Lodge named after Ballycarry minister

Carrick-based Bennett’s Chosen Few held their 150th anniversary celebrations last month at the King William III Memorial Orange Hall.

To mark the milestone, members have been working over the past 18 months to research and produce ‘The History of an Orange lodge.’

A large section of the book, which was launched at the anniversary event, is devoted to namesake Rev J Hamilton Bennett.

“Rev Bennett was a Church of Ireland minister at Templecorran in Ballycarry; he came from Monkstown in County Cork,” said a lodge spokesperson.

“The lodge was originally called Carrickfergus True Blues, but it was actually re-named in honour of Rev Bennett. It’s very unusual for a lodge to be named in honour of someone rather than in memory of them.

“Rev Bennett passed away in 1915 and we were able to get hold of an obituary from that time; he is buried at St John’s graveyard in Ballycarry.”

Several other distinguished former brethren were also mentioned in the book, including Allen Semple, a member during the Second World War. “He was a highly decorated soldier in Her Majesty’s forces and was mentioned in despatches in 1938 for good conduct. He also served during the Normandy landings,” the spokesperson added. “We had almost 100 people at the anniversary night in the Orange hall, and probably about 95 percent of them weren’t aware of the history that’s revealed in the book.”

Copies of the book will be available at Carrickfergus Civic Centre or from lodge committee secretary Noel Jordan on 07775633391.