- were in the procession. Seven lod.nres fense of the Order. For his splendid
were represented ; five from the city, s leech on that occasion he deserves one from Paisley and one from T'ol- to be held in grateful memory. The lockshaws. They were assaulted by troubles did not grow less, but in- the Roman Catholics, but the magis- ore;ised, for the repeal agitation was trates insisted on protecting them, brewing. Although the Grand Lodge calling out soldiers for the purpose. of Ireland and the Order there was In September the Grand Lodge of under a cloud, so far as it was pos- IK Ireland met to discuss the question sible for the truth to be put under, of processions and banquets on No- the Grand Lodge of England was in ember 4th and 5th. The Grand full operation and aided that of Ire- Lodge decided to leave the matter to land to the utmost of its power. Lord the decision of each lodge. On the Liverpool, the Premier, and his Ilome day the Mayor of Dublin was sworn Secretary, Lord Sidmouth, were both in the civic banquet followed. Mayor anxious .towards the end of their terra Fleming's motto was, "Deeds Will of office at any rate, to encourage the Tell." City Sheriff Thorpe was sworn .spread of the Order. in the same day, and hia motto was, When in 1827 the Duke of Cumberland .ss
was elected Grand Master of England, Lodge of England did so in 1836, he appointed as hi'- Deputy for Eng- and in April of the same year the land Lord Kenyon, the faithful worker, Grand Lodge of Ireland held a special and for Scotland, the Duke of Gordon. meeting in Dublin. The meeting last- The Grand Chaplain was the Bishop ed three days, and at the close de- of Salisbury, Grand Treasurer, Lord cided to suspend operations until Chandos, M.P., and Col. Fletcher, happier days dawned. For nine years Grand Secretary. the members of the Order kept true The political enemies of the Order to their obligations without charter had been incessant in their attacks, or other bond of union than that of and in 1835 an inquiry was held by loyalty to the principles 'hey pro- a Committee of the House of Commons fessed. They suffered in silence, but II into the working of the Order and in 1845 the ban was removed, and from other societies. Its enemies did their that day until the present moment the very best to make it appear that the Order has gone on in a strong, steady Orange Order was the cause of the sweep, until it now circles the uni- continued strife in Ireland, and was verse. To those who talk of its sus- causing divisions even in England pension in 1836, as that of the sup- and Scotland. All the leading members pression of a disloyal organization, our of the Society in both countries, as answer is the evidence before the Com- well as its known and open foes, were mission, and the names of a few of called before the Commission, but not its leading officers that year. These the secret Jesuit libellers. Many in- latter were the Duke of Cumberland, dependent witnesses also testified. The the King's brother, who was the Grand mass of evidence gathered fills sev- Master of the Order, Grand Chaplain, eral large volumes, but to the im- the Bishop of Salisbury ; Deputy Grand partial reader it was made abundant- Masters, the Earl of Enniskillen, Col. ly clear that the members of the Order Verner, M.P., Robt. Hedges, Esq., Earl were a peaceful, law-abiding class, of Longford, Viscount Mandeville, M. who could always be relied upon_ to P., Earl of Roden, Earl of Bathdown, support the Crown and Constitution, Lord Ely, Lord Farnham, the Marquis In discussing the events which led of Thormond, Viscount Powerscourt, up to this Commission of Inquiry, one Viscount Cole, and Hon, R. E. Plunket. There were or two facts should be borne in mind. then twenty Grand Lodges, eighty In 1828 Dan O'Connell was elected for District Lodges, and fifteen Clare, but could not take his seat hundred Primary Lodges in Ireland alone, until "Catholic Emancipation" was and a large membership in P]ng- land, Scotland, passed in 1829, that is until it became and a fair beginning legal for Roman Catholics to sit in had been made in Canada. Parliament. This law was carried dur- In 1847, that is two years after the ing the Premiership of the great Duke revival of the Order, the death of Dan of Wellington, aided by his Conserva- O'Connell took place at Genoa, as he tive colleagues and reform allies. The w^as journeying to Rome. He left his passage of the measure allowed the heart to the Pope, but he left to his Duke of Norfolk to take his seat as country a legacy of strife and hatred, the first Roman Catholic peer in the which seems never likely to die out, United Parliament of Britain and Ire- so long as the people follow Dan's ex- land, and his successor is the present ample and leave their hearts in the Roman Catholic Postmaster-General in keeping of Rome. Lord Salisbury's Cabinet. Now we have brought the History of the Order up to our own times, !!iHH|MMi.sl»ii or <>rilll
tralia and elsewhere, all Leaching the its shortcomings, I send this little same lesson that Rome hates freedom, volume forth with the hope that every hates its champions, and does not reader may be encouraged and inspired scruple at the means she takes to at- by reading it, as I have been by writ- tack them—shall be written ere, ing it, to try and labor still more long. faithfully than heretofore in the The Order was introduced to this discharge of his duties as a citizen. country about 182^, and the story of At a time when in Britain the two its rise and progress is to be told great political parties are offering by the Grand Lodge of British North l)ribes to the Church of Rome for her America, m accordance with a decision influence, when in Canada that Church if come to some years ago. wields a power dangerous to the peace It may he well to state here that and progress of the Dominion, when the obligation taken in the United we see the Municipalities, States, and States is of course one of unswerving Federal Governments of the United loyalty to that country, and there are States too often the tools of the ho more loyal and law-abiding i;eo- priests, and when in Australia and ple within the Union than the Orange- elsewhere organizations are found of men who, in the dark days the for the purpose of denying the civil rebellion in other times of trouble, and rights of the loyal Orangemen, it is fought, and died like heroes for the surely time for us to break every Star-Spangled Banner. political tie and unite to secure the * • • • * triumph of civil and religious liberty My present task is ended. With all and the downfall of clericalism.
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