The Formation of the Independent Orange Institution.
Unfortunately in the early 1900's, into the Order infiltrated men with selfish and political interests, to the detriment of the Orange and Protestant Cause.
Soon the Order became the footstool for men with political ambitions and it deviated from its original principles of "aiding and assisting all loyal subjects, of all creeds, by protecting them from violence and oppression," and "the upholding of the Protestant faith."
Very soon a spirit of great discontent and dissatisfaction prevailed among the rank and file, at the manner in which the Orange Institution was being exploited by a political party. in the year 1902 this crisis came to a head when an Orange demonstration at Rostrevor was banned by the Unionist (Conservative) Government. When it became known that this action was taken after consultation with, and the approval of, some Orange leaders, the rank and file were in a state of revolt.
On the 12th July, 1902, the Belfast County demonstration took place in Castlereagh, (in the area now known as Orangefield) and notwithstanding a very inclement day, a much larger number of brethren than usual gathered round the platform. The unrest of the gathering was apparent from the beginning, and the opening speakers received a very poor hearing. Bro T H Sloan, Worshipful Master of St Michael's Total Abstinence lodge, and a prominent member of the Belfast Protestant Association, was recognised among the crowd and prevailed upon to mount the platform. After being granted permission to ask a question, Bro. Sloan asked the County Grand Master, Bro. Colonel Saunderson, MP, "Did you vote against the inspection of the Convent Laundries?" (The convent laundries were widely believed to be places of extreme hardship for those, including the very young, who worked in them). Bro. Saunderson replied, "Certainly not". Bro Sloan rejoined, "Then the press of Belfast must be liars." Then turning to the crowd, he appealed to them to give the remaining speakers a fair hearing and left the platform.
On the 17th July 1902, the sudden and much lamented death of Bro.William Johnston of Ballykilbeg took place, thus causing a vacancy in South Belfast parliamentary constituency. Bro. Sloan was nominated by the Belfast Protestant Association, as an independent Conservative or Unionist while Mr. Dunbar-Buller was selected by the Belfast Conservative or Unionist Association. Mr Dunbar Buller was not an Orangeman. The contest was exciting, during the course of which, many Orange lodges passed resolutions in support of the candidates, the great majority of which were for Bro. Sloan. The County Grand Lodge of Belfast gave its support to Mr Dunbar-Buller. The result was that Bro Sloan was returned to Westminster with a majority of 800 votes, thus emulating the feat of his predecessor, Johnston of Ballykilbeg.
Smarting from this defeat and in consequence of the Castlereagh incident on the Twelfth, the political leaders decided that some action would have to be taken. Soon after, Bro Sloan was summoned to appear before the County Grand Lodge of Belfast on a charge of conduct unbecoming an Orangeman in that he interrupted the proceedings on the platform on the Twelfth of July. On finding that this charge would not stick, it was later altered to on of insulting the Grand Master, the Rgt Hon Colonel Saunderson MP.
Bro. Sloan appeared before the County Grand Lodge, and although he had a copy of Hansard which proved the point he made at Castlereagh, he was suspended for two years. Three private lodges, LOL's 700, 731 and 1026 had their warrants withdrawn and a number of other brethren were suspended for supporting Bro. Sloan. Upon Bro. Sloan's appeal to the Grand Lodge of Ireland, he was asked why he had not asked the question about the convent laundries at the meeting of the Belfast County Grand Lodge. His reply was that he had been ruled out of order in his District Lodge. This ruling was from his District Master who was also Deputy County Grand Master and would have been presiding at the County Grand Lodge meeting, in the absence of the County Grand Master. Bro Sloan assumed that the same answer would have been given. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland dismissed his appeal, and even some of his opponents were heard to say that the proceedings were a gross travesty of justice and a disgrace to the Orange Institution.
The manner in which the suspensions took place heaped more fuel unto the smouldering fire of discontent, with the result that a well attended meeting of Orangemen was held on "the plains" (within today's Botanic Gardens) on 11th June 1903. One of the speakers on that occasion was Bro James H Mateer, who was subsequently the first County Grand Master of Belfast for the Independent Loyal Orange Institution. He summed up the feeling of the meeting with the following words, " We as loyal Orangemen assembled who have either been suspended or expelled for offences which are neither against our Orange principles or Laws, cannot be denied the right to meet together in the name of him whose colours we wear." The logical alternative was to form the Independent Loyal Orange Institution.
Up until the formation of the new Institution the County Antrim brethren had taken no active part in the dispute in Belfast, although the Ballymoney District Lodge had passed resolutions condemning the County Grand Lodge of Belfast for suspending Bro. Sloan for two years.
The first public demonstration of the new Order took place at Knock on 12th July 1903 and was attended by over 2000 Orangemen. Among the speakers on the platform was Bro. Rev. DD Boyle of St James Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney. His only act that day was to offer up prayer to Almighty God. For this act he was expelled by the County Grand Lodge of Antrim on the charge that he had attended and read a prayer at a meeting of Orangemen, the meeting not having the sanction of the Grand Lodge of Belfast. Therefore, it was argued, he was guilty of conduct unbecoming an Orangeman.
This action climaxed the feeling of unrest in the Order in County Antrim. It brought to light the unconstitutional actions of the leaders in expelling a Protestant minister for praying before an audience composed of Protestants. What Protestant or Orange principle had he violated? How was the cause of civil and religious liberty being furthered?
The Worshipful Master of Ballymoney District Lodge, acting under the instruction of the brethren, handed in their warrants as a protest against the actions of the County. This action was followed by similar handing in of warrants in Rasharkin, Ballycastle and Portglenone. thus the new movement came to County Antrim.
On 12th February 1904 the first County Grand Lodge meeting of the Independent County Grand Lodge of Antrim was held in Ballymoney.
On the Twelfth of that year the first Independent Demonstration in county Antrim was held, again in Ballymoney, and was attended by 31 lodges and bands.
