"THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9105, 13 July 1888, Page 6

"THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE."

ORANGE CELEBRATION.

The 198 th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne was celebrated yesterday by the Orange Association of the Auckland district, by a soiree and concert at the Foresters's Hall, and a sermon at Franklin Road Church.

The brethren and representatives of the various lodges first assembled at the Protestant Hall, Karangahape Road, at one o'clock yesterday afternoon, formed in procession, and headed by the Newton brass band, marched to Franklin Road Church, where an able sermon was preached by the Right Worthy Grand Master Brother the Rev. C. E. Ward, from 11. Corinthians ii., 7-11. The sermon generally was an exhortation to search for and follow the truth, and to endeavour to spread it amongst the people. At the same time the preacher urged that his hearers should temper earnestness and zeal with charity, and especially should this be shown to their Roman Catholic brethren. The sermon was listened to with interest and attention throughout. In the evening the soiree at the Foresters' Hall drew a crowded attendance, the hall being completely filled. The proceedings opened with a tea, to which some 500 persons sat down. Mr. G. Johnston catered, and provided everything necessary for the tea, which gave every satisfaction. After tea the tables were cleared away, and the hall arranged for the evening's programme. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. C. E. Ward, R.W.G.M., and on the platform supporting him were Brothers Shearson (G.M.), J. Riggs (No. 1 Lodge), James Donaldson (Lodge No. 36), and R. Farrell (Thames Lodge); also the Rev. C. H. Garland, and the Rev. A. Jackson Smith. The hall and platform were profusely decorated with bunting and lodge banners. The Chair, in opening the proceedings, said he was glad to be there on that occasion. It did his heart good to bo present at one of the many gatherings throughout the world taking place that night. There were some 600,000 Orangemen probably on that day celebrating the anniversary of a battle which had decided the stability of the British Empire, and the establishment of the Protestant religion. Ho had to thank a gentleman, who was in Auckland a few months ago, for advocating and showing the necessity of the Orange Association. He alluded to Archbishop Redwood. That gentleman had asserted that Protestants were divided. A great deal more was made of this than was needed, but he made a strong argument for their association by that assertion, and showed how necessary it was that Protestants should have a rallying centre. The Church of Rome was a spiritual power, but she was also a political power, and as such a power she was a tremendous organisation. Protestants also should have an organisation, and in the Orange association they had just such a centre in which they could all unite and work for one end, liberty in the State and in religion. The Orange Order was an order with wide Apostolic arms. All those who believed in the Bible and Christ as the one true mediator between God and man might come amongst them and work shoulder to shoulder with them. Mr. Ward here said he desired to apologise for the absence of a number of gentlemen who would have been with them if they could possibly have done so. Amongst these were the Rev. Mr. Crawford, of the Established Church, and several M.H.R.'s. He was, however, glad to say they had on the platform the Rev. Mr. Garland,of the Wesleyan body. He then said that whilst he thanked Bishop Redwood for pointing out the necessity of Orangeism, and the necessity of a rallying centre, he desired to say that they as Protestants were one with regard to all the central and necessary tenets of the Christian religion, and in this he believed they were as united as the Roman Church. The various sects that were made so much of were only branches of one great tree, Protestantism, and these sects were not divisions, as some would make them out to be, but merely units of one great body. But they remembered also that their Roman Catholic friends were not always united, and that in 1837 half of Christendom were excommunicated, and also that for nearly two centuries there was a continual battle between the Popes and the Cardinals, and such was the jealousy and lack of union that for many years there was no Pope at all; but, to make up for this, at another time there were, for more than 40 years, two Popes, each exercising their power in running down, cursing, and trying to ruin each other. So much for the union of the Roman Church. But, as Orangemen, they were there present upon the broad platform of truth. They opposed a system they believed destructive to the elements of civil and religious liberty, but not the individual members of the Roman Catholic or any other Church. As Orangemen they desired for Catholics the same liberty they wished for themselves, and they were determined to hand down these liberties to their children. He knew there were many persons who tor trade and other reasons often seemed willing to coquette with Romanism ; but this, as Orangemen, they would not do, and could

not; do, believing it to be as they didan organisation that was an enemy to liberty and to true Christianity. The Chairman concluded his remarks amidst great applause. Brother Menzies sang "Be Kind to Old Granny," and "The Jolly Smiths," and Miss Gardiner recited " God and Victoria."

At this stage the Chairman announced that the Grand Lodge had decided to organise Orange Lodges for ladies ; a statement which caused great applause. The Rev. Mr. Garland said he was not an Orangeman— (" More's the pity," " You ought to be *')—but thought while it is wise to keep an eye on the enemy, it is wiser to look to ourselves; and while the Grand Master was speaking he was looking over a little book—" The Principles of the Orange Association" if they all lived up to those principles, he would be an Orangeman from that night. (Great cheering.) He was afraid that little word "if" was bigger than some of them estimated. He saw in the .book they were banded together to support the principles of William Prince of Orange, but he thought that if they simply did this by processions, bands, and flying banners, William Prince of Orange would not thank them much. For one thing, the life of William Prince of Orange was a standing rebuke to the average colonial youth, who was frittering away his life. Mr. Garland here went on to give a sketch of the energetic way in which the Prince of Orange pursued his studies as a boy and youth, and his rapid rise .to fame. The Prince of Orange was also a very tolerant man. He (Mr. Garland), however, thought it was not intolerant when a Roman Catholic dignatary made a misstatement, that it should be fearlessly and clearly contradicted. Such was not intolerance; it was duty. Their little book dwelt upon tolerance and charity towards their Roman Catholic brethren—in thought, word, and deed. A number of incidents in the life of William 111. were here given to illustrate and prove his tolerance. The contrast between him. and other kings and queens was graphically pointed out. When William came to the throne he brought down his famous "Act of Grace," which was one of the most beautiful acts of any king that ever lived in the world. William 111. was also a hater of cant', humbug, and hypocrisy, and this hatred of sham often earned him a good deal of enmity for the reason that he always spoke frankly, and the truth often offended. The custom of touching for the scrofula by the king was related as an instance of this. When the people came to William for this he told them it was " a silly superstition," and is related to have said to the man who came to be touched, "God give you better health and more sense." This kind of frankness lost him friends and popularity, but it made him a man, and if in this hatred and detestation of hypocrisy, cant, and humbug they followed William, Prince of Orange, they would have God's blessing with them, and become a strength and a stay to their country. Mr. Carter here sang, "John Bumbly" and "Rigs of Barley." Brother Robinson recited "The Boys of Derry" and " The Highway Cow." Brother Stanton sang " Killarney." The Grand Chaplain (the Rev. A. Jackson Smith) then addressed the audience, saying he was glad to see that Orangism was living, growing, and flourishing. Many institutions were born, lived, and died in one decade, but this was not the fate of the Orange order. All over the world— the colonies, Canada, and at home—on that night were being held large meetings of the Association, celebrating the anniversary of thegreat battle they were celebrating in that hall. The rev. gentleman here went on to' speak of the Bible and its study as one of the principles of the order. He stated thai Romanism was the foe to the Bible, and the Bible had been excluded from, the schools in a considerable measure to please the Roman Catholics. The speaker then went on to state some of the historical facts in connection with the persecutions of the Roman Catholic Church,~tmtXtfieii said that Roman Catholicism was the same to-day as it was in past days, only it had not the power to be quite so persecuting. It, however, still had enough power to do many cruel things. The same spirit that burnt the martyrs at Smithfield was the spirit of Roman Catholicism to-day, and unless the people were watchful they would ha veto fight' the old battles over again. He urged them to strengthen their lodges, and stand together for truth, and right, and liberty. The band then played " No Surrender Brother Miller recited "The Tipperary Policeman in Belfast," and "The Soldier Pardon Brother Henderson recited " The Orange Ribbon Trimmed with Blue;" Brother Robertson recited A Tale of Horror;" Sergeant Corbet sang "The Town of Dinnigal," and "Come Back to Your Irish Home;" Mr. Menzies sang The Wee, Wee German -Lairdie," and "The Bright Star of England's Glory." Votes of thanks were given to Brother Finch, of Mount Albert, to the trustees of Franklin Road Church, to the entertainers, ' the speakers, and others who had helped to make the anniversary a success, and to the' chairman. The meeting ended by the band playing the National Anthem, in which the j audience joined.