The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-04-19 00:00:00

EMPIRE.

There never was upon any occasion such an assemblage of
the rank, wealth, and respectability, not only of the order, but
almost of the community, as were congregated upon this occasion.
entlemen from every county in Irelandentrusted with the 'sen-
timents and opinions of their brethren, and entering upon the
deliberation with all their prejudices, feelings, and passions
embarked on one side; but not inaccessible, as the result has
proved, to the power Of reason, the force of truth, and the im-
perative sense of duty on the other, were met by ,their compa-
. Mons and friends entertaining different, and perhaps more mo-
derate sentiments, in the spirit of the purest sincerity, good faith,
and mutual confidence, and the delegation of public sentiment
was thus perfected—harmonized. The latter in a considerable
majority, voted for dissolution; but who can blame those, who,
impressed with the belief that some modified form of the system
Might with safety be effected; or filled with the conviction that,
until a law was enacted for its positive suppression, it might with
propriety be conducted on the footing upon which it had been
originally establishd and prosperously worked—who, we say,
can attach blame to those actuated by such motives, and acting
under such impressions, for conscientiously voting against its
dissolution ? No man of sense, honour, or understanding ; and
we are assured that when time affords opportunity for dispas-
sionate reflection there is not a member of that which was once
the orange institution of Ireland that will nut bow with deference
and submit with a grace strengthened by the conviction of its
justness; to the decision come to by the grand lodge.
It is to be hoped that this great and painful concession will be
duly appreciated by the government, the Irish viceroy, and
Lord Mulgrave's press; and that if any or either have the peace
and tranquillity of the country atheart, all angry, irritating,.and
insulting taunts will he avoided. In England, and in the mind
of every temperate man in the empire, it wilt place orangeism,
as connected with principle, on a higher ground than it everyet
occupied. •
As the proceedings at the meeting were strictly private, we are
precluded from giving a report of what took pplace; and we
greatly regret that such a restriction is in operation- to prevent
us from laying before our readers a mass of reason and argu-
ment, of eloquence and oratory, such as has seldom met the
public ear. The discussjOn lasted for two days, and was con-
ducted in that calm and deliberative spirit suited to the -soleth_
nity of the occasinn, and the magnitude of the subject. • The
Earl of Roden was in the chair on both days, and, it is scarcely
necessary to add, deported himself with that digniaed urbanity
Which is one of the leading characteristics Of his noble nature.-
The followin.: is the,resolution adopted, and carried on a di-
vision of 92 to. 62:
The subjoined resolutions were then passed:—
Moved by George Macartney, Esq.; seconded by Sir A.
Brooke, Bart.:—
'" Resolved—'That in consequence of. the recent vote of the
House of Commons, and the reply of . the sovereign to an ad-
dress from that body, expressing his. majesty's disapprobation
of the continuance of the Orange• Association, and his determin-
ation to take such measures as.inight appear to him advisable
for its effectual discouragement, it seems to this grand lodge
that the end for which the Orange Association was originally
flamed—namely, the promotion of the interests of the protest
tint population in Ireland, wilt be no longer served by the fur-
ther continuance of ..that institution ; and that, in conformity
With the expressed will of the sovereign, the Orange Associa-
tion,, at the rising of this grand_ledge, ought to be, and is here-
by dissolved."
Moved by George MoOre, Esq-; seconded by Isaac Ambrose
Eccles, Esq.,;(l
'"ltesolvedv,That 431,the books and documents belonging to
this "lodge be now placed in the custody of the Earl of Roden,
and that a coutgoittee-liejappointed tocounnunicate the proceed-
ings of this dipyijo ilio4ounty, city, and town lodges,,audit the
treasurer's acconut,t;and 4ist,..atte. balance in the treasurer's
hands, after dist:l3'3l,lohr all delits-due by the grand. ledge, ,be
deposited in the bankto sibs credit of the Earl of Roden,, as
trustee; and a x.ommitteeithety named.",
Earl of Itathdowne being.caded to the chair, the following
resolution was unanimously agre.ettloi:.—
" Itesolved—That the :best thanks, of this grand lodge are
justly due, and hereby given. tomirriiliustrious and beloved de:
puts, grand master, the right honourable the Earl otßoden, for
his lordship's kind. patient, noble and impartial conduct in' the
chair during two days of great trial! at this awful period; and
that in dissolving our truly protestant and loyal institution his
lordship retires from his high station possessing the confidence
end affection of the Orangemen of Ireland."