Read The Orange Torch Online at the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland Website.
The Orange Torch - A Burning Torch for Protestantism
The Orange Torch is the official journal of the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland. It is published in ten editions per year by the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Copies can be purchased direct from our KB Shop or through your Lodge. Also regular copies of this journal can be posted direct to you for an annual subscription of £7 which includes postage and packing. We also post overseas subscriptions which are available at £9 by land or £15 by airmail.
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We also have included the latest edition of Torchfire which is a comment
on current events by Bro Derek Neilson.
The Orange Torch Dec 2002 / Jan 2003
FIRST MINISTER IN IRA BLUNDER!
What are we supposed to make of a politician who campaigns publicly against
"sectarianism" while trying to help IRA supporters stage a controversial
march through his constituency? The politician in question is no minor
league player. He is none other than Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell.
While he was strutting about on the moral high ground in the aftermath
of the 6th October Old Firm derby, just days before he had intervened
with the police over a planned march by the West of Scotland Republican
Bands Alliance through Wishaw and Craigneuk. Strathclyde police had recommended
that the proposed march on September 21st be banned because they had information
that it would provoke serious public disorder. The Sunday Times, who disclosed
McConnell's duplicity, claims that the march was planned to pass Craigneuk
Orange Hall, which police had been warned would be petrol bombed!
Days after he had announced new measures to outlaw sectarian abuse and
curb the sale of sectarian memorabilia at football stadia, Scotland's
First Minister has been revealed as assisting an Irish Republican group
who sell the very type of paramilitary tat he wants to ban from Ibrox
and Celtic Park. This is the latest scandal to hit the embattled First
Minister, who has already been accused of manipulating the "sectarian"
issue to distract attention from his other problems.
USED
McConnell has been far from astute in allowing himself to be used by the
Republican Bands Alliance. Among those he met in his constituency office
was Jim Slaven, head of the pro IRA James Connolly Society. Slaven is
from Edinburgh, and therefore not one of McConnell's constituents. Slaven
also is a total stranger to tact, and was later only too pleased to sing
to reporters. "There is a large Irish community in Lanarkshire and
they have every right to march", he crowed. The First Minister's
only clear move to "tackle" Slaven's complaint was to write
to Strathclyde police. It is understood his letter asked the police to
justify their decision to ban the march to help the bands reapply for
another march. McConnell could have saved himself a great deal of grief.
The reasons were already explained in council documents and in a local
newspaper.
And to think that McConnell epitomises the quality of our politicians
who are now blithely spending their way through the equivalent of two
new hospitals in order to erect an ivory tower of a parliament building
in Edinburgh.
Poor old Scotia. Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
Golden Jubilee
Year ends in Style!
It was party time on the grand scale on Saturday 9th November, as Airdrie
Town Hall filled to bursting point with hundreds of celebrating Orangemen
and women. The occasion, of course, was Her Majesty the Queen's Golden
Jubilee, and the magnificent Sir John Wilson Hall was bedecked in patriotic
colours. So too were the revellers, who soon drenched the hall in a sea
of red, white and blue.
As it was also Remembrance weekend, the evening also included an act of
worship led by Bro Rev Ron Campbell, Grand Chaplain. The party hubbub
stilled to a respectful silence as the Grand Lodge Standards entered the
hall under the direction of Chief Grand Marshal, Bro W. Douglas. As the
strains of the "Last Post" faded from the bugle of Bro Robert
Sawers, you could have heard a pin drop.
GOLDEN JUBILEE fun in full colour ...... See centre pages.
Torchfire
an occasional commentary on
current events
by Bro Derek Neilson
CAULD KAIL FOR
REPUBLICANS
I am sure that most of us scratched our heads in bewilderment over the
shambles that has ensued since the collapse of the trial of Paul Burrell,
butler to the late Princess of Wales. As more revelations emerged one
thing has become patently obvious Burrell can hardly claim to be ''Diana's
rock"! Like most tawdry press informants before him, he has sold
out to the highest bidder.
Like most commentators I am at a loss to explain the apparent tardiness
of the Queen's intervention in the trial, by confirming that she knew
he was keeping numerous items "in trust". There is no doubt
that this late intervention has given rise to much speculation on the
role of Elizabeth Regina in the prosecution system. Republicans have had
a field day rubbishing the constitutional system whereby the legislative
and legal authorities derive their powers from the Crown.
Needless to say, this system was enshrined in law following the 1688 Glorious
Revolution. Various Acts of Parliament relating to the Royal oath, finance
etc have been added since until today we are blessed with a Constitutional
Monarchy that stands comparison with any other democracy in the world.
IT AIN'T BROKE
To those who advocate a presidency I would challenge them to nominate
a system which is in all respects better than the one we currently enjoy.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"! Despite claims to the contrary,
successive monarchs since the beginning of the last century have been
steadfastly politically impartial. This fact has been attested by many
Labour Prime Ministers. Furthermore, in times of stress it has been the
monarch, and especially our present Queen, who has kept the Commonwealth
Conference going when it seemed as if it would be irrevocably split.
That said, who can deny that the Royal Family's subject to the same vicissitudes
that from time to time buffet and distress most families in the land.
The fact that the Queen and her family are "flesh of our flesh"
is the prime reason why over a million people thronged the Mall on Jubilee
Day. No wonder the doomsters, gloomsters and cynical press were confounded.
Their dire predictions of a damp squib and dismal failure rebounded on
their heads.
For all that the constitutional experts may say, the monarch in this realm
has no real power. That resides with Parliament. So what really irks them
is the system of checks and balances that restrains them from putting
some of their wild eyed policies into practice. That system protected
this nation from the excesses of a "French revolution" and protects
us from any attempt from left or right to overthrow democracy and install
a dictatorship.
It ill becomes those politicians who are intent on following their own failed agendas to criticise a system of government that is tried and tested. They do well to remember that the system they claim to abhor gives them the freedom to speak their minds. The regimes with which many claim to be so enamoured are not noted for tolerating dissidents!
A ROTTEN
THIRD ESTATE
Four centuries ago, Sir Thomas Lyndsay coined the phrase "The Thrie
Estaites" when referring to our system of government. Nowadays the
third estate" is usually taken to mean the press. Far from the respected
profession it once was, it has become a prostituted art. In past editions
of Torch I have taken the press to task, and in particular the tabloids.
Sorry to say they are once again in my sights. Their disreputable behaviour
over the Burrell affair saw them sink deeper into the mire of sleaze and
disrepute.
We are all aware that Paul Burrell sold the "exclusive rights of
his story to the Daily Mirror and ITV. This "rock" in whom Diana
confided netted a cool half million in the UK, then promptly sped off
to the US to enhance his bank balance further. So much for his loyalty
and devotion to Diana and the Royal Family.
But what of the pimps and procurers of Fleet Street? They are fighting
like ferrets in a sack over his revelations. The Daily Mirror claims it
has the true version. "Not so", squawk the other tabloids in
an attempt to discredit the Mirror's cheque book journalism. How hypocritical!
Everyone with half a brain knows that a media bidding frenzy took place
to procure exclusive rights to Burrell the moment his trial was abandoned.
It ill becomes those lizards and snakes who occupy the various editorial
chairs to prostitute their profession in such a manner.
As for the veracity of Burrell's account, I leave to readers to make up
your own minds. But as far as I am concerned, his truthfulness flew out
the window the moment he stated that the Queen had granted him a three
hour audience. In your dreams, Paul!
JUDGE AND JURY
The Burrell saga is just one of several recent tabloid extremes, including
the treatment meted out to Michael Barrymore one time media idol, and
to John Leslie. I hold no brief for either man, but I object to the "judge
and jury" behaviour of the press. It is akin to the actions of the
lynch mob in the old wild west. By all means let them "publish the
truth and be damned", but not be selective in their accusations which
could mitigate against justice being done.
Closer to home I cite the Daily Record which rightly condemns the actions
of certain criminals and their activities. So why did they decide to run
an "exclusive" on "Blink" McDonald which promised
to dish the dirt on other well known mobsters in Scotland? It ill becomes
the editor of "The Voice of Scotland" to pander to someone whose
predilection to criminal activity is well catalogued. Could it be that
Trinity Press, owners of the Record, are hoping that any resultant mayhem
will provide more stories to expand the circulation? Good journalism?
Not in my book..
