|
|
| Orangeism in Southampton
An Orange Lodge has existed continuously at Southampton since the early 1800s apart from a few years during the 1960s and early 1970s following the demise of the Wesley Memorial Loyal Orange Lodge. The idea of forming a new Lodge at Southampton was discussed over a period of many months. The formal proposal was not activated until August 1977 when an application seeking the establishment of Silver Jubilee Loyal Orange Lodge no. 1977 was submitted to the Grand Orange Lodge of England.
Lodge Name
Members of the Lodge had previously agreed that the Lodge should be formed in honour of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee commemoration and that we should endeavour to obtain a Warrant number that corresponded to the year. Grand Lodge agreed to the request and a warrant for the establishment of the Lodge was subsequently approved and granted. The date for forming the new Lodge was set for Saturday 15th October 1977.
Lodge Formed
John McDowell, who had applied for the Warrant, was duly appointed as Worshipful Master designate of the new Lodge. The first meeting of the Lodge took place at Fareham on Saturday 15th October 1977, when Portsmouth District Lodge met for the purpose of opening the new Lodge. Henry McWhinney, Portsmouth District Master opened the District Lodge meeting at 2.30 pm and subsequently proceeded to install the Officers and Members of the new Lodge. The Grand Lodge of England were represented at the Meeting by (the late) Stuart Steele, Deputy Grand Master, and (the late) Thomas Twist, Grand Treasurer
Meeting Venues
The Lodge sought to find a suitable meeting place at Southampton. Eventually contact was made with the Oddfellows Hall at Freemantle who welcomed us with great enthusiasm and co-operation.This continued until 1998 when the Lodge made arrangements to meet at a social club in the Northam area of Southampton. | |
|
|