|
|
|
 |
Dublin
and Wicklow District
|
|
King
William 111 Prince of Orange LOL 1313
From
the foundation of the Orange Institution in 1795 to the early part of
the twentieth century Dublin City and County was an important Protestant and
Orange centre in Ireland. Dublin was the political capital of Ireland until
the Act of Union in 1801, which closed the Irish Parliament and united it
with Westminster. However Dublin remained the administrative capital of
Ireland until partition in 1921.
The first Grand Lodge of Ireland meeting was held in Dublin. The first
Minute Book of the Grand Lodge reads as follows:-
"That it is advisable that this first meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
should be on Monday the 9th Day of April at the House of Thomas Verner of
Dawson Street Esq. Grand Master of the Counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and
Fermanagh."
The Dawson Street home was the town house of James Verner M.P. (A Member of
the Irish Parliament), and father of Thomas Verner J.P. A Plaque in the
footpath, erected by Dublin Corporation, now marks the place where the
Verner house once stood.
Dublin was therefore, as the administrative Capital of the Island, the
natural headquarters for the Orange Institution and remained such until the
Headquarters Buildings, the Fowler Memorial Hall in Rutland Square, was
severely damaged in the Civil War. The Headquarters, situated in what is
now Parnell Square, at the top of O'Connell Street, had been seized by the
IRA, and in conjunction with the Rotunda, used as their headquarters.
Following its evacuation by the IRA all the books and documents which had
survived the siege were removed to Belfast where they were safely stored.
The last public parade in Dublin was in 1936, when the Brethren were
attacked as they walked from the Fowler Hall to Amiens St Station to travel
by train to Belfast, for the annual 12th of July celebrations.
From the beginning of the Institution Dublin was an important centre. Prior
to becoming the first Grand Master, Thomas Verner (1774-1853), founded the
first Orange Lodge in the City of Dublin (LOL 176) on 4th June 1797. Early
meetings of the Lodge were held in Harrington's Hotel in Grafton Street.
The membership of LOL 176, which totalled over three hundred, included some
of the most distinguished men in Ireland at that time.
Throughout
the nineteenth century Dublin City and Dublin County hosted a
large number of Lodges. These Lodges were to be found in areas such a
Rathmines, South Circular Road, North Strand and Kingstown, (now Dn
Laoghaire). After the First World War the Orange Order in Dublin started
its decline. This was mainly due to losses in the Great War, emigration and
the political system which existed at that time. Pride of place in the
Orange Hall in Dublin is a roll of Honour of all the Dublin Lodges which
existed then and a list of names of all who served and who were lost in that
Great War.
The decline continued and the last remaining Lodge serving all Orange
brethren in Dublin is King William III Prince of Orange LOL 1313 (founded in
1949) in the District of Dublin and Wicklow. In recent years the lodge has
been stabilised and new younger members are coming forward for membership.
LOL 1313 is now an active and vibrant lodge well adapted for the changing
society here in Dublin as we progress into the twenty-first century.
The Lodge has members not only drawn from Dublin but from Wicklow, Cork and
Limerick as well as affiliate members from Northern Ireland who wish to
support the Orange cause in Dublin and Southern Ireland. Due to the ever
improving rail and road network in the State membership of the Institution
is no longer restricted to people who happen to live near an Orange Hall.
With modern technology, communication between the lodge and its members has
never been better. King William LOL 1313 is always looking for new members.
Members who are active in their respective Churches, communities and who are
proud of their Protestant religion, culture and heritage. If you think you
have something to offer we would be glad to hear from you.
Annual Church
Services
Despite the reluctance/nervousness of some local Protestant churches the
Brethren of Dublin and Wicklow proudly hold their annual Church Service in
Dublin. This Service is usually held in early October and the local
Brethren are delighted by the support they receive from others who travel
long distances in order to attend. The collection from the Service is
donated to the Adelaide Hospital society and the Irish Church Missions.
Details of this service will be posted on our new board and also published
in the Orange Standard.
The Brethren of the Lodge, on behalf of the Loyal Orange Institution of
Ireland, are present at the Annual Remembrance Day Service in November, in
St Patricks Cathedral Dublin. During this service we are proud to lay a
wreath and remember all the Brethren who gave their lives in the two World
Wars so that we may all live free from oppression.
Charities
Chapter of the Adelaide Hospital Society
The brethren of Dublin and Wicklow are affiliated to the Adelaide Hospital
Society. Since the amalgamation of the Republics last remaining Protestant
hospital (The Adelaide) into a new state of the art Hospital in Dublin. We
consider supporting this society an important way of maintaining the
continuation of the Adelaides Protestant ethos in the new Hospital.
Unfortunately here in Ireland most hospitals even though they are funded by
the tax payer are controlled by a Roman Catholic ethics committee and are
usually adorned by the trappings of the Church of Rome. In-spite of the
good health care given to all, this adornment is often offensive to many
Protestant and others.
Working with the community
Since independence those of the Protestant community who remained and were
not forced to leave, found the new state and its agencies hostile to
Protestants, their culture and heritage. As a result of this Protestants
too often detached them selves from general society and kept mainly to them
selves for fear of being singled out. Also during this time the Protestant
community declined in numbers due to two world wars, the unpleasant nature
of much that went on in the new state and the marriage rules imposed on
Protestants involved in mixed marriages and their partners by the Roman
Catholic Church. This unpleasant aspect of Irish society continued up until
the 1970s. With the changing political climate here in the last few years
there has been (at last) a slow recognition by the state that society since
independence was not inclusive of all its minorities. In the Republic of
Ireland today society has become far more tolerant and pluralistic than in
the past and this is progressing year by year.
In 1998 the Brethren of Dublin of Wicklow were invited by the President of
the state to a meeting to assist organise a function to be hosted by the
President to mark the 12th of July. This meeting was the first ever between
a President of the Irish Republic and members of the Loyal Orange
Institution of Ireland. Though coming from opposing ends of the political
and religious spectrum this co-operation is something we in Dublin and
Wicklow are very proud off. Since that initial step we in the Dublin and
Wicklow District of the Loyal Orange institution have gained a new
confidence in ourselves which we will hope will bring our Glorious
Institution with its rich Religious, Cultural heritage into a new beginning
here in the Republic of Ireland.
Since the Protestant community here in Dublin is relatively small the lodge
actively encourages its members to be active in promoting and assisting
Protestant social events. We also encourage our members to meet fellow
brethren in other Lodges. In doing this we hope they not only make new
friends but would gain a better understanding of Brethren who live in
different parts of the country and come from differing back grounds.
For many years the Orange Institution in Dublin have had
little or no interest in influencing change in this state. In 1996 members of the
institution here decided to redress this by supporting the formation of the
non-denominational Reform Movement, which was launched in 1998. The Reform Movement was
founded to represent all those who regard themselves as British/Irish, descendants of the
old southern Unionist tradition, Redmondite and post Nationalist. The Reform Movement is
actively promoting a greater co-operation within these Islands in recognition of out
common past and for the promotion of a more tolerant and pluralist society in this state
where all cultures and traditions are respected equally.
If you would like further
information of the Dublin and Wicklow District LOL
1313 then write to:
The
Secretary Dublin and Wicklow District.
C/O 368 Cregagh Road
Belfast BT6 9EY .
Northern Ireland.
or email dublin@orangenet.org
Down
|Armagh | Antrim |
Londonderry | Tyrone
| Belfast
Australia | Canada | England | Ireland | New Zealand | Scotland | USA | West Africa
|
