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Factfile on Lodge
Name: Wycliffe's Invincible Morning Star L.O.L. No.
62
Founded: 1860s
W.M. of Lodge: Mark Hylands
District: Lower Iveagh West
Dollingstown was a village of white washed houses,
mainly occupied by linen workers, when an Orange Lodge was
formed there around 1868.
All that time the Orange Hall was where many
social activities took place, and Wycliffe's Invincible Morning
Star L.O.L. No. 62 continues to play a key role in the life
of the local community. They have spearheaded VE celebrations
in the village, and a Queen's Golden Jubilee street party
was supported by people from miles around.
One of the highlights for the members of L.O.L.
62 was bringing the Twelfth demonstration to Dollingstown
for the first time, in 2002, and each July 11 there is an
Ulster-Scots night, organised by the Lodge instead of the
traditional bonfire, which has declined due to the lack of
green spaces in the village for a bonfire site.
It is not only in the Orange and cultural field
that the Lodge has an impressive record, however, for the
last year they organised an evening in the Orange Hall with
the local PSNI Crime Prevention team, who gave a power point
presentation to local senior citizens on how to make thier
homes more secure. The Lodge members followed this up by fitting
safety chains free of charge for any pensioners who wished
to have them installed.
Dollingstown has a place in the history books
as having sent more volunteers per head of population to the
battlefields of the First World War, and this proud history
is deeply held by L.O.L. No. 62. In 2003 some members travelled
to Belgium and France in an effort to trace the graves of
the local men who died.
"This is an experience all Orangemen should
have at least once in their lifetime," says Bro. Bruce
Kidd, secretary of the Lodge.
In 2006 the 90th anniversary of the Battle of
the Somme will be marked and the Lodge is considering travelling
to France with their new banner, which has a portrayal of
the volunteers from Dollingstown heading off to fight.
Dollingstown's banner has also been to Drumcree
in support of the Portadown District's right to march, and
to Scottish parades.
The Lodge used to be led by a single piper,
but for the past almost 30 years Star of the North flute band,
formed by lodge members, has been to the fore. There are around
70 members of L.O.L. No. 62, the longest serving being Bro.
James McKinley, a member for 61 years, while Bro. Wayne Scott
is the latest to join the ranks.
With a keen interest in the heritage of the
Protestant tradition expressed in the Lodge name - John Wycliffe
was the 'morning star' of the Protestant Reformation - and
the village of Dollingstown, members of the Lodge also involve
themselves, as did their predecessors in the life and times
of their community. With such an outlook, the future is bright
for the brethren of Dollingstown.
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