ISRAEL'S GOLDEN LIGHTS

R.B.P. No. 225, GLENANNE

In compiling the history of this Preceptory, we are greatly disadvantaged in that the records from May, 1888 until March 1957 are not available.

The Warrant held by R.B.P. No. 225 was issued on May 9th 1888, the Worshipful Master at that time being Sir Knight James Patterson.

From what information we have been able to gather from various sources, it would appear that previous to 1888, R.B.P. No. 225 was encamped at Newtownhamilton and held their meetings in the home of Sir Knight Irwin who dwelt in the town.

At the half yearly council held in Liverpool on 2nd July 1889, permission was granted to R.B.P. No. 225 to assume the title "Israel's Golden Lights". It is interesting to note that the W.M., Sir Knight Patterson to whom our Warrant was issued on 9th May 1888 was transferred to R.B.P. No. 225 from R.B.P. No. 274 encamped at Keadybeg, Co. Armagh; his transfer certificate is dated 22nd May 1888. With him came, also from R.B.P. No. 274, Sir Knights Samuel Moorcroft, James Burns, Samuel Frazer, William Woods, Robert Stevenson and John Corkey; all these transfer certificates are dated 22nd May 1888.

Another Sir Knight also came from R.B.P. No. 274 on November 14th 1888, by the name of John Patterson, so it would appear that these were the foundation members of "Israel's Golden Lights" R.B.P. No. 225 at Glenanne.

Some 23 years later from the year 1911 onward the following members were transferred to R.B.P. No. 225 from Spences Chosen Few R.B.P. No. 274, now encamped at Mountnorris: Sir Knights, George Cochrane, 20th June 1911, John Wallace, 27th June 1919, Thomas Kernaghan, 25th June 1920, James A. McMullan, 24th August 1924. Archibald McMuIlan, 28th August 1925, David Henry Black came from Redrock R.B.P. No. 595 on 10th November 1911, and George McDowell from R.B.P. No. 317 Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 16th December 1932.

Some further information gleaned from Reports of Proceedings of the Grand Royal Black Chapter of Ireland reveal that in June, 1911, the membership of R.B.P. No. 225 was 16. The W.M. was William Woods.

In 1913, 14 members. W.M. - William Woods

In 1918, 17 members. W.M. - J. McGaughey

In 1921, 18 members. W.M. - J. McGaughey

In 1922, 17 members. W.M. - J. McGaughey

In 1925, 18 members. W.M. - J. McGaughey

During the formative years the Preceptory membership would seem to have remained more or less, static.

As stated previously, owing to the loss of records, the history of the early years of the Preceptory is, to say the least, somewhat sketchy. We therefore have to miss out some 32 years which brings us to the year 1957 and the names of those who served a term as Worshipful Master:

A new banner, the first for over 50 years was unfurled and dedicated on Saturday morning, 13th July 1974. The banner was unfurled by Mrs. Allen Kerr, wife of the Worshipful Master at that time. The service of dedication was conducted by the Rev. F. A. Noel, Rector of Mullabrack Parish Church and the Rev. John Rankin, Minister of Markethill Presbyterian Church.

To celebrate our centenary, the usual monthly meeting of our Preceptory was held on Monday evening, 9th May 1988, to coincide with the issue of our War­rant on May 9th, 1988. The special guests on that memorable occasion were Sir Knight James Finch, Worshipful District Master and Sir Knight Robert Hamilton, Deputy District Master, of Markethill District No. 3. A special service of thanksgiving was held in Loughgilly Parish Church on Sunday, 4th September 1988.

To further celebrate our centenary year, a dinner was held in Gosford House Hotel on Friday evening, 23rd September 1988; again our special guests were the Worshipful District Master, Deputy District Master, and their wives.

Saturday, 8th May 1993 heralded another milestone in the history of Israel's Golden Lights R.B.P. No. 225, as a new banner for the Preceptory was unfurled by Sir Knight Robert Hamilton, W.D.M., Markethill District Royal Black Chapter No. 3, and dedicated by Sir Knight Rev. William Bingham, B.A., B.D., District Lay-Chaplain. There was a good attendance of visiting Sir Knights to mark this memorable occasion. The gathering was addressed by Sir Knight The Right Honourable James H. Molyneaux, M.P., Sovereign Grand Master; the praise was led by John Hunter Memorial Accordion Band, Mountnorris. The new banner is of woven silk damask; depicted on the obverse side is Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and on the reverse side David slaying Goliath. Both paintings were copied from an old banner which had been unfurled some 70 odd years ago.

Thus by the Grace of God our Preceptory has endured for over 100 years and we look to the future with confidence.