http://www.falklands.org/orangefacts.html
This is a direct response to the so-called 'fact sheet' that the INAC(an
American group that supports the PIRA) puts out regarding the Orange Orders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: A Falklands Member who wishes to remain anonymous and edited by The
Falklands staff.
Much of this information is from 'A Celebration: 1690-1990 - The Orange
Institution' which is published by the GOLI.
Real Facts About GOLI (Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland)
=========================================
The INAC claims that the following are Orange Order beliefs. However,
many of the statements about the Orange Order are not correct.-
INAC states-
1. The Order's origins are with King William of Orange's war in Ireland
in 1689 -1699.
Falklands FACT
====
Nobody claims that Orangemen fought along side William. Orangemen only
take their name from him (note that is not King William of Orange, rather
King William, Prince of Orange).
INAC States-
2. The Orange Order was founded in the 1790s as a reaction to efforts
by the United Irishmen who were predominately Protestant
Falklands FACT
====
The GOLI was founded after the battle of diamond in 1795. The skirmish
was between the Roman Catholic Defenders and local Protestants of the
area. The rebellion by the united Irishmen was three years later, in 1798
(though the United Irishmen was founded in 1791).
INAC States-
3. King Billy won "civil and religious liberties" and the Battle
of the Boyne.
Falklands FACT
====
The battle of the Boyne proved to be a turning point in Europe's history.
King William ruled over the Glorious Revolution, who's motto was "For
Religion and Liberty".
INAC States-
4. The Orange Order has always been Unionist.
Falklands FACT
====
In Jan 1799 the Grand lodge ordered Orangemen to abstain from expressing
an opinion pro or con upon the question of the union between Great Britain
and Ireland. Many lodge members were initially against the union (both
in Eire, and Ulster).
INAC States-
5. The Orange Order represents Irish Protestants
Falklands FACT
====
The Orange Order is the largest interdenominational Protestant organisation
in the world (with branches in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada,
USA, Bermuda, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ghana, Togo, and Holland).
====
The following incorrect statements have been made about the Orange Order
by the INAC. However, The Falklands Society has set the record straight.
INAC States-
6. William's victory ushered in a century of loss of rights, not only
for Catholics in Ireland, but for the majority of Protestants who were
members of the Presbyterian Church.
Falklands FACT
====
James II (the alternative who William defeated) was adamant that the Irish
culture should be eradicated and replaced by English culture, this included
trying to exterminate the Irish language. Discrimination against Presbyterians
was a result of some of William's beneficiaries being less tolerant than
the king and failing to ratify the Treaty of Limerick.
James II had discontinued a grant of £600 to the Presbyterian church.
Soon after his victory, one of William's first thoughts was to raise it
to £800, but he was persuaded (by General Douglas) to double it
to £1200, which would give each minister £15.
INAC States-
7. Dominated from the start by wealthy Protestant landlords, the Orange
Order initially opposed the Act of Union [with Britain] of 1800 because
the abolition of the Irish parliament, which only represented a tiny wealthy
minority, seemed to threaten their privileges.
Falklands FACT
====
At the beginning, membership was of the labouring and artisan classes,
only a few gentry joined, among them Viscount Northland of Dungannon.
This extends to today where the membership very much crosses class divides.
INAC States-
8. The legal system of the Six Counties continues to be presided over
by judges and magistrates who are members of the Orange Order. Many RUC
also swear alliance to the Order.
Qualifications [from the Order's handbook]: "An Orangeman should...
strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome,
and scrupulously avoid countenancing any act or ceremony of Popish Worship;
he should by all lawful means, resist the ascendancy of that Church, it
encroachments and the extension of its power..."
Expulsion: "Any member dishonoring the Institution by marrying a
Roman Catholic shall be expelled; and every Member shall use his best
endeavors to prevent and discountenance the marriage of Protestants with
Roman Catholics..."
Falklands FACT
====
Some of the anti-Catholic feelings may seem a bit extreme to an outsider
but one must remember that in Ulster, so-called Roman Catholic terrorists
(although no good Catholic would support these people) deliberately hunt
down and murder Orangemen and women, their spouses and their children.
One must also remember that all Orangemen are ordered to be "ever
abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions or sentiments towards
Roman Catholics;"
INAC States-
9. The Penal Laws against Catholics were zealously backed by the Orange
Order. Under these codes, the law did not even recognise the "existence"
of an Irish Roman Catholic.
Falklands FACT
====
Today the Orange Order has displayed a lot of willingness to work with
their Roman Catholic neighbours. For example, recently they re-routed
some traditional parades and the Grand Master of the Order went to Harryville(Northern
Ireland) to show his support for the Catholics who are being harassed
by UVF-UDA. And while the crimes of the past cannot be excused, it is
worth pointing out that Catholics were given full Emancipation by Britain
in 1829, while American blacks had to wait until 1865 just to be freeded
from slavery.
INAC States-
10. The Orange Marching Season begins at Easter and continues to the
end of August. There are between 2,500 and 3,000 processions and parades
altogether in every city, town and village in the North.
Falklands FACT
====
Hundreds of thousands of Orange men, women, and children parade just as
much in other countries, with no hostility from other locals.
INAC States-
11. The Orange Marches are designed to demonstrate the power of the order
in the life of Ulster. The symbols of power are the beating of big drums
and the shouting of sectarian slogans, such as "Croppies lie down"
and "Taigs out."
Falklands FACT
====
Orange Marches are an outward expression of a Christian faith. Marches
take on different forms in different countries. In Anglo/Irish cultures
the parades tend take the form of a well disciplined military concert
band (somewhat akin to the Salvation Army), usually flute or accordion
with a percussion accompaniment, though many Scottish lodges have impressive
bagpipe bands, and in Africa parades tend to take what people of a British/European
descent might call a 'gospel style'.
Unfortunately in a few areas Sinn Fein/IRA manage to wind up the local
Roman Catholic communities to a state of high tension. On occasion a small
number of (so called) 'Loyalist' thugs (who are no different to football/soccer
hooligans) follow along side parades shouting obscenities at residents.
These actions are not welcomed by any decent people whether Orange, Unionist,
Roman Catholic, and/or Nationalist. If these hooligans knew they wouldn't
get a response they would soon get bored and stop attending. This would
be of benefit to everybody involved.
INAC States-
12. The marches are triumphant, sectarian occasions and go through Catholic
areas to provoke the people and establish domination.
Falklands FACT
====
If this is the case why do 99.5% (Sinn Fein/IRA figures) go through so
called Protestant areas (though there is no such thing as Protestant Areas
and Roman Catholics areas in Ulster, only United Kingdom areas)? If the
purpose is to provoke then why aren't the other 3000 processions moved
to other (more provocative areas)? Why do the Roman Catholics of the Republic
not complain about these parades? Indeed Roman Catholic farmers often
tend their Protestant neighbours farms while they are parading, and the
local restaurants, shops, and pub owners are very pleased to see the Orangemen
and Women, for the increase in business and tourism if nothing else.
Falklands Question
========
How come Orange parades take place around the world (from Africa to USA,
from Republic of Ireland to New Zealand) without the aid of a massive
police presence and without locals throwing bricks and petrol bombs and
shooting teenage children?
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