Royal Black Institution holds annual County Fermanagh demonstration to commemorate the 1689 Battle of Newtownbutler

Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson was speaking this afternoon at the annual County Fermanagh demonstration to commemorate the 1689 Battle of Newtownbutler.

Sir Knights from 35 preceptories, accompanied by 36 bands, took part in the Tempo demonstration, with an estimated 1,800 on parade.

Speaking from the platform, Rev Anderson asked: “What are your Goliaths of today – sickness, relationship issues, financial worries, employment concerns, bullying, or being ridiculed?

“No doubt the stresses of the modern world bring many Goliaths to us all.”

Rev Anderson said David – later to become king of Israel - had put his trust in God as he faced the mighty Philistine warrior Goliath “in this very unmatched contest”.

“When God is with us, there is no battle that we cannot win – we just need to be like David and trust God for the victory,” he said.

Rev Anderson referred to the three resolutions read from the platform: on Faith, Loyalty, and the Constitution.

He said: “Our first resolution encourages us not to forget all the blessings that God bestows upon us; even when we turn away from Him, He still cares for us.”

The second resolution, he said, “calls us to resolve to support our monarch King Charles III in his role, as he provides leadership to our nation and Commonwealth”.

In biblical times, David had recognised King Saul’s authority but had persuaded the ruler to let him face the Philistine champion Goliath.

“Saul may have failed his people,” he said, “but David, with his youthful zest and faith in God, goes out armed with only his staff, a sling and five smooth stones.

“With God, strength does not come from armies, or armour, or status, but from us trusting in Him to deliver where others may fail.”

Rev Anderson said the final resolution “calls on our Government to free us from the tyranny of persecution we are suffering”.

The resolution seeks “to remove the continuing controls being exercised over citizens in Northern Ireland by the European Union and restore full equal citizenship of the United Kingdom to all its citizens as set out in the Act of Union”.

Rev Anderson added: “Today we need to be strong like David and resolve that those who have paid the supreme sacrifice to give us our freedom are never forgotten.

“As we remember those who fought and died in the Battle of Newtownbutler on 31 July 1689, may we all be encouraged to face our Goliaths of today.”