The twelfth

The twelfth of July, to say the least, is a great day in Ulster. People who have never been in Ulster on the "Twelfth" can have no idea of how the hearts of men and women throughout the Province are stirred on that day. To the protestant Population it is in fact, the great day of the year, when young and old turn out in their thousands, to join in the demonstations that are held in various centres.

To a stranger witnessing it for the first time these demonstrations must be a very impressive sight. Many thousands of people marching in procession, headed by bands playing stirring tunes; the Orangemen wearing their regalia, the streets gorgeously ablaze with Union flags and bunting; the atmosphere pulsating with the sound of music and the beat of the drums, as the huge crowds make their way to "the field". There from a platform erected for the occasion, speeches are made by leaders to the immense throng gathered around. They affirm their unalterable determination to remain an integral part of the British Empire, to maintain their loyalty to the Queen and crown of England, and to defend, at all cost the liberty purchased for them by their forefathers under the leadership of William Prince of Orange, whose familiar figure, on his white horse, is displayed on most of the banners in the procession, and whose name and memory every loyal orangeman loves and reveres.

The "Twelfth" is the great anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, where the power of Rome, as represented in King James, was broken, his armies routed, and freedom secured for Ulster Protestants to handle and read the Bible, maintain the truths, and live according to his teachings. What a glorious freedom.

Speaking of this wonderful deliverance and freedom from Roman oppression, turns our thoughts naturally, to another deliverance....a much greater deliverance, from a more awful and more powerful enemy than Rome; from a bondage and tyranny more dreadful to contemplate than anything that even Rome, with all her cruelty and malignity, could impose; a deliverance from the bondage of sin, and from the power of Satan. This deliverance was procured for us at a cost utterly beyond the power of the human mind to comprehend, even the death of the Son of God, the Lord of Glory, on a cross of shame! Well might the poet write:

Oh! twas love, 'twas wondrous love

The love of God to me!

It brought my Saviour from above,

To die on Calvary.

My dear reader, may I lovingly ask, what does the death of the saviour mean to you? is it a mere matter of history to which, with many others in Christendom, you give assent; or  is it a glorious fact that has won your heart and changed your life? Has that blessed One who died on the cross become your Saviour?

What attitude and devotion dwell in the hearts of the Orangemen who take part in this great demonstration to those brave men who, at great personal risk bequeathed to them the great blessing of civil and religous librty they now enjoy! But, alas! how few hearts throb with deep gratitude and true devotion to the One who, to save us from eternal woe, not merely risked His life, but willingly poured out his soul unto death!

We have already said that the twelfth of July is a great day in Ulster. Dear reader, make this the greatest day of your life by turning to Christ, and resting upon His finished work of redemption on the cross. His death brings life to us, for "He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5-6)

"Christ died for the ungodly." (Rom. 5-6)

"Believe on the lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31)