Witherow Memorial LOL 1337

Witherow Memorial LOL 1337 was first issued its warrant on the 12fh November 1920. The lodge warrant authorised Bro George Matthews and each of his successors to hold lodge meetings. The Warrant was signed by Bro James H Ferry County Grand Master and co signed by Bro John Drennan County Grand Treasurer. The Warrant history for LOL 1337 is scarce but the 1875 register places the warrant numbet 1337 in Markethill District county Armagh. LOL 1337 has its roots in Westbourne Presbyterian Church on East Belfast's Newtownards Road. LOL 1337 was formed largely by members of the Rowe Memorial lodge who attended or were otherwise affiliated to Westbourne Presbyterian Church.

LOL 1337 originally operated under the title of Westbourne Church Total Abstinence until the lodge decided to change its name in 1930. This proposition had been considered previously in 1927 when it had been rejected At the August meeting in 1927 Bro William Donnan gave notice of a motion to change the name of the lodge from Westbourne Church Total Abstinence to Witherow Memorial. Bro Donnan proposed the same motion at the following meeting in September when after same discussion by the members an alternative motion was put by Bro David Armstrong that the title of the lodge remain unchanged. Bro Armstrong's motion was duly seconded and passed. This issue wasn't raised again until the August 1929 meeting of the lodge at which time Bro John Spence PM gave notice of a motion that the title of the lodge should be changed from Westbourne Church Total Abstinence to Witherow Memorial. At the following meeting in September Bro Donnan in the absence and on behalf of Bro Spence who had to go to work moved the notice of motion to change the lodge's operational title. This was seconded by Bro Adam Gardiner who was duly opposed by Bros Sam Gray and B McCullough who proposed that the lodge title remain unchanged. When put to the vote nine members voted for a name change while three voted against. The lodge appear to have continued to operate under the title of Westbourne Church Total Abstinence until March of 1930 which is the first occasion on which they used the title Witherow Memorial in their minute book. LOL 1337 continued to use the lodge seal of Westbourne Church Total Abstinence until June of 1930 which is the first occasion on which the lodge seal read Witherow Memorial although it was identical in evey other respect.

The opening meeting of Westbourne Church Total Abstinence LOL 1337 was held in Albertbridge Road Orange hall on the 14th December 1920. Reflecting the Christian and specifically Presbyterian ethos of the lodge the concept of Total Abstinence was very important to the founding members of the lodge. Bro Donnan raised the question of what form the TA obligation should take following which the District Master Bro John Hume gave what was described as an "excellent address" on both the temperance question and on the Orange Order in general. Following this speech it was proposed by Bro Scott and passed unanimously that the lodge procure pledge forms so that every member could sign his name as a Total Abstainer. The commitment of the lodge to the temperance principle can be clearly seen by the fact that in September 1921 the lodge received a circular from the Temperance Watch Committee inviting them to appoint two representatives from the lodge. The lodge decided to appoint these along with their election of officers. The first two brethren to hold these positions were Bro W H McKitterick and Bro Samuel Gray. At the following meeting in October several brethren including Bro Samuel Gray expressed concern and disapproval at the action of magistrates in the granting of a licence for the opening of a spirit grocers in East Belfast.

LOL 1337 has always had a fluctuating membership. In 1920 LOL 1337 had a total of 19 members consisting of Bro George Mathews who was the lodges first Master, Bro William Donnan, Bro Henry Childs Sec, Bro Samuel Gray, Bro James Patterson 3rdcom, Bro Samuel Tarkin 2nd com, Bro George Picken lst com, Bro Richard Dickson 4thcom, Bro Thomas Burton Sthcom, Bro William Brown, Bro James Donnan Sen, Bro James Donnan Jnr, Bro Robert Fairley, Bro Edward Fletcher, Bro Alfred Spence, Bro Hugh Smith, Bro Mathew Scott, Bro Colin McKeag Rice and Bro William H. McKittrick. When LOL 1337 held its opening lodge meeting on the 14" December 1920 the Secretary read out the names of 25 new candidates seeking membership. Throughout the first year of Westbourne Church TA's existence not a month went by without multiple proposals for membership and multiple initiations for those proposed at previous meetings. Such was 1337's success in recruiting new members that it went from having 19 members on the books at the end of 1920 to having 83 by the end of 1921. This reached a peak of 88 members in 1923 after which it took a slight dip falling to just over seventy the next year then to 49 in 1925 then down to 37 in 1927 rising to just over forty by 1930 then falling to 31 were it roughly stabilised until 1935 when it fell to 27 members. By 1936 it was back up to 35 members. This marked a period of growth for the lodge as it grew to 39 members in 1937 and achieved a membership of 45 by 1938. 1939 saw the lodge back up to 50 members then falling again to 40 the succeeding year in 1940. This decline continued throughout the early part of the war which saw the lodge shrink to 3 1 members in 1941, to 27 in 1942 then rising to 28 in 1943 were it remained stable increasing slightly but it was not until 1945 when the lodge picked up again rising to 35 members. The lodge then experienced a period of decline in the late forties and early fifties. It was the period of the late fifties and early sixties that saw a new influx of members since when the lodge has always maintained a reasonable membership at times becoming quite sizable.

The Reverend William Witherow was installed as the Minister of Westbourne Presbyterian Church on lst March 1883, an office he held until he resi~Sled on 4th November 1919 presumably because of ill health. He then died on 22nd April 1920. It is not entirely clear why the newly formed lodge did not name themselves after him straight away rather than waiting ten years but the fact that ten years after his death he should still be able to attract such loyalty from both lodge and church members is surely a testament to the service people believed him to have given to the reformed faith in the East Belfast area.

Even if the lodge's name change had been put on ice for ten years the relationship with the Witherow family certainly had not. This is evidenced by the fact that Mrs Witherow unfurled 1337's first banner on Saturday 2nd July 1921 for which she received a pair of Silver Scissors presented to her by the lodge. Both her and Captain Witherow received letters of appreciation from the lodge "thanking them for the kind manner in which they entertained our lodge on the occasion of the unfurling of our banner." The lodge's current banner, which was unfurled on the 6th June 1992 after which short parades were held in both East Belfast and Banger, depicts the 36TH Ulster Division charging at the Somme while the reverse depicts King William having just landed in Carrickfergus, Prior to this 1.337 have always carried a banner with the Reverend Witherow depicted on one side and Westbourne Presbyterian Church depicted on the reverse.

Further proof of the high regard that members of the lodge held the Reverend Witherow in even after his death can be seen in the minutes of the December meeting in 1922 when it was suggested that the lodge hold a memorial service to him. A deputation was elected to interview the church session about a memorial service. The following people were appointed Bro Matthews, Bro Donnan, Bro Milne and Bro McKittirick. The deputation reported back the following month in the January meeting 1923 that the lodge had been granted permission by Westbourne Church to hold a memorial service on the Ilth March 1923. The preacher was to be the Reverend McQuithy assisted by the District Master Bro Byers. At the March meeting in 1923 the lodge was commended by the WM for their excellent turn out at the service and the WM and DM were instructed to go as a deputation to thank the 39" Old Boys Brigade Band for their services in connection with the memorial service. The WM reported handing in &17. 14.5 to the memorial committee, which had been collected at the memorial service. Further evidence of the lodges continuing relationship with Westborne Presbyterian church can be seen in the September minutes for 1948 when the lodge decided to donate the sum of f.5.5.O for the church's organ fund. The proposal was made by Bro D Armstrong and seconded by Bro J Casser.

While it is impossible to be sure the first recorded instance of 1337 taking part in a parade as a lodge is on the 26'h June 1921 when the lodge attended and supported the Somme church parade and memorial service organised by the 36m Ulster Division Memorial LOL 977. This was in accordance with a resolution passed at the May meeting in response to a circular from the above lodge from which they also received a deputation.

1337 has always been a lodge whose members were foursquare for the Union and for the establishment and maintenance of the Northern Ireland state. Evidence of this can been seen in the minutes for December 1921 when a vote of confidence was proposed in Sir James Craig and his cabinet by Bro James Gray and seconded by Bro W H McKitterick. The vote was passed unanimously. The lodge's de2erminatibn to see Northern Ireland survive and more importantly survive as a part of the United Kingdom is manifested in the minutes of the lodge's October 1924 meeting when 1337 decided to accompany No6 District if a boundary Commission protest was to be held. This is reminiscent of the Ulster Day Protest held by No6 District in connection with the Long March campaign on Saturday 25th September 1999, which the lodge also supported. Another such occasion was on the 15th November 1986 when the lodge attended an Anti Angle-Irish Agreement rally, which took place at the city hall. This support for the Union was also manifested by a pride in the actions of so many Ulstermen in the First World War. This is reflected in the minutes of the lodge's meeting for June 1925 when the lodge instructed their officers to vote at the District in favour of turning out on the 1stJuly and it was further agreed that if the District decided to walk on the 1st that 1337 would walk with them. 1337's reverence for the 1912 UVF and the sacrifice they made both at home resisting Home Rule and abroad serving with the Ulster Division is further reflected in their attendance as a lodge to a 75th anniversary parade to Stormont to mark the signing of the Covenant in September 1987. 1337's loyalty to the crown and commitment to Northern Ireland existing and remaining under the crown was further evidenced by the good turnout of members for a guard of honour made up of Belfast Orangemen in 1932 for a Royal visit by the Prince ofWales. The royal visit took place on the 16th November 1932 for the official opening of the Ulster Parliament.

LOL 1337 has always been a lodge keen to invest in the future of Orangeism. There are many manifestations of this such as at a meeting of the lodge on Tuesday 11th November 1925 when the officers of the lodge were instructed to vote at the District lodge in favour of a 2d per month levy for the purchase of a field. This is mirrored in the modern day by the lodge's marquee fund which would be of great long-term benefit to the lodge. Another manifestation of this is the lodge's recognition of the need to educate the Orange grass roots by making them more aware of their Orange heritage and by prot7iding an intellectual support base for Unionism. The lodge demonstrated its support for these objectives by applying to become a corporate member of the Ulster Society For The Promotion Of Ulster-British Heritage And Culture. The Ulster Society offers a lecture facility to lodges as well as engaging in other activities including publishing books, journals and organising exhibitions of historical interest. LOL 1337 was enrolled as a corporate member of the Uister Society in April 1999 following a motion to join proposed earlier in the year by Bro Ryan McDowell 2nd com and seconded by Bro Jimmy Merrow PM Chap. The membership certificate was signed by Bro Gordon R E Lucy Ulster Society Chairman. This is very much in keeping with the early practices of the lodge in the 1920s when guest speakers were often invited to lodge meetings to give an address on an event of historical importance. Another example of the lodge's commitment to educating the Orange grass roots came in the September meeting of 1926 when the Secretary informed the lodge that Bro B Anderson of LOL 918 had been to see him to find out if lodge members would allow him to publish a book under the auspices of LOL 1337. Permission for this project was readily given by the lodge and the Secretary was ordered to inform Bro Anderson oft his LOL 1337 when it has been financially able has always had a good record of supporting Orange charities and hall restoration funds but one of the most important Orange projects it has supported was in July 1922 when the WM informed the lodge that a collection would be taken on the 12th July on behalf of southern refugees and hoped that all Brethren would do their best for this most worthy cause.

The Second World War marked a difficult period for LOL 1337 particularly in terms of membership and the regularity of lodge meetings. In the minutes of the October 1939 meeting of the lodge the Secretary stated that the lodge would have to study its future finances on account of the war and in the expectation ofBrethren joining the armed forces. The Secretary felt that as this was a small lodge it would be hit very hard but despite this any Brethren who joined any branch of HM Forces would be exempt from dues for the duration of the war. LOL 1337 saw several members join the armed services during this period particularly the RAF. Included amongst these members were Bro J Stevens (RN), Bro R Lewis (RAF), Bro R Dilworth (Army), Bro A Ferguson (RAF) and Bro Pedan (RAF). LOL 1337 was very proud of those members of the lodge who enlisted during the war as can be seen in the minutes of the November 1939 meeting when the Secretary informed the lodge that two Brethren had joined HM Forces and further suggested that as Christmas was approaching it would be a nice gesture for the lodge to acknowledge these brethren in someway. It was moved and passed that something suitable to the value of 5 shillings should be sent to both these brethren. Due to the work commitments many members had it was difficult to hold regular monthly lodge meetings. The lodge held a meeting on the 10th September 1940 prior to which it had not met since April of that year. There also appears to have been no meeting in March of 1940. The lodge did not meet again until Tuesday 9th September 1941 after which it did not hold a lodge meeting again until Tuesday the 8th September 1942. No meeting was held in 1943 or 1944 with the lodge not resuming its regular monthly meetings until the 15th August 1945. In September 1945 the lodge added to their opening ceremony by deciding to sing the Doxology as a thanksgiving for the end of the war in the Far East. This took place after the Chaplain read the usual portion of scripture but before the lodge was declared open for business.

After the war the lodge was looking to get back on its feet. One of the first major events for the lodge after the war was to celebrate its 25th anniversary. At the August meeting of the lodge in 1946 Bro John Spence PM stated that during the war the lodge had had its 25th birthday and subsequently enquired as to whether the lodge could organise a retrospective celebration. After some discussion Bros J Casser and W Fisher proposed the lodge have a social evening on the second Tuesday in November. The Secretary was duly instructed to write to Campbell caterers to get prices for a good meat tea or dinner. At the following meeting in September the lodge was informed that they could have a chicken meal and salad tea for 4/6 per head. It was decided that members be charged 3 shillings while any others should be charged 4/6. At the November meeting of the lodge (which seems to have been held on the second Wednesday of the month) a correspondent was read from'the Rev J Witherow stating that he would do his best to attend the Jubilee birthday celebration and asked if his brother Rex Witherow could be sent a letter of invitation by the lodge Secretary. At the December meeting of the Lodge Bro John Spence PM proposed a vote of thanks to the officers and committee of the lodge for the arrangements made for the social evening. As far as is recorded LOL1337's 25th birthday party appears to have been a great success.

LOL 1337 has provided many hard working and dedicated members of the institution the most notable of which is probably the Reverend Victor H. Ryan who was initiated into pur lodge in the year 194& were he apparently later received one of the most intense Arch Purple initiations in the lodge's history. He left the lodge shortly aftenwards in December 1949 to pursue his calling as a minister of the gospel. This was a sorry loss for the lodge but a great gain for the institution at large as the Reverend Ryan went on to help spread Orangeism setting up a new lodge from Cliftonville Presbyterian Church and by serving in office for the higher levels of the institution. He was proposed as a member of LOL 1337 in March 1948 by Bro J McCrory. This application for membership having been accepted by the lodge the Reverend Victor H. Ryan was later initiated in June of that year by Bros J Clover and J Graham who conducted the lecture ceremony. The Reverend Ryan was one of a number of candidates who received advancement to the Purple Order in LOL 1337's December 1948 meeting. The ceremony was carried out by Bro J Glover and colleagues. The Reverend Ryan was a probable candidate for an RAPC meeting that was due to be held in June 1949. Despite his relatively brief time with LOL 1337 the Reverend Ryan remains a popular figure within the lodge even until the present day. Given the Presbyterian background of Witherow Memorial it is not surprising that the lodge has expressed support for the Ulster-Scots identity, heritage and culture. One manifestation of this has been th3·ough the lodge's associations with bands. Over the years the lodge has had associations with many different bands including some from Scotland the most notable of which is probably the Field Marshal McGomery Pipe Band. LOL. 1337 was the first Orange lodge to approach the then newly formed band in the early 1950s. The following year the lodge received a request to pay the band's fee up fiont to allow them to purchase: band uniforms. This request was granted by the lodge. On the third year the relationship unfortunately broke down, as the lodge believed it had an understanding about the band's participation in the July 12th celebrations although nothing was written down on paper. The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band then paraded with another lodge who had offered them more money, an action that was seen as an act of bad faith by many of the members of LOL 1337 especially given the courtesy extended to the band the previous year to allow the purchase of uniforms. Other Pipe bands in the lodge's history include the Castlereagh Pipe Band in July 1923 for the sum of &15 with the possibility of it being increased to £16 and the East Belfast Pipe Band who the Secretary was instructed to thank for turning out on the 1st July on such reasonable terms in the minutes of the July 1924 lodge meeting.

In conclusion 1337's success as a lodge can be attributed to several characteristics. The lodge has always had a family tradition with members of the same family often brothers simultaneously holding office. This perhaps partly explains 1337's good fortune in always having a dedicated and hardworking core of officers keeping the lodge going. This particularly applies to the office of Secretary were 1337 has been fortunate to have had competent and dedicated individuals over the years that have beep the backbone of the lodge at any given point in time. 1337 has a geographically mixed membership with a large number of people coming from Banger rather than East Belfast. 1337 has a good range of membership containing many young and old members with a good mix in-between. This has given the lodge a healthy mix of experience and enthusiasm. The lodge has fully encouraged its younger members to play a full role in the institution and lodge. This can be seen by the fact that 1337 will have two of the youngest Masters in its history within two years of each other in the form of Bro Ryan McDowell who will be Master in 2001 at the age of 21 and Bro William Moore Jnr who is in line to be Master in 2004 at the age of 24. The fact that the lodge has such active young people within its ranks provides a ready pool of people able to take over the various offices in future years and decades providing the lodge with good prospects for the future at the point of 2001.

Ryan McDowel,l Worshipful Master

Witherow Memorial RAPC 1337

Royal Arch Purple Chapter 1337 Witherow Memorial was formed in 1921 out of the ranks of the Orange lodge of the same name and number which had formed a few months earlier. The Warrant for RAPC 1337 was issued by the Grand Royal Arch Purple Chapter of Ireland to Bro George Mathews as the Chapter's first Master on the 10~h day of May 1921. The Warrant was signed by Bros H J Alien Grand Master, W Lyons Depyty Master, Sam T Nesbit Grand Chaplain, W M Cross Grand Registrar, J R Lavery Grand Treasurer, Joseph McMullan Grand Lecturer and W N Cross County Registrar. The history and progress of the Chapter has paralleled that of LOL 1337. For much of the Chapter's history it has shared the same officers as LOL 1337 although in recent years there has been some divergence. RAPC 1337 is always represented at RAPC No6 Ballymacarrot District's annual church parade on the first Sunday in June which is at present the only parade by the Royal Arch Purple Order in the East Belfast area. RAPC 1337 is fully committed to the preservation of the old "Diamond System" of initiation and exists principally for the purpose of ensuring that all members of LOL 1337 who are of good character and in good standing with their lodge can in so far as they have continued to exist experience the customs, practices and rituals of the original Orange Order. As well as maintaining a close relationship with LOL 1337 RAPC 1337 is the principle recruiting ground for REP 861.

Westborne Church Total Abstinence RBP 861

REP 861 was formed almost exactly a year after LOL 1337 had formed. The preceptory was issued with its Warrant on the 22"d day of December 1921 authorising Sir Knight George Mathews and each of his successors to hold lodge meetings as from that date. The Warrant was signed by the Imperial Sovereign Grand Master, the Imperial Deputy Grand Master, the Grand Chaplain, the Grand Censor, the Grand Registrar, the Grand Treasurer and the Grant Perseverant. REP 861 was formed by members of RAPC 1317 which has been the principle source of recruitment for the perceptory ever since. It is notable that in recent years the perceptory has recruited from other sources mainly RAPC 1075. This has lead to the perceptory largely being an amalgamation of two Arch Purple Chapters RAPC 1337 and RAPC 1075. There has always been a strong overlap in the activities of RBP 861 and LOL 1337. Examples of this are clearly seen in the early minute books of LOL 1337 when REP 861 was regularly lent banner poles belonging to LOL 1337 and on occasion if a member of both lodges had passed on or was ill the two lodges may split the contribution in half for flowers or a hamper or whatever was being given to an old or sick brother or a widow; While at times the two lodges have considered running social functions together the overlap of membership between LOL 1337 via RAPC 1337 and REP 861 is such that from the point of view of selling tickets such cooperation is of little value. The strength and success of REP 861 is still largely linked to the strength and success of LOL 1337 a fact that can be clearly seen by the number of people front 1337 who hold office in REP 861 with some individuals holding office in both lodges.