Drill sessions were recorded in the hall during 1913 on a regular basis, with members of 1602 actively participating. At least some members if not all did so, as the Secretary in his dry humerous fashion records. I quote from his notes of 17 and 24 February 1913:'As the drill movements looked too much like work, brothers Pollock and McMurray did not take part but retired hastily . . the present, brother Fleck came in, when the drill was over and brother Shirlow who came in, looked at us for a moment or two, hastily making off as though someone had pointed a rifle at him.' These notes obviously refer to the build up of the Ulster Volunteer

Force prior to the First World War; indeed for the Twelfth of July 1915 the lodge secured the services of the Drums and Bugles of No, 1 Battalion South Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force.

A steady stream of appeals poured into the lodges at this stage, including 1602.

One of these requested members to join iLord Kitchener's Army'; another sought money to finance the legal defence of Bro. Nelson, L.O.L. 209 Maghera, who was being prosecuted for shooting a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in self defence.

A further grim reminder of the times was the Dublin Rebellion referred to in the minutes of May 1916, and also the intimely death of Brother John Watson, a member of the lodge, who was found dead in a cellar in Dublin during the same month. Brethren were at this time requested to act as self appointed Constables to help calm the various religious factions within their own community.

However, there was a lighter side to life for the members of the lodge in those earlier days, as they met quite frequently, it is recorded, in the iShaftesbury Cafe', not purely as a social function, but actually opening and conducting their lodge business in the cafe, something which would not be permitted today, but as the reader may know, in those days lodges tended to meet and conduct their business in any kind of premises, ranging from schools and church halls to restaurants and public houses. On Sunday 6 July, 1913 the lodge paraded to an annual Church Service at St. Johns Church, Laganbank, long since gone, in what is today part of the Markets area. One can at one see how shifts in population can affect events, particularly as the Markets area is today such a Republican stronghold that no such parade could be safely permitted. Walking dues for the same year on the Twelfth of July amounted to one shilling (5 new pence) per brother!

In the month of January 1919, members were 'taken aback' to learn that asash numbered 1602 had been noticed for sale in a city pawnshop by Brother Pollock, who immediately purchased it on behalf of the lodge. This was not as uncommon an occurrence as may be supposed, as there are other instances of this happening to other lodges in the city at this time. It should be seen more realistically as a grim reminder of the appalling poverty which existed in the country at this time which moved brethren in some circumstances to 'pledge' anything of value they had; often it represented the next decent meal on the table for the family at home.

In 1923 a new banner was purchased by Bro. Sir Crawford McCullough, a member of the lodge, who was later in 1931 to become Lord Mayor of the city; this banner was unfurled by his wife at the Shaftesbury Cafe. Lodge 1602 and its members were at this stage very eager to engage in discussions and debates among themselves on various subjects after lodge closure, and in April 1924 a lengthy debate took place as to whether the earth was in fact flat or truly globular! In 1926 a discussion took place on a capitation fee being placed on each member of the order for two shillings (10 new pence) in order to purchase the property known as Woodlands, Finaghy, to serve as a demonstration place for the Belfast County Grand Lodge, at a cost of £3,900.

Prolonged discussions took place at lodge meetings in the early 1920s as to the advisability of continuing to meet at Clifton Street, because of restrictions which resulted from the troubled times in the city. Feelings ran high for many years in the city, as is evidenced by the fact that in 1932 a circular was received from Grand Lodge calling for 10,000 Orange Volunteers to guard the processional route of the Prince of Wales, who was arriving to open the new Parliament Buildings that year.

Membership in 1602 was still falling, attendances so poor, that, bearing in mind that a large percentage of the membership came from South Belfast, the decision was finally taken to leave Clifton Street and take up residence in Ballynafeigh Orange Hall. Accordingly, the lodges first meeting in Ballynafeigh Orange Hall took place on November 6, 1936.