Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent Part 43

Secret Articles.

"'1st. That we will bear true allegiance to his majesty, king George III., his heirs and successors, so long as he or they support the Protestant ascendancy and that we will faithfully support and maintain the laws and const.i.tution of these kingdoms.

"'2d. That we will be true to all Orangemen in all just actions, neither wronging one, nor seeing him wronged to our knowledge, without acquainting him thereof.

'"3d. That we are not to see a brother offended for sixpence or one shilling, or more, if convenient, which must be returned next meeting if possible.

"'4th. We must not give the first a.s.sault to any person whatever; that may bring a brother into trouble.

"'5th. We are not to carry away money, goods, or anything from any person whatever, except arms and ammunition, and those only from an enemy.

"'6th. We are to appear in ten hours' warning, or whatever time is required, if possible (provided it is not hurtful to ourselves or families, and that we are served with a lawful summons from the master), otherwise we are fined as the company think proper.

"'7th. No man can be made an Orangeman without the unanimous approbation of the body.

"'8th. An Orangeman is to keep a brother's secrets as his own, unless in case of murder, treason, and perjury; and that of his own free will.

"'9th. No Roman Catholic can be admitted on any account.

"'10th. Any Orangeman who acts contrary to these rules shall be expelled, and the same reported to all the Lodges in the kingdom and elsewhere.

"'G.o.d SAVE THE KING.'

"Among the Secret Articles are the following, which, by the way, are pretty significant, when properly understood:--

"'4th--We must not give the first a.s.sault to any person whatever; that might bring a brother into trouble.'

"'5th--We are not to carry away money, goods, or anything from any person whatever, except arms and ammunition, and those only from an enemy.'

"'6th--We are to appear in ten hours' warning, or whatever time is required, if possible, (provided it is not hurtful to ourselves or families, and that we are served with a lawful summons from the master), otherwise we are fined as the company think proper.'

"The Marksman's obligation is merely a repet.i.tion of the same description of allegiance to the king, his heirs, and successors, so long as he or they maintain the Protestant ascendancy, &c, &c, together with such other obligations of secrecy as are to be found either in Orange or Ribbon Lodges, with very slight difference in their form and expression.

"Now, my dear Spinageberd, I first call your attention to that portion which is headed 'Qualifications necessary for an Orangeman;' and I think you will agree with me that it would be difficult, almost impossible, to find in any organized society, whether open or secret, a more formidable code of qualifications for such as may be anxious to enroll themselves amongst its members. And I have no doubt, that had the other portions of it been conceived and acted on in the same spirit, Orangeism would have become a very different system from that which under its name now influences the principles, and inflames the pa.s.sions of the lower cla.s.ses of Protestants, and stimulates them too frequently to violence, and outrage, and persecution itself, under a conviction that they are only discharging their duties by a faithful adherence to its obligations. These obligations, however, admirable as they are and ably drawn up, possess neither power nor influence in the system, being nothing more nor less than an abstract series of religious and moral duties recommended to practice, but stript of any force of obligation that might impress them on the heart and principles. They are not embodied at all in the code in any shape or form that might touch the conscience or regulate the conduct, but on the contrary, stand there as a thing to look at and admire, but not as a matter of duty. If they had been even drawn up as a solemn declaration, a.s.serting on the part of the newly made member, a conviction that strict observance of their precepts was an indispensable and necessary part of his obligations as an Orangeman, they might have been productive of good effect, and raised the practices of the inst.i.tution from many of the low and gross atrocities which disgraced it. I cannot deny, however, that Orangeism, with all its crimes and outrages, has rendered very important services to the political Protestantism of the country. In fact, it was produced at the period of its formation by the almost utter absence of spiritual religion in the Established Church. Some principle was necessary to keep Protestantism from falling to pieces, and as a good one could not be found in a church which is at this moment one ma.s.s of sordid and selfish secularity,* there was nothing left for it but a combination such as this. Indeed, you could form no conception of the state of the Protestant Church here, even while I write, although you might form a very gorgeous one of the Establishment. The truth is she is all Establishment and no Church; and is, to quote Swift's celebrated simile--

"Like a fat corpse upon a bed, That rots and stinks in state."

* Let the reader remember that this, and almost everything that refers to the Irish Establishment, is supposed to have been written about forty years ago.

"There was no purifying or restraining power in the Establishment to modify, improve, or elevate the principles of Orangeism at all. And what has been the consequence? Why, that in attempting to infuse her spirit into the new system she was overmatched herself, and instead of making Orangeism Christian, the inst.i.tution has made her Orange. This is fact.

The only thing we have here now in the shape of a Church is the Orange system, for if you take that away what remains?

"This, my dear Spinageberd, is not to be wondered at; for no effects are without their causes. In this country n.o.body ever dreams of entering the Established Church, from pure and pious motives. In such a Church piety may be corrupted, but it is seldom rewarded. No, the description of persons who now enter the Church are the younger sons of our n.o.bility and gentry, of our squires, our dignitaries, and wealthy professional men; of our judges, generals, our deans, and our bishops. Among the sons of such men the Church is carved out, with the exception of the chines, and sirloins, and other best joints, all of which are devoured by peculiar description of Englishmen, named Bishops, who are remarkable for excessively long claws and very shark-like teeth. In this, however, we do not blame England, but agree with Dean Swift who a.s.serted, that in his day, she uniformly selected the most una.s.suming, learned and pious individuals she could get; fitted them out as became such excellent Christian men, and sent them over with the best intentions imaginable, to instruct the Irish in all Christian truth and humility. It so happened, however, that as soon as they had reached Hounslow Heath, they were every man, without exception, stopped, stripped, and robbed, by the gentlemen who frequent that celebrated locality; who, thinking that robbery on the high Church was safer and more lucrative than robbery upon the highway, came over here instead of pious men, where they remained in their original capacity for the remainder of their lives.

"It is impossible, in fact, that a Church so deeply infected with political corruption, so shamefully neglected in all that is spiritual and regenerative, and so openly prost.i.tuted to intrigue and ambition, can ever work with that high and holy efficacy which should characterize her. These, however, are not her purposes, nor are they aimed at. She exists here merely as an unholy bond between the political interests of the two countries, maintaining British authority by her wealth, and corrupting Irish honesty by her example. I have already enumerated the cla.s.s of persons who enter her, and touched upon the motives by which they are influenced. In large families, for instance, if there happen to be a young fellow either too idle, or too stupid for the labor and duties of the other professions, there is no inconvenience or regret felt. No matter--he d.i.c.k, or Jack, or Tom, as the case may be, will do very well for the Church. 'You will make a very good parson, Tom--or a Dean--or a-----no hang it, there I must stop, I was about to say Bishop, but not being an Englishman, you cannot carve that dish, d.i.c.k. Never mind--you can feed upon a fat living--or if one won't do--why, we must see and get you a pair of them, Bill.'

"But this, my dear Spinageberd, is not all. You will be surprised, when I tell you, that there is no system of education necessary for entering into orders. No system, I repeat--properly so called--either Scriptural or Ecclesiastical. Some few divinity lectures are to be attended, which in general are neither well attended--nor worth attending--and that, I believe, is all. One thing is certain, that the getting certificates of attendance for these lectures is a mere form, as is the examination for orders. The consequence is, that a young candidate for a living goes into the Church burthened with very little of that lore which might spoil his appet.i.te for its enjoyment; so harmoniously does everything here work together for the good of the pastors at the expense of the people.

"I think I have shown you that there is little in the Church of Ireland that is likely to regulate or purify the spirit of Orangeism when coming in contact with itself. That it had little to gain from the Church in a spiritual way, and that the Church is not fulfilling the ends of her establishment here in any sense, is evident from the Report in the little work from which I have taken these extracts. In that pa.s.sage it would appear that the very existence of a Church is forgotten altogether; for Orangeism is termed 'an inst.i.tution, whose chief object--whatever political shape it may a.s.sume--is to preserve the Protestant religion.' I will now, before I close this batch, direct your attention to one or two pa.s.sages that prove most distinctly the fact, that there stand clear in this oath of an Orangeman, principles, founded on foregone practices and conclusions, which never should have existence in a country so situated as this is.

"The Orangemen, for instance, in the paper headed their 'General Declaration,' say, 'We a.s.sociate for the defence of our persons and properties, and to maintain the peace of the country; and for these purposes we will be at all times ready to a.s.sist the civil and military powers in the just and lawful discharge of their duty.'

"This, now, is all very plausible, but, perhaps, by looking a little more closely into the circ.u.mstances of the case, we may be able to perceive that in this pa.s.sage, and one or two others of a similar character, the most objectionable part of the system lies disguised--if one can say disguised, because to me, my dear Spinageberd, the matter seems obvious enough. Who, then, are these men that come forward with arms in their hands, to proffer aid to the civil and military powers in the discharge of their duty? A self-const.i.tuted body without authority, who have certainly proved themselves to be brave men, and rendered most important services to the state, at a time when such services were, no doubt, both necessary and acceptable. The crisis, however, in which this aid was given and received, being but of brief duration, soon pa.s.sed away, leaving the party opposed to government--the rebels--broken, punished, flogged, banished, hanged; in fact, completely discomfited, subdued, beaten down. In other words, the rebellion of '98 having been thoroughly suppressed, this self-elected body of men, tasting the sweets of authority, retain, under different circ.u.mstances, these obligations, which, we admit, the previous situation of the country had rendered necessary. They retain them in times of peace, and bring into operation against men who were no longer either in a disposition or capacity to resist, those strong prejudices and that fierce spirit which, originated in tumult and civil war. Why, n.o.body complains of the conduct of Orangemen, as a, body, in '98; it is of their outrages since, that the country, and such as were opposed to them, have a right to complain.

"In another pa.s.sage the declaration is still stronger and more significant: 'We further declare,' say they, 'that we are exclusively a Protestant a.s.sociation; yet, detesting as we do, any intolerant spirit, we solemnly pledge ourselves to each other, that we will not persecute, injure, nor upbraid any person on account of his religious opinions, provided the same be not hostile to the state.'

'"That is to say, they will persecute, injure, or upbraid such persons only whose religious opinions are hostile to the state. But, now, let me ask any man of common sense, if he could for a moment hesitate to declare on oath what religion they have alluded to as being hostile to the state? There is, in truth, but one answer to be given--the Roman Catholic. What else, then, is this excessive loyalty to the state but a clause of justification for their own excesses, committed in the name, and on the behalf of religion itself? Did they not also const.i.tute themselves the judges who were first to determine the nature of these opinions, and afterwards the authorities who should punish them? Here is one triumphant party with arms in their hand, who have only, if they wish, to mark out a victim, and declare his religion and principles as hostile to the state; and, lo! they are at liberty, by their own regulations, to 'persecute' him!

"In the 5th secret article there occurs the following:--'We are not to carry away money, goods, or anything, from any person whatever, except arms and ammunition, and these only from an enemy.'

"This certainly shows the nature of the cruel and domiciliary tyranny which they, subsequently to '98, carried to such excess in different parts of the country; and here, as in the other instance, what was there to guide them in determining the crime which const.i.tuted an enemy?

Why, their own fierce prejudices alone. Here, then, we find a body irresponsible and self-const.i.tuted, confederated together, and trained in the use of arms (but literally unknown to the const.i.tution), sitting, without any legal authority, upon the religious opinions of a cla.s.s that are hateful and obnoxious to them--and, in fact, combining within themselves the united offices of both judge and executioner. With the character of their loyalty I have no quarrel; I perceive it is conditional; but the doctrine of unconditional loyalty is so slavish and absurd, that the sooner such an unnecessary fetterlock is struck off the mind the better. To-morrow evening, however, I am to be introduced to an Orange Lodge, after the actual business of it shall have been transacted and closed. This is a privilege not conceded to many, but it is one of which I shall very gladly avail myself, in order that I may infer from their conduct some faint conception of what it generally is."

CHAPTER XIX.--An Orange Lodge at Full Work

--Solomon in all his Glory--He Defines Drinking to be a Religious Exercise--True Blue and the Equivocal--Phil's Eloquence--A Charter Toast.

From the same to the same.

"Friday, * * *

"The order of business for each night of meeting is, I find, as follows:--1. Lodge to open with prayer, members standing. 2. General rules read. 3. Members proposed. 4. Reports from committee. 5. Names of members called over. 6. Members balloted for. 7. Members made. 8. Lodge to close with prayer, members standing.

"It was about eight o'clock, when, accompanied by a young fellow named Graham, we reached the Lodge, which, in violation of one of its own rules, was held in what was formerly called the Topertoe Tavern, but which has since been changed to the Castle c.u.mber Arms--being a field _per pale_, on which is quartered a purse, and what seems to be an inverted utensil of lead, hammered into a coronet. In the other is a large mouth, grinning, opposite to which is a stuffed pocket, from which hangs the motto, '_ne quid detrimenti res privata capiat_.' Under the foot of the gentleman is the neck of a famine-struck woman, surrounded by naked and starving children, and it is by the convenient aid of her neck that he is enabled to reach the purse, _or_; and, indeed, such is his eagerness to catch it and the coronet, that he does not seem to care much whether he strangles her or not. On the leaden coronet, is the motto, alluding to the head which fills it, '_similis simili gaudet_.'

"I should mention, before proceeding further, that Mr. Valentine M'Clutchy, being master of the Lodge in question, was the individual from whom I had received permission to be present under the circ.u.mstances already specified. The ceremony of making a member is involved in that ridiculous mystery which is calculated to meet the vulgar prejudices of low and ignorant men. Sometimes they are made one by one, and occasionally, or, I believe, more frequently in batches of three or more, in order to save time and heighten the effect. The novice, then, before entering the Lodge, is taken into another room, where he is blindfolded, and desired to denude himself of his shoes and stockings, his right arm is then taken out of his coat and shirt sleeves, in order to leave his right shoulder bare. He then enters the Lodge, where he is received in silence with the exception of the master, who puts certain queries to him, which must be appropriately answered.

After this he receives on the naked shoulder three smart slaps of the open hand, as a proof of his willingness to bear every kind of persecution for the sake of truth--of his steadfastness to the principles of Orangeism, and of his actual determination to bear violence, and, if necessary, death itself, rather than abandon it or betray his brethren.

"About nine o'clock the business of the Lodge had been despatched, and in a few minutes I received an intimation to enter from the Deputy Master, who was no other than the redoubtable and heroic Phil himself; the father having been prevented from coming, it appeared, by sudden indisposition. As I entered, they were all seated, to the number of thirty-five or forty, about a long table, from which rose, reeking and warm, the powerful exhalations of strong punch. On paying my respects, I was received and presented to them by Phil, who on this occasion, was in great feather, being rigged out in all the paraphernalia of Deputy Master. The rest, also, were dressed in their orange robes, which certainly gave them a good deal of imposing effect.

"'Gentlemen,' said Phil,--'Bob Sparrow, I'll trouble you to touch the bell, and be d--d to you--gentlemen, this is a particular friend of mine and my father's--that is, we intend to make a good deal of interest in him, if it's not his own fault, and to push him on in a way that may serve him--but, then, he's in the dark yet; however, I hope he won't be long so. This, gentlemen, is Mr. Weasel from England, who has come over to see the country.'

"'Your health, Mr. Weasel,' resounded from all sides, 'you're welcome among us, and so is every friend of brother Captain Phil's.'

"'Gentlemen,' said I,' I feel much obliged for the cordiality of your reception--but, allow me to say, that Mr. M'Clutchy has made a slight mistake in my name, which is Easel, not Weasel.'

"'Never mind, sir,' they replied, among a jingle of gla.s.ses, which almost prevented me from being heard, 'never mind, Mr. Evil, we don't care a curse what your name is, provided you're a good Protestant. Your name may be Belzebub, instead of Evil, or Devil, for that matter--all we want to know is, whether you're staunch and of the right metal.'

"'That, gentlemen,' I replied, 'I trust time will tell'

"'I shall be very proud--I speak it not, I hope, in a worldly sense,'

said a little thin man dressed in black--'no, not in a worldly sense I shall be proud, sir, of your acquaintance. To me it is quite sufficient that you are here as the friend of my excellent friend, Mr. Valentine M'Clutchy; a man, I trust, not without a deep and searching spirit of--'

"'Come, Solomon,' said a large, broad-shouldered man, with a face in which were singularly blended the almost incompatible principles of fun and ferocity, 'Come, Solomon, none of your preaching here so soon--you know you're not up to the praying point yet, nor within four tumblers of it. So, as you say yourself, wait for your gifts, my lad.'