Understanding The Sussex Bonfires
The following article goes some way in explaining the reasons behind an effigy or tableaux that some bonfire societies create and use in their bonfire celebration and the origin of the bonfire night celebrations in Sussex. There is a lot of misunderstanding which has been highlighted due to recent events and others have now caught the Knee Jerk syndrome.
I am hoping that this article will get read and the contents digested and understood by those that doubt the societies true intentions when celebrating bonfire night . . 
The bonfire controversy has to date produced many pages of commentary. I
am going through this with great interest. Most of it is media tangle and
misrepresentation combined with a bit of KNEE JERK whitewash and face
saving.
I promise a fuller analysis in the future but for now I have a few
conclusions which I am confident will stand the test of time.
The history of the celebration of the discovery of the Gunpowder plot is a
complex one. Present reality is only one step in a long and complex
evolution.
While one would never advocate going back to the past one can
isolate threads of continuity which should be preserved at all cost.We
can not allow the basic fundamentals of bonfire to be destroyed by
contemporary public opinion or the machinations of the FRENZIED MEDIA
From the earliest times celebrations were reactions not to WHO a person was
but WHAT they had intended to do.
It mattered nothing that Guy Fawkes and his Co Conspirators were Catholics.
The king's wife was a CATHOLIC. What was important was the terrorism of the
intended deed. What was important was the carnage that it would have caused
and chaos it would have created.
The Catholic aspect was secondary, Even when the Catholic aspect was noted it was noted not because of the religion or practice but because of the political intent associated with members of the religious group. The group lost any potential political trust not for
their religion but for their ACTIONS and associations. This is important.
My take on the entire Cecil controversy (did he know of the plot and simply
set up the catholic community) was that it was most likely a test to see if
English Citizens who just happened to be Catholics would be good citizens
despite their religion.
Had Garnet turned in the plotters then the
community would have been well on the way to acceptance. But, his political
act of referring the issue to Rome demonstrated that political trust in the
community was unfounded.
In the oldest tradition effigies were not of Guy Fawkes but of the pope,
the devil and the young pretender.
Bonfire has a long history of being taken over by political waves in the
streets. The earliest of these was that of the Whig party and the
exclusionary crisis.
The Whig processions and celebrations are now seen as
street theatre counter parts of the state theatre which was controlled by
the monarchy. The Green ribbon club almost got to the point of assignation.
Thankfully they moved their emphasis from Nov 5 to the accession day
celebration.
In the 19th century the tradition was taken over by proper Victorian
society. This occurred much earlier in the Colonies of America. In perfect
societies we do not need to question a perfect government and legal system.
Victorian England and Early America after the Revolution had no place for
those who wished to point out the failings of the legal system.
In Boston and New York revelers were bought off and in Victorian England they were
swamped by do gooders in such numbers that they were absorbed. All became
simply fun and games and politically correct. Reveling became codified,
socialized.
Not bonfire boys or "girls" but respectable "societies" and
fancy dress. Few remember that fancy dress was actually disguise. One no
longer focused the attention of revelers on scofflaws and corrupt
politicals who bought justice under the table or had evaded the arm of the
law.
From the mid 17th century at least if not earlier the celebrations had been
designed to uncover those who had DONE bad deeds yet had gotten away with
it. Purchasing judgments was an established custom.
Within the bonfire tradition it was clearly understood and this from
earliest times that the bonfire was given by the wealthy aristocrat along
with food and drink to smooth over the lopsided relationship with the
peasantry and the man in the street. We know he is guilty but he always
gives us a good bonfire so we can look the other way.
In colonial America everyone knew who had evaded the law. Mob rule on
November 5 was important in that it kept a lopsided society together by
addressing grievances in the streets. Some were kept honest by the practice
fearing that if they were too obvious in their corruption they would suffer
in November.
Others who were caught by the mob either paid up with coin
during the celebrations or had their windows smashed and were tarred and
feathered. Again this is not because of WHO they were but WHAT they had
done.
Community values have always been important in the celebrations.
To my knowledge effigy burning in Britain and in early America never had
anything to do with voodoo, that is it was NEVER intended to cause harm to
an individual or a soul. Any perception of this is clearly erroneous.
In colonial America bonfire organizations celebrating the 5th of November
were transformed into anti stamp act protests. They already had the
organizations in place and it was simple to change issues. All of the
rituals of the celebration were brought to bear against the stamp act.
Effigies appeared- these were of the tax collectors and officials.
They were hung, given funerals and abused- the effigies. It is important to note
that the officials were never INJURED. No one was ever KILLED. Why? it is
simple. Effigies were not created to harm but to point out aspects of life
and government that should be REMEMBERED. The pope and the guy likewise are
not tormented but are remembered.
It is very important that we work hard to get this across to the society in
which we live.
Today it is considered proper to construct politically correct effigies
aimed at institutions and politicians who are public figures. It should be
equally permissible to target groups whose behavior has been unacceptable.
This has nothing to do with Race and everything to do with BEHAVIOR.
The reaction of the MEDIA and society to recent controversies is simply a
continuation of the usurpation of the tradition by proponents of a
government and society which they represent as utopian.
While it is nice to think that governments function, our legal system
functions and society functions and that all cultural behaviors are
harmless the truth is that all are humans including those in government and
those in cultural groups- ethnicities.
They all make mistakes and actions go un rewarded by the arm of the law. This happens all too frequently. Famous murderers get off free and in the case of others they evaded
the law despite their ACTIONS for long enough to cause harm to the local
community.
Victorian society projected itself as a utopia where peoples were governed
by a fair and just law and strict moral code. We know now of the failings
of that law which was often no better than the law of the mob.
I would not hold mobocracy up as a form of utopia fore it can also get out
of hand and must be moderated.
I would however, hold as sacred the VOICE of the people at the bottom line
in the process of finding justice. Government must always feel the breath
of people power on its neck.
In colonial America the founders put in place an experiment in democracy.
This experiment was designed to get rid of the arbitrary justice of
absolutism.
As with the Victorians of later times the founders said tisk
tisk we shall have no more need for street justice now that our utopia is
formed. The leaders paid off the bonfire boys and societies. The
celebrations were no more.
In addition to the redress of grievances bonfire is a strong tradition of
venting. Venting is essential in any society. In the USA bonfires are few
in number due to legal restrictions imposed by our Victorian society.
Venting is not occurring. Seeking opportunities to vent football revelers in
Morgantown W.Va. have for the past several years vented through bonfires
set in the streets. Spontaneous.
This venting is of course more dangerous than bonfires which are centrally
organized.
We must stand behind the ancient tradition of venting our frustration in
the human failings of government and the law. Whether it be at a political or legal mismanagement or at the closing in of the cold weather of wet winter our ability to vent and shout at the sky at our human frailty must be safeguarded at all cost.
We must be careful to focus our venting on actions and not people. When we
create effigies we must focus on deeds. We must remember that our society
is misguided and must be spoon fed our intentions carefully.
We must work towards reform of society so that we can be free. It is important not to
back away from our intentions. Back pedaling as recent figures have is
painting confusing whitewash on noble intent.
When Actions, deeds and misdeeds are highlighted we do a great service to
our community. When we provide opportunities to vent our human frustrations
we tone down the violence in society and we have improved the quality of
life.
If we give in to political correctitude and error of public interpretation
we sign on to a philosophy that government and society are utopian and
perfect.
A splendid goal but we simply aren't there yet.
Support for such views brings to mind Absolutism. It is absolutism which
was defeated with the discovery of the gunpowder plot in 1605 and the later
arrival of William III at Torbay.
Conrad Bladey
" In fact, Popery is not a religion at all ; and it is a sad delusion to suppose, that a mere difference of creed is all that exists between Protestants and Papists. Popery is a political conspiracy to subjugate empires, kingdoms, thrones, and states, to one tyrant, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. ii. 4). To accomplish this political purpose, his agents assume a priestly authority, and arrogate to themselves the power to save or to damn souls. Thousands of their infatuated vassals believe this, and, consequently, dare not refuse to do and say anything and everything which these vested wretches command. They wear the name of Christianity, as Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, to deceive (2 Cor. ii. 14). They are his ministers, and not Christ’s; and they are going out "to deceive the nations," in order to put all people, all power, and all property—yea, and every man’s conscience and life, under their despotic sway; and will Englishmen - will Christians, submit to this monster ? "
Rev. Joseph Irons, Grove Chapel, Camberwell, London, 5th November 1837.
The Carnival held on the Fifth of November,
Is a sight if once seen you will ever remember,
Such rousers and squibs,
Such torches and fire,
Gigantic processions, fantastic attire.
Nor would we forget how it once was the scene,
Of the burning of Martyrs when Mary was Queen,
The truth which led them to die at the stake,
May the people of Lewes never forsake.
Bernard Whiteman
