THERE`S BOTHER AT THE COURT OF QUEEN NICOLA
Transcription
THERE`S BOTHER AT THE COURT OF QUEEN NICOLA
March 2015 PRICE 70 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” p ( P s a l m 11 9 v 1 0 5 ) There’s bother at the court of queen Nicola State control over our lives – with plans to set up a central identity database and have State-employed “guardians” intervene in children’s lives without parental consent. First under Salmond and now under Sturgeon, the aggressively secular and Tory-hating SNP has come a long way from the days when they were once ridiculed as “Tartan Tories”. I Little Miss Bossy Boots Nippy’s Marxist inclinations have been causing discontent and disillusion in the ranks. The flood of eager new members who thought they were signing up to a refreshing new dawn in Scottish politics has long since dried up. And whatever became of those flag-waving rallies that were going to bring thousands of kilt wearing activists onto the streets to keep the ‘Yes’ momentum going? Judging from the humiliating turn out at the Clan Alba event held outside Holyrood on 31st January, the fervour that turned Glasgow’s George Square into a victory rally in the face of a crushing referendum defeat has all but fizzled out. f we are to believe the SNP hype, they’re a racing certainty to trounce Labour in May’s General Election and send a triumphant Alex Salmond back to Westminster at the head of a wrecking army of nationalist MPs. The gullible have bought into this scenario, not least the London political establishment who have been quaking in their shoes at the prospect. There’s something familiar about this swaggering confidence. That’s no surprise for it comes from the same nationalist propaganda machine that told us they were on course to win last September’s independence referendum. Whatever the opinion polls may say – and let’s recognise they are notoriously fickle and that a General Election is a whole different ball game to a straight Yes/No referendum – the nationalists are there to be beaten by Scotland’s unionist majority. The SNP works hard at projecting an image of being a well oiled machine working together in a common cause. But all is not sweetness and light in Indyland, home of the ‘Nippy Sweetie’, the sore losers of ‘The 45’ and the vile and offensive ‘cybernats’. Fault lines among SNP activists have been opening up into infighting and defections. Something is clearly very wrong when elected councillors walk out at a time when their electoral fortunes have never been higher. Much of the grumbling discontent is the result of a stifling central control that brooks no dissent. The SNP is in the iron grip of a controlling elite that spurns the advice and criticism of its own elected politicians, far less the hoi polloi at the grassroots. Sturgeon has been well trained by Salmond. If anything she is even more a “one man band” than her mentor, with a presidential style of government that has seen her ministers recently derided for being all but invisible. There’s also no doubt she fully intends to maintain the SNP’s lurch to the left and doctrinaire Marxist thinking on extending Clan Alba – when the stewards outnumber you it’s time to pack it in It’s the same story on social media, where nationalist websites are full of comments from activists who doubt the politburo’s cocky self-confidence. They’re right to be worried. One recent opinion poll revealed what might be the beginning of a turn around in Labour’s fortunes. It’s the first indication that Labour may have begun to claw back some of its traditional support in Glasgow and West Central Scotland that they lost to the nationalists in the referendum. But as Nicola Sturgeon struggles to win the propaganda war and keep an absolutist grip over her cantankerous sect of true believers, she can at least rely upon the Sunday Herald, almost alone among the Scottish media, to back her cause. We say “almost alone” for there’s also The National, launched last November by the Herald’s owners, with much waving of saltires, as “the newspaper that supports an independent Scotland”. The initial print run of 60,000 was an instant sell-out in the heady days of post-referendum excitement. But it didn’t take long for the novelty to wear off. Echoing the grumbling discontent that infects pro-independence social media sites, sales of The National have plummeted by 75%. How long before the owners pull the plug on this dismal failure? And how long before Scottish voters pull the plug on the Salmond/Sturgeon Marxist cabal? OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTION OF SCOTLAND T GLASGOW CULTURE & HERITAGE DAY GETS AN UNEXPECTED THUMBS UP he boyhood of Guardian journalist Kevin McKenna, include fond memories of the Orange parade in Girvan “that seemed to go on forever as it promenaded into town each July”. In a major piece published by the Scottish Catholic Observer, he challenges Glasgow’s Roman Catholics to respond generously to the Order’s plans for an Orange Culture & Heritage event in George Square in June. The invitation to church leaders to attend ought to be regarded “as an extraordinary gesture of Christian outreach and compassion by the Orange Order” adding that “we ought to respond to it in good faith.” Recalling the Orange marches in Girvan that he witnessed as a Catholic schoolboy, he writes: “The marchers seemed always to have assembled out of the mist but had, in fact, disembarked from the Glasgow train. There was never any trouble, the sun always seemed to shine for them and what child could not be captivated by flutes ad sashes and the booming of a Lambeg drum, while a twisting marionette led the marchers, throwing his cane high into the air and catching it behind his back?” Turning his attention to the independence referendum, he notes that “the Orange Order came to prominence once more when they announced their plans to parade through Edinburgh on the Saturday immediately prior to September 18th. Unlike many on the Better Together side, these people have a genuine, spiritual and emotional attachment to the Union and the values which they felt underpinned it. They aren’t expecting any knighthoods or empire medals or plum non-executive emoluments from fawning accountancy firms or retail giants that will come to many who fought for the Union. Yet they were scorned and derided by people from both sides of the campaign who really ought to have known better. “The Orange Order had a dog in this fight and represented the aspirations of many working class people in our poorest communities. These people feel they have been left to twist in the wind by Holyrood’s political classes and that a tide of secular humanism is advancing that is committed to destroying all manifestations of Christianity in public life. They are right to be concerned. Fast forward to the present day and Kevin McKenna viewed last “People will, of course, point to the ugly scenes July’s Boyne Celebrations in Glasgow with the same enlightened eye: “I didn’t see any enemies “Unlike many on the on Glasgow’s George Square following the result, but it would be unfair to say or arrogant displays of Protestant might, but Better Together side, referendum that those involved were somehow characteristic fellow Christians from among some of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods trying to hang onto these people have a of the Orange Order. After all, 15,000 Orangemen had marched peacefully through Edinburgh the something that is very dear to them and much of which ought to be very dear to us too. As genuine, spiritual and previous weekend when pre-referendum feelings well as their loyalty to the crown and the British emotional attachment were running very high on both sides.” state, this diminishing community are fighting “Here is the truth of the matter. The vast to hang onto something more fundamentally to the Union” numbers of poor Irish who swamped already important – Scottish, Protestant, Christian economically depressed areas in the west of Scotland also brought values that helped make this country what it is and which did with them a religion that had made catastrophic attempts to put an more to advance the cause of equality and freedom from economic effete French aristocrat on the throne just a few generations before. oppression than any other force before or since. In few other countries would the incoming community have been “The doctrinal descendants of John Knox and the Protestant Reformation were proclaiming the virtues of hard work, free education and warning of the dangers of unfettered royal and hierarchical power long before Karl Marx was born. It was an enlightened approach that the Scottish Catholic hierarchy, following its restoration in 1878, were challenged to match. permitted by its hosts to storm the citadels of power as quickly and overwhelmingly as did the Irish in Scotland, and with so little hostility. The story has not yet been fully written of the subtle and discreet exchanges that took place between church leaders and many in the Orange Order to prevent outright violent hostility occurring. “Since the birth of the new Scottish parliament though, traditional Scottish Protestant Christianity has found itself on the wrong side of history. Gay marriage, the admission of gay people into the ministry of the Kirk and the decline of the Conservative & Unionist Party have been keenly felt amongst evangelical Protestants and the rank and file of the Orange Order. In their Lanarkshire and North Ayrshire heartlands their communities have suffered disproportionately from the scourge of de-industrialisation and the mass unemployment and multi-deprivation that arrived in its wake and that neither Margaret Thatcher nor successive Labour administrations did anything to assuage.” “Perhaps, once, there were some Orangemen who hated me, or at least my faith, but I don’t think many of them do now. This summer they will hold an Orangefest in Glasgow’s George Square, where they will attempt to address many of the misconceptions and prejudices about the Orange Order. Leaders of the Catholic Church have been invited too. I hope they accept on behalf of the rest of us. 2 “There are forces at work in Holyrood and on every quango and committee that matters in Scotland, who would stamp all over Scotland’s Christian heritage. If we are to fight this we should be joining with the Orange Order as allies and friends.” SALMOND LIMBERS UP TO WRECK THE UNION FROM THE INSIDE do next?” he asked in disbelief. “They said ‘That’s no good! We’ve been cheated! We demand another go!’ Alex Salmond, who had said the referendum was the ‘last chance’ for independence, is now telling anyone who will listen he believes he will witness independence in his lifetime. “We are part of a political union. It is a union that was reaffirmed by the Scottish people a few months ago. And we all have a stake in that union – even us knuckle-draggers south of the border. Do the people and politicians of Scotland honestly think the rest of the United Kingdom is simply going to sit back while they carry on the way they’ve been carrying on before, during and after September’s referendum? Do they genuinely believe they can continue demanding a series of referendums on independence in perpetuity, until they get the right result or get bored of asking the question? “Scotland is a nation that has become drunk on constitutional arrogance and self- righteousness: ‘We might stay in the Union, we might not stay in the Union. We’ll let you know when we’re good and ready’. I’m not sure what’s going on in Scotland at the moment and I’m not sure I want to know. But I know this – someone up there has to start to get a grip.” N Best of pals! icola Surgeon has been trying to terrify the English with scare stories about how her former boss, Alex Salmond, will shake the Union to destruction when he makes a triumphal return to Westminster at the head of an army of nationalist MPs. ‘The 45’, as the frustrated losers like to call themselves, should maybe reflect on what happened the last time the British establishment was threatened by rebellious Scots. Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army got as far as Derby in 1745. With a panicked London in their sights, the highlanders inexplicably decided they’d had enough. They turned tail for home and ultimate defeat by government forces on Culloden moor. Doubtless the Salmond-Sturgeon duo like to imagine they can do better. They certainly have a stronger grip on their cranky followers than the bonnie prince had, so there will be no retreat this time round. The strategy is to create a powerful SNP bloc at Westminster to undermine the Union following a General Election whose outcome in other parts of the UK is said by pollsters to be on a knife-edge. The nationalists are already dictating the terms on which they might be persuaded to shoehorn Ed Milliband into Downing Street. But what they’re really hoping for is a slim victory for David Cameron, an outcome they’re already plotting to exploit among Labour voters ahead of the next Holyrood election. But whatever the colour of the party ultimately in power at Westminster, one thing’s for sure. The nationalist MPs will take full advantage of an increased presence to make a nuisance of themselves and turn up the volume on their endless complaints and demands. Will this annoy the rest of the UK? You bet it will! For an indication of the exasperation already felt about whining Scotland, consider the recent comments of Dan Hodges, former Labour Party and GMB trade union official. Quoted in the Daily Telegraph he lamented Scotland’s failure to move on from its “once in a lifetime” referendum. That referendum was free, he noted. It was also fair and it cost £13 million. And the Scottish people voted by a margin of more than 10 per cent to reject independence. “And having voted in a free, fair, multi-million pound election, what did the people of Scotland and their elected representatives Neither Sturgeon nor Salmond can be expected to “get a grip”. Exasperating and infuriating the rest of the UK is precisely their aim. The ones who really need a reality check are the Labour voters who were duped into voting ‘Yes’. Many of them are buying into the ludicrous notion that voting SNP is the only sure way to defeat David Cameron. As for the rest of us, the coming General Election will require the setting aside of party loyalties to get behind the candidate in each constituency most likely to defeat the nationalists. And so you know exactly how you can help stop the nationalists in their tracks, next month’s Torch will publish a constituency by constituency voters’ guide. ORANGEMEN OF VALOUR David Bryce launches new book There’s another book launch coming up on Wednesday 1st April, when Bro David Bryce unveils the fruits of his latest research. Orangemen of Valour – Orange VCs tells the inspiring stories of members of the Loyal Orange Institution awarded the Victoria Cross for their heroism while in the service of the Crown. The launch is at 7pm in Glasgow Evangelical Church and will also feature the Menin Gate Colour Party and Queen Elizabeth Accordion Band. Attenders will be able to purchase copies at a reduced rate, signed by the author. ORANGEMEN OF VALOUR – ORANGE VCs Wednesday 1st April, 7pm - Glasgow Evangelical Church 3 by Bro Rev S.E. Long Religion & Reality “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) H ypocrite in Greek is someone who plays a part, an actor. He is not being himself but is taking on another personality. The word is taken literally to describe the person whose real commitment to Christian faith and practice is less than it should be to meet the profession he makes. John Bunyan used the thought starkly when he wrote about a saint abroad: devil at home. Play acting is often good entertainment and of practical value for teaching and learning. It heightens the imagination to allow us to visualise ourselves in locations and situations, the thought of which stimulates the mind and innervates emotions. In early Shakespearian theatre the audience were players, producers and plotters of the dramatic incidents. The theatre, and its off shoots in film and media communication means that we are targeted for every conceivable purpose and objective. What began as elementary entertainment is long since an industry with employers and employed in huge numbers world wide. There are Christian principles which remain and the text here is the constant reminder that our religion must have the reality which disdains dishonesty and encourages standards of conduct for the betterment of people individually and collectively. That ideal has to be the reality made meaningful by the character and conduct of the person with the sense of responsibility for making his religion effective for him and helpful for those with whom he has to care in whatever capacity. The emphasis is on honesty and decency fair-mindedness. Also kindness, for to be kind in word and deed is the desirable, a quality to be encouraged in all of us. Not just good and goodness, but kind and kindness. The little girl in her prayer asked “O Lord, make all the bad people good and the good people kind.” because our society is less religious and more secularist and the trend is growing to be the controlling factor in people’s lives. The emphasis here is on honesty in word and deed which is a human need of continuance wherever the location and the environment of people in individually familial or societal circumstances. The Christian religion has its basis in Old Testament thinking and teaching. Jesus in his attractively titled “The Sermon on the Mount” from which the text here is quoted, stated with clarity and precision what He believed about God and his responses to people who believed in and trusted him to meet their every needs. The Sermon with its continuance in our thinking of Jesus in “the says of His flesh” encourages us to be as He was - realistic, honest, and forthright and to condemn as He did hypocrisy as a debasement of a person by undermining honesty, decency and the reality that has to be faced in the Christian religion where these qualities are essentials in the practice of the faith. “The Sermon on the Mount”, The Book of Matthew Chapters 5-7. The weakness of our humanity is the recognition of what is necessary for us but that knowledge is often bypassed in the acceptance of lesser things. The disagreements among Christians distorts the Gospel, “God’s Good news to us”, and causes people to question its value and to miss out on what should be meaningful to them and to lose the benefits of the faith. County Grand Lodge of Glasgow Keyrings, Badges & Wristbands £2 each or all three for £5 (+ £1.50 p&p) From Colin Girvan: [email protected] It was said of a renowned surgeon whose work had changed the lives of many people in several countries that he only had pity as his motivation. It was practical, skilful kindness. In our environment the sentiment practised in so many ways every day that there is constant and continuous indebtedness of people to people. There is positivity and negativity when the response in shared society is antagonisms and refusals to cooperate as fellow citizens for the common good. It can have several causes. The concern here is that our Christian religion is so divided that the essence of faith, love of God and neighbours is discounted. The initiation and support of Christian people in good causes should be unquestioned for honesty, generosity and transparency. Also undoubted should be the condemnation on attitudes and actions alien to the sentiments and standard clearly enunciated and written to ensure that there is no misunderstanding of what is meant and the purposes for which they are intended. However, the reality is that many who give consent to that programme are less than enthusiastic on their commitment to it. Edmund Burke reminds us that “every benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, every prudent act, is founded on compromise and better.” Burke had described man as a “religious animal” so that this thought has application to Christian attitudes and emotions and is meant to encourage people of faith to be thinking and acting together on the issues that need insights. The expression of Christian views helps give a balance to debate and disputation on the many subjects that concern us and not least 4 Celebrate With Us In 2015 OPENING OFFERS --- JAN 2015 – FEB 2015 FREE Hat Badge with Peaked Caps Ordered* FREE Shirt Cord with Shirts Ordered^ Andante Offer (Reactor Drum/Case/Sticks) ONLY £465.00 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR FURTHER OFFERS DESIGNER & SUPPLIER OF BAND UNIFORMS & FRATERNAL REGALIA Contact Us On Tel: 028 3832 4070 / Email: [email protected] / Facebook *Minium Order 5. Deposit Paid At Time of Order* ^Minium Order 10. Deposit Paid At Time of Order^ 4 COATBRIDGE THREESOME SINN FEIN PONDER A WORKING RAISE £5000 FOR HOME FUND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SNP The SNP has reacted cautiously to overtures from Sinn Fein to develop a working relationship in the next parliament. A close association with Sinn Fein would no doubt thrill West of Scotland Irish republicans who threw their lot in with the referendum ‘Yes’ campaign, but it would be a certain vote loser with a much larger section of the Scottish electorate. There’s just no stopping the three tireless charity stars from Sis Gallacher Memorial LLOL 184. At a glittering presentation evening in Coatbridge Orange Halls, Helen, Sheena and Christine were delighted to present yet another cheque to the Scottish Orange Home Fund, raising their running total by a further £5,000. The three pals are pictured here dressed as Santa’s Little Helpers at a fundraising coffee morning in December. ENGLAND PREPARES TO PLAY HOST TO THE ORANGE WORLD It’s an Imperial Orange Council year, and the English jurisdiction are putting the final touches to a week of conference and social events that will run from Sunday 5th to Saturday 11th July. Leaders of Orangeism from all across the globe will convene in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool, where they will spend time debating matters of common interest and concern as well as enjoying some fine hospitality from their hosts. Proceedings will commence with Sunday worship at a Service of Praise & Thanksgiving in Liverpool’s magnificent St George’s Hall and will conclude the following Saturday when world delegates will attend the annual Boyne Celebrations in Liverpool and Southport. The Imperial Council will be welcomed to Liverpool by Bro Ron Bather, Grand Master of England, and the sessions chaired by Bro Rod Biel from New Zealand, who is Imperial President. The prospect of an SNP/Sinn Fein pact seems largely down to wishful thinking by Michelle Gildernew, MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone. “We have worked closely with MPs over a period of years” she claimed, “but the SNP Westminster team seem to be a little bit cautious. I know our Deputy First Minister (Martin McGuinness) has had a very constructive and useful working relationship with the SNP at Holyrood for many years. I’m hoping that after the General Election we can form relationships with a larger SNP team at Westminster. We have plenty of commonality and I look forward to a very constructive working relationship during the next term.” Meanwhile Martin McGuinness, no doubt misled (and probably unhinged) by the rip-roaring “success” of nationalism in Scotland that famously missed an open goal last September, has been gibbering excitedly about the prospect of a united Ireland. With Alex Salmond assuring him he’ll soon be heading for Westminster at the head of an army of Scottish Nationalist MPs, McGuinness has predicted that the UK General Election, followed by elections to Stormont and The Dail, will make “the establishment of the 1916 republic inevitable”. Mimicking his Scottish counterpart, he called for 16 and 17 year olds in Northern Ireland to be given the vote. “I have absolutely no doubt that Scotland is now on that inevitable trajectory to freedom” he said. “The challenge to us is to put our own struggle onto the same trajectory.” It will be interesting to see how a political party that refuses even to take its seats in the House of Commons can be remotely helpful to Mr Salmond’s ambitions – and Sinn Fein are hopeful of leaving even more seats empty at Westminster. They’ve been urging the SDLP to give it a free run in North Belfast, Upper Bann and Fermanagh/South Tyrone. McGuinness calls this “a strategic vision” and “progressive politics”. Dr Alasdair McDonnell, leader of the SDLP, is unimpressed, dismissing the McGuinness overture as “sectarian head-count politics”. Letters to the Editor St Helier, Jersey, November 2014 Dear Sir, Like Rikki Du Heaume I also live on Jersey. May I assure your readers that by no means all Scots living on Jersey were for socalled independence. Indeed, the vast majority of Scots I spoke to were solidly against. I think you can surmise that the majority of those Scots who were for separation had forebears who came to Scotland from a certain foreign country in the British Isles. Yours sincerely, James B Sinclair 5 BELFAST LODGE CONVENES AT BROWNLOW ALLANTON UNFURLS NEW BANNER At the 60th Anniversary celebrations of William Colquhoun Memorial LOL 152, the Brethren had the pleasure of unfurling and dedicating a new lodge banner. The unfurling was performed by Bro David Armit, Secretary and founder member, along with Bro Andrew Cowan, long serving member of 59 years standing. The emblem was then dedicated to the Glory of God by Bro Rev Malcolm Anderson, Grand Chaplain. The lodge gave the new banner its first airing around the village with music from Allanton No Surrender Flute Band. The January meeting of Witherow Memorial LOL 1337, was held in Brownlow House, reputed to be the world’s biggest Orange Hall. The installation of officers took place as well as the initiation of three new members, Darren Roulston (whose father is a Past Master), John Jordan and Stephen Lamour. The lectures were given by Bro Ryan McDowell assisted by Bro Kirk McDowell. During the proceedings, Bro Martin Coburn (pictured with the new members) was presented with his Past Master Jewel by Bro Harry Whiteside, District Secretary. The Brethren were later accorded a tour of Brownlow House and its history, including its use by General Dwight D Eisenhower during World War Two. MEMORIAL BIBLE FALL FOR DENNY LONG SERVICE AT PAISLEY A special evening was held in the Orange Halls, Paisley, to celebrate the dedicated service of three Orange ladies. Receiving their Long Service Medals were (left to right) Sis Anne McKendrick (50 years), Sis Jean Carson (40 years) both of Defenders of the Faith LLOL 252, and Sis Jeanette Higgins (50 years) of Gleniffer Ladies LLOL 27. Following the presentations there was musical entertainment provided by Sis Carson and also Craig Baxter from Pride of Argyll Accordion Band. IRVINE JUVENILE PRESENTATION Denny True Blues LOL 257 ended a highly successful year when the Grand Master dropped into their meeting to dedicate a new Bible fall in memory of Bro John Tripney who had been a devoted and much admired member of the lodge. Bro Gordon Lyon received his Past Master Collarette, following which Long Service Medals were presented to Bro Robert McLean (40 years), Bro Jim Millar, Bro David Fowler and Bro Danny Ferguson (all 30 years), and to Bro Danny Dalrymple, Bro Ian McKean and Bro Jock Gillespie (all 20 years). The lodge has begun planning for its 80th Anniversary in 2016, looking to commemorate this in stone by upgrading and extending their Orange Hall. PARTICK CELEBRATES 140 YEARS Having served as Worthy Mistress of Irvine True Blue Juvenile LOL 7, Amy Louise Dickson is pictured here being presented with her PM Diploma and a Bible by Bro Billy Muir, District Master. Looking on is proud father Bro Thomas Dickson, Juvenile Superintendent. 6 The 140th Anniversary Year of Sons of Glasgow LOL 50, Partick, was marked by many enjoyable special occasions, including a celebration parade in May and a lodge dinner in September. A group from the lodge also attended the Grand Master’s Dinner in March. Some of the Brethren are pictured here following the lodge dinner held within the Crawford Orange Halls, Partick. THE COMPANY OF WORTHY MASTERS Elected to serve The Company of Worthy Masters were Bro Harry McArthur, HDGM, District 15 (Chairman), Bro Joe Dunbar, District 3 (Vice Chairman), Bro Jim Rawlings, District 15 (Secretary), Bro John MacDonald, District 46 (Treasurer) and Bro Rev Rom Greig, District 1, and Bro Malcolm Campbell, District 49 (Chaplains). The next meeting of the Company will be held on 21st March at 11am in Olympia House. 60 YEARS HONOURED AT AIRDRIE A YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS FOR 150th ANNIVERSARY PRECEPTORY The 150th Anniversary Year of Star of the North RBP 171, Maryhill, has many highlights in store, beginning this month with the dedication of a new bannerette and collarettes on Sunday 29th in Glasgow Evangelical Church, followed by a Civic Reception in Glasgow City Chambers on Monday 30th. Then on Saturday 30th May the preceptory will hold its Sesquicentenary Parade from St Andrews Street at 10.45am, through the city centre to the Hughes Memorial Orange Halls for an afternoon social. From 28th to 30th August, members will join with RBP 920 for the City of Belfast Demonstration to Banbridge. Then on Friday 30th October the preceptory will host at 150th Anniversary Dinner Dance with a Presentation Social Evening bringing the celebrations to a fitting close on Saturday 19th December. SCARBOROUGH Annual Parade Saturday 28th March 2015 12 Noon from Lancaster Hotel. All members of the Orange family are assured of a warm welcome Dougie Syme (01763) 373320 The February meeting of Airdrie Victoria LOL 125 was attended by Bro Henry Dunbar, Grand Master, and by Bro Alex Taylor, District Master. The occasion was the attainment of 60 years distinguished service by Bro Dudley McGlade, who was presented with his Long Service Jewel and an engraved crystal memento. Bro Jim Cullen also received his Past Master Certificate. Pictured (left to right) are Bro Jin=m Cullen, IPM, Bro Archie Harley, WM, Bro Henry Dunbar, MWGM, Bro Dudley McGlade, PM, and Bro Alex Taylor, WDM. PRESENTATION AT COUNTY MEETING RINGBANE HOUSE HOTEL 14 St Chad’s Road, BLACKPOOL All en-suite rooms Situated between Central and South Piers Adjacent to Promenade and Beach, Car parking Monday-Friday special B&B @ £69 per person Tel George or Lorna (01253) 341767 or 07919 832321 www.ringbanehousehotelblackpool.co.uk Obituary Lay Chaplain to the County Grand Lodge of Glasgow, Bro Ian Fraser was presented with his 40 Years Service Medal by County Grand Master, Bro Edward Hyde. A member of Clydesdale LOL 58, he served as Worthy District Master of Cowcaddens No 11 District from 2007-12. Bro Charles Shaw The Brethren of Bible & Crown Defenders LOL 81, Leeds, intimate the passing of our esteemed Brother Charles Shaw following a brave fight against cancer. Bro Shaw was a professional wrestler who fought under the name “Drew McDonald”. He was formerly a member of St Andrew True Blues LOL 209, Perth, before moving to Leeds in 2010. His friendship was valued, he will be sadly missed. 7 FLOWER OF SCOTLAND GETS THE BUM’S RUSH In another blow to the nationalists, Flower of Scotland, favoured dirge of the tartan patriots at Hampden and Murrayfield, has failed to win enough backers for it to be given official status as Scotland’s national anthem. An online poll conducted by the SFA revealed just 56% support for the song, while 60% of Scotland Supporters Club members came out against the idea. ‘YES’ CAMPAIGNERS FAIL TO ABIDE BY ELECTORAL COMMISSION RULES As an officially r e g i s t e r e d campaigning body in the Scottish Referendum, the Orange Order was squeaky clean in meeting the legal obligation to provide invoices and receipts of our campaign spending. Publication of the spending figures last month saw the pro-nationalist Sunday Herald use the Order’s disclosures to question the hiring of a particular IT specialist to assist in our Facebook and Twitter activities. As usual, opinion was split among other contenders such as Caledonia and Scotland the Brave. Even the Proclaimers’ 500 Miles has its admirers, while God Save the Queen is also thought to have made a decent showing in the poll - though no one is telling! A spokesman for the Scottish Government said “the government currently has no plans to designate a national anthem and any such move would require wider political support.” GLASGOW POPPY TRIBUTE TO EDINBURGH BATTALION How strange that the Sunday Herald had nothing at all to say concerning a prominent ‘Yes’ campaigning group that failed to match the Order’s spending transparency. Wings Over Scotland, a vitriolic independence website run from Bristol by the pottymouthed “Reverend” Stuart Campbell claims it completed all the forms. But the Electoral Commission is adamant that they “did not submit a return which met the requirements set out in the legislation.” Several Brethren from Lord Blythwood’s True Blues LOL 256, Pollokshaws, visited the recently restored sandstone memorial that stands in Edinburgh’s Haymarket in tribute to “McRae’s Battalion”. This was the 16th Battalion Royal Scots raised in 1914, famously comprising professional and amateur sportsmen, notably 16 players and 500 supporters from Heart of Midlothian FC. The visitors from Glasgow were proud to lay a poppy wreath in tribute to these Great War heroes from Edinburgh, and also in memory of Past Master, Bro Robert Barnes, a lifelong “Jambo” who is fondly remembered in the lodge for his kind nature and generosity. The Brethren intend to make their tribute an annual pilgrimage. on sale at the KBshop Official Newspaper of the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland Published 11 months each year it carries various Orange and Protestant culture and heritage news-items and comments. Book your regular copy by having it posted direct to your home address for an annual subscription of £16.00 Sterling (U.K.), £24.00 (Republic of Ireland) or £28.00 (Overseas) THE ORANGE STANDARD SCHOMBERG HOUSE 368 Cregagh Road BELFAST BT6 9EY 8 Among the activities of Wings Over Scotland was the publication of an expensive-looking and widely circulated referendum item called The Wee Blue Book. According to Campbell, his Wee Blue Book contained “the facts the papers leave out”, though critics say it was shot full of errors, lies and distortions. Chief among them was the promotion of a nationalist fantasy much favoured by Salmond that Scotland contributes more to the UK Treasury than we get back. The “Rev” and other separatists like him back this assertion by being dishonestly selective with the figures. An average of the last 4 years actually shows that Scotland contributed £1,100 per head higher taxes but got back £1,300 per head higher expenditure. In other words, contrary to the dodgy nationalist statistics, Scotland got back 15% more from the UK Treasury than we contributed – something else you won’t read anytime soon in the Sunday Herald. GET YOUR BAND READY FOR THE NEW SEASON Stockists of Premier & Pearl Drums Miller Browne Flutes & Accessories Harnesses, Sticks, Beaters, Skins All in stock at the best prices anywhere! BAND SUPPLIES 13/15 Old Dumbarton Road Glasgow, G3 8QY Tel: 0141 339 9400 Email: [email protected] JOHN ELDER: A VERY HIGHLAND UNIONISM A t the time of the Rough Wooing, long before the Union of 1707 or the Union of the Crowns of 1603, John Elder wrote a letter to Henry VIII entitled ‘A Proposal for Uniting Scotland with England’. John Elder was a Highlander, a selfdescribed “Redshank”, and his writings challenge the notion that early unionism was the preserve of Anglicised Lowlanders. Elder was a Protestant clergyman from Caithness, who had studied at St. A Highland “Redshank” Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen. His faith came at a price, for he was exiled to England by the Catholic powers that ran Scotland in the regency of Queen Mary. His persecution would lead to him becoming a fervent unionist, who longed to see the people of Britain united under a single, godly king. In his letter to Henry VIII, he expresses the hopes and fears of a Scottish Protestant in pre-union Britain. THE NEED FOR UNION Religion was always at the forefront of Elder’s unionism. Like so many of his Protestant brethren, he was dismayed to see his country fall under the sway of Catholic clergymen in the regency for the infant Mary Queen of Scots. Protestants were viciously persecuted, burned at the stake, lost political office and were used as fodder for their domineering Catholic allies, the French. This grim reality is what forced Elder himself into exile in Protestant England. Elder leaves no doubt as to who ran his native kingdom: “… being reuled as it was in his tyme, be the advyse of the Cardinall, associatt with proud papistical buschops, which euer allured our said noble Prynce in his daies, with their fals, flatteringe, and jugglinge boxes, from the natural inclinacion, and loue, which he ought vnto your Maiestie, his moost myghtie and naturall Vncle.” Elder believed that when Mary came of age and took the throne, there was little prospect of the Catholic dominance in Scottish affairs ending. With the picture looking so bleak in Scotland, it is no surprise that Elder should look to his brethren in England for support. Like John Knox and so many Scotsmen of the time, Elder was overjoyed when the opportunity of union presented itself, as the Protestant Henry VIII of England sought to have his son Edward marry the infant Queen Mary of Scotland. In his letter, he is quick in encouraging Henry to pursue such an arrangement, and notes specifically that he desires to see a union of the two kingdoms brought about as a result of it: “… yf now after our said noble Kynges decese, Prynce Edowarde, whom God preserue, your Maiesties naturall sonne and heare of the noble empyr of England, shuld, as he shall by the grace of God, marye our younge Queyne of Scotland… boithe the realmes of England and of Scotland may be joynede in one ; and so your noble Maiestie for to be superiour and kynge.” There would be many beneficial aspects to such a union. Not least, the persecution of Protestants would end. But beyond that, Elder believed that it was essential to the peace and prosperity of his native kingdom of Scotland. Although Scots today speak fondly of the Auld Alliance, in reality it was never so popular with the ordinary Scots of the time, who were often sent to the slaughter at the beck and call of the French, used merely as a distraction to the English on their otherwise secure northern frontier. Elder is highly critical of the French and the Catholic clergy of Scotland that were so supportive of the abusive relationship. The more positive corollary of this point was that union would free by John Provan Scotland from the shackles of the French, and allow for an era of peace to reign in the British Isles. As foreign intervention is removed, so the native peoples could live together in peace: “… by reason wherof, hypocrisy and supersticioun abolissede, and the Frence Kinge cleane pluckt out of our hartis, England and Scotland, and the posteritie of boith, may Hue for euer in peax, loue, and amitie.” SUPPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS Perhaps the most unique aspect of Elder’s unionism is the emphasis he places on the support it would have within the Scottish Highlands. He argues that the Highland chiefs (which he refers to as ‘Yrish’ or ‘Irish’, as was common in his day) had grown tired of the growing power of the clergy, which had been infringing upon the autonomy from Edinburgh which they had historically enjoyed. Elder is confident that he can assure Henry of their support in the event of an invasion: “Moreouer, heringe and seinge what loue and fauour the valiaunt Yrishe lordes of Scotland, other wayes callid the Reddshankes… beris vnto your said Maiestie.” Evidently Elder believed that Henry would restore many of the privileges that the Highland chiefs had lost to Edinburgh or to clergymen, and show some level of leniency towards their wellknown lawlessness. Elder bases this on the treatment that Henry had shown to the Gaelic chiefs of Ireland, as Henry was of course King of both England and Ireland, the crown of the latter being tied to that of the former by the Crown of Ireland Act of 1542. He is no doubt aiming to flatter Henry here to some degree, but there is presumably some root of truth when he praises the king’s policies in Ireland: “Sene they heire and vnderstand how mercifully, how graciously, and how liberally your noble Grace haith vsed, orderide, and dealide with the lordes of Irland ther nyghboures, which haue continewid so many yeares rebellis; perdonyng and forgyving theame ther offences and trespasses; creatinge of theame, some erlis, some lordes, and some barons; rewardinge theame more lyke princis then erlis and lordis, with gold, siluer, and riches; and sending theame home agane with gorgious indumentis, and riche apparell.” The social structure of the Highlands was very similar to that of Ireland, as the two areas had long had close cultural, linguistic, economic and ethnic ties. No doubt the Highland chiefs, disgruntled as they were with the Edinburgh government, would have looked fondly upon the prospect of having a king who would respect their ancient autonomy. The additional prospect of being given official titles from the crown would also have been very alluring. Thus, we can see in John Elder quite a unique strain of unionist thought. While on the one hand, like so many unionists of the time, he is greatly concerned with the persecution faced by Protestants in his native kingdom; he also shows a very Highland-centric concept of union, where the Highland chiefs might flourish, free from the imposing grip of Edinburgh and its Catholic rulers. The notion of local autonomy within a British state is in fact a recurring theme within unionism in Scotland, as noted by Graeme Morton in his book, ‘Unionist Nationalism’. So while there are some very unique aspects to Elder’s idea of union, perhaps in others, he would lay the foundations for the unionists of much later times. Torchbearer by “The Wee Minister” THE GRAND MASTER’S GRAND MOTTO Robert Jocelyn, third Earl of Roden, was an Irish politician and landowner who became a true Christian on hearing the Gospel preached at a meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Having received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he became a lay preacher and a great supporter of Evangelical missions and charities. Moreover he was a great Orangeman, who served as a Grand Master and a Deputy Grand Master of the Loyal Orange Institution during one of the most turbulent times of the Order ’s history. 3rd Earl of Roden, 1860 in later years Lord Roden, as he became known, moved to Edinburgh where he died in March 1870. The following story relates to a much-loved verse of Lord Roden’s, which was told by Canon Dyson Hague, first in a sermon preached at London, Ontario in Canada, then again a few weeks later while on holiday to the White Mountains in the United States. At this second service, a man was so moved by this verse that he said with deep emotion, “Never in my life did I hear of anything that made such an impression upon me. Never in my life did I so clearly grasp the way of salvation through faith in the Crucified.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One Sunday evening I was preaching in my old church, St. Paul’s, Halifax, the ‘Westminster Abbey of Canada’, as the Governor of Nova Scotia used to call it, and towards the close of my sermon I told the following story: Many years ago the great Dr. Valpy, an eminent English scholar, wrote a little verse of four lines as the longing of his heart and the confession of his faith. This was the simple stanza: In peace let me resign my breath, And your salvation see; My sins deserve eternal death, But Jesus died for me. Sometime afterwards he gave this verse to his friend, Dr. Marsh, a well-known Church of England clergyman, and the father of Miss Marsh, the author of the ‘Life of Captain Hedley Vicars’. The verse became a great blessing to him. Dr. Marsh gave the lines to his friend, the Earl of Roden, who was so impressed with them that he had them written out and placed over the mantelpiece of his study. An old friend of his, General Taylor, one of the heroes of Waterloo, came to visit him at Tollymore Park, Ireland, and day after day the Earl found the old warrior standing by the mantelpiece with this eyes fixed on the motto. “Why, General,” said Lord Roden, “you will soon know the verse by heart.” “I know it now by heart,” replied the General with great feeling, and the simple words were the means of bringing him to know the way of salvation. Some two years afterwards, the physician who had been with the old General while he lay dying, wrote to Lord Roden to say that his friend had departed in peace, and that the last words which fell from the General’s lips were the words which he had learned to love in his lifetime: 10 In peace let me resign my breath, And your salvation see; My sins deserve eternal death, But Jesus died for me. Years afterwards at the house of a neighbour, Lord Roden happened to tell the story of the old General and these lines, and among those who heard it was a young officer in the British Army who had recently returned from the Crimea. Nothing was known about it at the time, but a few months later Lord Roden received a message from the officer, telling him that he wanted to see him, as his health was in rapid decline. As the Earl entered his room the dying man extended both his hands to welcome his, repeating the lines: In peace let me resign my breath, And your salvation see; My sins deserve eternal death, But Jesus died for me. He then added, “They have been God’s message of peace and comfort to my heart in this illness, when brought to my memory after days of darkness and distress, by the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.” As I said, I was telling this story in my sermon in old St. Paul’s and, as I began to tell it I noticed that an old gentleman, who was sitting in a pew not far from the pulpit just in from of me, was being overcome with extraordinary emotion. But, as I went on telling the story, there was no doubt that it had in some way seized upon the soul of the listener. And when at last I told of the Crimean officer, I thought that the gentleman would have almost cried out in the church, so deeply was he affected. The story ended the sermon, and after the singing of the hymn I went into the vestry. I had scarcely got there when I heard a knock at the door and the old gentleman, with emotion still evident, came and asked me, “Where did you get that story?” I told him I had read it in the work of a modern author whose works are world-famous. He said, “I do not know whether you saw that I was very much touched by it, but it almost overcame me.” And then, with tears streaming from his eyes, he told me this story. Years ago, when he was a young man, indifferent to Christianity, he walked one day into an old churchyard near Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and seeing a fallen gravestone, he overturned it in curiosity. And there he read at the foot, engraved in stone, a verse of four lines that took such a hold upon him and so clearly explained the way of salvation that they were the mans of his conversion. And from that day, nearly fifty years before, he had, by God’s grace as a result of those four lines, devoted his life to Christ. The lines were: In peace let me resign my breath, And your salvation see; My sins deserve eternal death, But Jesus died for me. “You can imagine,” he said, “my amazement as well as my delight when I heard you tell the story about the lines. You brought back to me the wonderful way in which God was pleased to save my soul.” It was not long after that I was sent for to visit this old gentleman in a sickness, which gradually grew more serious. One of the last things he did before he died was to take my hand, and ask me to do him a favour; and that was, that at his funeral and over his coffin I would tell the story of the lines in the hope that they prayer of a dying man might be answered, and that they might be a blessing to many more souls. Not long afterward he died; and at his funeral, which was attended by some of the most distinguished citizens of Halifax, I told over his coffin the story of the stanza that had transformed so many lives. I ended by saying that it was the wish of the dear old man on his dying bed that the words, which would be distributed as his last memorial to all present, might become a blessing to their souls. And as each one passed from the house of mourning he received a beautiful card, elegantly printed in purple, with the name and age of and burial date of that old Christian. God grant that these simple lines, may be to you, and many others, a means of salvation, and that you may say as the confession of true conversion: My sins deserve eternal death, But Jesus died for me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Me! Me! Me! P oliticians notoriously think very highly of themselves, none more so than the egotistical Alex Salmond. Just before he stepped down from the role of First Minister, he was at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh humbly unveiling a commemorative stone to his own greatness. The stone lauds his commitment to free higher education, something Salmond considers his government’s “single biggest achievement”, claiming it has opened the door to college education to more Scottish students from poorer backgrounds. Unfortunately for Mr Salmond, the jury seems to be out on his legacy. Rather embarrassingly, statistics show that the number of Scottish students in higher education has declined during the nationalist years. Labour accuses the SNP of unwittingly creating a middle class benefit that has actually squeezed out youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Scottish Tories agree. Their young people spokesperson, Liz Smith, claimed that free education had “done nothing to widen access”. Scottish students had actually lost out as cash-strapped universities favoured fee-paying students from elsewhere. “That’s hardly a legacy worth celebrating” said Ms Smith. Clearly the ever modest and self-effacing Mr Salmond disagrees. FUL-TON FORK LIFTS Sales Service New & Second Hand Maintenance Recycled Schemes Hires Training Long & Short Term Hires Forklift Driver Training Contact: Bro. Clark Fulston Tel 01698-286490 Fax 01698-429531 Email: [email protected] FOR FULL STOCKLIST AND FURTHER INFORMATION SEE OUR WEBSITE www.ful-ton-forklifts.com CITY BLINDS WHOSE BRIGHT IDEA WAS THIS? The Kirk Moderator meets the Pope last month You could almost hear the collective howl of despair from the Scottish RC hierarchy as news broke that the Kirk Moderator had urged Pope Francis to come to Scotland. “That’s all we need – another expensive visit from the boss!” The last two visits came at crippling cost to the pockets of the faithful. The Pope with the superstar image who came in 1982 arrived at a time when Catholic adherence to papal authority was still riding high and sex scandals had yet to rock the church. The not-so-charismatic Benedict came in 2010 to a much more muted reception. These days most of Scotland’s Roman Catholics take a very casual attitude towards the practice of their religion. There’s been a marked slide into nominalism that’s not far behind the Protestant experience. Many have never recovered from the shock of the Cardinal O’Brien scandal in a church they’d been taught from the cradle to trust absolutely. Dwindling attendances at mass have resulted in an inevitable financial crisis, with the hierarchy obliged to put non-viable parishes to the sword. According to a recent report in The Times, there are plans afoot to drastically reduce the number of RC churches within the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh alone by two thirds. When the going gets tough, a visit from head office is usually considered a useful pick-me-up. And, in fact, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia was keen to see Pope Francis in Glasgow this month for the 400th anniversary of the death of the Jesuit, John Ogilvie. What he had in mind, however, was a day visit on the cheap, not the expense of another grand tour. It’s to be hoped that the Kirk Moderator, Rt Rev John Chalmers, isn’t expecting a big hug from the cash-strapped Scottish hierarchy for what he no doubt considers a fine ecumenical gesture on his part. It’s more likely he’ll get a scud across the lug for his guileless interference. That’ll do nicely. It’ll save us the bother! NICOLA FLIES THE FLAG CALL THE MEN IN BLACK *FREE ESTIMATES & FITTING * 15% OFF ALL ORDERS! SHOWROOMS OPEN 7 DAYS COATBRIDGE 01236 700 299 01698 265 007 EAST KILBRIDE 01355 236 662 NOW OPEN! `THE WHITE HOUSE` (TOP OF AIRBLES ROAD) MOTHERWELL UNIT 15, NERSTON IND. ESTATE (BEHIND P.C WORLD) www.cityBLINDman.com Clearly not everyone in Govan shares Nicola’s determination to break up the United Kingdom! 11 GRAND LODGE SUPPORT FOR LORD PROVOST’s BURNS SUPPER MARTIN LUTHER IS A HIT (AGAIN) Toymaker Playmobil has been astonished by demand for a new plastic figurine depicting Martin Luther. The initial run of 34,000 “Little Luthers” sold out in the first three days, making it the fastest selling Playmobil toy of all time. The tiny figure depicts the famous Reformer with one hand clutching a quill and the other a Bible in the German language. The educational toy was developed ahead of next year’s 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Sales of the first edition have been almost entirely within Germany, but the unexpectedly strong demand is certain to see “Little Luther” added to the Playmobil range across the globe. Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland REFERENDUM VICTORY MEDAL £10 (+ £1 p&p) Also available: The Lord Provost with the Grand Master and County Grand Master of Glasgow The Orange Institution was represented at the annual Burns Supper held in aid of the Lord Provost of Glasgow’s designated charities. The formal evening on Friday 23rd January in the Thistle Hotel was hosted by Lord Provost Sadie Docherty. This year’s beneficiaries include the Malawi Fund and Bobath Scotland – a charity devoted to improving the quality of life of children and adults with cerebral palsy. Last year’s event raised over £80,000. Joining the well-heeled guests were the Grand Master and members of Grand Lodge Executive and the County Grand Lodges. As well as hosting a table, the Order donated an auction prize of golf and afternoon tea for three at Gleneagles. 2015 CALENDAR £2 (+ £1 p&p) The KBshop: Olympia House, Olympia Street, Glasgow G40 3TA ISSN 0308-2202 Journal of the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland Annual subscriptions pdf online £10 by post £12 by airmail £20 Lodge agency contact Olympia House News items, articles, pictures and letters by email to: [email protected] by post to: Ian Wilson, 7 Rochester Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5AB Advertising in Torch Small Ads for lodges, clubs and bands, £20 per entry. Small Commercial Ads, £40 per entry. Price for long running ads on application 12 The Order’s charity prize is onscreen over the heads of Bro Malcolm Campbell and Bro Jim Walker The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland Olympia House, Olympia Street, Glasgow G40 3TA [email protected] Tel (0141) 414 1418 Fax (0141) 414 1419 Printed by Craig & Stewart Printers Ltd. 11 Birkmyre Road, Glasgow, G51 3JH. Tel: 0141 445 2001 or email: [email protected]
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