L.O.L. 1080 is eighty years old this year. The Lodge takes its name from the celebrated Orangeman, the Rt. Hen. The Earl of Erne, who was elected to the office of Grand Master as successor to the Earl of Enniskillen on the latter's death at the end of 1886. It is a measure of his standing within Orangeism at the time that the Earl of Erne also became Imperial Grand Master, by unanimous vote of his brethren throughout the Empire. He held both offices for more than a quarter of a century, until his death in December 1914. Shortly afterwards, on 12th March 1915, the Earl of Eme Memorial True Blues was formed.

The ancestral home of the Earls of Eme is Crom Castle in County Fermanagh. The original fortification was of great Williamite significance, the Enniskilleners having successfully defended it against lacobite sieges in 1689 and 1690. This structure was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1764, and was rebuilt in 1840 in its present form, as depicted on our banner.

At the end of its first year the Lodge had 62 members on the roll, including Brothers H Moffett and I. McAuley, who six short months later lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme. In that first decade of its existence, the names Cash, McGaughey and Lucas feature in the list of members, and today we are proud to have third generation descendants of these families still in our Lodge.

No summary of the Lodge's history would be complete without mention of two late, great members whose influence on the life of L.O.L. 1080 is felt to this day. These were W. Bro. J. McAleese J.P., M.B.E., and W. Bro. S. Lucas, who held office as Secretary and Treasurer respectively for some 30 years. Both these brethren brought distinction to the Lodge by attaining highoffice in the District, Bro. McAleese as District Master and Bro. Lucas as Foreman of Committee. W. Bro. I.W. Scott P.M., our present Lodge Secretary, is also a member of District Committee, and serves as Secretary of the Hall Renovation Fund Committee.

In the year 1948, membership of the Lodge reached a high point, with 121 brethren on the roll. Although today's numbers show a considerable reduction, we are confident that we can continue to play our full part in the affairs of Ballymacarrett District Lodge as we set out on the next stage of the journey towards our centenary.

W. Bro. E. McVea P.M.