LOL 100

Comber Ulster Defenders

The formation of this lodge is recorded in the minute book of Goldsprings of Comber LOL 1037 on Thursday 11th Setember 1924. Wor. Bro. Joe Brown proposed that an application should be made for a Warrant with a view to institute an ex-serviceman`s lodge in memory of the men of the District who fought and died with 36th (Ulster) Division during the Great War and to be submitted for ratification at the next meeting of Comber District.

The Warrant for Comber Ulster Defenders LOL 100* was finally granted at a special meeting in the Andrews Memorial Hall on 15th January 1925. Special guests at the meeting included Rt. Hon. Edward Archdale, Grand Master and Wor. Bro. J M Andrews. The new Warrant was presented to Captain Harry McCormack, the first Worshipful Master.

The first meeting was held in Comber Orange Hall on 4th February 1925, and the first banner unfurled 1st July 1925.

A District lodge and its Officers are elected annually from these private lodges who are then responsible for overseeing the administration, organising parades and church services etc. All lodges are in possession of a Warrant (authorisation) and a number that is issued by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland when a lodge is constituted.

* Before giving a brief history of each lodge in Comber some explanation is required to the anomally that though some lodges may have a relatively low number, it doesn`t necessarily mean that it is the oldest lodge. Two main reasons for this exist;

1. With the rapid growth of the Orange Order, apart from the formation of local lodges, many members were serving members of the Irish Militia, (formed in 1791). With the Act of Union in 1800 they were liable for active service overseas. To enable such lodges to work legally, they were granted `Marching` or `Travelling` Warrants.

2. The dissolution of Grand Lodge in 1835 led to many, although not all, Warrants to be returned. When Grand Lodge was reconstituted once again many new lodges applied for Warrants, some acquiring their original number, others allocated what was available.