New Junior Lodge officially unveiled by Richhill District

A NEW Junior Orange Lodge has been officially unveiled in Richhill.

After months of hard work and planning from the Brethren in Richhill District LOL No 2, they are delighted to see the formation of Richhill Junior LOL 285.

Congratulations have been extended to all the newly installed officers and brethren.

The Junior Grand Master MW Bro Magill recently constituted the lodge and was assisted by the Junior Grand Treasurer, MW Bro Bell, the Deputy Junior Grand Lecturer Bro Hall, with warrant presented by the Junior Grand Secretary, RW Bro McKee.

It is a tremendous and historic step by Richhill District LOL No 2.

The future looks very bright and prosperous for the Junior Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

Assistant-Superintendent, James Speers, spoke to the Ulster Gazette of his delight that the new Junior Lodge had been formed and said everyone is “very encouraged by it”.

“It’s a new initiative by Richhill District LOL No 2 to reach out and connect with the next generation and encourage them to join.

“It is something that there has been a lot of buzz about and we are sitting with between 15 and 20 people.

“I suppose the big thing for us, it is all about educating and training young people in an early succession to obviously get them to know what the institution is about and understand the principles and the dedications of being an Orangeman.

“There is a good group of superintendents there who are really keen to push on and to help and encourage these young boys coming into it.

“Six to 16 years is the age for people to join and the superintendents are senior Orangemen in the district.”

As well as the upcoming Twelfth of July parade, which is to be held in Lurgan this year, there are a number of other parades for the young members.

“The Junior Orange has a lot of initiatives going throughout the year and the big day is obviously Bangor Day, so we are hopefully trying to get ourselves established for Bangor Day and there is also the Junior County Parade, which Richhill Juniors hope to attend on Sunday, April 30.

“We are thriving and we are growing in Richhill as a district and there is a desire and need to reach out to the next generation and bring them in, but also teach them the principles and proper constitution around what being an Orangeman is and how it is founded on the principles of the Bible.

“We are excited about it. I think it’s one of those things where the more attraction it will get, hopefully the more people will want to turn around and say ‘yes’, as a lot of people have come up through the institution and are senior members, but have come up through the Junior Orange, so it’s good to see it back.

“It’s a vibrant organisation and it’s good to see it coming together.”

A special word of thanks has been extended to everyone who helped make the initiative possible.

This includes Junior Grand Master, Bro Joe Magill; Junior County Master, Bro John Hoy; Tandragee Junior District Officers, Bro Billy McTurk, Bro Bertie Russell and Bro Leslie Bell.

Bro Gary Hutchinson and Kilbracks Bible and Crown Defenders JLOL 75, Bro David Morton and Killylea Junior Orange LOL 205, Daughters of Killylea LOL 50 and Bro Christopher Hawthorne.

Also Superintendents, Bro Sandy Hewitt, Bro Kris Blakely, Bro Matthew Sweeney, Bro Ivan Hewitt, Bro Derek Gilmore, Bro Ivan Hewitt, Bro David McCory, Bro James Speers and Bro Gary McCoo.

Anyone wishing to join or obtain further information should email richhilljlol285@gmail.com or check out the Facebook page.