Fermanagh and Tyrone United LOL 1367

FERMANAGH AND TYRONE UNITED L.O.L. 1367

The lodge on parade is frequently applauded by spectators who obviously assumefrom the name that we are visiting Belfast. Many never realise that we are one of the city's "country lodges", originally formed for the benefit of brethren who hailed from country areas but were working or residing in Belfast.

Fermanagh and Tyrone United was formed on 6th April 1949 for this express purpose. The transfer certificates of brethren joining in those early days read like a directory of rural towlands: Gortgorgan, Killadeas, Monea, Killyfaddp Crillp Balliederry.

The founding father and first Worshipful Master of 1367 was the late W. Bro. William "Orange Billy" McKeown, who remained a faithful and active member for the rest of his life. On 30th June 1950, the lodge unfurled its first banner in a ceremony participated in by the then District Chaplain of No. 6 District, Bro. Rev. Ian R.K. Paisley. One side of this banner depicted Colebrooke House, County Fermanagh, home of the Brooke family, with portraits of the late Lord Brookeborough's two sons who were killed in action during the Second World War. The reverse side showed Caledon Castle, County Tyrone, birthplace of Field Marshal Viscount Alexander of Tunis. All three banners the lodge has possessed were unfurled by the late Lord Brookeborough, two of them while he was Prime Minister, and in fact the second unfurling took place at Stormont Castle in 1954 at his invitation. Indeed one of the last public engagements he performed before his death was the unfurling of the present banner on 29th lune, 1973. This banner shows in the foreground of Colebrooke a tree under whose branches the vigilante organisation named "Fermanagh Vigilance", the forerunner of the Ulster Special Constabulary, used to guard the estate.

On 1st July 1975, the lodge was filmed by RTE for a documentary. It was our sincere hope that the viewing audience in Lire would gain a strong impression not only of the friendly family atmosphere that has prevailed in the lodge over the years, but also of our resolve to preserve the Protestant religion and maintain the Union.

The lodge has taken part in several Twelfth demonstrations in Fermanagh and Tyrone, although the closeness of association with the two counties has waned over the last few years. Increasing ease of transport has meant that brethren working in Belfast tend to remain members of lodges in their home locality. While 1367 no longer meets the needs of such brethren, it rises to the challenge of making the Order relevant to a new generation, at the same time not forgetting the sacrifices and loyalty of those who have gone before. It was the late Lord Brookeborough himself who chose the motto for our banner, "We will remember them".