The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-07 00:00:00

ORANGEISM

The Standard refers to the report of the meeting at the
Orange Grand Lodge, and says that Orangeism, with all
its faults—and we have never been slow to point them out
—has done good service in the past, and may do still better
service in the future. However we may condemn intoler-
ance and fanaticism, it is unjust to speak of them as neces-
sarily connected with the cause which the Orange Society
seeks tohonour, and for the maintenance of which it exists.
There never was a time in the history of Ireland, indeed,
when it was more necessary for loyal men to combine for
mutual defence and"support. The chief bond which united
the Irish Protestants to the British State has been vio-
lently severed. The severance in religion has
undoubtedly deeply affected the political sympathy.
More than ever do the Irish Protestants require
a common centre and rallying point, and the Orange
Society is able to afford both the one and the other. To
adapt itself for this new and enlarged function it is neces-
sary that Orangeism should widen its bounds and throw
open its gates. There is no reason why it should not be-
come a public ,instead of a secret association. Those mystic
forms and ceremonies—the hidden signs and watchwords,
the banners and sashes, and all the decorative and emo-
tional apparatus of an Orange Lodge—however useful
they might have been in former times, are no longer ap-
r°Priate to the age or occasion, and rather detract
from than add to the dignity and usefulness of Orange-
-sm• The Irish Protestants of the present day re-
quire no such aids to devotion. Their aims are open
and honest. There is nothing in their designs which
all the world may not know. They do not meditate
stratagems or treasons ; and, therefore, it were well if
the society which seeks to be the representative of Irish
loyalty should in the future discard all mysticism and mum-
mery, and seek rather to gather strength by the light of
Publicity.

IRISH CABLE FRACTURED.—The Haverfordwest and
exford cable was broken yesterday at 6 a.m. Imme-
te steps have been taken to repair the cable, but until
he communication is restored considerable delay must be
caused to all the messages from and to Ireland.
rn °la Sunday morning part of the upper stone work of the
3rstall Town Hall fell, and mortally injured a man
bbington. There was no apparent reason for the de-
tachment. The building has been unaltered for several
years.

It •
is rumoured that when Sir Richard Airey suc-
ceeds to the post of Adjutant-General at the Horse
raltar
rillards, Lieutenant-General Sir Fenwick Williams, of
Giabl'B, will be appointed to the command of the fortress of
; and that Lord Templetown will succeed Lieu-
tenant-General Sir George Buller in command of the
garrison of Portsmouth.
ACAccording*to the Frankfurter Journal the police
of
Geneva have arrested M. Netchaef, the man whose
extradition has been claimed by the Russian Government.
-a8 there is no convention, however, between Russia and
Switzerland for the giving up of refugees, it is probable
that M.
Netchaef will merely be forced to leave the Swiss
territory,

The-Journal Officiel publishes a list of places from
the
addresses of congratulation have been sent up to
"us Emperor on the result of the Plebiscite. They have
come from almost all parts of Algiers and almost all the
81"11 prefectures of France ; but the great centres, such
as Lyons, Marseilles, Bordeaux, and others, are conspi-
cuous by their silence.
On Saturday, the foundation - stone of the Albert
tdidge, now in course of erection upon the site of the
Earl Hutcheson-town bridge, Glasgow, was laid, by the
of Dalhousie, K. G., and Grand-Master Mason. of
.20tland. The ceremony was made the occasion for a
!..N.l...asonic display. In the afternoon the Lord Provost of
'rlasgcw presented the Earl of Dalhousie with the freedom
of the city.