What's new?

This section will be used to post new additions or changes to the web site.

This will enable regular visitors to the website to look at this section and see at a glance 'What's New?' and what changes have taken place - the changes will be shown by reference to a date with a short description of what has taken place.

17th January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled “Notes on Freemasonry in Cork City” by W.Bro. Thomas Johnson Westropp, Past Master, Lodge No. 143, Dublin (Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Volume XXI ~ 1908) to the Masonic Literature Provincial and Lodge Histories section. The author, Thomas Johnson Westropp, was an Irish antiquarian, folklorist and archaeologist whose family had a long association with Munster, hence the paper on Cork Freemasonry.     

18th January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "The Marencourt Cup and  Ancient Square, preserved by Union Lodge 13, Limerick" by Bro. Henry F. Berry  (subsequently Twiss), First Worshipful Master of The Lodge of  The Research No. CC, Ireland (Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Volume XVIII ~ 1905) to the Masonic Literature General Papers and Books section. The author, Henry F. Berry, recounts the incident involving the French Privateer and Freemason, Captain Louis Marencourt and James Campbell, Master of the sloop "three Friends", a Master Mason and member of Lodge No. 13. Bro. Berry describes the return of the sloop by Captain Marencourt to fellow Freemason James Campbell, as a "tale, romantic and unparalleled as it is, affords a striking tribute to the disinterestedness and self-sacrifice cultivated by the spirit and genius of Masonry". This is a very interesting paper and the Marencourt Cup can still be seen in the Museum at the Masonic Centre, Castle Street, King's Island, Limerick.    

19th January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "The Story of  Lodge "Glittering Star" No. 322 (Irish) (1759 - 1966) and The Beginning of Knight  Templary in Canada" by Reginald V. Harris, P.S.G.M. (Can.) (The Papers of  The Canadian Masonic Research Association, 1949-1976, Volume III) to the Masonic Literature Order of the Temple section. It is a Paper from 1966 which relates that the 29th Regiment was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, prior to being posted to Boston where members of Lodge No. 322 (subsequently named "Glittering Star") conferred the Knights Templar Degree, resulting in the first recorded minute of the said Degree. Bro. Harris surmises that as they had been stationed in Halifax for some time prior to this posting they must have conferred the Degree in Halifax, hence the title of the Paper "The Beginning of Knight Templary in Canada".

22nd January, 2013.

Today I have added another history article to the 'History of Irish Freemasonry' section. The article is entitled "The Masonic Girls School, Dublin, 1792 to 1892" which is the history of  The Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland, from 1792 to 1892 and is taken from "The Book of the Centenary", pages 9-23, published in 1892, Compiled and Edited by Bro. Thomas Stuart, Lodge No. 125. This is a comprehensive history of how one of the prized Jewels of Irish Freemasonry commenced. Even though the school is no longer in existence, its legacy is still of considerable relevance today as the educational needs of the daughters of deceased and qualifying Freemasons are supported by the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund, which fund was established in 1975 following the sale of the school premises.   

24th January, 2013.

In regard to the above article "The Masonic Girls School, Dublin, 1792 to 1892"  I have added several new prints and photographs to the webpage which would not have appeared in the original "Book of the Centenary". These prints and photographs are of great interest, with one photograph dating from the Masonic Bazaar and Fancy Fair in 1882, featuring the stall of "Ye Province of Wicklow and Wexford". Two groups of photographs are presented by way of "slideshows".

25th January, 2013.

Not forgetting the boys, today I have added another history article to the 'History of Irish Freemasonry' section. The article is entitled "The Masonic Boys' Orphan School of Ireland 1867-1892". The article relates the early history of  The Masonic Boys' School of Ireland, from 1867 to 1892, and is taken from "The Book of the Centenary", pages 26-31, published in 1892, Compiled and Edited by Bro. Thomas Stuart, Lodge No. 125. It contains photographs taken from the "Centenary" book and also from J.F. Burns' book "Shop Window to the World", which was published in 1967 to coincide with the Boys' School own centenary. One group of photographs is presented by way of a "slideshow".

27th January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "Laurence Dermott: Extraordinary Man and Mason", by W.Bro. Yasha Beresiner, which was written on the 16th January, 2012. Yasha Beresiner is a Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076, Premier Lodge of Masonic Research, (1997/8). This lecture was first delivered on the occasion of the 250th Anniversary Meeting of the Enoch Lodge No XI, UGLE, which Lodge was originally constituted as an "Atholl" Lodge, hence the subject matter of the lecture being Laurence Dermott. I have included this lecture on Laurence Dermott as he was an Irishman, initiated as a Freemason in Dublin in Lodge No. 26 and is one of the worlds most famous Freemasons due to his publication of "Ahiman Rezon".   

27th January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "Freemasonry and the MacDermotts", by Ken MacDermot Roe, reproduced from "MacDermot Roe Biatach". This paper is by a non-Mason, Ken McDermott Roe, who has an interest in the genealogy of the McDermot family in general. This paper is written from the perspective of a non-Mason, which in my opinion makes it the perfect complement to Bro.  Beresiner's Lecture above. This paper not only gives an explanation of the origins of Freemasonry (aimed at the non-Mason) but delves into some detail as to the family origins of Laurence Dermott himself.   

30th January, 2013.

Today I have added another sub-category to the "Introduction" category. This sub-category is entitled "Famous Irish Freemasons". This particular page of the website will list Irish individuals who would be well known to the public but not necessarily for being a Freemason.

Who can you regard as an Irish Freemason? For the purposes of this page I will listing any Irish born person who has been initiated into the Craft, no matter what 'Constitution', as you will find that in the past some of the most prominent figures in Irish Freemasonry were initiated in foreign constitutions. These Brethren would include several of our most senior officers, such as Grand Masters and Deputy Grand Masters. I have also included persons not born in Ireland but who were initiated into Irish Craft Masonry and therefore can be considered 'Irish' Freemasons. 

We will be basically claiming anyone with an Irish connection! 

30th January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "Oscar Wilde ~ A University Mason", by W.Bro. Yasha Beresiner to the new sub-category, referred to above, "Famous Irish Freemasons". Yasha Beresiner is a Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076, Premier Lodge of Masonic Research, (1997/8). I have intermingled with the text several interesting, and relevant, photographs and prints which did not appear with the original article - these include copies of Oscar Wilde's Master Masons Certificate and Prince Masons Certificate. 

31st January, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "Wellington: Soldier, Politician and Initiated Freemason" by W.Bro. Yasha Beresiner, to the new sub-category, referred to above, "Famous Irish Freemasons". Yasha Beresiner is a Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076, Premier Lodge of Masonic Research, (1997/8). I have to express my thanks for Bro. Beresiner's permission to reproduce this and his other Papers on the website.

1st February, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Edmund Burke Author, Orator, Political Theorist, Philosopher and Freemason" to the category "Famous Irish Freemasons". Burke was born in Dublin in 1729, moving to London in 1750. He is mainly remembered for his opposition to slavery, his support of the cause of the American Revolutionaries, and for his later opposition to the French Revolution. He was a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 44, UGLE. 

3rd February, 2013.

Today I have added a small booklet by Bro. W.J. Chetwode Crawley, entitled "Legal Episodes in the History of Freemasonry" to the "Masonic Literature" section. This booklet was published published in or about 1900. Whereas I intend to give the "Seton secession" more attention in the "History of Freemasonry" section, this booklet gives a short and concise introduction to the subject and recounts the libel case taken by Seton against Bro. W. F. Graham (his successor as Deputy Grand Secretary), arising from his expulsion and a notice being sent to all Lodges informing them of this fact and informing the Brethren of his failure to return "the Books and other Muniments" of Grand Lodge. The booklet is only 12 pages in length, with the "Seton" history and case being set out from page 6-12.

4th February, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Field-Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley, KP." to the category "Famous Irish Freemasons". Wolseley was born in Dublin in 1833. He was a famous Victorian soldier, remembered particularly for the Nile expedition to rescue Gordon of Khartoum. He was initiated in the Military Lodge No. 728 in 1854.

7th February, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "The Early Years of the Military Lodge of Ireland 728 (1846 - 1922) and Some of its Famous Brethren" by R.W.Bro. Noel H. Ingram PC (1990), reproduced from the Lodge of Research No. CC Transactions, 1991-1993, Volume XXII, pages 116-130. I have added several pictures and footnotes which did not appear with the Paper, which I think will of interest to the reader. This history is to complement the webpage on Field-Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley, KP and the webpage on Field-Marshal Lord Roberts which will be appearing in due course.  

16th February, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Masonic Symbolism on Chairs dated 1681 at Lurgan, County Armagh and 1685, at St. Nicholas' Church, Carrickfergus, County Antrim" to the "History of Irish Freemasonry" section of the website. These chairs are very intriguing. You will see from the drawing and photograph of the chairs in question that they are dated 1681 and 1685 and have Masonic symbols carved on them. These dates are some considerable time before 1725, the date of the first recorded meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

16th February, 2013.

To complement the paper by Bro. Beresiner about the Duke of Welllington, which you can find in the "Famous Irish Freemasons" section, I have added to both the webpage about Wellington and the "Masonic Literature" section, a paper by the renowned Irish Masonic Historian, Bro. W.J. Chetwode Crawley, on the Wesley Family connections with Irish Freemasonry entitled "The Wesleys and Irish Freemasonry". The Paper was originally published in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, Volume XV (1902), pages 100-124. The paper, apart from detailing Masonic career of the Duke of Wellington and his family, goes to great lengths to disprove that the famous Rev. John Wesley (a distant relative) was a Freemason. The Wesleys apparently changed the spelling of their surname to "Wellesley" because of this distant relationship.
 

24th February, 2013.

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Today I have added a paper entitled "R.W.Bro. John Fowler, Deputy Grand Secretary, 1769 - 25th January, 1856" [which was a lecture delivered to The Lodge of Research, No. 200, by the then newly installed Worshipful Master, W.Bro. W. J. Fowler, P.J.G.D., on the 11th of February, 1989 and published in the Lodge of Research Transactions for the Years 1989 - 1990, Volume XXI, pages 15-18] to the "Masonic Literature" section of the website. Whereas most Irish Freemasons would not have heard of Bro. Fowler today, he is the man who can be said to be responsible for the structure of Irish Freemasonry in place today, in terms of the different branches and Degrees. More particularly, however, he is responsible for the Ritual as practised in all Craft Lodges to the present day. His importance to Irish Freemasonry cannot be underestimated. 

3rd March, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled "The Grand Royal Arch Room, Dublin" by R.E.Comp. W.J. O'Brien, G.D.C., P.G.H.P. (Hon.), published in the Chapter of Research Transactions No. 222, for the Years 1978-1985, Volume I, pages 167-186, to the Royal Arch Masonic Literature Section. This paper gives anyone who has never visited Molesworth Street a great introduction to the room, and you will see that the objective of its author, Comp. O'Brien is "to shed some light on the symbolism, Masonic and otherwise, relating to the design, decor and furnishings of this interior as it is with all its inconsistencies as a Grand Royal Arch Room, ever bearing in mind that its purely Egyptian styling will claim an inordinate part of the explanatory information". The paper coupled with the pictures added by Irish masonic History give a fascinating insight into this spectacular room. 

9th March, 2013

Today I have added a Paper entitled "The Contribution of Irish Freemasons to English Freemasonry" by V.W.Bro. the Rev. Neville Berker Cryer M.A., P.M. Quatuor Cororati Lodge No 2076 E.C., reproduced from the Lodge of Research Transactions for the years 1987-1988, Volume XX, pages 39-52. I have added several pictures which did not appear with the Paper, which I think will of interest to the reader. This paper highlights and acknowledges the contribution of Irish Freemasons to Englisg Freemasons. I will be publishing in due course a paper by Irish Masonic History on a more recent Irish Freemason who achieved the highest rank possible for a Freemason in the English Constitution - any ideas?

17th March, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Sir Rollo Gillespie and his Monument" by W.Bro. Aiken McClelland to the category "Famous Irish Freemasons". This monument, erected in 1845, is located in Comber, County Down and is the only public Masonic monument on the island of Ireland. The monument honours Major-General Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie, a native of Comber, having been born in there in 1766. Some 55 Lodges attended the official "opening" of the monument, in addition to 25,000-30,000 members of the public. As can be seen from the masonic symbols on the monument, it was erected by Freemasons for a Freemason.

30th March, 2013

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Sir Ernest Shackleton, CVO, OBE, FRGS, Polar Explorer and Freemason" to the category "Famous Irish Freemasons". Shackleton was born on the 15th February, 1874 in Kilkea House, County Kildare. His family subsequently lived at 35 Marlborough Road in Dublin and in 1884 they moved to Sydenham in South London. He is remembered for his exploits as a Polar Explorer. He was a member of Navy Lodge No. 2612, UGLE. 

6th April, 2013.

Today I have added a Paper entitled "Freemasonry and the Mediaeval Guilds", by R.W.Bro. Major-General Sir George McK. Franks, K.C.B., Senior Grand Warden, reproduced from the Lodge of Research Transactions for the years 1939-1946, published 1948, pages 101-110, to the 'Masonic Literature" section. I have added several pictures which did not appear with the Paper, which I think will of interest to the reader. I find this paper very interesting as it discusses the origins of Freemasonry and mentions the Baal's Bridge Square of 1507, discovered in Limerick in 1830, an article on which you will find in the "History of Freemasonry" section. 

17th August, 2013.

Today I have added a Paper entitled "A Brief Summary of the History of the English-speaking Craft", which is the Editor's Introduction to "Caementaria Hibernica", Fasciculus Primus, 1726 -1730, by W.J. Chetwode Crawley, published in 1895. 

I added this 'paper" to the Masonic Literature section as a result of a conversation I had with a Brother of the Craft just two days ago - This brother has been a member for approximately two years and whereas he enjoys his Freemasonry he found it very hard to come across any information on the origins of Irish Freemasonry and freemasonry in general. I hope this paper will be of some help.  

The best way to describe what this paper is about is to use the author's own words "It is no part of our present purpose to trace Freemasonry to its first origins, but a brief summary of the History of the English-speaking Craft is necessary, in order to appreciate the value of the services rendered to Freemasonry by our Grand Lodge. We Irish Freemasons believe that, through our Colonial Lodges, through our Military Lodges, and through our sister Grand Lodge of the "Antients," - to all intents and purposes an offshoot of our own - we can claim a large share in the remark­able spread of Freemasonry among English-speaking men of the last century. We believe, too, that our Irish forefathers of the Craft can claim to have held to the Old Way when the Ancient Landmarks ran some risk of being shifted by the premier Grand Lodge" 

23rd August, 2013.

Today I have added a Paper entitled "What is Freemasonry? - An Answer for the Profane, by W.Bro. W.J. O'Brien" to both the "What is Freemasonry" and "Masonic Literature" sections of the website.

This paper follows on from the paper I added on the 17th August, 2013 and is for the benefit of the Brother mentioned in my post of 17th instant and any other newly initiated Brother who is seeking to establish "What is Freemasonry?" If you are ever asked this question, maybe this paper  will be of some help.

8th September, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Lt Col Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, DSO & 3 Bars" to the category "Famous Irish Freemasons".

Robert Blair Mayne was a Founder member Special Air Services (SAS), Solicitor, Rugby Union International, Champion Amateur Boxer, Polar Explorer and Irish Freemason from Newtownards

Robert Blair mayne was an extraordinary soldier being one of only seven men in World War II to receive four DSO's - the fourth should have been a Victoria Cross.

23rd September, 2013.

Today I have added a paper entitled “The Grand East of Ulster” by Bro. Francis C. Crossle, to the Masonic Literature section. The paper was published in “The Freemason”, on the 21st December, 1892, pages 11-15. This paper is about the schism that took place between mainly northern Lodges and Grand Lodge between 1806 and 1813.

Whereas it could be said the initial cause of the dispute was the attempt by Grand Lodge, around that time, to bring under separate control each of the higher Degrees, which Degrees by tradition, up to that time, had been granted under the authority of the “Blue” Craft Warrant. 

However it was the dismissal of Alexander Seton that brought long-standing issues to a head. I think it is fair to say that through ignorance, 19th Century communications and certain Brethren wishing to take advantage of the situation that arose, that the schism came about (you must remember that there was no Irish Masonic Network at the time!). 

As you will see Seton was proved to be a quite an untrustworthy character whose only aim was to enrich himself by the illegal issue of cancelled Warrants and so on. 

The schism came to an end in 1813, with the Northern Lodges returning to the fold, which time coincided with the conclusion of the High Court action against Seton. The Junior Counsel instructed by Grand Lodge was our erstwhile Brother Daniel O’Connell, Past Master Lodge No. 189. The paper may be accessed through the following link - “The Grand East of Ulster”

Bro. Francis C. Crossle, is probably one of the greatest Irish Masonic historians and collectors of items of early Masonic interest, and one of my most cherished Masonic possessions is the Jewel presented to him by St. Patrick’s Lodge No. 77, Newry, the Premier Lodge of Ulster, in 1898 – this jewel and several papers on Bro. Crossle - can be accessed through the following Link - Bro. Francis C. Crossle.

27th October, 2013.

Today I have added a webpage entitled "Thomas Barnardo - ‘The 'Doctor’ and Freemason", to the category "Famous Irish Freemasons". Shackleton was a philanthropist and founder and director of homes for poor children, born in Dublin in 1845. He was the fourth of five children of John Michaelis Barnardo, a furrier (the shop is still in existence). From the foundation of the first Barnardo's home in 1870 to the date of Barnardo’s death, nearly 100,000 children had been rescued, trained and given a better life. He was a member of Shadwell Clerke Lodge No. 1910, UGLE. 

29th March, 2014.

I have been away from the website for a while but today I have added another person to the section 'Famous Irish Freemasons' and that person is Bro. Joey Dunlop, OBE.

Bro. Joey was, as you all know, a motor cycle legend, but as you will see from his biography, also a committed fund raiser for charity and a Freemason.

The biography of Bro. Joey can be accessed through the following link - William Joseph 'Joey' Dunlop, OBE, Motor Cycle Legend, Humanitarian Aid Worker and Freemason. 

28th September, 2014.

Freemasons' Hall, Park Street, Kolkata.

Today I have added the paper is entitled "260 years of Irish Freemasonry in India, 1754-2014" and is by V. W. Bro. Aniruddha Pradhan, who is the P. Prov. Gr. Chap., Prov. Asst. G. Secretary, PM and Secretary, Lodge St. Patrick No. 319 I.C.

This Paper was presented during the Annual Installation of Lodge St. Patrick no. 319 I.C., Mumbai, 19th June 2014.

I would like to thank V. W. Bro. Aniruddha Pradhan for allowing me to publish his paper on the website and I am sure it will be well received by all Brethren.