Belfast Protestant Association
Encyclopedia
The Belfast Protestant Association was a populist evangelical political movement in the early 20th-century.
The Association was founded in the last years of the 19th-century by Arthur Trew, a former shipyard worker, who had become an evangelical Protestant preacher and made fiercely anti-Catholic
speeches on the steps of Belfast
Customs House.
In 1901, Trew was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour after he incited his supporters to riot in opposition to a Roman Catholic Corpus Christi
procession in the city. His supporters regarded him as a martyr, and his speeches were taken over by Thomas Sloan
. Sloan was a superior speaker and organiser, and interest increased rapidly. He stood as an independent Unionist
in the Belfast South by-election, 1902, and was elected to the British House of Commons
against the official unionist.
In 1903, Sloan founded the Independent Orange Order
, but he joined the Irish Unionist Party
and disassociated himself from his former supporters. However, the Association continued, and worked hard in Belfast North
to ensure that the official unionist Daniel Dixon
held his seat against a strong challenge from Labour Representation Committee candidate William Walker
.
Soon after the 1906 UK general election, the Association's treasurer, a Mr Galbraith, disappeared with all the funds, and the organisation collapsed.
The Association was founded in the last years of the 19th-century by Arthur Trew, a former shipyard worker, who had become an evangelical Protestant preacher and made fiercely anti-Catholic
Anti-Catholicism
Anti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against Catholicism, and especially against the Catholic Church, its clergy or its adherents...
speeches on the steps of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
Customs House.
In 1901, Trew was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour after he incited his supporters to riot in opposition to a Roman Catholic Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi (feast)
Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
procession in the city. His supporters regarded him as a martyr, and his speeches were taken over by Thomas Sloan
Thomas Sloan
Thomas Henry Sloan was an Irish and British politician and founder of the Independent Orange Order. He represented the Belfast South constituency as an Independent Unionist at the Westminster parliament from 1902 to 1910....
. Sloan was a superior speaker and organiser, and interest increased rapidly. He stood as an independent Unionist
Independent Unionist
See also Independent .Independent Unionist has been a label sometimes used by candidates in elections in the United Kingdom, indicating a support for Unionism, retaining the unity of the British state....
in the Belfast South by-election, 1902, and was elected to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
against the official unionist.
In 1903, Sloan founded the Independent Orange Order
Independent Orange Order
The Independent Loyal Orange Institution is an off-shoot of the Orange Institution, a Protestant fraternal organisation based in Northern Ireland.-Foundation:...
, but he joined the Irish Unionist Party
Irish Unionist Party
The Irish Unionist Alliance was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in 1891 to oppose plans for Gladstonian and Parnellite Home Rule for Ireland. The party was led for much of its life by Colonel Edward James Saunderson and later by the William St John Brodrick, Earl of Midleton...
and disassociated himself from his former supporters. However, the Association continued, and worked hard in Belfast North
Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
to ensure that the official unionist Daniel Dixon
Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet
Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet PC was an Irish politician.Dixon was the son of Thomas Dixon of Larne, County Antrim. He served as Mayor of Belfast in 1892 and as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1893 and from 1901 to 1903 and from 1905 to 1906. In 1902 he was created a Baronet, of Ballymenock in the County...
held his seat against a strong challenge from Labour Representation Committee candidate William Walker
William Walker (trade unionist)
William Walker was a prominent Irish trade unionist.Born in Belfast, Walker became a joiner at Harland and Wolff and quickly became active in the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners...
.
Soon after the 1906 UK general election, the Association's treasurer, a Mr Galbraith, disappeared with all the funds, and the organisation collapsed.