Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285
Past Master's Jewel 1945.
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Obverse of Jewel
A silver Compass and Square Past Master's Jewel suspended on two silver bars and a sky blue ribbon.
The Jewel is unusual, in that, it comprises of the normal silver Compass and Square with a fixed "G", sitting on a sunburst, mounted on a sky blue enamel plaque, encased in a deep silver holder.
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The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"Presented to W.Bro. S.J. Hill W.M. 1944 by the Brethren Jany. 1946" |
Short History of Warrant No. 285.
Warrant No. 285 issued to brethren in CASTLEBAR, Co. Mayo on the 4th August, 1757 and was erased on the 5th May, 1785.
Warrant No. 285 reissued to brethren in MABEY (i.e. Moboy), Kilrea, County Londonderry on the 1st March, 1810 and was cancelled in 1835.
Warrant No. 285 reissued to `St. John's Lodge' in FORTITUDE VALLEY, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on the 18th May 1865. St. John's Lodge No. 285 ceased working in 1874,was Suspended on the 4th February, 1875 and Warrant No. 285 was "Sent in" in 1880.
[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 285 before same reissued to Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 285 for the years set out above]
Warrant No. 285 reissued to brethren in MABEY (i.e. Moboy), Kilrea, County Londonderry on the 1st March, 1810 and was cancelled in 1835.
Warrant No. 285 reissued to `St. John's Lodge' in FORTITUDE VALLEY, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on the 18th May 1865. St. John's Lodge No. 285 ceased working in 1874,was Suspended on the 4th February, 1875 and Warrant No. 285 was "Sent in" in 1880.
[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 285 before same reissued to Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 285 for the years set out above]
History of Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285.
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 2nd April, 1900 show concerning Warrant No. 285 -
"2 April, 1900 – Read a Memorial from Bros. Shaw, Weir and Kerr and seven others for a Warrant to establish a lodge in Belfast to be called “The Tower of Lebanon”. Recommended by Lodges 257, 169, 103 and by the D.P.G.M. of Antrim."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed, as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 7th June, 1900 as "Confirmed"
Warrant No. 285 reissued to `Tower of Lebanon Lodge' in ARTHUR SQUARE, BELFAST on the 7th June, 1900.
Series three Vol. 9 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows George Shaw [W.M.](259); William Weir [S.W.](335) and Robert Kerr [J.W.](168) registered along with five others from various lodges on the 7th June, 1900.
"2 April, 1900 – Read a Memorial from Bros. Shaw, Weir and Kerr and seven others for a Warrant to establish a lodge in Belfast to be called “The Tower of Lebanon”. Recommended by Lodges 257, 169, 103 and by the D.P.G.M. of Antrim."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed, as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 7th June, 1900 as "Confirmed"
Warrant No. 285 reissued to `Tower of Lebanon Lodge' in ARTHUR SQUARE, BELFAST on the 7th June, 1900.
Series three Vol. 9 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows George Shaw [W.M.](259); William Weir [S.W.](335) and Robert Kerr [J.W.](168) registered along with five others from various lodges on the 7th June, 1900.
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The Dedication Ceremony of Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 was held in the Masonic Hall, Arthur Square, Belfast, on Friday, 29th June, 1900, at 7.30 p.m. In the unavoidable absence of the R.W. Provincial Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Bro. R.J. Hilton, on account of illness, the Chair was occupied by the Provincial Senior Grand Warden, V.W. Bro. W.T. Braithwaite. |
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The various offices having been filled with the assistance of V.W. Bro. H.J. Hill, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. |
V.W. Bro. H.J. Hill, 18°
Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. |
A further nine brethren registered up to 29th January, 1901. In all cases the dates when the degrees were conferred and the issue of certificates is shown.
Lodge No. 285 recorded with grateful thanks their appreciation of the magnificent gift of Jewels for the Officers by V.W. Bro. W.T. Braithwaite, as a memento of his having Constituted the Lodge.
The Lodge presented Br. William Gibson, P.M. with "a handsome Marble Clock", in January, 1904.
Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 met for five years in the Masonic Hall, Crumlin Road, when it was decided it would be more central and convenient for the members if the Lodge moved to Arthur Square, this was accordingly arranged, the first meeting in the Masonic Hall, Arthur Square, was held on Tuesday evening, 21st February, 1905.
Nine members served of Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 in the 1914-18 War and Bros. J.C.Donovan, A.G. Hounson, I. McConnell and W.J. Scott made the supreme sacrifice.
A total of 163 brethren registered up to 16th October, 1923. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series five Vol. 18 shown as Vol. 2 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with the registration Matthew Ferguson, Engineer, registered 16th September, 1924.
A total of 69 brethren registered up to 21st October, 1952. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series six Vol. 21 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with the registration of S. W., Buyer [occupation], registered 20th January, 1953.
A total of 63 brethren registered up to 19th October, 1982. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
In 2004 Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 decided to amalgamate with Freedom Lodge No. 169. The amalgamated Lodge took the name of Lodge No. 285 "Tower of Lebanon" under Warrant No. 169.
In November 2004 the Brethren of Tower of Lebanon Lodge No. 285 held its last meeting attended by the Provincial Grand Secretary John Frazer who accepted Warrant No. 285 for returning to Grand Lodge.
Warrant No. 285 Laboured on and off for some 247 years.
