Youghal Masonic Lodge No. 68 Presentation Jewel to Secretary

Youghal Lodge No. 68
Presentation Jewel to Secretary 1931

Obverse 0f Jewel

A nice presentation gold Secretary’s Jewel suspended from a sky blue ribbon by one gold bar.

Centred on the ribbon is a gold plaque, surrounded by ivy, the emblem of fidelity, bearing the inscription:

“Presented to
W.Bro. J.M. Torrens
by the Brethren of
Youghal Lodge
No. 68
November
1931”

This is a beautiful Jewel of some quality, comprising of a pair of gold
Secretary's crossed quills mounted on a set of a gold Compass and Square.

W.Bro. John Morrison Torrens

John Morrison Torrens was born at George Street, Sligo on 11th March, 1877. He was a Chemist and Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. His Chemists shop was situated at 85 North Main Street, Youghal in the early 1900s. He was also a professional photographer in Youghal.

The photograph above shows Bro. J.M. Torrens wearing the collar of the International Organisation of Good Templars, a fraternal organization for temperance or total abstinence founded in the 19th century and with a structure modeled on Freemasonry, using similar ritual and regalia.

Bro. J.M. Torrens is the adult in the centre of the photograph. This photograph was taken in 1900 some seven years before Bro. Torrens joined the Craft.

Torrens Chemists at 85 North Main Street, Youghal.

Bro. John Morrison Torrens was initiated in Youghal Masonic Lodge No. 68 on the 2nd January, 1907. He received his Fellowcraft Degree on the 3rd April, 1907 and was Raised on the 1st May, 1907. He was elected to the Office of Inner Guard on the 6th November, 1907. He was Installed as Worshipful Master on the 4th January, 1911 and Occupied the Chair again in 1915.

Bro. Torrens was appointed Secretary of the Lodge on the 6th January, 1926 and the above Jewel was presented to him in November 1931 when he sold his business to go and live in Bournemouth. It is clear from his personal dairy that he continued his association with Freemasonry in England in several branches of the Order.

Bro. Torrens died on the 22nd April, 1944.

Short History of Warrant No. 68

There is no record of the issue of Warrant No. 68 in the Grand Lodge Register but issued probably either in March or on the 8th June 1737. The Warrant is shown as erased on the 5th November, 1801.

Warrant No. 68 reissued to brethren in the 7th BATTALION ROYAL ARTILLERY, on the 7th January, 1813. [see short history of the “7th” covering this period] - [footnote 1]

Warrant No. 68 was returned to Grand Lodge and filed in 1834 - [footnote 2]

History of Youghal Lodge no. 68, 1835 - to date

The Minutes of Grand Lodge dated 1st January, 1835 show in regard to Lodge 68 -

“1 January, 1835 – Read the Memorial of Thos. John Junr., Walter Giles and Wallis Adams, to be formed into a Lodge of Freemasons to be held in Youghal. Granted 68.”

Warrant No. 68 reissued to brethren in YOUGHAL, County Cork, on 15th January, 1835.

Charles William Moore, 5th Earl Mount Cashell
(1826–1898)

Charles William Moore, 5th Earl Mount Cashell was Worshipful Master on six occasions between 1853 and 1866.

Series three Vol. 6 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows...”John Edwards registered 6th December 1860.”

The Minutes of the G.L. Board of G.P. in regard to Lodge 68 shows

“30 January, 1860 – Read an Application from Lodge No. 68 Youghal for permission to remove the Warrant from their present place of meeting, the Downshire Arms Hotel, to No. 130 in North Main Street, a private house. This application having the approbation of the Prov. Gd. Master of the District. The Board recommend that it be approved of by Grand Lodge.”

The Minutes of Grand Lodge of 2nd February 1860 state - “Agreed to”

Lodge No. 68 was represented by Bro. Captain D. Wilkie at the ceremony of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new Masonic Hall, Arthur Square, Belfast [Northern Whig 25th June, 1868].

It is set out in the Minutes of the G.L. Board of G.P. dated 30th August, 1869 having received a letter from Lodge No. 68 -

“Lodge 68 and 504 - 30 August, 1869 – Read letter from the Secretary of Lodge 68 Youghal enclosing the Warrant of Lodge and Chapter 504 (old), which were cancelled in 1851.”

The Board recommend that the Warrants be retained and that Lodge 68 be thanked for the trouble they have taken and that the amount their Tyler is out of pocket be repaid to him.

Montague Guest, Esq., M.P.

The “Montague Guest, Esq., M.P.” mentioned in the catalogue, shown to the right, was a member of the prominent Guest family, he was the third son of Sir John Josiah Guest, 1st Baronet, and his second wife Lady Charlotte, daughter of Albemarle Bertie, 9th Earl of Lindsey. Ivor Bertie Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne, was his elder brother, while Ivor Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne, Frederick Edward Guest, Henry Guest and Oscar Guest were his nephews. He entered Parliament for Youghal in a 1869 by-election, a seat he held until 1874, and later represented Wareham from 1880 to 1885. He died in November 1909, aged 70. He never married.

A total of 135 brethren registered up to 3rd October, 1900. In most cased the dates when the degrees were conferred and the issue of certificates is shown.

A total of 150 brethren registered up to 5th December, 1923. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.

Forty-four members of Youghal Lodge No. 68 served in the 1914-18 War and Bro. S. Abbott made the supreme sacrifice.

In 1929 Bro. J.M. Torrens (the recipient of the above Jewel), Secretary of Lodge No. 68 presented the Lodge of Research CC with a photograph of an old Floor-Cloth belonging to the Lodge. Bro. Torrens informed Lodge CC that when he was initiated this Floor-Cloth was placed on the floor of the Lodge-room in front of the Senior Warden, and was unrolled just enough to display certain parts which were explained to him. [See Lodge CC transactions Vol. IX, p. 49.]

Series five Vol. 17 shown as Vol. 1 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows:- Warrant No. 68 to Youghal, Co. Cork and the Register commences with the registration of William V.G. Fuge, Captain R.A.S.C., registered 24th May, 1924.

Menu ~ Installation Dinner, 17th January 1940.
From the website of Lodge No. 68.

A total of 80 brethren registered up to 19th November 1952. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.

Records in the custody of the Grand Lodge the following:-

6 Minute Books covering the period 1835 to 1950

3 Minute Books covering the period 1873 to 1954

2 Register of members books covering the period 1835 to 1887 and 1920 to 1958

Declaration Book covering the period 1873 to 1939.

From 1984 the registration of members is held, in alphabetical order, in a computerised register by Grand Lodge, Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Registration of the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Secretary of Lodges are held in separate Registers, the first Volume covering the period 1983 to 1994 inclusive and the second Volume covering from 1995 to date.

Details of when Youghal Lodge no. 68 meets.

Youghal Lodge no. 68 meets on the 3rd Wed in 1, 3, 5, 10 and 11 at 8.00p.m. at the Mall, Youghal, County Cork.

Weblink ~ Youghal Lodge No. 68

[Footnote 1]

7th Battalion, the Royal Artillery.

The Battery was raised in Dublin in May 1755 as 1st Company, 7th battalion, Royal Irish artillery and later became Capt. Lindsay’s Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Artillery after the Act of Union, 1801.

The Battalion’s most famous engagement was the capture of Fort Desaix on the Island of Martinique, on 25th February, 1809.

During the 19th century, the Battalion was to find itself in Ireland, Newfoundland, the West Indies, Canada, Gibraltar, South Africa and India.

Captain R S Broughs Company, 7th Battalion Royal Artillery
at the Capture of Martinique, 1809

[Footnote 2]