sis which arose in 1916, in
circumstances which no one in the world could have foreseen in 1912,
there were some in Ulster who were not only tempted to strain the
interpretation which the Covenant as a whole could legitimately bear,
but who failed to appreciate the significance of the amendments that had
been made in its text at the instance of the Presbyterian Church.[32]

When these amendments had been incorporated in the Covenant by the
Special Commission, a meeting of the Standing Committee was convened at
Craigavon on the 19th of September to adopt it for recommendation to the
Council. The Committee, standing in a group outside the door leading
from the arcade at Craigavon to the tennis-lawn, listened while Sir
Edward Carson read the Covenant aloud from a stone step which now bears
an inscription recording the event. Those present showed by their
demeanour that they realised the historic character of the transaction
in which they were taking part, and the weight of responsibility they
were about to assume. But no voice expressed dissent or hesitation. The
Covenant was adopted unanimously and without amendment. Its terms were
as follows:

"ULSTER'S SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT

"Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be
disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as of the
whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom,
destructive of our citizenship, and perilous to the unity of the
Empire, we, whose names are underwritten, men of Ulster, loyal
subjects of His Gracious Majesty King George V, humbly relying on
the God whom our fathers in days of stress and trial confidently
trusted, do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn Covenant throughout
this our time of threatened calamity to stand by one another in
defending for ourselves and our children our cherished position of
equal citizenship in the United Kingdom, and in using all means
which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to
set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland. And in the event of such
a Parliament being forced upon us we further solemnly and mutually
pledge ourselves to refuse to recognise its authority. In sure
confidence that God will defend the right we hereto subscribe our
names. And further, we individually declare that we have not
already signed this Covenant. God save the King."

On Monday, the