Show SIGN f SO o SOLEMN MN COVENANT IN BlAS I. I Oral Orangemen g en Pl Pledge g t Selves to Fig Irish H m Rule t to tc the End 4 1 MEETING U WITH MILITARY Y AIR I Day Quiet Tho Though 1 Forward d to With hi f easiness s f 4 r l Ireland d Sept Ed Edward rd parson Carson Carson- today wrote oW ds n name e as the first to sign ibo sole a coven coyen a nut ant t. t of PIe the wh binds them to hei e aU t means t may maybe be bea found d a t ef t t ti th present q 1 h f h n e n t t K- K n ie the au 0 an t h hp p ment He was wits followed d by bt tho thousands of If the rank tank and f fIe le of f the Orangemen I Irand rand sad and u Unionists In In th the n northern province ce or f f f I Ulster Uter- day the tha Orangemen's en e 21 culminating day of f prot protest t against home hID r rule l le op opened ned with an- an absolute i calmness that rendered Unionists and seine rul ml rulers ers rs alike like 4 apprehensive ie si e as as to what mi night might happen happe The people of Ireland even sven those responsible today's signature rig sig nature of the tho formidable League and Covenant Covenant- I had bad looked forward to the d lays days ys y's happenings with misgiving mis iving The Tho weather was as doubtful early in inthe inthe the bhe day but b before fore the Ulster men had be begun un to gather ather for the religious services sony sony- ices Ices which preceded the signing si ing of of- the covenant covenant- sunshine sunshine- flooded the streets Town rown Gaily Decorated d. d The town town was was was- gaily decorated the uni union n jack being everywhere predominant predominant nant one one hu huge e national flag enveloping the facade of or Ulster ball the center o of today's today a proceedings gs The lie spirit of unity prevailing amon among the Uie Protestant denominations denominations' was illustrated illus illus- by the selecting of the officiating in Lug ing r clergymen Rev Boy W. W McLean formerly formerly form form- erly Presbyterian moderator nod J preached tho sermon and ho was assisted in the services 5 by ministers ministers- belonging n to the Anglican Methodist Baptist and Congregational Con Con- churches Sir Edward Careon Carson Car Car- son eon sat at tho the ri right l t of ot Mr McLean and md tho lord mayor of ot Belfast at his loft oft A aspect t was not lack lack- ing ung-in ung in the meeting as as- picked stalwart stal stal- wart art members of ot the Unionists Unionists' clubs and md f Orange Or lodges wearing earing bright sashes acted as a 8 guard guard- of of- honor standing around th the pulpit while whilo of f what is known as tho the reserve guard occupied d seats seats in the gallery anery Congregation gatlon Enthusiastic Tho The great con congregation c was unable to o restrain itself as notable personages es esca ca came iame e into the tho h hall U Among Amon tho the first was Lord Lord Charles Charlos Beresford Beresford- who was greeted with a loud cheer Captain James Craig Crai the tho Unionist member for East D Down Don wn reminded the audience that the service was a religious one one and said Sir Edward Carson Careen wished it to be looked upon as as' such in the tho real sense sens of tho the word When Sir Edward Carson and Frederick Fred Fred- erick crick E. E Smith arrived however the people forgetful of the appeal that had been made R again ain broke into cheers which continued as the tho two leaders proceeded proceeded pro pro- to the platform behind the orange flag SJ of the tho battle battlo of the Boyne Boyno presented to Sir Sir- Edward Carson in such a dramatic manner manner last evening The service opened with the hymn hymn 0 God GO t Our Help in in Ages Past Pass after wl which ch a short prayer was wa-j offered and an appeal made to the tho Almighty to stretch forth thy arms and help us' us in this time timo of national us danger dancer Tho ho first lesson was taken from Isaiah 9 1 We We have haven a n strong alron city h etc oto The Tho Rev neT William McLeans McLean's sermon ser ser- sen- sen mon moa roused the con congregation to another another another an an- other burst b of cheering which wn was sup suppressed from the i pulpit Mr McLean McLean Mc Mc- Me j Lean declared declared- that the question at bottom bottom bot hot botI I tom torn was a 8 war against Protestantism I and an attempt to establish Roman Catholic ascendancy in in Ireland and to b begin wn the disintegration of 01 the British empire by securing a second ond parliament paths parlia i m ment nt in Dublin ulster men I were ready he said to accept almost any any program of social locuLI and nd political reform but th they would not Dot have home bome rule ruIc Sing N National Anthem The servIce h p concluded with the singing of oC the ua national anthem TIle scene around hall bali when Sir t. t Co Continued on D I j I SIGN Continued from pat pa g 1 Edward ard Carson CarBon proceeded to sh sign n the covenant Was a remarkable one The Tho approach ap no- to the hall was lined by bv a bOd bodyguard body body- guard of men wC wearing sashes and armlets arm arm- lets and carrying wooden staves Other arm I rm men n were posted about tho the grounds of the hall much as though they expected an attack from the Nationalists who ho ho I however r thus far stood by as much Pleased with the display as tho Ulster m men n themselves In the center of tho the marblo marble pillared vestibule of or the hell hall stood a table covered covered cov cov- ered cred with crimson and draped with the union Jack while In the tho corridors w were rc IonS Ion long lines of wooden desks where copies of or the covenant had been placed for ell elc- nature Unbounded enthusiasm was waft shown A when Ahen hen after sir Edward Ed Carson came raine Lord Londonderry the moderator of tho the Presbyterian church the bishops of or the diocese and ministers of various denominations denominations denomination nations nation Intermingled with Unionist members mem mem- bers bels of parliament Many women signed a declaration associating therm themselves with the nion nion of or Ulster In uncompromising opposition to tho home homo rule bill hili After Arter tho the leaders had signed the hall ball was itS temporarily closed to be op opened ned later on for tho the rank and rile file Some Rome mc of or these marched to tho hall In a bod body while others came singly Pathetic Incident A pathetic Incident ent was the arrival of Sir William who took part In the convention of 1892 1592 As Ai he is blind he was as led up to the table tahle to sign J Each ach man who sh signed ned was given ln a a. sou mu- souvenir venir of ot the tho occasion In the form Corm of oC a R. miniature copy of tho the co covenant to which also his signature was attached In the cour course o of lor tho day Sir Fir Edward Carson faison received many messages e conveyed l b by dispatch riders and the signaling e corps from rom all aU parts or Ulster Informing him of the progress pro ress that was being made A message from the lord primate was received and publicly read rend It said May God give you jott strength and wisdom wisdom wis wis- dom to guide Kulde aright Irelands Ireland's s faithful sons In trying to save our beloved national land from Crom de degradation disaster religious strife and civil war |