cross of St Patrick lol 688

[Wasp]

YOUR editorial (January 19) regarding the participation of our Orange Lodge in the St Patrick's Day parade in Downpatrick was based on somewhat confused reports of what actually happened.

A few years ago an informal approach was made to the Cross of St Patrick LOL 688 by a member of the council, suggesting that we apply to take part in the St Patrick's Day parade. We responded positively to this suggestion and made an application.
However, we were then told that we could only take part if we left our collarettes and the lodge bannerette at home.
The collarettes are the customary Orange collarette with a small Cross of St Patrick badge. The bannerette also has a Cross of St Patrick and the name of the lodge.
Since the council promotes the Cross of St Patrick flag at the event, we were unable to understand why the organisers were refusing us permission to wear the regalia and carry the bannerette.

The decision made by the organisers was extremely bizarre and it made our participation impossible. Moreover, we received no clear explanation as to how this decision had been reached.

Since then we have had no correspondence from the council and neither has there been any formal invitation to participate. We have not declined an invitation because there has not been one.

This year the Cross of St Patrick LOL 688 celebrates its 40th anniversary and down through the years the lodge has sought to engage with others about our Protestant faith, about Orange culture and, especially, about Patrick.

Several of our members have accepted invitations to speak to the pupils in Roman Catholic schools and we have always received a warm welcome.
Are these not the sort of steps your editorial was advocating? Well, this is what we have been doing over quite a number of years.

If we are to build good relations, then it has to be done on the basis of good practice and respect. Those are things that have been missing, as regards the Downpatrick parade, and that is why we are where we are this year.

WORSHIPFUL MASTER Cross of St Patrick LOL 688

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/letters/article3379768.ece

[Wasp]

This is worth noting after all the times I have been asked why don't the OO goto Catholic schools etc etc.

Several of our members have accepted invitations to speak to the pupils in Roman Catholic schools and we have always received a warm welcome.

[bearhunter]

Fascinating. Dumb decision by the organisers too. As I've said before the OO is as Irish as the GAA and should be represented on St Patrick's Day. It's ludicrous not to have them there and it would take the steam out of a lot of the animosity towards the order since they wouldn't be marching in parade season, so the heat is taken out of the issue. Impressed that some catholic schools are inviting people in to tell tehm that they (the RCs) are wrong, deluded and hellbound, though...

[earl]

I don't see the problem with these lads parading in full regalia. They have every right to. The parade organisers should take a look at themselves and the message that they are sending out. St. Patricks day isn't just for RC's. If even non-Christian Irish, (such as the Jewish community mentioned in the Paddy watch thread) can get in on the act, I see no problem with Protestants adding their flavour and heritage to the festivities. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, and not Catholicism.

[Blue Angel]

Indeed and Irish Christianity early on was far closer in practise early on to what would become later the Orthodox Church as it had different dates for Easter, different rites, allowed married priests (as did the Catholic church of course for the first 1000 years or so of it's exsistence...), Patrick was neither Catholic or Protestant in any way and either side trying to claim him as one of their own as I've seen done over the years is merely retroactive wish-fullfillment.

I to have no problem either withs this lodge's participation - don't invite them to participate with one hand and then set stupid preconditions with another, it makes observers question the sincerity of the original invitation.

[Wasp]

Good posts guys but BA they were not invited to participate, the article clearly states they could not decline the invitation as there wasn't any formal invite.