Fernhill Temperance LOL 1338

Fernhill Temperance L.O.L. 1338

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland granted W Bro. Joseph McKeown a warrant for Fernhill Temperance LOL 1338 in the County of Belfast, District No. 2 on 15th October 1924. A special meeting was arranged to institute the Lodge in Belfast Orange Hall, Clifton Street on 4th November 1924 at which 23 members were in attendance, they were supported by 11 distinguished visitors. The Lodge strengthened the links which had already been formed with the Cunningham family by REP 1009. The Orange and Black share the name of the Cunningham family home, Fernhill House, which is depicted on the banner. Indeed the first banner was unfurled at the House in June 1925 in time for the Lodges first Twelfth Demonstration. To celebrate this occasion, the family held a garden party and it is interesting to note that while all subsequent banners have had a surround of white silk, the banner unfurled on that occasion was enclosed in blue silk.

The initial months of the Lodge were very busy. A strict dress code was formed consisting of a black Bowler Hat with fern attached and accompanied by white gloves.

All Orange Collars were to be purchased by the Lodge which would retain ownership: indeed, we still have a case of these old collars. The Office of Worshipful Master was to rotate annually, with the DM to be advanced to WM the following year. This tradition was maintained until 1973 when it was decided that the Worshipful Master would serve for 2 years.

As we are now in our 75th year, we have had 64 Worshipful Masters. Some families have had 3 generations associated with the Lodge. It has been said that our finest hour was in 1950 when we had 181 members. In those years, LOL 1338 usually paraded in excess of 150 members on the Twelfth Day.

To honour the Cunningham family, a dinner was held by the Lodge on 26th January 1962 at the Russell Court Hotel.Sadly, the glory days are gone and we have now depleted to the numbers with which we started. However, as we approach the year 2000, we feel that the 'Bowlers' with the fern attached will still be in evidence.

Thomas Pollock PM, Secretary.