This year marks the 150th anniversary of the
formation of Markethill Royal Black District Chapter No. 3. The
Distrist Chapter was formed in April 1861, with the foundation
Preceptory being "Grip Fast The Light" RBP No. 54, Markethill.
There are now 10 Preceptories in the District, stretching from
Richhill to Newtownhamilton.
To mark this important milestone, the District Chapter held a
special 150th anniversary meeting in Dan Winter's Ancestral Cottage
at The Diamond, on 28 September 2011, and the opportunity was taken
to present to several members with 40-year Service Jewels, also
50-year and 60-year Service Bars. The District was honoured to have
the Sovereign Grand Master, Sir Knt Millar Farr, present, together
with Sir Knt William Abernethy, Imperial Grand Treasurer, and Sir
Knt David Livingstone, Deputy County Grand Master.
The Sovereign Grand Master made the presentations of the jewels and
bars and also presented the District Chapter with a beautiful
inscribed Bible. The meeting ended with a lovely supper provided by
Mrs Hilda Winter.
(Front row left to right): Sir
Knt. William Abernethy, Imperial Grand Treasurer; Sir Knt. Tom
McBirney, Worshipful District Master;
Sir Knt. Millar Farr, Sovereign
Grand Master; Sir Knt. William Copeland, Deputy District Master; Sir
Knt. David Livingstone, Deputy County Grand Master.
(Back row left to right): Sir Knt. Ronnie Black,
District Lecturer; Sir Knt. Robert Hamilton, District Lay-Chaplain;
Sir Knt. Jim Steenson, District Registrar;
Sir Knt. Samuel Courtney, Deputy District Registrar; Sir Knt. Roger Gardiner, Deputy District Treasurer; Sir Knt. Ivan Ross, District Treasurer.
Several of the members who received Long Service
Jewels and Bars pictured with the Sovereign Grand Master, Sir Knt.
Millar Farr.
The
District Chapter recently presented a cheque for £2,775 to
representatives of the Imperial Grand Black Chapter for this year's
charity appeal in aid of Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda. The cheque was
presented by the District Master, Sir Knt Tom McBirney, to the
Assistant Sovereign Grand Master, Sir Knt Rev Nigel Reid, and the
Imperial Grand Registrar, Sir Knt William H Scott. The District
Master thanked the 10 Preceptories of the District Chapter for their
efforts in raising this magnificent amount.
Also, at the meeting, new collerettes were dedicated for use by the
District Officers by Sir Knt Rev Reid, who is the Minister of
Mountnorris and Tullyallen Presbyterian Churches.
Pictured front row (left to right): Robert Hamilton, District
Lay-Chaplain; William Copeland, Deputy District Master;
Rev Nigel Reid, Assistant Sovereign Grand Master; Tom McBirney, District Master;
William H Scott, Imperial Grand Registrar and County Grand Master; David Livingstone, Deputy County Grand Master
and Jim Steenson, District Registrar.
