GLEANINGS FROM THE EVIDENCE ON ORANGE LODGES.

1. ORIGIN, NATURE, AND OBJECTS OF ORANGE LODGES.

LIEUTENANT - COLONEL VERNER, M. P., an Orangeman, Deputy Grand Master of the institution, and Deputy Grand Master of the County of Armagh, states, that " the original intention of the Orange Society was to support the constitution of the country and allegiance to his Majesty, in opposition to societies of a re- bellious and treasonable nature ; to join the Government in pro- tecting the country in case of foreign invasion; and for purposes of self-defence." It was first instituted in 1795; and has continued in existence and activity, under different modifications and with sundry interruptions, until the present time. It is an exclusively Protestant association. The members were admitted on secret oath, up to March 182,5; when an act of Parliament was passed by which such oaths were rendered illegal. Previous to the formation of Orange Societies, there were other societies existing, one under the name of Defenders,

consisting exclusively of Roman Catholics. They were in the habit of taking arms from the houses of Protestants ; and bodies of men, called Peep-o'-day Boys, went for the purpose of recovering them early in the mornings. " I think," continues Colonel Vestelsa, " the first occasion upon which the opinion became general that there existed a

decided hostility on the part of the ,Rotran Catholics towards the Pro- testants of the country, was a circumstance which occurred at a place called Fork 11;11, in the county of Armagh." The Colonel proceeds, on the hearsay of his father, to relate the story of a deed of great atro- city committed at this place, in 1791, by persons said to be Catholics, on a Protestant schoolmaster's family and his wife ; which circumstance lie repeats, eroduced a conviction of -the hostility of the Roman Catholics to die Protestants.

" Are not the chief objects of the Orange Lodge the preservation of the Established Church, the present settlement of Protestant pro- perty.and the connexion between England anti Ireland ?"—" Decidedly." " Why do you conceive that Roman Catholics are not admissible into Orange Lodges ?"—" Because the Protestants of Ireland have reason to suppose that they are hostile to them."

" For what reason ?"—" By forming themselves into societies bound by oaths to extirpate the Protestants, and by the opposition they have given to their religion and their Church."

The Reverend MonTimErt O'SUT.LIVAN, a convert from Catholicism to Protestantism, and a member of the Orange Lodge, Wits the second witness examined. He states, that there are two degrees, Purpleman and Orangeman. Purple is the higher order : an Orangeman must, in ordinary ciremnstances, undergo one year's probation before he is eligible to the Purple order.

" Are the lodges through the country affiliated ?"—" Members of Lodge Committees have the privilege of attending any lodges and voting at them."

" You state that in the year 1812, the Oath of the Orangemen was changed."—" I believe it was." " The condition of the oeth was that the King; should support Pre- testantism ?"—" The condition of the oath which had been previously taken was to that effect."

" By Protestantism, do you mean the Established I believe the condition contemplated rather what was called Protestant Ascendancy than the maintenance of the Established Church."

Mr. Wit siast SWAN, Secretary to the Orange Lodge, was the third witness. No oath or declaration has been required from Orange- men since 1829. The number of the Orange body is from 200,0(10 to 2-20,000. It is increasing.

Mr. STEWART BLACKER, Assistant Grand Secretary, the fourth witness, states the distribution of the lodges to be as follows : 229 in Antrim ; 212 in Armagh ; in Down, Tyrone, and Fermanagh, upwards of 200 each ; in Londonderry, about 150; in Tipperary and West- meath, 2 each ; in Kilkenny, none. The numbers of Orangemen in each lodge vary from 30 to 300.

2. CONDUCT OF ORANGE LODGES.

Colonel VERNER states, that " the Orangemen as a body never .iu- terfered in any political question."

" Do you consider the address to the King, read the other night in the House of Commons, which professed to emanate from the Grand Masters, as an act of the body or of the particular individuals ?"—" An act of the body." " The address to the King referred to the change of Government ?" —" It did."

" That, you say, was not a political measure?"—" I do not think it was."

Mr. BLACKER stated in his first examination, that he did not regard the Orange body as a political one. In his second, he admitted; he considered it " a religio-political body." Mr. Ex-Sheriff Scott was expelled the Lodge, by the following resolution, dated 29th Novem- ber 1832.

" That Ex-Sheriff Scott be expelled the institution, for entertaining Daniel O'Connell at !neat:List, on political principles which we du not approve."

Bretesna was not at first aware that the Orange Societies had formetiCommittees for the Registration of Voters. On the following resolution, dated 14th of February 1835, being shown to him, he re- membered the circumstance.

" Resolved, that the hest thanks of this Grand Lodge are due, and hereby given, to the gentlemen composing the Protestant Registration Committee, fur the purpose of securing the return or Constitutional Members; and we recommend our brethren throughout the. kingdom to give them their best support."

Evidence is given at great length on the subject of the application of the funds of the Orange Lodges to defend Orangemen in public pro- secutions against them for walking in processions, and committing other offences against the laws.

3. TUE DUKE 0;' CUMBERLAND AND ORANGE LODGES IN TUE ARMY. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland is Grand Master of the Orangemen. Mr. W. SWAN, Grand Secretary, thinks that the Grand Master has the power of ordering the whole mass of Orangemen to assemble in one place from all parts of the country. He does not conceive that this is a dangerous power to be vested in any individual. And sup- posing that a Catholic body, constituted as the Orange body is, with 1.500 lodges affiliated and connected with each other ; that the members of these lodges upon their admission went through a certain religious ritual ; thst there were Roman Catholic priests attached as chaplains to those lodges ; that the members recognized each other by secret tests ; that this body consisted exclusively of Roman Catholics ; that most of the members of that body bad arms in their bands ; that they were in the habit of occasionally moving in processions with military music and military array ; and that there was power vested in any one Roman Catholic to call that enormous body together,—Mr. SWAN would not consider such an institution, constituted as the Orange body is, dangerous to the State. But he does not conceive that it is as justi- fiable upon the part of the Roman Catholics to enter into a confederacy, as it is on the part of Protestants, or that they have the same right.

" Are the Orangemen of Ireland, generally speaking, in possession of arms ?"—" Yes, I believe they are; to my own knowledge, I believe that they are."

" By whom must a warrant for holding a private lodge be signed?"

—" It must be signed by our Grand Master, the Duke of Cumber- land, a Deputy Grand Master, the Grand Secretary, Mr. Maxwell, by me (Mr. Swan) as Deputy Grand Secretary, the Grand Treasurer, Colonel Perceval, and Mr. Baker, the Deputy Grand Treasurer." " Is the only communication with the Duke of Cumberland a de- mand for a warrant ?"—" His Royal Highness is not troubled with it : a set of warrants is sent over here, arid obtains his signature."

" It is signed with his sign-manual ?"—"It is. I write an official letter, requesting him to sign the accompanying blank warrants ; which I send to him direct, by any of our brethren in London." " Have you had any communication with the Duke of Cumberland, on the part of the Grand Lodge, upon the dismissal of the late Ad- ministration ?"—" I believe not."

" Was there any communication either to the Duke of Cumberland, or to you from the Duke of Cumberland, in consequence of the change of Administration ?"—" No; we left Ids Majesty his right of choosing his own Ministers."

" Have the goodness to state the occasion of that erasure ?"—L The book being handed to Mr. Swan]—" I cannot." " Is this book in your handwriting?"—" It is." " Has this book been kept in your custody ?"—" It has been kept in my custody, in a press of which I have the key." " Can you state what were the words that were erased ?"—" In- deed I cannot."

" Did you make the erasure ?"—" Indeed I did not." " Then the officers of the Orange Lodges produce a book in your handwriting, containing an erasure, which you did not make, and for which you cannot account ?"—" I cannot." " That erasure appears to have been made studiously with a view of concealing what was written ?"—" It appears so upon the face of it." " Can you read a word 'from' under the erasure—' a communica- tion having been made front '?"—" I am sorry to say, my sight is not sufficiently good."

Mr. STEWART BLACKER, Assistant Grand Secretary to the Grand Lodge, produced the books of the Lodge, and read the following entry, dated 15th February ]833. " William Scott, 16th Company Royal Sappers awl Millers. That the Committee would most willingly forward all dscuments connected VI 1111 the Orauge system to any confidential pc :son in Ballymena, as prudence would not permit that printal documents should be forwarded direct to our military trothren. (Signed) '• W. SWAN."

In a matter of such importance as the connexion of Orangeism with the Army, we think it best to give literal quotations from the printed evidence.

2053. " Does the Orange Society hold commonieations with any members of the Army ?"—" There are various warrants toiler IL: Orange Institution, which are held by persons attached to the Army ; and therefore communications of course are held be. tweeu the persons acting under those warrants and the Grand Lodge." 2054. " A warrant is granted to a military flef$011 fur the purpose of holding a lodge?" —" It Is." 2055. " A lodge in the regiment of which that initials:al is a member?"—" Yes." 2061. " Each regiment you consider as a lodge?"—" No, as a district; there may be two or three lodges in one regiment." 2062. " How many Military Lodges have yin got is this Society ?"—" I have not exactly counted the number, but I think about fifteen."

2066. " Will you have the goodness to state the names of the regiments in which Orange badges exist?"—•• I cannot do that exactly ; some arc merely entered " march- ing warrants." 2u6u. in the printed book %illicit you handed in, and which you state contains all the printed matters inSliat book which you decline producing, (although you offered it to any member of the Committee, mem the understanding that no wlestien should he founded for your examination nixm it.) is there any reference to the lodge in the filth Regiment ?"—'• —'• lo the printed book it is called • No. 331, marching warrant.' I have erred, I find, with regardsto that warrant, as existing at present in the 64th Regiment ; it does not now exist. Colonel Dixon, the commander of that regiment, finding that a Ribbon Lo Igo oho existed in the 61th Regiment, found it necessary to put down both ; not, I believe. from any impression against the Orange Lodge, but because he woo" out allow a Ribbon Lodge to exist iu his regiment, and wished to act im- partially." Is the marching warrant sent to any particular individual in the regiment ?" 4 " It is sent to a brother, particularly recommended as well qualified to form a lodge in the ratiment, in the same manner as any other lodge is sent to a district in the

country."

2e,.,. .‘ Do you apprize the Colonel of the regiment. when you send a marching warrant to an individual belonging to the regiment ?"—" No; unless it is necessary to have some particular communication of that kite!, it is never dune." 2079. " So that an Orange Lodge may be formed in a regiment, without the cogni- zance of the military authorities ?"—" That may be best known to the commanding officers of the regiments themselves ; I am not acquainted how far their knowledge ex- tends of what those under their command do in their leisure hours."

2080. "Yon do not print the name of the individual to whom the warrant is ad- dressed ; you do not mention the name to which that warrant refers ; you do not make any communication to the military authorities; cannot an Orange Lodge, then, exist without the cognizance of those military authorities ?"—" Certainly they may. As i.ee as respects this book, it was not intended for general public circulation ; but I consider that the omission of the names of the marching warrants was not intentional, but done through inadvertence, or want of knowledge of the compiler ; and I believe it is in pru- gress of correction for the next publicatiou of the registry."

2269. " Under the number 561, 15th September 1830, there is an entry of the 15th Regiment marching-warrant."—•• That entry appears to be correct." 2.271. •• There appears an entry in that book, under number 567. 26th of December 1831, • John Kennedy, Dublin, 1st Dragoon Guards ? '"—" Yes; and also that there was a renewal of that warrant granted to John Wlveler." 2272. " An entry of the 15th September 1830, a marching warrant granted to the 66th Regiment ? "—" Yes; without the name of the Master being eutered,1 suppose for want of the proper return, or from the lodge nut at present existing."

2273. •• • No. 859, 224 of October 1833, George Agnew, 59th Regiment, Dublin ;' that is entered in tl:at bo,k ? "—'• Yes; the entry appears perfectly correct." 2274. " No. 1115.3d of January 18.17, Colin Dunlop, marching warrant, 79th Regi. meat;' is that entry correct ?"—" It appears to be correct and regular."

2275. "' No. 879. 1st of May 1834, Samuel Scott Clark, 89th Regiment ?' "—"That entry appears to be correct." 2276. •" No. 883,1st of May 1834, James Geeson Clark, 70th Regiment ? "—" That entry appears to be correct." 2277. ." No. 1372, 1st of April 1833, John N. Henry, 4th Dragoon Guards;' is that entry correct ?"—" It appears to be quite correct."

2278. "" No. 1390, 28th of April 1835, marching warrant;' that is entered in your book. • marching warrant. 7th Regiment;' and theme is an entry sent to Malta, to the care of William Forbes, Master, of 1775, marching warrant, GOLh Rifles, April 1835;' that entry is in your book iu your handwriting? "—" That entry is in my book. of my own impression of the circumstauees at the time ; but I do not consider it as binding the Society, nor telling of the actual existence of the warrant, and whether it actually went to Malta."

2279. " So that this entry appears by your book to relate to the 7th Regiment and to the 60th Rifles ?"—" It appears by my book that that warrant was sent to the care of William Forbes, 60th Rifles, for the use of the 7th Regiment, at Malta." 2280. "This entry is • marching warrant, 60th Rifles,' is it not ?"—"1775, marching- warrant, as belonging to a lodge in the 6011, Rifles." 2281. "The words are, ' marching warrant. 60th Rifles;' and there is another entry,' marching-warrant, 7th Regiment ?'"—" Yes."

2282. "It appears that a marching warrant bus sent to Malta?'—" Very likely the

renewal of it was sent to Malta."

2283. " So that, though in your public hook there is no name mentioned and tie entry, either of the 7th Regiment or the 60th Rifles. or of the warrant being sent Malta, there is an entry in your own handwriting in your private book to that effect ?" —" It might be from want of correctness of the Secretary who keeps the public book, or (coin some mistake of the circumstance on my part." 2291. " ' No. 1501. 17th September 1832, Joliu Fisher, 81st Regiment, Dublin ?' "— " That entry appeers regular and correct." 2292 " • No. 1531, 95th of March 1835, Robert Moore, 15th hussars;' is that cor- rect?"—" It appears a correct entry." 2223. " • No. 1592. the 7th January 1834, Joseph Meineigh, 1st Royal Regiment of Foot, Londonderry;' that entry appears in your book ?"—That entry appears to be regular so far ; but I consider that it may relate very likely to the same lodge as 1412, as it is in the name of the same Master."

2295. ." No. 1725, 14th March 1834, William Evans, 85th Regiment, county of Limerick ;' does that entry appear in your book?"—" That entry appears to be regular• and correct."

2296. "' No. 1740, 11th September 1832, John Maberty, 83d Regiment ?' "—" That entry appears to be regular."

2297. " 'No.1765. 25th March 1835, Robert Taylor, 2d Battalion of 1st Royals ? ' " —" That is also regular."

2298. '" No. 1775, 1st May 1829, Sergeant N. Ilanna, 60th Regiment 1st Batta- lion?' "—" That appears also to be regular." 2299. " No. 1780, 4th July 1832, Henry Nichols, 50th Regiment ?' "—" That up. pears also to be a regular entry." 2300. " ' No. 1781, 8th August 1832, Thomas Pownale, 80th Regiment ? ' "—" That appears also to be quite regular!'

2301. " • No. 1831, Alexander Mortimer senior, depot of the 3211 Regiment ; ' is that entry correct ? "—" It is regular, with the exception of the date, which is not inserted."

2302. " There are two entries, 1763 and 1764. ? "—" That entry does not ap. pear regular ; the marks are merely made in pencil, and the warrants do not appear to have been ever issued."

2327. " Who grants the warrants? "—" The Grand Lodge of Ireland." 2322. " Whose name is attached to it ? "—•• The name of the Duke of Cumberland, as the Imperial Grand Master; the name of one of the Deputy Grand Masters Ireland, the name of the Grand Secretary and Deputy Grand Secretary, the Gram' Treasurer and Deputy Grand Treasurer ; and countersigned by the Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master of the County ; and sealed with the seal of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the Grand Lodge of the County in which such Lodge is held but that latter part does not relate to marching warrants, which appertain to no particular county or district." 3323, " Those warrants, signed with the names of persons of high rank in the country, are directed to non-commissioned officers in the Army, for the purpose of form- ing lodges, without apprizing the Colonel, or other military authorities in those regi• ments, of the intended constitution of those branches of your Society iu the regirneuts where they arc raised ? "—"'The Orange Society considers itself an institution well known to the public ; but we have no certain knowledge whether those lodges exist with or without the knowledge or privity of the commanding officer."

2324 " The Orange body considers itself a public institution : in that Orange body certain secret signs are used ; those are to be employed, of course. in the Army as well as elsewhere; they are intended for the purpose of communicating to the individuals of that body the fact of their confederacy, and fur the purpose of coucealing it from those who arc not members of that society : do you mean to state, considering the inci- dents to the Orange Society, the secrecy of the symbols employed for the purposes of mutual recognition, that the Orange Society take it for granted that the Colonel of the regiment must know' of the existence of the lodge, and the means by which that lodge is created, though a common soldier be employed as a medium for its organiza. Gun and for its government ?"—" It is perfectly clear that the Orange Society, Like many other societies, such as the Freemasons and other fraternities, are well hill/win to exist in all professions, and all over the world; but I stated before, I can give ne evidence how far the knowledge of the commaudingofficers exist with regard to such meetings being held in the various regiments, respectively, under their command."

2325. " But you make no communication to the commanding Meer, of the inter- course which takes place between your Society and the privates of his regiment, in order to establish what you have yourself admitted to be a political body ?"—" We have no authority- or reason to obtrude on any person communications of that kind with- out being distinctly applied to for that purpose:'

2326. " Has the Duke of Cumberland, the Grand Master, ever given direction to your Society to comnrunicate to the Ilorse Guards the fact that Orange Lodges were created through the intervention of common soldiers, without apprising the command- ing officer of that fact ?"—" To my knowledge, no such communication has ever been received by the Grand Lodge of Ireland, or thought requisite to be made by him or them." 2327. "Are you aware whether the members of the Grand Lodge generally approve of the existence of Regimental Orange Lodges ?"—" To my own knowledge, there is a vast difference of opinion on that subject with many of the intelligent and influential members belonging to the Grand Ledge of Ireland: some do not think it right or proper, or conducive to the wellbeing and discipline of the Army in general, that such societies should exist ; but they have been overborne by a certain majority on that point."

The Horse Guards, it appears from the following, has no (Oda! knowledge of the existence of Orange Societies in the Army.

2359. " You were asked about the knowledge of the Horse Guards of the existence of these Orange Lodges in the regiments: was there, to your knowledge or belief, any communication ever made to the Horse Guards upon that or any other subject by the Orange body ?"—" Never; nor from the Ilorse Guards to the Society."

2360. "Nor to Lord Hill as a private individual, separate from his office as Com- mander-in Chief !"—" Not officially; it may have been made as individual members." 2361. "The question refers to communication official from the Orange body ?"— .• Certainly not officially."