LOL 7 Breagh Leading Heroes
 
 
Warrant No. 7 does not appear on the list left by James Sloan of the warrants he signed on the 2] September 1795, however, the records show that by August 1796 the lodge was sitting at Scots Street with John McCreery as Master. In Sibbett's History of Orange ism and Wolsey's Orangeism in Portadown District it is recorded that;

Mr. Thomas Lecky, of Broagh, a most determined leader, who charged the rebel position at the Battle of the Diamond, obtained No 7. Which afterwards went to Portadown District. According to tradition, he owed this good fortune to his persistent flourishing of a blackthorn stick over the heads of those assembled in Mr. Sloan's parlour.

Breagh would, of course have been in Portadown District, and is the place where No 7 has its habitation now, but whether or not this story is correct, we find, by the offical records, that No 7 was meeting at ‘Scots Street’ in August, 1796, with John McCreery as Master. McCreery held that position until 1810, and in the two following years Thomas Thompson was Master. George Sinnamon, his successor, occupied the post until 1825, in which year it was sitting at Cornamuckley. Others who followed him in the chair were – 1826-27, A. McCreery; 1828-9, Bartloy Robinson; 1830, James McCreeryl 1831, Ben Hunniford; 1832, James McCreery; 1833, Alex McCreery; 1834-7, James McCreery; 1838-43-Robert Major; 1844, Robert Crockett. In 1847 Robert Crockett is still Master, the Number is known as Leganny Orange Lodge, James Hunniford was DM and the membership was 34. There was no change in these officers until 1849.

In 1850 we find ‘the renewal of No 7’ given to Wilson Crockett, who was Master until 1859, when Robinson Ruddock was elected. He held the post until 1884. In 1875 Charles Geddes was DM, while in 1877 we Thomas Carrick secretary. Edward Ingram was DM from 1880 until 1883. In 1876 Rev William Devenish was a member.

In 1884 Robinson Ruddock was elected Master, Robert Taylor DM, Robert Atkinson secretary, and John Boyd treasurer; but in June of the same year Richard Ruddock is elected Master ‘in room of our late resigned Master,’ with R. Taylor as DM. Robert H Hughes and later John Cooper, held the position of secretary in 1886. In September of that year it was ‘proposed and seconded that Robinson Ruddock will take over Master of No 7.’ Samuel J Morrow was DM and Richard Ruddock treasurer. Robert Atkinson was secretary.

In 1887 we find the lodge asking ‘for renewal of warrant under title of Richmount Temperance LOL’ Br Rev E A Foy was entrusted with the negotiations. In July of that year the meeting place was at Diviney, and in October the meeting was held in Breagh.

In 1888 the officers were: ‘Robert Atkinson, W. M. Samuel Morrow, DM; Isaac Sinnamon, secretary; Henry Kingsborough, treasurer. In 1890 Henry Kingsborough was WM and Thomas Crockett treasurer. The latter became Master in 1891, being succeeded as treasurer by William Mulholland. It is noteworthy that in October and December 1891, the minutes were signed by ‘George Rees, CLK, Curate of Drumcree.’ The Orange Hall was built in that year.

Henry Kingsborough again became Master in 1892, with Samuel D Morrow, DM; Isaac Sinnamon, secretary; and David Carrick, treasurer; and there was no change until 1906, when J. H. Saunderson was elected secretary. In the following year J H Saunderson succeeded Henry Kingsborough as Master, with Henry Sinnamon, DM; and Thomas H McFall, secetary. Joseph Benson became DM in 1909, David Carrick has been Master since 1910, his position as treasurer being taken in that year by George Robinson. W J Lutton was DM; from 1911 to 1922, being succeeded by John Henderson, who still holds the office. Samuel Woodhouse was secretary from 1910 until 1931, when he was succeeded by the present occupant of the office, Isaac Taylor. Samuel J Weir succeeded George Robinson as treasurer in 1918, and D Boseman became holder of the office in 1931.

The main officers in 1936 were as follows - David Carrick, Drumnevin; John Henderson, Drumalis; Isaac Taylor, Druminally; David Boseman, Drumena.

In 1932 the lodge unfurled a banner featuring King William crossing the Boyne on the front and the 'Secret of England's Greatness' on the reverse. These scenes were repeated on the lodge's next banner, which was unfurled in 1954. The lodge's next banner, featuring King William crossing the Boyne on the front, and the Biblical scene of 'My faith Looks Up To Thee' on the reverse, was unfurled at a ceremony held on 21 May 1971.

During the 'Troubles' the lodge was to suffer the loss of Bro. Alfred Doyle, a sergeant in the Ulster Defence Regiment who, along with two friends, was brutally murdered by republican terrorists on 3 June 1975. The three men had been returning home from a dog show in the Irish Republic when their car was ambushed on the border near Killeen, County Armagh.

The late Bro. Isaac G. Hawthorne JP, MP who died in December 1992 served as Worshipful Master of the lodge from 1956-58. Bro. Hawthorne was a former MP for Central Armagh and also a former Chief Whip in the Northern Ireland Parliament at Stormont.

Members of LOL 7 unfurled a new banner in June 1995. The banner, featuring a depiction of Jesus walking on the water and a portrait of King William III. was unfurled by Mrs Sommerville whilst the dedication ceremony was performed by the Reverend John Pickering. Also in attendance was Bro. David Trimble MP for Upper Bann.

Worshipful Masters of LOL 7 from 1935 are as follows:

1935-43 David Carrick
1943-49 David Boseman
1949-54 Isaac Taylor
1954-56 John Henderson
1956-58 Isaac Hawthorne J.P. M.P.
1958-60 David Carville
1960-62 Norman Millsop
1962-78 Henry Eldon
1978-80 Keith Sharpe
1980-84 Herbert Anderson
1984-88 Henry Eldon
1988-90 Kenneth Thornton
1990- Robert Anderson

History of Lodges Index