The membership of the Juniper RBP VII is proud of its long history of service to the cause of the Royal Black Institution and No.1 Royal Black District Chapter (RBDC) encamped in Belfast Orange Hall, Clifton Street. Whilst our Warrant is dated 10 February 1885, the first minute book in our possession dates back to a meeting held on 25 March 1868 in the first Belfast Orange Hall, then situated at number 17 College Street in Belfast. At that date in our history, the Preceptory was already well established with some fifty members on the roll book.

That meeting was recorded as having been chaired by the Worshipful Master, Sir Knight William Moore assisted by the Deputy Master, Sir Knight John G Corbitt. The main business of the evening included the installation of Officers, provision of a frame for the warrant and the establishment of a Bye-Law Committee. The content of the minute book certainly reflects the 'rich' social history of Belfast during Victorian times although the level of emigration at the time is noticeable, with many Sir Knights and their families gone afar to America, Australia and New Zealand.

The Royal Black Institution has always looked after it's members and in January 1869, it is recorded that the Preceptory resolved to 'purchase two grave breadths in the new burying ground of the City Cemetery on the Falls Road, for the interment of any member or members of the Preceptory who may not have any burying ground of their own, or means to provide such'.

It is also interesting to note that political unrest is not just a modern day phenomenon, because in August 1876, the Registrar Sir Knight Charles Macloskie stated that a committee meeting planned for the preceding weeks had been cancelled due to 'the disturbed state of the town'.

The Preceptory were founder members of the County Chapter of Belfast when it was inaugurated in 1883. In these early times, Sir Knt John Boyd served as Worshipful Master of the Preceptory for 40 years. The use of the Roman Numeral VII version of our Preceptory number is a tradition dating back to these times. A further minute book covers the period from March 1933 to October 1954.

The impact of the Second World War on Belfast is reflected in this book, it being noted in the minutes for September 1939 that three members had joined His Majesty's Forces. In May 1941, it was reported that 10 members had either lost their homes or had to vacate them because of enemy action. Fortunately, all the Sir Knts were safe. In more recent times however, tragedy struck the Preceptory when Sir Knt Ernie Bates was murdered in a republican attack on the Shankill Road on 29th September 1971.

Over the years, the Preceptory has been represented at the highest levels of the institution by dedicated Sir Knts like our Senior Lecturer Sir Knt George Irvine who has served as District Master of No. 1 RBDC, County Grand Lecturer of the City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter and Grand Master of Ceremonies in the Imperial Grand Black Chapter of the British Commonwealth. The Preceptory has a broad range of membership, our most senior members Sir Knts Cecil McCullough and James Patterson joining in August 1949 and April 1955 respectively, whilst our newest member Sir Knt Neil Smith was initiated in September 2005. With some 140 years of service dating back to the mid - 19th Century, RBP VII looks forward with confidence into the 21st.