LOL 19 Ballyworkan Truth Defenders
 
 
The Lodge was meeting in Ballyworkan 1796 to 1805 with Arthur Huston as Master. Other early Masters were :- 1806-7 John Herron; 1808-9, John Hall; 1810-12, John Talyor; 1813, Thomas Wilson; 1814, Thomas Emerson; 1815, John Emerson; 1816-19, Henry Jackson. In the latter year the other officers were William Grimason, DM; John Grimason, treasurer; and James Jackson, secretary. It is interesting to note that the Master, DM, and Secretary held those respective offices in No 107 (the sitting in Drumnakelly), from 1808 until 1815. In 1820 Henry Jackson was succeeded by William Babe, and in 1824 John Tulow (or Culow) became Master.

Succeeding Masters were :- 1826-9, William Gillespie; 1830, Robert Speers; 1831, Thomas Babe; 1832, John Graham; 1833-35, John Millar; 1836-7, John Culow; 1838 to 1863, John Miller. The other officers in 1847 were William Mawhinney, DM; John Stuart, secretary; and James Millers, treasurer. Members of the committee were James Tobias, Richard Holmes, Robert Fearon and Jacob Cave.

The lodge had a rare transfer certificate beautifully executed, dated 1836, new system under which James Tibbey (Tobias) is transferred from Aughnaugh, County Monaghan. For many years there were always representatives of the Tobias family in the membership of the lodge.

In 1848 Robert Halmes was DM, and in 1849 John Robert Stuart occupied the position. In the latter year James Miller was secretary and Jacob Cave treasurer. In 1850 James Wright had become treasurer and was succeeded in 1852 by James Gillespie. There was no further change of officers until 1855 when James Tobias became treasurer. In 1857 the latter was Deputy Master and James Gillespie was again treasurer.

In 1863 John Morrow and John Fearon were respectively secretary and treasurer. In 1864, there was practically a new set of officers elected these being :- John Stuart, WM; John Downes, DM; Andrew Haire, secretary; and James Tobias, treasurer. These held office en globo until 1868 when Samuel Gilmore had become DM.

In 1869 James Miller was elected Master with Samuel Gilmore, DM; John Tobias secretary and James Tobias, treasurer. In 1870 William John Milleer was secretary. In 1871 James Minnis was elected chaplain, the first time the office was mentioned, and there was no further change until 1874 when James Minnis became Master, Arhie Haire being elected chaplain. In 1875 John Gilmore is chaplain and Arhie Haire secretary. There was a fine membership during those years, and they seemed to be very regular attenders. In the latter year Samuel Woolsey became a member.

James Minnis continued as Master from 1874 until 1885. In 1876 John McBruney was DM; Archibald Haire, chaplain; Thomas Haire, secretary; and John Gilmore treasurer, while in the following two years the three latter positions were held respectively by James Miller, John Stuart and Robert Anderson. In 1879 William Trotter was secretary, and in 1882 John Morrow had become chaplain.

In 1883 Thomas Haire was again secretary, with William J Holmes as treasurer, while in 1884 William Barriskill had become DM; and Robert Anderson was again treasurer.

In 1885 Robert Anderson was elected Master and held the position until 1888. During 1885-7 William Barriskill was DM; Thomas Haire secretary; James Minnis chaplain; and David Holmes treasurer. In 1888 J Magowan was DM; A Haire secretary, and J Stewart treasurer.

James Minnis was Master from 1889 to 1893. In 1889 Robert Anderson was DM; Thomas Haire, chaplain; David Jackson, secretary; and John Stewart, treasurer; while in 1890 William J Robinson became DM; Robert Upton, treasurer; and John Hobson, chaplain. In 1891 John Haire became secretary. The lodge had a membership of over 40, and was apparently in a flourishing conditon. In 1893 Robert Anderson was DM, Thomas Thompson, secretary; and John Sharpe, treasurer.

In 1894 and 1895 John Knipes was Master, with Thomas Thompson, DM; and John Hobson chaplain. In the former year James Gillespie and Joseph Campbell were respectively secretary and treasurer; while in 1895 these offices were held by Thomas McLenaghan and Robert Upton.

James Minnis again became Master in 1896 and continued in the chair until 1902. Joseph Stevenson was DM for the first three of these years with James Gillespie secretary, and John Hobson chaplain. Robert Cassells was treasurer in 1896-7, and was succeeded in 1898 by William John Wilson. In 1899 Edward Dermott was DM, William Dougan, treasurer, and Robert Magee, chaplain. In 1900 James Gillespie became DM, and William James Clayton succeeded him as secretary. In 1901 William John Knipes became chaplain; Thomas Taylor, secretary; and Thomas Rainey, treasurer.

Robert Magee was Master from 1902 until 1905, with Joseph Stevenson as DM, and Thomas Rainey as treasurer. John Hobson, who was secretary in 1902, became chaplain in 1903 and was succeeded by Robert David Dougan.

In 1906 John Hobson became WM; Thomas Rainey, DM; Joseph Stanley Hoy, chaplain; William John Cassells, secretary; and John Hoy, treasurer. These continued in office, without change, until 1909, when Robert Camblin became secretary. In 1910 Joseph Stevenson again became DM, but was succeeded in 1911, by Robert Larkin, with William Taylor, chaplain; Joseph Houston, secretary; and James Quinn, treasurer.

In 1912 when Robert Larkin was elected WM, we find for the first time in the books the title: ‘Ballyworkan Truth Defenders’, Robert Jackson was that year elected DM, and Thomas Logan, secretary. In the following year John Hobson was again Master with Robert Larkin, DM; Thomas J Armstrong, chaplain; Robert Magee, secretary; and James Quinn, treasurer.

Fredrick Pentland has been Master since 1915, and Robert Larkin DM, since 1913. David Hampton became secretary in 1915, and continued in that position until 1928, when it was held by Robert Milligan. Herbert Quinn has held the office since 1929. Robert McLean was treasurer from 1917 until 1927, since which year William Harte held the position.

The lodge has always met around Whiteside’s Hill, its habitation until 1923 being private houses. In that year the house of John Stewart, in which they had met for many years and which had been purchased some years previously, was turned into a very suitable hall.

The principle officers for 1936 were - – Fred Pentland, Drumnakelly; Robert Larkin, Laurevale; Herbert Quinn, Mournview Street, Portadown; William Harte, Ballyworkan.

In 1937 LOL 19 unfurled a new banner, the ceremony was carried out by Sister Miss N, Wright of Mullavilly, the sister of the late W. H. Wright former District Master of Portadown, with Bro. the Rt. Hon. Major D. G. Shillington I)L, MP, District Master, presiding.

During the Second World War Bro. Taylor Tweedie made the Supreme Sacrifice when he was Killed in Action at Monte Casino, Italy.

The lodge's present banner features paintings of the "Fortunate Escape of King William' and the burning at the stake of Latimer and Ridley.

Ballyworkan is another of the many drumming lodges within the District. The present Deputy District Master, Bro. Roy McMahon is a member of this lodge.

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