LOL 1140

Gilnahirk Purple Star Temperance

The lodge was instituted on 12th December 1956, in Comber Orange Hall and is the youngest lodge within the District. It resides in the `village` of Gilnahirk, East Belfast and held its first meeting on Monday 21st January 1957 in the Presbyterian Lecture Hall. The Warrant was issued in the name of Wor. Bro. Samuel Boyd, its first Wor. Master and former member of LOL 1035. Of all of the brethren who formed the lodge there is only one survivng member, Wor. Bro. David Morrow, now aged in his 90`s.Their first banner was unfurled on 6th July 1957 and is adorned with the Bible and Crown, representing the Christian nature of the Orange Institution and the Constitutional Monarchy. On the reverse side is King William III, Prince of Orange, crossing the Boyne. All the sebsequent banners have retained the same theme.The lodge has the unique distinction in that one of its members, Wor. Bro. Maurice Gibson, PDM, was the youngest Wor. Master of Comber District LOL No. 15 and had the honour of representing the District when Sir Patrick Mayhew QC, MP, became the first Secretary of State to address a meeting in an Orange Hall.

The third and present banner of LOL 1140 unfurled on Friday 5th June 1992, cost £1,025.