Lodge History.

Our warrant was originally installed under the Grand Protestant Association of Loyal Orangemen of Scotland in 1858, and met in 71 Nelson Street, Glasgow. The original lodge went under the name of 'Loyal Temperance' L.O.L. No.98. The first Lodge Master was Bro Henry Marshall, who also held the positions of Grand Treasurer and Grand Master of the Grand Black Encampment of the Knights of Malta around 1860. He also became the first ever Disrict Master of Partick D.L.O.L. No.15, which was the District in which the lodge was originally erected.

According to one of our lodge's early members, Bro. Peter Gibb who joined in 1866; The lodge was originally composed mainly of Scots, but had went dormant for a few years.

The lodge was resurrected again in 1886, and was made up of Irish brethern for the most part. They chose to take the name 'Armagh True Blues' L.O.L. No.98.

The lodge at some point was reconstituted, and from what we gather, was very successful for many years. But again we have very little information about this period, except that the lodge was a member of Glasgow Orange & Purple District No. 3 in Townhead, which sat for many years in Cathedral Street Orange Halls, before moving to Calgary Street Orange Halls, and then to it's present encampment in Glasgow Evangelical Church in Cathedral Square, next to the Glasgow Cathedral.

As a point of interest, The statue of King William III Prince Of Orange, erected by the tobacco lords of Glasgow, stands adjacent to the Church in Cathedral Square's Public Garden, and the magnificent statue of John Knox looks down from the Nacropolis. The area is a hub for Protestantism and Orangeism every year as the Marching season progresses, and thousands of Orange Men, Women & Children march past our great Orange Hero. I doubt when the Glasgow City Fathers, in their ultimate wisdom decided to move the King's statue from it's very prominent position in Argyll Street, to what they must have thought was an out of the way place, could have imagined the favour they had done us.

Alass, the lodge again closed it's doors. Until, In the year of Our Lord, 1997. On the 13th of December of that year, the dorment warrant was uplifted again by 7 strong willed Brothers decided to open their own lodge. The Brother's and first Office Bearer's were as Follow's; W.M. Bro Jim Baillie, D.M. Bro John Scott, S.M. Bro David Henderson, SECT. Bro Thomas Campbell, TREA. Bro. Tommy Morton, CHAP. Bro Andrew Holmes & I.D.G. Bro Adam Smith. The new brethern of L.O.L. No.98 decided to take the name of 'Barmulloch True Blues' and this was the first lodge to have started up with a dorment warrant in District No. 3 and the County of Glasgow in over 20 years. We have another couple of proud records within the lodge, We were the first lodge in Scotland to hold an R.A.P. Degree in the year 2000.

The Lodge is at present encamped within Millarbank Street Orange Halls, Springburn. We have held our monthly meetings and countless fundraising events within these halls. Also we recently transfered from Glasgow Orange & Purple District No.3, Townhead to St. Rollox District No.10, Springburn, as Barmulloch is adjacent to Springburn. Many of our brethern seen this transfer as the Lodge moving back home.

Since transferring our Lodge from District No. 3 to District No. 10, we have became an even larger and more successful Lodge. We have more than doubled in membership, and are proud to say that over the past few years we have had our presence within the District Offices. We currently have 3 of our brothers holding the District Deputy Master, District Secretary, District Treasurer & District Superintendant positions.

Since opening in 1997, the lodge has went from strength to strength. At present we boast 31 Members all of which are of R.A.P. standing. Many more have passed through our Arch, some falling by the wayside and others transfering to other lodges. The Brother's who form our lodge at present are extremely hard working, holding dances and fundraising as necessary, to raise the capital needed for all our endeavours. Especially the costs of our big day every July.

The Lodge also enjoys an active social calender, visiting other lodge's and band events. Over the years we have established special friendships with L.O.L. No. 110 of Hamilton, L.O.L. No. 360 of Irvine and Holytown & New Stevenson D.L.O.L. No. 47, and we also have many friends in Ulster. We also have built a strong friendship with members one of the youngest flute bands in Scotland, The Pride O' The Dale, Armadale, who started on 17th August 2003 and first paraded with us at the Annual Boyne Celebrations in July 2004. Unfortuately 'The Pride' as they were more affectionately known as by our lodge folded in February 2007, leaving us all saddened as they were one of the most promising young bands in the country.

As successful as we may believe our lodge to be today. I leave you with one piece of our history, which although of a sad nature, our lodge is rightly proud. The following article was sent to us via The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland. We are unsure of the exact date the article is from, but we know that it is from an issue of The Belfast Telegraph, and was printed at the turn of the 20th Century. It reads as follows;

' AN ORANGE FUNERAL IN GLASGOW - The funeral of the late Superior Barrack Sergeant Sir Knight Richard Armstrong, who died on Friday, 27th, at the barracks there, took place on 29th August. The above named was a member of No. 98 Loyal Orange Lodge, and was also a member of No. 2 Equiptment. Prior to his death he requested that the brethern should attend his remains to their last resting place. The necessary information having been forwarded to a number of brethern, they formed themselves into a commitee to execute his desire. Brs. Haddock, Gourley, Thomson, Clyde, McAlhuney, Muldoon, McAllister, Stewart, Young, McHafie and McDowall lost no time in having the brethen duly warned in the different districts of the city, and at 3.40 o'clock the procession formed up, and marched in sections of four along Gallowgate, down Abercromby Street, thence through Little Street to Christ's Church, where the coffin was borne from the hearse on the shoulders of four worthy brethern into the body of the church, and was placed infront of the communion table, when the beautiful burial service of the church was read by the incumbent. During which the church was crowded to overflowing by the members of the association. The coffin was then borne on the shoulders of Brs. Gourley,  Haddock, McDowall and Muldoon, and finally deposited in its last resting place. The brethern then formed a circle, to the number of about 1,000, and performed their last solemn duty of the order over their highly esteemed and much lamented brother. I may add that seldom, if ever, have the brethern turned out in such goodly numbers as on occasion above mentioned, and the streets were densely crowded by spectators as the cortege slowly moved along. Not a voice or murmur was heard, except an expression of sorrow for the brother that had departed, who leaves a widow and seven children to mourne his loss - Correspondent.'

Lest We Forget.

P.s. If any Brother or Sister has any information regarding our lodge history, or items bearing our number. We would be very happy to hear from you.

You can contact us at barmulloch98@ntlworld.com