History of R.B.P. St John's 663

St John's Royal Black Preceptories first meeting was in Clounagh Orange Hall in 7th November 1905. The First Worshipful Master was Sir Knt James Uprichard. It is worth recording at this point that the W.M. Sir Knt James Uprichard was the principle member behind the building of Clounagh Orange Hall only one year previously in 1904. This fact alone speaks well of the character and the forward thinking attitude of Sir Knt James Uprichard. That in just a year since the hall was built a thriving Black Preceptory where in residence in the hall. A very fine accolade for a very fine Sir Knt indeed and one surely worth of remembering in the years to come.

Due to a fire R.B.P. 663 lost all of their minute books up to 13th May 1960. Only for the recording of the current Registrar at that time can the following Sir Knights names be given showing them to be Past Master's within the Preceptory between 1905 and 1960.

R.B.P. 663 new banner was unfurled in Edgarstown square on Friday 30th June at 8pm. RBP paraded from Clounagh Orange Hall to Edgarstown Square to unfurl their new banner. They then proceed through the town centre turning at the end of High Street and proceeded back to Clounagh Orange Hall along the Armagh road.

Sir Knt W.D.M. Herbert Whitten presided over the unfurling ceremony.

On the platform where the W.M., D.M., Chaplain, Registrar and treasurer of R.B.P. 663. The W.M. and D.M. of Kilmoriarty R.B.P. 267 where also in on the platform along with Sir Knt Joshua Bell.

Carleton Street Pipe band provided music on the evening in question.

R.B.P. 663 old Black Banner was given to R.B.P. 201 Derrylane, in Co Cavan as recorded in the 12th January 1961 minute book.

In 1973 R.B.P. 663 had one hundred and one members within its ranks and in 1974 one hundred Sir Knts within the Preceptory.

One-hundredth Anniversary of formation of Preceptory

In February 2006, St John's Royal Black Preceptory No. 663 celebrated their One-hundredth Anniversary. The Worshipful District Master, Sir Knt James Hewitt; along with the Deputy District Master, Sir Knt Robert Wallace; and the District Chaplain, Sir Knt Cecil Allen; where in attendance at the meeting to celebrate the continuous working of R.B.P. 663 from its formation on the 7th November 1905. The Preceptory was formed by Sir Knt James Uprichard a great Stalwart of L.O.L. No. 9 and R.B.P. 663. Sir Knt James Uprichard was instrumental in the building of Clounagh Orange Hall in 1904, and it is a great sign of Sir Knt James Uprichard character that only a year later a full and working Preceptory was operating within the New Orange Hall.

List of Past Master's from 1905 to 1934

W.M. Sir Knt James Uprichard 1905 - Date Unknown
     

Worshipful Master's of R.B.P. 663 from 1905 to 1934

The exact Years of when the following W.M.s. where in office is not known due to fire damaged which destroyed all of the old minute books except the current one which the folling names where taken. Only for the Registrar writing P.M. beside a lot of Sir Knt's names these names would have been lost.

 
Sir Knt Joseph Hobson P.M.   Sir Knt Richard Caddell P.M.
     
Sir Knt John McNeill P.M.   Sir Knt Joseph Caddell P.M.
     
Sir Knt William Magee P.M.   Sir Knt John Freeburn P.M.
     
Sir Knt Thomas J. Hanna P.M.   Sir Knt Thomas Jenkinson P.M.
     
Sir Knt Hugh Lyttle P.M.   Sir Knt John Black P.M.
     

List of Past Master's from 1935 - 2001

1935 - W.M. Sir Knt Fred Wright   1974 - W.M. Sir Knt Alex Wright
     
1936 - W.M. Sir Knt William John Magee P.M.   1975 - W.M. Sir Knt Alex Wright
     
1937 - W.M. Sir Knt Richard Crozier   1976 - W.M. Sir Knt Roy Timmins
     
1938 - W.M. Sir Knt James Crealey   1977 - W.M. Sir Knt Roy Timmins
     
1939 - W.M. Sir Knt James Graham   1978 - W.M. Sir Knt Reggie Tedford
     
1940 - W.M. Sir Knt Jackson Haire   1979 - W.M. Sir Knt Reggie Tedford
     
1941 - W.M. Sir Knt Thomas Hughes   1980 - W.M. Sir Knt Noel Johnson
     
1942 - W.M. Sir Knt David Carville   1981 - W.M. Sir Knt Noel Johnson
     
1943 - W.M. Sir Knt Samuel Tedford   1982 - W.M. Sir Knt James Tedford
     
1944 - W.M. Sir Knt Holland Palmer   1983 - W.M. Sir Knt James Tedford
     
1945 - W.M. Sir Knt William Bell   1984 - W.M. Sir Knt Daniel Elliott
     
1946 - W.M. Sir Knt William Bell   1985 - W.M. Sir Knt Daniel Elliott
     
1947 - W.M. Sir Knt William Bell47 -   1986 - W.M. Sir Knt Jackie Robertson
     
1948 - W.M. Sir Knt William Bell   1987 - W.M. Sir Knt Jackie Robertson
     
1949 - W.M. Sir Knt William Bell   1988 - W.M. Sir Knt James LittleJohn
     
1950 - W.M. Sir Knt William Bell   1989 - W.M. Sir Knt James LittleJohn
     
1951 - W.M. Sir Knt John Brady   1990 - W.M. Sir Knt James LittleJohn
     
1952 - W.M. Sir Knt John Brady   1991 - W.M. Sir Knt James LittleJohn
     
1953 - W.M. Sir Knt John Brady   1992 - W.M. Sir Knt James LittleJohn
     
1954 - W.M. Sir Knt John Brady   1993 - W.M. Sir Knt James LittleJohn
     
1955 - W.M. Sir Knt John Brady   1994 - W.M. Sir Knt Gordon Blevins
     
1956 - W.M. Sir Knt John Brady   1995 - W.M. Sir Knt Gordon Blevins
     
1957 - W.M. Sir Knt Robert McAdam   1996 - W.M. Sir Knt Gordon Blevins
     
1958 - W.M. Sir Knt James Matthews   1997 - W.M. Sir Knt Gordon Blevins
     
1959 - W.M. Sir Knt James Tedford   1998 - W.M. Sir Knt Stephen Thornbury
     
1960 - W.M. Sir Knt James Tedford   1999 - W.M. Sir Knt Stephen Thornbury
     
1961 - W.M. Sir Knt James Tedford   2000 - W.M. Sir Knt Stephen Thornbury
     
1962 - W.M. Sir Knt James Tedford   2001 - W.M. Sir Knt Stephen Thornbury
     
1963 - W.M. Sir Knt Cecil McKinley   2002 - Years below to be be updated
     
1964 - W.M. Sir Knt Cecil McKinley   2003 -
     
1965 - W.M. Sir Knt Cecil McKinley   2004 -
     
1966 - W.M. Sir Knt James Haire   2005 -
     
1967 - W.M. Sir Knt James Haire   2006 -
     
1968 - W.M. Sir Knt Moore Hillen    
     
1969 - W.M. Sir Knt Moore Hillen    
     
1970 - W.M. Sir Knt Moore Hillen    
     
1971 - W.M. Sir Knt Moore Hillen    
     
1972 - W.M. Sir Knt Andrew Lutton    
     
1973 - W.M. Sir Knt Alex Wright    

Click here to the see pictures of the One-Hundredth Anniversary of R.B.P. 663

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