St. Judes Church Defenders Temperance L.O.L. 818

This lodge was first recorded in No. 4 District Enniskillen in 1858, although the lodge number would suggest an earlier existence than this in some other part of the country. Their warrant lapsed at a later unknown date, and the lodge is next recorded as having been reconstituted under a new warrant reissued to Brother Hugh Christie on 3 June 1893 as part of No. 5 District Sandy Row from which they subsequently transferred to No. 10 District as one of Ballynafeigh's foundation lodges on March 11th, 1896.

One interesting point to note is that Lodges 818 and 892 were both members of No. 4 District Enniskillen during the mid-nineteenth century.

In common with most lodges in the late 1800's, regulations governing lodgemeetings were very strict indeed. If the lodge did not open within thirty minutes of the stated time both the Worshipful Master and his deputy incurred fines, even if they were present in the hall. This old lodge has sadly become dormant in the last few years, but in its day it comprised a strong body of men heavily engaged in the social scene in Ballynafeigh. Amongst its many prominent members were W. Bro. S. Ham, Past District Master, and W. Bro. Edward Downing, J.P. that grand old gentleman of Orangeism, who with his wife ran a hardware, newsagent and funeral undertaking business in Ballynafeigh. Both were tireless workers who are remembered by Downing Memorial Park, home of Shaftesbury Bowling Club, which is named after them. Other members of note were Wor. Bro. Thomas McNarry, W. Bros. John and James McManus, father and son, who were also tireless workers in the Orange cause, Wor. Bro. Freeman Strong, with sixty years of service behind him, and W. Bro. Robert Reid, whose two sons George and Raymond followed him into the Order. When the lodge sadly became dormant, most of its remaining members transferred into L.O.L. 837.

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