From the 8th to 10th of July, I had the great honour and privilege of representing New Zealand as Grand Master at the Ladies' Meeting of the Imperial Orange Council held in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
As a first-time attendee at this triennial gathering, it was a unique and enriching experience to meet like-minded individuals from England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Sadly, there were no delegates from the United States, Ghana, or Togo this year. Due to the global disruption caused by COVID-19, it had been six years since the event was last held. All in attendance were eager to rekindle old friendships and forge new connections.
Between discussions and business sessions, we were given the opportunity to visit sites of historical significance, many of which are deeply tied to the Orange Order and the broader history of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. One of the highlights was touring battlefields where key victories helped secure the throne for William and Mary of Orange, and ultimately shaped the line of monarchs that followed.
While the northern hemisphere still shows reluctance towards mixed lodges, resulting in my participation being limited to the Ladies' Meeting rather than the main IOC sessions alongside the other Grand Masters, I remain hopeful that this might change in the future. It was eye-opening to hear one of the Canadian sisters mention that her nearest lodge is over 2,000 miles away. It certainly puts our "distance" between South Island lodges into perspective!
During the trip, I had the privilege of participating in two parades. The first took place at Rossnowlagh in County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland, where I marched with the Grand Masters of Canada and Australia. Following the church service, I had the opportunity to address the gathering – a truly memorable experience.
On July 9th, we paraded in Enniskillen to and from Saint Macartin's Cathedral for another special service. Walking in these parades, hearing the bands, seeing the banners and flags, and experiencing the Lambeg drums was deeply emotional and inspiring. You can learn more about the parade in the Orange Order Members Gather Around the World in Enniskillen article PressReader published.
One of the personal highlights was being interviewed alongside Most Worshipful Brother Ian Kells, Grand Secretary and Past Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Australia, for a BBC Northern Ireland documentary on the Orange Order titled The Twelfth. The documentary aired on the evening of July 12th.
At the conclusion of the meeting, I was graciously taken to the villages of Dromore and Fintona, where my Irish ancestors originated. It was a moving experience to see tombstones bearing the names of not only my ancestors but also those of our Grand Deputy Master, whose family also came from Fintona. Remarkably, both our families share roots in the same small village.
I am deeply grateful to the Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand for the opportunity to represent our country, and I will forever cherish the memories from this journey.
I was accompanied by our Grand Chaplain, Worshipful Sister Sheryll Rodgers, with whom I shared a tour of Great Britain and Ireland following the conference.
Past Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Rod Biel, proudly represented the male members of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.
Looking ahead, the next Imperial Council will take place in England. Until then, we have important work ahead to grow our membership and strengthen our Order in New Zealand.
Beverley Buist
Grand Master Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand
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