The long-expected crisis appeared to be very close when Carson arrived in Belfast on the 10th of July, 1914.  He had come to attend a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council—­sitting for the first time as the Provisional Government.  Craig communicated to the Press the previous day the Preamble and some of the articles of the Constitution of the Provisional Government, hitherto kept strictly secret, one article being that the administration would be taken over “in trust for the Constitution of the United Kingdom,” and that “upon the restoration of direct Imperial Government, the Provisional Government shall cease to exist.”

At this session on the 10th, the proceedings of which were private, Carson explained the extreme gravity of the situation now reached.  The Home Rule Bill would become law probably in a few weeks.  It was pretty certain that the Nationalists would not permit the Government to accept the Amending Bill in the altered form in which it had left the Upper House.  In that case, nothing remained for them in Ulster but to carry out the policy they had resolved upon long ago, and to make good the Covenant.  After his forty minutes’ speech a quiet and business-like discussion followed.  Plenary authority to take any action necessary in emergency was conferred unanimously on the executive.  The course to be followed in assuming the administration was explained and agreed to, and when they separated all the members felt that the crisis for which they had been preparing so long had at last come upon them.  There was no flinching.

Next day there was a parade of 3,000 U.V.F. at Larne.  A distinguished American who was present said after the march past, “You could destroy these Volunteers, but you could not conquer them.”  Carson spoke with exceptional solemnity to the men, telling them candidly that, “unless something happens the evidence of which is not visible at present,” he could discern nothing but darkness ahead, and no hope of peace.  He ended by exhorting his followers throughout Ulster to preserve their self-control and to “commit no act against any individual or against any man’s property which would sully the great name you have already won.”

As usual, his influence was powerful enough to prevent disturbance.  The Government had made extensive military preparations to maintain order on the 12th of July; but, as a well-known “character” in Belfast expressed it, “Sir Edward was worth twenty battalions in keeping order.”  The anniversary was celebrated everywhere by enormous masses of men in a state of tense excitement.  Lord Londonderry addressed an immense gathering at Enniskillen; seventy thousand Orangemen marched from Belfast to Drumbeg to hear Carson, who sounded the same warning note as at Larne two days before.  But nowhere throughout the Province was a single occurrence reported that called for action by the police.