An Army with Banners: The Real Face of Orangeism

by Bill Brown

First published 2003

Ebook edition 2021

ISBN 978-1-914318-09-2

“I came from bible-believing stock, from a people who said what they meant and meant what they said – an attitude that might too readily be regarded as typical of the Ulster Protestant.”

In fact, William Brown’s upbringing was not typical. From a strongly dissenting background, all the elements of his early life seemed open to challenge and discussion. “It was as though I was nurtured in a school of religio-political argument – with Orangeism on the curriculum.”

Orangeism is a culture and belief system wider than the institutional Orange Order, but the influence of the latter is beyond question. Unionism has been shot through with Orangeism, so much so that it is often described as Orange-unionism. The author argues that the time has come for unionists to take stock. He tells a story and proffers explanations of Orangeism’s eighteenth century origins and its developing objectives during the two hundred years of its history. He explores its religious principles, comparing and contrasting these with the standards of Christianity and the Reformed Faith. “I hope the exercise will prove profitable, especially for those who are perplexed by Northern Ireland’s current and recurring sectarianism, and by the bitter internecine strife within Orange-unionism. Self-examination is the necessary starting point on the long hard road to reform, leading to a better and more peaceful future for us all.”

While William Brown continues to see some value in the Union, he acknowledges the probability of a new post-nationalist Ireland within the greater Union of Europe. “I like to think that such an Ireland may yet realise the vision of the Presbyterian United Irishmen – one, incidentally, that is the very antithesis of Orangeism – a vision of the peaceful unity of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter in liberty, equality and fraternity. I wrote this book out of a desire to see my fellow citizens move forward from an anachronistic past towards a new egalitarian and non-sectarian society.”

Contents

Section One: Origins of Orangeism

1 Protestant Ascendancy versus Radicalism

2 Peep O’Day Boys and Deenders

3 James Wilson and the Orange Tradition

4 The Diamond and its Aftermath

Section Two: Objectives of Orangeism

5 1795-1801: An army whose idea seems to be blood

6 1801-1869: Keeping the Papists in their places

7 1869-1894: Playing the Orange Card

8 1894-1914: Irish unionism v. ‘little Ulster’ unionism

9 1914-1921: Home Rule for the anti-Home Rulers

10 1921-1972: The rise and fall of the Orange State

11 Aftermath: Summation and Sequel

Section Three: Ordinances of Orangeism

12 Orange Religion: Its Relationship to the Reformed Faith

13 Orange Ritual: The influence of Freemasonry

14 Orange Rights: Marching and Civil Liberties

Endgame

15 Marching backwards from the future

End notes

Select Bibliography

Index

In original printed format 234 x 156mm: 206 pages