Articles

On July 12th, 1957 Enniskillen L.O.L. 387 of Toronto made history by being the first of many Canadian Lodges to walk in Belfast in the Annual Twelfth.

As a prelude to the trip a viewing of the film” A Stroll Through Ulster” was shown at the County Hall to over 130 guests on the evening of May 10th,1957. The room was packed with members and their wives who had a special charter to attend the parade in Belfast and walk with the new lodge banner. The editor of the sentinel was present and what stood out for W.J.Armstrong was “the consciousness in the audience of the deep love and feeling for the little country for which they had visited by means of the coloured film. Wor. Bro. N. Pedlar, the lodge master thanked all who had attended, as did Wor. Bro. J.R.Kerr, Immediate Past Master and Wor. Bro. T.Pryce, Past Master.

The Brethren and family flew from Malton Airport (Pearson Int’l) to Nutt’s Corners Airport in Belfast. Below is a photo of the lodge and their banner on display in Belfast.

At the Annual Orange Parade in Toronto on July 13th, 1957 over 100 members of Enniskillen L.O.L.387 walked behind the old banner, in a turnout that must have stirred the hearts of many as over 70 members of the lodge were in Belfast.

The first meeting of the lodge following their epoch-making trip was held on September the 13th. The atmosphere of that meeting was described as infectious with optimism and zeal to promote the Order. A further justification for this was the joining by certificate of four members recently arrived from Ulster and the initiation of two new candidates on the evening.

Wor. Bro. J.G.Patty, PM who had organized the flight described the trip and stated that words could not describe the hospitality they had received. Brother Patty presented to the lodge an Ulster Standard from their hosts in Belfast; Agnes Street Presbyterian L.O.L.1953. Also received from L.O.l.1953 was a beautiful bible inscribed in gold letters. A suitably inscribed set of gavels was received from the Agnes Street Silver Band who headed Enniskillen lodge on parade.

The three presentations were deemed to be graphically dramatic of the bond that exits between the Orangemen of Belfast and Toronto and stuck a deep resounding note in the hearts of the members present.

M.W.Brother W.J. Armstrong noted that the people of Ulster seeing a lodge come 3,000 miles to walk in the big parade now knew they did not stand alone in their struggle to remain in the United Kingdom.

Notes: thanks to Wor.Bro.John McCormick for sending pictures from newspapers of the day.

Enniskillen L.O.L. 387 was declared dormant in 2002 and its members joined various other Toronto lodges. The last Worshipful Master was George Brewer and the last Recording Secretary was William McLauchlan. The “new banner” reported upon in the article was presented to the County Orange Lodge of Toronto.

Submitted by John Wells – County Secretary – October 19th, 2009

Source: the Sentinel, editions of June, July and September 1957.