'Orange Order is not for tourists'
A Presbyterian minister with close links to Derry has helped form a new traditionalist movement within the Orange Order, saying that the Order "wasn't set up to attract tourists".
Rev Stephen Dickinson, one of the Orange Order's Grand chaplains, outlined the aims of the Orange Reformation movement - which opposes the institution's modernising strategy - in a July 12th speech.
The former organist at Ebrington Presbyterian Church and Orange Order ex-deputy grand master said this week that the organisation had been meeting for around a year to discuss launching the movement.
Under the banner 'Putting Protestantism Back Into Orangeism', a leaflet handed out at demonstrations said that the movement would focus on spiritual, political, cultural and social aspects of the Order. It set out eleven aims, among which were 'Restoring the centrality of the Protestant faith' and 'Attracting new members into the institution who adhere to the qualifications of an Orangeman'.
During his speech at Ballyclare, Rev Dickinson strongly criticised "clowns" within the Orange Order who believe that July 12th celebrations should be a tourist attraction.
"We've got our own clowns, but let me tell you, the Orange Order wasn't set up to attract tourists."
He added: "I notice that (Deputy First Minister] Peter Robinson and others have been saying in recent days we're about cultural tourism. This is about Protestantism, this is about Britishness - it's not about cultural tourism, Mr Robinson."
His comments came against a backdrop of attempts to soften the image of the Orange Order and its traditional annual parades.
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Sunday 26 May 2013
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