BESSBROOK GOLDEN STAR

R.B.P. No. 147

Unfortunately, this Preceptory ceased functioning in the late 1970's. However, the District Chapter retains the Warrant, and from minutes available, the following historical information has been put together.

R.B.P. No. 147 was instituted in Bessbrook in 1871, and became the third Preceptory to join Markethill Royal Black District Chapter No. 3, the other Warrants being R.B.P. No. 54, Markethill and R.B.P. No. 133, then working in the Drumbanagher area, near Poyntzpass. The first recorded visit of the District Chapter to R.B.P. No. 147 was in September 1873. The Warrant was re-issued on 8th April 1889, to Sir Knight Samuel McKnight.

Little is known of the early history of the Preceptory, but minutes are available from 1922. At this time, the W.M. was Sir Knight Robert Moorhead, who was also W.D.M.; the D.M. was Sir Knight William Frame, and there were 31 members on the Roll. Throughout the years, there was always a close relationship with another Preceptory, based in Bessbrook - Crimson Arrow R.B.P. No. 38, belonging to Newry District Chapter; for example, in 1923, officers of R.B.P. 38 conducted the election of officers for R.B.P. No. 147. In September 1923, the Preceptory Officers were paid 10 shillings for attending the District Meeting.

R.B.P. No. 147 attended the last Saturday in August Demonstrations, at this time, being accompanied by drums and a fifer. Preceptory expenses in August 1925 amounted to 18 shillings. A feature of those years was that special meetings were often held between regular meetings to settle arrangements for election of officers meetings, District services, etc.

In September 1929, a delegation was appointed to meet representatives of R.B.P. No. 38, with a view to forming one Preceptory; the discussion resulted in matters remaining as they were. The Preceptory attended the last Saturday in August parade in Newry, in 1931, led by two pipers from the Frontier Pipe Band. In 1932, they went to Scarva on 13th July, accompanied by two drummers; expenses were £2.8s.5d.

A new bannerette was unfurled on 30th September 1932 by the W.M. Sir Knight Robert Moorhead. Twenty collarettes were purchased in 1933 from Sir Knight D. S. Hyde, Markethill, A lecture on Protestantism was held on 16th November 1934, the speaker being Rev. Henry Dinsmore, B.A. On the death of Sir Knight Moorhead in 1935, Sir Knight George Nelson became W.M. The following year the District Church Service on 3rd May was held in Bessbrook Town Hall. The Preceptory were not able to attend the Scarva Demonstration that year, as only six members were available.

In 1938 Sir Knight Nelson became W.D.M. and the County Grand Black Chapter meeting was held in Bessbrook in May 1939. Many Sir Knights enlisted for service during the Second World War, and on 16th August 1940 the Preceptory sent five shillings to the Belfast Telegraph Spitfire Fund, At the end of the War in 1945, Sir Knight Nelson was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work with the Home Guard.

August Demonstrations attended after the war were: 1947 - Lurgan; 1948 - Portadown; 1949 - again Lurgan when R.B.P. No. 147 took three buses, and were led by Belleeks Flute Band. Sir Knight Herbert Brown was elected W.M. in 1948 and the Preceptory purchased two flags in 1950, costing £14.12s.6d. each. In 1950, the last Saturday in August parade was held in Tandragee - no band was available to lead R.B.P. No. 147. Two buses were hired in August 1952 to attend the Demonstration in Banbridge and the newly-formed Bessbrook Crimson Arrow Pipe Band was booked in 1954 to lead the Sir Knights in Armagh.

Sir Knight Samuel J. Kernaghan became W.M. in 1953 to be succeeded by Sir Knight Herbert Brown, in this position in 1956. In 1957, R.B.P. No. 147 accompanied R.B.P. No. 38 on the 13th July morning, and met the District Chapter in Scarva. A new bannerette was obtained from Parkers, Portadown, in 1962; this was unfurled on 13th July that year by Sir Knight John Adams, County Grand Treasurer, and dedicated by Sir Knight Rev. A. S. O'Connor, the new Rector of Christ Church, Bessbrook, who in early 1963, transferred to the Preceptory. A Guest Tea was held on 5th October 1962, to clear the balance owing on the new bannerette; a profit of just over £50 was made on that evening.

A new W.M. was elected in 1967  Sir Knight James Wolfe. By this time, meetings were becoming irregular and often poorly attended. In 1968, Divernagh Accordion Band led the Preceptory in Scarva on the "13th". In 1974, the Sir Knights travelled to Scarva by car. No meetings were held from 21st February 1975 until 24th May, 1977, the latter date being a special meeting called as a result of four members wishing to transfer to R.B.P. No. 38. At this meeting, it was agreed to circularise all members to a special meeting to discuss the future of the Preceptory.

On 24th September 1979 the District Chapter appointed a delegation to meet the remaining members of R.B.P. No. 147 to ascertain what the current position was. A meeting was held in Bessbrook Orange Hall on 19th October 1979, attended by four Sir Knights of the Preceptory and four from the District Chapter. It was agreed at this meeting to summon all the Sir Knights to one final meeting; this was held on 16th November 1979, and attended by only three of the members. The meeting agreed that R.B.P. No. 147 would cease to function on 29th February 1980. The Warrant was then handed into the keeping of the District Chapter, together with all other equipment, etc.

All the members were written to advising of the decision, and given the opportunity to transfer to another Preceptory. R.B.P. No. 147 ceased working, therefore, in 1980 and with its demise, a piece of history died too. However, the Warrant remains in the possession of the District Chapter, and over the years a number of Sir Knights have considered having a new Preceptory formed, under this number, at a new location within the area. With hindsight, it has to be stated that it was probably difficult for the village of Bessbrook to sustain two Preceptories, one in this District Chapter, and one in Newry District Chapter. R.B.P. No. 38 continues to flourish, and the members of this District would extend fraternal greetings to the Bessbrook Sir Knights.