Conference tallis::celt

1109.0. "Loyal to King Billy" by EICMFG::WHITTLEY () Thu Aug 06 1992 07:52

This note takes its title of a book which I have found very useful in
understanding the historical & present day situation in Northern Ireland.

I thought that I would share a pointer to it with the CELT readers here,
together with some further pointers to books which I have been reading
during the last year on the history and religion of the (majority) of the
people currently living in that part of the British Isles.

    
I would be very interested in hearing about further recommendations.

Thanks in advance,

John

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	Loyal to King Billy
	A Portrait of the Ulster Protestants
	Robert G. Crawford
	Gill & MacMillan, Dublin 1987
	0 7171 1557 7

"Since the present troubles in Ulster began with the Catholic Civil Rights
demonstrations in 1969, many books, TV documentaries and articles have
offered explanations and solutions to the seemingly intractable problems
of the province.  In the propaganda war - for reasons of style as much as
the merits of their case - the minority Ulster republicans have often
seemed to be the winners.
The Protestant image, as projected by Orange marches and the oratory of
Ian Paisley, naturally suggests words such as 'bogoted', 'harsh' and
'intolerant'.  Claims of loyalty to the British Crown seem at odds with
the nature of British political culture today.  It is rather the heroic
image of King William III, victor of the battle of the Boyne against
the Catholic James II in 1690, who commands their greatest loyalty.

Dr. Crawford's object in this book is not to plead the Ulster loyalist
'cause' - although he is an Ulsterman and a Presbyterian minister and
theologian - but to explain what lies behind it, in the political and
religious roots of the 'Scotch-Irish' in the seventeenth century, and in
Ulster's recent polictical history.
He describes with inside knowledge the people's strength's and weaknesses,
and analyses the phenomenon of Paisleyism which has continually played on
the fears of abandonment by Britain and absorption in to the Irish Republic."


Chapters are ...

	1. Living in Ulster
	2. The Historical Factor
	3. The Religious Factor
	4. The Rise and Fall of Stormont
	5. Direct Rule
	6. A Comparison: The Afrikaner
	7. The Way Forward
	A. Document's in Ulster's History
	B. The "Westminster Confession of Faith, 1643"


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	The Ulster Crisis 1912-1914
	A.T.Q.Stewart

Covers the events leading up to the passing of the Home Rule bill through
the British Parliament, concentrating on the resistance organised to it
in Ulster by Craig/Richardson etc., culminating with the successful
clandestine operation in gun running from Germany and the signing of
"The Solemn League and Covenant" by some 440,000 people in the province.

[This book is one of the most exciting pieces of historical writing that I
have ever read.]

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	The Ulster Scot
	His History and Religion
	James Barkely Woodburn
	H.R.Allenson, London 1914

A robust celebration of the people, their culture and religion, and their
achievements.

Covers the history from the early days of the plantation, 1641 rebellion
(5 different armies, 1/3 of Ireland's population lost), right up to the
turn of the century.

Mentions the leading contribution of the Scotch-Irish to the U.S.A. fight for
independence -

	- the Declaration was drafted by an Ulsterman;

	- George Washington
		"If I am defeated everywhere, I will make my last
	 	 stand amongst the Ulster-Scots of my native Virginia."

and the list of (8 or 9?) Presidents who trace their ancestry to Ulster.

[A very easily read book, but difficult to obtain.]

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	1798 The Year of Liberty

Covers the build up to the Insurrection, detailing the landings by the French
at Carrickfergus.

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	Ulster Biographies
	Relating Chiefly to the Rebellion of 1798
	W.T. Latimer  1897
	James Cleeland / Willima Mullan & Son

Covers the lives of the Presbyterians, inspired by their democratic and
egalatarian (republican!) principles, who joined the ranks of the
United Irishmen opposition to the repression of the Penal Laws.

[A MUST if you name is McCracken, Orr, etc. !]

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	The Scottish Migration to Ulster
	in the Reign of James I
	M. Perceval-Maxwell
	London, Routledge & Kegan Paul  1973
	ISBN 0 7100 7593 6

Covers the period around 1600-1630, concentrating mostly on the economic
reasons and effects.

[An academic book.]

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    I think Robert Crawford's book has a really great ending.
    
    After quoting other's as having noticed that the real border in
    Ireland is NOT the geographical one, but the one in people's minds, he
    goes on to quote John Wesley's (the Methodist) famous statement:
    
    "If it be, give me thy hand, I do not mean, Be of my opionion.
    You need not: I do not expect it or desire it.
    Neither do I mean, I will be of your opionion.  I cannot:
    It does not depend on my choice:  I can no more think, than I can see
    or hear,as I will.
    
    Keep your opinion; I mine; and that as steadily as ever.  You need not
    even endeavour to come oer to me, or to bring me over to you.  I do not
    desire you to dispute those points, or to hear or speak one word
    concerning them.  Let all opinions alone on one side and the other: 
    Only give me thine hand.
    
    I do not mean, Embrace my modes of worship; or Iwill embrace yours. 
    This also is a thing which does not depend either on your choice or
    mine.  We must act as each is fully persuaded in his own mind.  Hold
    you fast that which you believe is most acceptable to God, and I will
    do the same ... Let all these smasller points stand aside.  Let them
    never come into sight.  if thine heart is as my heart, if thou lovest
    God and all mankind, I ask no more:  Give my thine hand."
    
    
    	Hands across the divide in Ulster - is there any other way?
    
    
    
    Well thats about more religion than I have taken for several decades
    now, but i just thought it had a very powerful message to it.
    [Maybe it might also have a contribution to make to the conduct of
     some of the entries in this NOTES file!]
    
    
    My stint at DEC finishes today.  Maybe I will be able to listen in here
    in the future sometime once again.
    
    John
    

    
    I applaud the sentiments expressed by Wesley, and the note.
    
    I have not read any of the books mentioned (except the Stewart
    one, but it was a long time ago). A similar book I found
    fascinating was:
    
    "THE STRANGE DEATH OF LIBERAL ENGLAND" by George Dangerfield.
    
    I havn't got the publisher or ISBN, but can get it if you wish. 
    The book is about the series of crises that beset the British
    Government and the Liberal party in the period 1910-1914, the 
    major one being the Home Rule crisis. Others were Labour and the 
    Suffragettes ("Votes for Women"). These were only "resolved" (or 
    postponed) by the onset of World War I. Dangerfield has another 
    book on the Irish problem (called "The Damnable Question") which 
    I have not read but it is reckoned not to be as good as the Irish
    sections of this book.
    
    The book sets out to explain the destruction of the Liberal
    party in British politics, the party which had been the
    Home Ruler's traditional ally since the time of Gladstone.
    Of course World War I ended in the triumph of the Tory
    party (abetted by some Liberals under Lloyd George), which
    had always been the party allied most strongly with the
    Ulster Unionists.
    
    I will look into my own library to see if I have any other
    books of interest.
    
    Toby

    
    Some books on Irish History:
    
    THE MODERNISATION OF IRISH SOCIETY, 1848-1918, Joseph Lee,
    (Gill and McMillan)
    
    Don't be put off by the title! A short account of the period
    given. Described how southern Ireland "modernised" into a 
    stable democratic society, but also argues that the north
    did not, and remained a pre-modern society.
    
    IRELAND: POLITICS AND SOCIETY, 1910-1985, Joseph Lee
    (Cambridge University Press)
    
    A long sequel to the first book, much longer and
    denser. Excellent, particularly on the development of
    the Irish state, sets out to debunk many myths and
    challenge some old pieties. Particularly interesting on
    Southern Irish attitudes to the "Troubles".
    
    Some books on the North, and others:
    
    WAR AND AN IRISH TOWN: Eamon McCann. (Penguin)
    
    May be out of print. McCann was an early Civil Rights
    agitator in Derry. Excellent on his personal experiences,
    highly suspect (be warned!) in its historical interpretations
    - it openly applies a left wing/ Marxist analysis now out of 
    date.
    
    I'll enter some more books tomorrow - I've forgotten a 
    few authors names.
    
    Toby