A Colossal Interpretation of Irish Political History Through Protestant Eyes
AN ARMY WITH BANNERS: The Real Face of Orangeism
by William Brown
Publisher: Beyond the Pale
ISBN 1-900960-24-9
Reviewed by Sharon Greer
“I have always said that I am an Orangeman first and a politician and a member of this
parliament afterwards...all I boast is that we have a Protestant parliament and a Protestant state. Therefore, it is undoubtedly our duty and our privilege, and always will be, to see that those appointed by us possess the most unimpeachable loyalty to the King and Constitution. This is my whole object in carrying on a Protestant Government for a Protestant people”.
Sir James Craig, Orange-unionist leader and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Stormont Parliament, 1934
The long history of the Orange Order’s parades, marches and demonstrations against Catholics is one of many themes in William Brown’s fascinating recent book, An Army with Banners: The Real Face of Orangeism. Brown’s intriguing story follows Orangeism’s religio-political principles and objectives from the creation of the Orange Order for paramilitary defence purposes in 1795 to the present day.
He recounts the background of King William (III) of Orange, the basis of the Orange marching season in Northern Ireland, as a tradition that has elevated King Billie into “something of a cult figure”. Brown claims that although William of Orange was a Calvinist, he is a somewhat inappropriate icon for the Orange Order.
The nearly 3,000 Orange marches every year in the north of Ireland are meant to venerate and honour the Battle of the Boyne, 1690 where the Protestant William of Orange defeated the Catholic James II.
But as Brown notes, William of Orange was not “an anti-Catholic religious bigot.” He actually had an aversion towards the Protestant ascendancy’s extremism in the Ireland of his day. William of Orange’s wife was the daughter of the very same Catholic James II whom he fought, with the blessing of the Pope, and defeated at the Battle of the Boyne.
Little tidbits of information that are conveniently not brought up by present day Orangemen. It is always possible that they themselves are not aware of these facts. As Brown so eloquently puts it “.....it is doubtful if anyone of William’s religiously mixed maternal and matrimonial connections, to say nothing of his naturally wise toleration, could nowadays be admitted into membership of a Loyal Orange Lodge of Ulster. Indeed...Prince of Orange was decidedly of a more advanced order than that of many Twenty-First Century Ulster Orangemen.” And Brown frequently notes throughout the book the unionist/loyalist veneration of “whatever it was King William established.”
Brown’s story is chockfull of incredible historical information on Protestant ascendancy attitudes covering a 200 year period. He maintains that Orange unionism has always refused to give Catholics equal respect and equal rights which lies at the core of the immense problems haunting Northern Ireland today.
Brown’s account covers a lot of mileage requiring some stamina to try to grasp the unbelievable history of Ireland. From the Armagh Outrages at the end of the 1700s when Orangemen embarked upon a series of pogroms against Catholics, burning down homes and chapels, to the Orange Order’s efforts in the 1800s to “keep the papists in their places,” through to Home Rule and the partitioning of Ireland in the 1900s, Brown’s rendering and interpretation of Irish history is colossal.
This book is well-worth the effort and a commendable contribution to the oft-perplexing situation of Northern Ireland. Brown helps the reader to come to a better understanding of Orangeism’s culture and belief system by showing how Unionism and Orangeism go hand in hand.
It is definitely a courageous book one must approach with an open mind. Brown has tackled some of the most complicated issues stemming from sectarianism in Ireland. He is, indeed, a very brave man.
William Brown comes from a strongly dissenting (Protestant) background. He does see some value in the union with Britain but also sees 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 the desire to see my fellow citizens move forward from an anachronistic past towards a new egalitarian and non-sectarian society.”
He also believes that, “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.”
It is unfortunate that the voice of reason, fairness and logic resonating from this wonderful comprehension of Protestant ascendancy hasn’t reached more people in Northern Ireland. We need more William Browns in this world.
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