the formation of royal black perceptory 744 "the prince"

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The Formation and History of RBP 744 "The Prince"

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A committee was formed on July 9th 1908 by a group of Sir Knights with a view to form another Perceptory in Portadown District. Portadown officers were present when a request was made to form the new Perceptory.

The committee all existing Sir Knights had its first meeting on August 13th 1908 and the first principle officer elected into the chair was Sir knight Bro. W. White. This meeting was held in West Street due to contractors carrying out work in Carleton street. At this meeting all the other principle officers were also picked.

On 21st September, 1908 arrangements were made by the committee for a new warrant. This cost 15 shillings and was signed by all Sir knights of the committee.

In September 26th, 1908 the DM of Portadown District Royal Black Chapter No 5 "announced the after due consideration the district had decided to support the application" for the new warrant for RBP 744. On 22nd October, 1908 members of the committee chaired by W. White agreed that Portadown District officers proceed with the application for the warrant at the "County Grand Chapter" to be held on 24th November 1908. The Warrant was granted at this meeting.

The committee met on 30th November 1908 to discuss when to constitute the New Perceptory. It was agreed to constitute it on Monday 14th December, 1908. It was decided to invite the principle officers from the following perceptories' Nos. 25, 30, 199, 503, 663 and Brackagh together with the District officers.

The Perceptory was constituted in Carleton Street Orange Hall the number being "744".

The first official stamp on the minute book of RBP 744 was on 14th December, 1908. This was in a special District meeting of Portadown Officers to officially form the Perceptory.

The first meeting of RBP 744 took place on January 11th, 1909, in Carleton Street Orange Hall. The name of the Perceptory was agreed at this meeting "The Prince"

RBP 744 have had a very long association with Battlehill Pipe Band this first started on July 13th, 1923 up to 1994.

The Ark of the Covenant

List of Worshipful Masters of RBP 744 and a brief history of events in Portadown

1909 - The first WM was Sir Knight W. White after the annual Scarva parade on the 13th July the members of RBP 744 had a dinner at the Imperial Hotel that year.

It has been the practice of RBP 744 to give the out going Worshipful Master's of the perceptory a Past Master's Jewel and a Past Master's Certificate.

1910-WM V. Wilson	1911-WM J Magee
In June 1910 the dues per month were sixpence per month per member
1912-WM Robert Dobbin	1913-WM R J Uprichard
1914-WM Joseph Andrew Vaughan	1915-WM Gough
On the above date of 1915 on the 17th May the members were informed there would be no Scarva Parade due to the War. The Perceptory continued to meet monthly right though the First World War.
1916-WM David Ritchie	1917-WM Alfred Mayor
1918-WM R. Davidson	1919-WM A. Magee
1920-WM W.J. Magee	1921-WM W. J. Kerr
1922-WM William Jones	1923-WM Robert Burns
In 1923 RBP 744 acquired a bannerette.
It is recorded in the minute book that "Battlehill Pipe band" began to lead the Perceptory every 13th July from the 13th July, 1923.
1924-WM J Magee	1925-WM Haddock
1926-WM D Wright	1927-WM Samuel A. Sayers
1928-WM Fred Magee	1929-WM R. W. Whitten
1930-WM James Mitchell	1931-WM James Allen
1932-WM M Kittrick	1933-WM F G Allen
1933- WM James Copeland	1934- WM A. Conn
1935- WM James Copeland	1936- WM W. Gillespie
1937- WM Isaac Calvin	1938- WM Ernest Gilmore
1939- WM Robert Dobbin	1940- WM W. Elliott
Sir knights WM Robert Dobbin and J. Wright died in tragic circumstances on 25-9-1939. So the DM W. Elliott became WM in 1939
During the period from 16-10-39 (date of the first meeting in temporary premises) to 14-8-44 (date of the last meeting in temporary premises) RBP 744 "The Prince" met and held their meetings in Church Street, Portadown, in the temporary Orange Hall.
Up until 1940 R. J. UpRichard was the last surviving founding member of the Perceptory this was recorded in the minutes dated 12th September 1940. The Perceptory continue to meet though the second World War.
1941- WM Samuel Muldrew	1942- WM James Copeland
1943- WM George Dickson	1944- WM J. Geddis
1945- WM Robert Burns	1946- WM T Dobbin
1947- WM H Ellis	1948- WM W. J. Magee
1949- WM Norman Cully	1950- WM John Milne
1951- WM W Trimble	1951- WM D. Thompson
1952- WM D. Thompson	1953-W.M. Sir Knight W. Hamilton
There was a new banner unfurled in 1952 which replaced the old banner which was brought in 1923. Lady Stronge was accompanied by Sir Norman Stronge Sovereign Grand Master at the Unfurling. (Click here to see images regarding unfurling)
1954-WM F. Jeffers	1955-WM Sir Knight Magowan
1956- WM H. McIntyre	1957- WM D. Jeffers
1958- WM J.W. Thompson	1959- WM E. Martin
1960- WM W. Scott	1961- WM Welsey Thompson
1962- WM G. Hammond	1963- WM Cecil Graham
1964- WM W. H. Best	1965- WM W. H. Best
1966- WM W. S. Graham	1967- WM W. S. Graham
1967- RBP 744 "The Prince" unfurled and had the Dedication of new banner on Friday 30th June, 1967 it was decided to invite Sir Knight R. J. McGowan OBE JP to perform the unfurling of the new banner The Rev. J.C. Graham to dedicate the banner A knife suitably inscribed was presented to Sir knight R. J. McGowan DDM OBE JP
1968- WM Jackson Reynolds	1969- WM Jackson Reynolds
1970- WM James Henry	1971- WM James Henry
1972- WM Foster Heasty	1973- WM Foster Heasty
For the first time in living memory the "Sham Fight" at Scarva on 13th July, 1973, was called off due to a cattle infection in the "Demense" were the fight took place.
1974-WM David McKeown	1975-WM David McKeown
Sir Knight David Jeffers nephew, was murdered by republican terrorists' this was recorded in the minute book
1976- WM J. Houston	1977- WM J. Houston
1978- WM Thomas Wright	1979- WM Thomas Wright
1980- WM T. McGarry	1981- WM T. McGarry
1982- WM A. Leeman	1983- WM A. Leeman
On Friday June 17th, 1983, RBP 744 "The Prince" Unfurled and dedicated a new banner in Carleton Street, Orange Hall, Portadown. The unfurling ceremony was by Worshipful Bro. Sir Knight James Symington, Deputy District Master. Click here to see picture of Unfurling. To see other images' click here.
1984- WM R. McBroom	1985- WM R. McBroom
In 1985 the much hated Anglo-Irish Agreement came into being without the support of the vast majority of the Protestant people in Northern Ireland. This led to banning of the Royal Black Perceptory Parading Obin Street, in Portadown on the 13th July, 1985. This was the start of "Civil and Religious Liberty" being denied to the loyal orders' in Northern Ireland. As the Portadown District LOL No 1 Orangemen were also stop from parading this route as in previous years. It was the custom and tradition of Portadown District Black Chapter No 5, to walk and meet the county preceptories' down Obin Street the preceptories' were RBP 141, RBP 78 and RBP 30. To see pictures of protesters' at the bottom of Obin Street, in Portadown Click here. To see pictures of the RUC dividing the Protestant protesters' in Portadown centre and forcing them out of the town as they protest at the banning of the traditional parade route, click here.
1985- Sir Knight David Thompson who had been initiated into the Perceptory on 16th April, 1934, received his 50 year Jewel having been over 51 years in the Perceptory. David held various offices' in the Perceptory and made a great contribution to the Perceptory. Worshipful District Master Sir Knight Toal presented the Jewel to Sir Knight David Thompson. To see a picture click here.
1986- WM G. Tooley	1987- WM G. Tooley
In tragic circumstances a young man by the surname of "John White" from Lurgan died in the town centre, between Thomas Street and Woodhouse Street, after being hit by a RUC plastic baton bullet. He was 17 years of age.
Battlehill pipe band who have led RBP 744 "The Prince" faithfully since 13th July, 1923, finished first in the World Band Championship's in the grade 4 category. This was a great achievement for the band and they were congratulated by the Perceptory for having managed to finish first.
In September 1987 it was agreed that Portadown District Black Chapter No. 5, along with RBP 744 and all the other town Perceptories' meet the county perceptories' RBP 141, RBP 78 and RBP 30 at Parkmount known locally as "The Walk". Since the British Government which supported the Anglo-Irish Agreement against the wishes' of the vast majority of Protestants' in Northern Ireland had stopped the District meeting the county perceptories' and parading Obin street.
A 80th Anniversary Dinner Dance for RBP 744, was held in Carleton Street, Portadown. To see photo click here
1988- WM James Uprichard	1989- WM James Uprichard
Sir Knight Heasty received his 50 year Jewel on the 13th May, 1989 from Worshipful Master Sir Knight J. Symington the District Master of Portadown Black Chapter No. 5.
1990- WM Kenneth Graham	1991- WM Kenneth Graham
The members of RBP 744 expressed their sorrow at the death of Sir Knight Robert Orr murdered by the enemies' of Ulster. A tribute was paid to him for the work he done in the Orange and Black Institutions'. This was recorded in the minute book on 13th May, 1991.
On October 12th, 1992 Sir Knight George Tooley presented the Red Cross Certificate and Seal of the Late Sir Knight W. J. Saunderson to the perceptory for safe keeping. Sir Knight W. J. Saunderson was initiated on 10-03-1909 and his red cross Certificate was dated 15-09-1919. This Certificate is on the Wall in Carleton Street Orange Hall
1992- WM J. Gordon	1993- WM J. Gordon
1994- WM Graham Montgomery
The majority of the members decided in 1994 to acquire a flute band to lead the Perceptory on the 13th July. So it was with great regret and a feeling of lost amongst the older members of the perceptory that a letter be sent to Battlehill Pipe band informing them their services were no longer required. Battlehill Pipe band had a very long association with the perceptory leading them to Scarva every 13th July from 1923.
1995- WM Graham Montgomery
On 27th February, 1995 the Sovereign Grand Master (S.G.M.) Sir Knight James Molyneaux MP attended a dinner run by RBP 744 in Brownlow house to award long service Jewels to six Sir Knights. Sir Knight J Henry, Sir Knight K McMullan and Sir Knight Dr J Wilson received 40 year Jewels. While Sir Knight Stanley Thompson and Sir Knight H Lappin received their 50 year Jewels. Sir Knight Foster Heasty received his 60 year Jewel. The SGM Sir Knight J Molyneaux give a speech to all of the members present and congratulated them on having such a fine and outstanding Perceptory and wish the perceptory all the best in the coming years.
1996- WM Graham Montgomery	1997- WM Graham Montgomery
Sir Knight J Henry received his 50 year Jewel from the Perceptory
1998- WM Gordon Montgomery	1999- WM Gordon Montgomery
2000- WM Gordon Montgomery	2001- WM Robert O'Donohue
2002 - WM Steven Forde