7/31/2019 A Sober Reflection on The Ulster Covenant (The Irish News

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Centenaries of decade that shapedus bring opportunities, not threat

DEFINING DECADE: Edward Carson, with James Craig to his left, signs the Ulster Covenant at Belfast City Hall in 1912 in protest against Home Rule. Right, the 1916 Proclamation of Independence

FAITH mattersw.scholes@irishnews.com Religious Affairs Correspondent: WILLIAM SCHOLES Tel: 028 9033 7544

34 THURSDAY MARCH 15 201

THE years between 1912and 1922 saw events in

Ireland that are deeplye mb ed de d i n o ur

memory.From the signing of the Ul-

ster Covenant, the Proclama-tion of Independence, theEaster Rising and the civilwar all of these eventshave shaped this islandand the psyche of all of uswho live on it.

As we enter a decade of com-memoration the key questionis how will we rememberthem?

In a time when the consum-ing thoughts for most peopleare the effects of recessionand the unfolding peaceprocess in Northern Ireland,does it matter how or why weremember the events of adecade 100 years ago?

More crucially, each part ofour community will rememberthe decade of Irish history atthe beginning of the 20th cen-tury in different ways. Theevents that deeply touch thememory and passions in onecommunity will not be thesame as for the other.

So why is it worth looking atthe events from 1912 to 1922?Some would say it is better tosimply leave well alone.

Is it the case that we canonly take so much truth incase fragile relationshipsbegin to unravel?

There are many compellingreasons for reflecting carefullyon this decade. The events

that took place helped shapeour subsequent life and rela-tionships on this island. Weare also too aware of the detri-mental role that an uncriticalappeal to history has playedin our community.

One of the most fundamentalneeds for any human being isto have a sense of identity.This comes from a knowledgeof who one is, where one hascome from, and how one is

placed in the world.It is not only individuals who

need a sense of identity. Com-munities have similar needs.

Identity is something that isshaped not just by the presentbut also by the past. The abil-ity to know who one is andwhere one is going will begreatly aided by some sense ofthe road that has already beentravelled. This is why historyis such a vital part of the life ofany community.

If only the study of historywas as simple as isolating andcollating bare facts. Yet, par-ticularly in any situation ofconflict, the way in whichfacts are perceived and the

values that are bestowed onthem can make historicalanalysis a very subjectiveexercise.

In examining history we re-member that what guides peo-ple is not necessarily realitybut our perception how wesee things. It is sometimes notso much a case of the objec-tive retelling of objective his-torical truths as interpretingevents in a way that reinforces

the story of a particular com-munity. History provides foreach community not just arecord of events but also a se-ries of metaphors to describethe past, present and future.

The stories we tell aboutourselves as well as the othershape much more than our re-lationships. It shapes our psy-che, self-belief and spirit ofenterprise in creating aplace for our neighbours andourselves.

Retelling the past is a way ofdescribing the present. Intruth, the way in which wevisit the events of the past cando much to shape our future.

In Ireland we are only too

aware of this. The past canbe a convenient quarry

which provides ammunitionto use against enemies inthe present.

The cause of peace is notserved by ignoring history butrather by carefully reflectingon it. The words of GeorgeSantayana express a simpletruth: Those who cannot re-member the past are con-demned to repeat it.

Finding such a process forreflection is the best way ofcoming to a more confidentunderstanding of who we are.It also prevents those very fewwho would seek to use com-memoration as a divisive tool.

To assist in thinking throughhow these centenaries mightbe addressed historically, eth-ically and responsibly by 21stcentury Christians, a number

of events are being planned bythe Church of Ireland.

The first of these is to be aconference focusing on the Ul-ster Solemn League andCovenant of 1912.

The conference, entitledSober Reflections, will look at

the historical detail and con-text of the Covenant and also

try to reflect theologically onhow the Covenant might beaddressed by the contempo-rary Christian conscience.

The one-day event will takeplace on Saturday March 24,from 9.30am to 4.30pm, atMoira Parish Centre, Co Down.

Professor Paul Bew (LordBew of Donegore) will give anoverview of historical forcesw hi ch g av e ri se t o t heCovenant and its significanceto the political and social de-velopment of Ireland, northand south; Dr Andrew Scholeswill examine the particularrole and reaction of theChurch of Ireland in the mak-i ng a nd s ig ni ng o f t heCovenant; Dr Andrew Pierce,director of the Irish School ofEcumenics (ISE), will consider

theological methods of ad-dressing a divisive historicalevent in a more ecumenicalage; and Dr Johnston McMas-ter of the ISE and Ethical andShared Remembering Projectwill share his recent work oftheological reflection on the

Covenant and of how mChristians might engage

tively with it.The conference wi

chaired by Prof David Hof QUB.

In all probability thernot be a shared understaof the crucial historical that have shaped life oisland.

What we are discoverthat peace is built by finway of disagreeing and dwith difference of opinioallows us to maintain ttegrity of our position wdiminishing the personwhom we disagree.

Maintaining and showspect does not mean avthe issue. We are tempted to the guiding pple of Whatever you sanothing.

A step beyond this is tthe appearance of something but in realiting very little. Neither isful to thinking thimportant issues. Opehonest discussion is thforward.

This decade is not a tbut an opportunity to a new story for our bours and ourselves bway we handle these vitments in our history.

If you wish to attend Reflections email ptop storey.org or contaChurch of Ireland prefice on 028 9082 8880.

What we are discovering is that peaceis built by finding a way of disagreeingand dealing with difference of opinionthat allows us to maintain theintegrity of our position withoutdiminishing the person with whom wedisagree

As we enter a decade of

marking the centenaries ofsome of Irish historys mostsignificant milestones, howshould 21st century Christians

respond? Earl Storey outlinesthe Church of Irelands approach