“Brethren I would say from this platform today to any Orangeman who wants to attend acts or ceremonies of Roman Catholic worship like weddings or funerals – get out of the Orange Order.”
I though it worth reprinting this from the Newsletter, the voice of sensible loyalism. (Thanks John).
AHEAD of today’s Twelfth demonstrations, leading figures in the Orange Order have publicly clashed over attempts to modernise the traditional commemorations.
Speaking at the Rossnowlagh Twelfth parade on Saturday, Robert Saulters, the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, strongly defended efforts to re-brand the Twelfth as a carnival.
But, as Mr Saulters spoke in Donegal, a leading dissenter from the ‘Orangefest’ strategy, the Rev Stephen Dickinson, told a Twelfth demonstration in Airdrie that Protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin would be “ashamed and disgusted with some of the leadership that is being given today under the name of Orangeism and Protestantism”.
But, during his remarks in Rossnowlagh, Mr Saulters defended the Order’s approach: “Over the past three years this Institution has been reaching out to people who perhaps do not agree with our Protestantism.
“We have tried to make the day of celebration acceptable to as many people as possible and it is good to see visitors returning to our celebrations of culture.
“There are those within our own ranks who do not accept having floats or displays in a parade is the right way to go, but I support those who go to the trouble of broadening the appeal of the Twelfth.
“Grand Lodge does not organise Twelfth celebrations and we should not therefore interfere in a district or county making their own arrangements.”
But Mr Saulters also said that he was opposed to current attempts to repeal the Act of Settlement, which prevents a Catholic from becoming sovereign.
“Grand Lodges of England, Scotland and Ireland have been working closely to educate MPs at the highest level and even the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom seems to be unaware of which countries within the United Kingdom signed up to the Act of Union.”
Mr Saulters spoke warmly of how the Order had been received in the Republic of Ireland.
“It is amazing the reception we receive when visiting ministers or leaders of political parties here in the Republic of Ireland as the membership of our brethren who organised this magnificent celebration can confirm,” he said.
Referring to the formation of a new Orange Lodge on the Banks of the Boyne in May, he added: “We were all very thankful to the Garda for all their work in controlling traffic and generally looking after our security for that weekend.”
But in a ferocious attack on Orange leadership, Mr Dickinson told the Airdrie demonstration: “Today some Orange leaders and members are weak and are wanting to change the rules of the Institution – they want Orangemen to be able to attend the Roman Mass at weddings and funerals without being subject to discipline and expulsion.
“Such men should get out of the Orange Institution because they are only going to bring it down.
“Brethren I would say from this platform today to any Orangeman who wants to attend acts or ceremonies of Roman Catholic worship like weddings or funerals – get out of the Orange Order.
“You took a vow, you made a promise and if you aren’t prepared to keep it – get out – you’re no use to this Institution.”
The Rev Dickinson, a Presbyterian minister in Glenarm, also attacked Loyal Orders’ leaders for meeting Archbishop Sean Brady – “the representative of the Pope in Ireland”.
“They didn’t meet him to contend for truth against error, they didn’t meet him to present the claims of the Gospel of Christ to him – they met him as a publicity stunt.”
Meanwhile, DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson said this was a time of year when rank-and-file unionists think of “what unites us rather than what divides us”.
Mr Robinson told the News Letter: “Over the course of the last few weeks, I have attended a considerable number of public events including those organised by or for the loyal orders. The constant message that is coming back to me from grass-roots unionists is that they are fed up with unionists attacking each other.”
Liam redux 
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