Derrycorry Purple Guards
Temperance LOL 52
HISTORY
The history of LOL 52 can be traced almost as far back as the historic Battle of the Diamond in 1795, where a protestant
hamlet called the Diamond, near Loughgall, Northern Ireland, came under attack from the
Roman Catholic Defenders.
In the 1835 Parliamentary enquiry Col. William Blacker stated that in July 1796, (ten
months after the Battle of the Diamond) that 90 Orange Lodges existed in Ireland. LOL 52
is listed in the first Grand Orange Lodge of
Ireland minute book in 1798 under the Worshipful Master, William Lightbody.
In the early years the Lodge may have
been known as Tullyroan as shown on the original seal and for some reason now sits with a
warrant from one of the old Ardress Lodges. It is unknown how this warrant arrived in
Derrycorry Orange Hall or the whereabouts of LOL 52's own warrant. In the Grand Orange
Lodge report of 1894 an application from LOL 52 to have their original warrant returned
was granted. The masters name on the warrant was a Richard Gilpin. This would indicate
that this warrant would first have been issued when Richard Gilpin was Worshipful Master
of LOL 52 between 1859 and 1867, possibly the first warrant issued as the Lodge could have
just been using a number previously. However there is no mention of the reason why the
warrant had been given up or withdrawn or the application to have it returned in the Lodge
minutes during that period.
The subject of Home Rule was the major topic for discussion during the period around
the turn of the century. In November 1906 following the death of Colonel Saunderson, one
of the staunchest opponents of Home Rule, a letter was written to LOL 52, still in Lodge
possession, from his wife Lady Helena G. Saunderson thanking the Lodge for their support
and resolution of condolence.
In September 1914 the Lodge decided to apply for a Royal Arch Purple Warrant, and the
first recorded Royal Arch Purple meeting in Derrycorry was held on the first Thursday of
April 1918.
At present the Lambeg drums belonging to the Lodge
are not used on the twelfth (the affectionate term for the 12th July, Orangemans Day),
however in the past they were a focal point of the Lodge, so much so that when a new drum
was ordered at the start of this century there was to be "no expense spared" in
the purchase of same. The two most popular drums, the "Cock drum", at one time
said to be "the best drum in Ireland", and the "Sir Henry Wilson"
along with a plain shell are still on display within the Orange Hall.
Today the Lodge has around 50 members and is active in all District business. It also
has members at every level within the institution.