The Five Demands

Orange Order marks Ulster Covenant centenary (News Letter)
HUNDREDS of Orangemen and women gathered in Belfast yesterday to commemorate the signing of the Ulster Covenant.
The city’s County Grand Lodge marked the centenary of the seminal moment in unionist history by attending a religious service at St Anne’s Cathedral.
The loyal institution played a key role in the organising and the signing of the Covenant in September 1912.
In his sermon, county chaplain the Rev Mervyn Gibson stressed the religious as well as the political elements of the historic document, which was penned by more than 450,000 men and women in their opposition to Home Rule.
He said: “The Covenant was not written solely as a call to arms to defend Ulster, it was also a document that clearly pledges all who sign it to rely on God’s strength and blessing to see them through.
“Yes there were dark clouds looming, preparations had to be made but in the end it would be God who would deliver people from that which threatened them.
“The Covenant called on people to rely on God, to trust in him. It is something that we need to be continually reminded to do.”
As part of the service of thanksgiving – officiated by the Dean of Belfast, the Rt Rev John Mann – a floral tribute was laid at the tomb of Sir Edward Carson inside the Cathedral.
Members of the Order paraded from across Belfast to the event which was organised in conjunction with the City of Belfast Loyal Orange Widows’ Fund.