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Warrant No. 161 was established in Loughgall District in 1798 with James Sloan as Master. In early demonstrations LOL 161 carried a silk flag, bearing the Royal Coat of Arms, which had been originally presented to Lt. Col. Robert Camden Cope and his troop of Volunteers in 1782 by the colonel's daughter.
In 1856 it was still at Loughgall with Jas. Woods as Master. The warrant fell dormant for a period of thirty years before coming to Portadown District in 1933. The lodge was opened by James Dermott, Portadown District Secretary, and David Rock, Asst. District Secretary, on Monday 6 March 1933. The first Worshipful Master of the lodge was Thomas Caddell. The lodge took as its title Portadown True Blues.
The principle officers for 1936 were Robert Hamilton, senior, West street, Portadown; William McBroom, Mary street, Portadown; Robert C Hamilton, West street, Portadown; Samuel Keenan, Jackson Terrace.
From its inception again in 1950, Wesleyan Temperance has had a strong Methodist membership. It was mainly members of that denomination who re-started the lodge.
For the past forty-five years Wesleyan Temperance LOL No. 161 has played a leading and influential part in the affairs of Portadown Districl LOL No. 1
The lodge banner for some thirty years had on one side a portrait of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. It had provided 161 with a unique and immediately recognicable place in the Portaadown Orange parade.
Incidently, the portrait of John Wesley which adorned the 161 banner for many is now framed and much admired in the lecture hall of Thomas Street Methodist Church.
The 1950s was a great era for 161 as the membership soared above the sixty mark and at one time up to a dozen new members were being enrolled at some meetings. There were no fewer than seven Methodist ministers who were members of 161 at one time. At present there is one minister belonging to the lodge - the much-loved and respected Bro. The Reverend T. Henry Holloway, a past Worshipful Master of the lodge, and Portadown District Chaplain for many years.
Those 1950s' and '60s' demonstrations were memorable affairs as the lodge paraded behind Thomas Street Old Boys Silver Band.
In 1954 Bro Roy Kells, was initiated into the lodge. Now in the year 2004, Bro Roy Kells, is the present Grand Master of Enniskillen District as well as being newly elected into the post of Grand Deputy Master of the Orange Lodge of Ireland. Something of which the members of Number 161 are justly proud.
Changing circumstances, not least social conditions, meant a decline in numbers in the 1970s and early '80s, but there is a great loyalty and resilience on the part of 161 brethren and in recent years the lodge has been making its mark once again with numbers on the increase and several brethren making an impact at District lodge level.
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A dinner in 1990 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the lodge being formed again proved a landmark and since then the fortunes of Wesleyan Temperance LOL No. 161 have taken an upturn. The Twelfth dinner -always a high poinl of lodge activity - was revived and the brethren and the band which accompanies them now has the use of the new Methodist halls for that purpose.
In the 1950s and '60s. men prominent in civic and business affairs who were members included names like Robert Williamson, a Mayor of Portadown, Councillor John George McCann, Victor Reavie whose cafe in Thomas Street was the venue for the lodge Twelfth dinner - and Councillor Ernest Downey.
The name Wright has always been to the fore in 161 and at one time four brothers of that family were members - Bros. Dick Wright, still a very active member. Earl Wright, who played a leading role in trade union and civic affairs, and the late Bros. Eric and Jim Wright - Jim passed away in April 1995. The lodge also has brethren in its ranks who rendered outstanding service in local government and two of those were the late Bros. Ken Jones and Billy Robinson.
Names like Percy Church, Bertie Montgomery, Norman Lyttle, Bobby Bell, and many others are remembered with affection by the brethren of 161.
Fermanagh man Bro. Cyril Stevens, who settled in Portadown in 1946, was recently presented with his 50-year membership jewel. It was a unique occasion, as Bro. Stevens' son, Paul, was initiated into 161 on the same night.
Worshipful Masters of LOL 161 since its re-inception are as follows:
1952-53 Bro. R. J. Williamson
1954-55 Bro. J. G. McCann
1956-57 Bro. W. J. Lyttle
1958 Bro. V. J. Reavie
1959-60 Bro. R. Wright
1961-62 Bro, W, K. Logan
1963-64 Bro. W. J. P. Church
1965-66 Bro. N. A. Lvttle
1967-68 Bro. W. Robinson
1969-70 Bro. C. Richardson
1971-74 Bro. Rev. T. H. Holloway
1975-76 Bro. W. Bailie
1977-78 Bro. D. Laverty
1979-81 Bro. K. H. Bell
1982-86 Bro. W. Bailie
1987-88 Bro. B. Courtney
1989-90 Bro. D. Burrows
1991-92 Bro. W. McClean
1993-94 Bro. J. Leckey
1995- Bro. J. G. Leckey jnr.
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