The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-08-06
History of the orangemen.

So many erroneous and absurd accounts
of the origin and system of the Orange
Society have been given in the newspapers
within the last two weeks, that it seems
appropriate to present a slight sketch of
the truth. The truth, then, is that the So
ciety was instituted by the Irish Govern
ment, in l795-not openly, but by means
of secret emissaries for all the dealings
of that government with the Orangemen
were always underhand)-and that it's OBJ
ject was to emhitter and exasrerate the
religious and political rage of the Protest
ants against the Catholics, and thus to
stop the progress of a certain other Society
the United Irishmen,"-an organiza-
ton WHICH was then rapidly combining
people of the two sects upon a basis of
true brotherhood, and for the good and
yirtuous purpose of procuring Reform-a
thing deeply needed. But this cOmbina-
ton, or any kind of friendly association of
ProtestaIts and Catholics was the very
thing that English policy could not en-
dure. For the continued existence of Bri-
fish domination in Ireland, the one thing
needfuf was to keep up the mortal antagO-
nism of the two sects.
Mr.. Martin, NIP, for Meath, in n late
speech recommended to members of the
House of Commons that if they really de-
sired to know something about his country
they should study Mr.. Mitchel's History
of Ireland, from the Treaty of Limerick to
the present time. Now as that work ne
cessarily embraces the whole Orange his
tory, we may here bring together a few ex-
tracts, which will furnish all the facts
which most persons would care to know.
In this same eventful year of 1895, Bri-
fish policy was materially aided by a new
and pOten tous institutiOn-theO Orange So
ciety. The recall of Lord Fitzwilliam, and
the absolute and most inevitable despair
of obtaining either Reform of Parliament
or Catholic Emancipation under the exlst
ing order OF things, had driven vast num-
bers of the people, of both religions, into
the United Irish Society. A spirit of IN
ION and fraternity was Speeding fast
"Then," says Mr.. Plowden, the gentle
me-. in place became trightfufiy alarmed
for their situation active agents were sent
down to Armagh, to turn the ferocity and
fanaticism of the Peep of Day Boys into "a
religious contest with the Catholics, Under
the specious appearance of zeal for Church
and King. Personal anmosity was art
fully converted into religious rancor and
for the specious purpose of taking OF the
stigma of delinquency, the appellation of
Peep Of Day Boys was changed into that
of Orangemen."
County that this bloody association origi-
mated. Their test is said to hare been
In the awful presence of Almighty Gud,
l, A. A, do soemnly swear, that will, to-
the utmost of my power, support the King
ana the present government; and do fur
thef swear, that will use my utmost exer-
lions TO exterminate all the Catholics of
the Kingdom of Ireland" But this oath,
being secret, has latterly been denied by
orangemen OF responsibility and conse-
quehce: 1t has been generally credited
that this very oath was taken by all the
original lodges, and continued afterwards
to be taken by the lower classes The
Orange oath is given in the above terms
10 pamphlet published in l797. called
View of the Present State of ireland"
which is attributed to Arthur O'Connor.