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Factfile on Lodge
Name: Scotch Quarter Invincibles L.O.L. 947
Founded: 1875
W.M. of Lodge: Samuel Heggan
District: Carrickfergus
With a name like Scotch Quarter Invincibles, it is entirely
appropriate that Carricfergus's oldest Lodge has a Scot as
its secretary.
William McPherson was born in Scotland and joined the Orange
Order there, becoming a member of Grangemouth L.O.L. 187 in
Falkirk District. His mother was from Carrickfergus and he
moved to Ulster in 1964, both he and his twin brother Dave
joining L.O.L. 947 in Carrickfergus. Dave has sadly passed
on, but William remains a hard-working and dedicated secretary
of the Lodge.
In fact, not only is he a prominent Carrickfergus Orangeman,
but also has a literary bent, and it should be no surprise
that as a native of Scotland, William is a Burns enthusiast.
He is, indeed, the Past President of the Belfast Burns Association.
Sadly, Scotch Quarter Invincibles have experienced a decline
in numbers in recent years, but as the Worshipful Master,
Samuel Heggan, points out, they are determined to struggle
on, believing that times will change for the better.
One positive aspect which has emerged is that new members
can quickly gain experience within the Lodge, and although
no one is thrown in at the deep end, there are probably more
opportunites to hold offices quicker than in many larger Lodges.
The Lodge had over 100 members on the books at one time,
and is still in possession of its original minute book, the
very first entry, of September 8, 1875, stating that "this
Lodge held its first monthly meeting in the house of Bro.
Robert Carnaghan, W.M. Bro. Robert McQuillan in the chair
..." Dues were 6d per month back then, and the first
officers alongside McQuillan were John Hamilton (DM), William
McFarlane (secretary), Robert Carnaghan (treasurer), William
Caughey (tyler) and Daniel Beatty (1st committee).
The minute reveals that the Lodge members decided to hold
their meetings in the Parochial School House, while minute
books over the years detail a move to a new Lodge room at
Market Place in the town, and the decision to purchase a second
lambeg drum in 1884, Bros. Kelly and Horner being Lodge drummers
and Bro. Allen the fifer.
In April 1893 the Lodge attended a demonstration in Belfast
to oppose Home Rule, and that year was also momentous for
another reason, L.O.L. 947 and L.O.L. 53 meeting to consider
building a hall. An Orange Hall was eventually created in
an old school house at Lancasterian Street in the town, while
in 1937 the Lodge was present when the foundation stone for
the present Albert Road Orange Hall was laid. Today, the hall
is being refurbished and is a credit to Carrickfergus District,
eight Lodges from five Loyal Orders meeting there.
Worshipful Master, Samuel Heggan, can look back to an interesting
family history associated with Orangeism and Loyalism. Among
his antecendents is Captain Andrew Agnew, who sailed the Clyde
Valley into Larne in 1914 with a consignment of rifles and
ammunition for Lord Carson's Volunteers at the height of the
Home Rule crisis.
Bro. Heggan's own personal connection with the Orange Institution
started when, as a boy of five, he carried the strings of
the banner for Islandmagee L.O.L. 1962 in Larne District,
being later introduced to the Lodge as a young adult by his
uncle, Bro. Jack Hawkins, a distinguished Larne Orangeman.
Samuel has been a member of L.O.L. 947 since his transfer
in 1990 and has notched up a total of 44 years of association
with the Order, quite a record.
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