A textile Orange Order Sash adorned with Orange Regalia owned and worn by John Miller Andrews.
On DisplayA textile Orange Order Sash adorned with Badges, and with Orange Regalia, owned, and worn by J M Andrews.
A textile Orange Order Sash adorned with Orange Regalia owned and worn by John Miller Andrews. He was born in Comber County Down in 1871.
His younger Brother Thomas Andrews was Managing Director of the Harland and Wolff Shipyard in Belfast and died on the RMS Titanic in 1912.
Andrews was Elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, sitting from 1921 until 1953 (for the County Down constituency from 1921 to 1929, and for the Mid-Down Constituency from 1929 to 1953).
He was a founder Member of the Ulster Unionist Labour Association, which he Chaired.
He was appointed Minister of Labour in the Cabinet of the first Northern Ireland Government, in 1921.
Upon the death of Lord Craigavon in 1940 he became Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and the second Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
He was replaced by Sir Basil Brooke, as Prime Minister, in 1943, and as Leader of the UUP, in 1946.
From 1949 he was the last Parliamentary survivor from the original 1921 Northern Ireland Parliament, and, as such, was recognised as Father of the House.
Throughout his life he was deeply involved in The Orange Order, having held the positions of Grand Master of Co Down, Grand Master of Ireland and Imperial Grand Master of the Grand Orange Council of the World.
There are two Collarettes here which belonged to JM Andrews, at different times.
One is the, older, Shoulder to Waist type, Sash. It was purchased by Comber White Flag Lodge 244 and The Museum of Orange Heritage jointly at auction.
The other is a, now more recognisable, Collar style Collarette, which is owned by Limavady Orange Lodge, and which is presently on Loan to The Museum of Orange Heritage.
Both Sashes have various Emblems and badges.
The Shoulder Sash predates the 1921 period.
The traditional V shaped Collarrete became the established style only later. It dates from the time when J M Andrew became Grand Master of Co Down and later that of all of Ireland.
It should be noted that the current exhibition at the MOH is due to close on 18th December 2021. The Limavady Collarette will be returned for display in Limavady Orange History Museum thereafter.
The older Shoulder Sash will remain on display in the MOH going forward as part of their permanent display
The traditional V shaped Collarette is owned by The Limavady Museum of Orange Heritage. The older Shoulder Sash is owned jointly by Comber White Flag Lodge 244 and The Museum of Orange Heritage.Images used by Permission of both the aforementioned & The Museum Of Orange Heritage