Sermon given by the Dean on Sunday 6th March at a service of thanksgiving marking the Centenary of the Ulster Unionist Council.

One of the books which most influenced my ministry was written by Thomas Groome, a Roman Catholic priest from Kildare who lectured in Boston. It was on Christian religious education and it had the subtitle: “Telling our Story - Sharing our Vision.”

That to me is what a Centenary is about. It’s not just about the past; about telling the story. It is about the future; it is about sharing your vision.

That book by Thomas Groome on Christian religious education starts with the image of the Jewish family gathered in their home for the Eve of Passover Meal. The mother has very carefully prepared the table with the stipulated food which in itself is deeply symbolic. Then a young child - usually the youngest boy - turns to the eldest male present and asks the question “What do these things mean?” The oldest male takes the liturgy on from there and tells the story of Israel’s faith-history:
- the story of the covenant
- the story of freedom from slavery in Egypt
- the story of wandering in the desert
- the story of entering the promised land: the land God gave to Israel’s people.

Small wonder that 100 years ago when the prospect of an All-Ireland Parliament, sitting in Dublin and in the vastly different society of that time, dominated by the Roman Catholic hierarchy, that all distinction vanished between Anglican and Presbyterian, Conservative and Liberal, in all parts of the country but especially in the North, as people saw in the maintenance of the Union with Great Britain, their only hope of survival as a people.

Small wonder that in such a time when the Bible was much more in the consciousness of society that a Solemn Covenant became the major focus and statement of their cause.

Small wonder that they felt that in Edward Carson, their God had provided them with a leader of stature and a leader with values and integrity.

Having to walk past Edward Carson’s tomb each day, you will forgive me if I concentrate on his witness and values as I encourage you to think before God about telling your story and sharing your vision.

Even allowing for Montgomery Hyde’s obvious and stated regard for Edward Carson in his biography, one is challenged by the values he identifies. Having read them again recently, I would commend them to any political party revising its criteria for candidates and office bearers.

Carson’s values included:
- courage
- perseverance
- kindness of heart
- trustworthiness.

And on this value of trustworthiness, Montgomery writes - “Though they might swear at him, his political opponents respected him because they knew he could be trusted to keep his word.” I rather fancy there would be fewer people in public life today both in politics and Christian ministry if that yardstick alone were to be applied.

Carson, first and foremost, was capable. One of the foremost barristers of his age, he twice declined the office of Lord Chancellor. Lord Riddell, a major newspaper owner of that time said he was, “One of the least ambitious of all the public men I have known”.

Carson was an active member of this Church of Ireland. He had two uncles who were Anglican Clergymen. This is the Cathedral in which he often worshipped. He was no stranger to this his final earthly, resting place.

I believe in his life, his witness and in his integrity that he still has much to say to our society as a whole and to you of the Ulster Unionist Party in particular.

Politics is the art of the possible. But it must be vision driven. And Carson’s vision of the union with Britain being maintained and strengthened, is every bit as valid morally, economically and socially as it was a century ago. However, until Friday night last, it is a long, long time since I heard a unionist politician of any hue expound on the benefits of that union. And I say that as a convinced pro-union citizen. It is not enough to say that a party is “simply British” - you have to keep telling yourselves and telling others why. Just like our Jewish friends and fellow citizens at their eve of Passover and eve of Sabbath meals. Tell yourselves regularly and tell us also.

And in telling your story point out your achievements and those who from beyond your party and your political tradition who have paid tribute to them.

Have you told of of your achievements in education during the years of the Stormont Governments? Have you told how the 1947 Education Act liberated generations of children from the mills of the industrial revolution and opened the gates of grammar schools, universities and professions? This record in education of the government of Northern Ireland, is acknowledged by both Cardinal Daly and Dean Victor Griffin in their biographies.

Have you told of the role of your party and this province in securing the democratic freedoms of Europe in two World Wars? It is acknowledged by David Gray, the USA Minister to Eire during the Second World War .

Have you told of the role of your party in introducing the National Health Service in this province?

Have you told how your party’s commitment to parity with Great Britain brought immense benefits to all the people of Northern Ireland long before European Union subsidies arrived to do so in the Republic of Ireland.

Carson’s genius - like Moses in the desert - was to read the events, the people and the influences of his times. He put into practice the advice of Christ to his followers to be wise as serpents and harmless doves.

I wonder with the guidance of Christ what advice Carson would give to his party today?

Firstly, I think he would acknowledge fully the massive changes in both parts of Ireland. He would welcome the prosperity evidenced throughout Ireland today. And I am convinced the great Dubliner would have worked for economic co-operation between the two states in Ireland.

I think he would rejoice in the political settlement in which his party had obtained the removal from the Irish Constitution of the quite illegal claim on the territory of Northern Ireland.

I think he would acknowledge that the power and influence of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the political affairs of the Republic is greatly diminished and that thanks to the Second Vatican Council much better relationships and understandings exist throughout Ireland between the Churches. I think he would be fullsome in his appreciation of the moral fibre and the social and and spiritual leadership given by Archbishop Sean Brady, exemplified in his lecture in Dublin alongside Archbishop Eames last week.

I think he would acknowledge the changed role of women in society and recognise their talents and their capabilities.

I think, he would acknowledge that society throughout Ireland is more multi-racial and that our citizens belong to several world faiths.

I think he would acknowledge with legitimate pride those party members who have served faithfully in local branches, on councils, at Stormont, Westminster and Strasbourg. And he would acknowledge especially their service to all people regardless of their political, or religion background.

He would be appalled at the price paid by members of his party for their commitment to democracy. He would honour the memory of men like Sir Norman Strong, his son James, Councillor Charlie Armstrong, the Reverend Robert Bradford, Senator John Barnhill, and Edgar Graham who were killed by thugs under the guise of a perverted political philosophy. And that the murder toll was not higher was no thanks to their generosity of spirit. Lord Taylor being one of several we can recall who came as close as one can come to the fate of the colleagues just mentioned. Add to that the countless number of party members who lost their lives when to save democracy in their homeland, they gave up political activities to serve with the RUC, its reserve, the UDR and the RIR, and who paid the supreme price for their service to Queen and country. Many of their names sadly but proudly figure in the memorial books in the RIR Chapel in this cathedral.

Most definitely Carson would stand in silent reverence and sorrow as he did after the massacre of his friends and followers on the Somme and he would ensure as he did at this Cathedral, that the memory of those who died for freedom would be honoured and respected.

Carson knew what it was like to be a leader of a minority and to be a leader of a tribe in the wilderness. Biblically, the wilderness is a place of communion with God about mission and about values. It is a place for renewing vision. Biblically, it is about searing self-examination in preparation for re-engaging with society to make the God-shaped vision become a human reality.

In the society in which we now live the Union will not be secured by Protestant votes alone, or by Christian votes alone. Any party wishing to secure the Union electorally has to ensure that it is fully inclusive - a truly inclusive party - and demonstrably committed to be so. Where your branches meet is vital in demonstrating this. Your long term mission will demand greater and more genuine pro-activity to ensure inclusivity not just of Catholics, but also of Muslims, Hindus, and others, regardless of religion or race.

In the society in which we live women have ceased to be token placements. Despite the track record of service by women in your branches and on your Council, your party is still too much like my male-dominated church. But I think we are a bit further down the road on reforming ourselves.

In the United Kingdom of which we are a part - your Members of Parliament must continue to engage with effect on national and not merely provincial issues. Your elected representatives must continue to be capable of making a contribution to the welfare of the entire United Kingdom and likewise of Europe.

Your role is vital in the democratic process, theologically as well as politically.

As Christians we pray the words of Our Lord, “Thy Kingdom Come on earth as it is in heaven.” The role of politics is to enable the delivery of that vision through responsible and equitable government at all levels.

A constant awareness of that vision of the coming of the Kingdom on earth to the benefit of all people is the only continuing spur which I would hold out before you at the beginning of your second century.

Your story is that of Covenant and a call and a commitment to be faithful to a God whose requirement was acknowledged fully by Edward Carson and many of your leaders. The Bible puts it this way:

What does the Lord thy God, require of thee - that you love mercy, do justice and walk humbly before your God.

Regarding the immediate scene of political stalemate in our society caused by the basest of criminal activities, I would wish to pay the fullest of tributes to your party and its leadership for placing the peace and the prosperity of this entire community before your party’s welfare, preservation or electoral promotion. In your party’s quest for a lasting peace in this country you took immense risks electorally and otherwise. That is something of which you should neither be ashamed of, nor reproached by anyone for. The total blame for the current hiatus rests firmly elsewhere.

This Cathedral celebrated its centenary last year. It is built in the shape of a pilgrim church. On the west front over the north door there is a carving of Christ Crucified at Calvary, over the south doorway is a carving of the encounter in the Garden of the Resurrection. They are joined by a pilgrim path.

The Pilgrim God, the God of the covenant is a risk-taker for peace. Calvary precedes Resurrection. The son of a former curate of Ballymena, Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, a famous First War Chaplain known as “Woodbine Willy” described God’s risk-taking this way in one of his poems.
“He was a gambler too my Christ,
He took his life and threw it for a world redeemed.”

God knows about risk-taking for peace. God knows about suffering for righteousness sake and about humiliation. If one is a co-worker with God in the process of enabling the Kingdom of heaven to come on earth, one should expect rejection and humiliation from time to time. But if your vision is from God - then in God’s time it will be realised.

Every blessing for your continuing journey. May it reflect the integrity of Carson of Dublin and Glencairn - a man of vision, a man of God who walked humbly, loved mercy, and worked for justice for all.