Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

Communications:

4th Friday of the Month 8.00PM

Except

June, July & August.

 

Lodge History

Lodge 473 is one of the oldest Lodges in the Order of Freemasons in Fermanagh and universally where the Irish Constitution Ritual is used.

It was constituted on the 8th September, 1769 with its meeting place at Bellanaleck, a brother from that district maintained that it actually met at Macken.

The original Warrant  from Grand Lodge is still extant at present. The three principle officers named on this Warrant, and one of them is Eugene Keenan which would allow that membership of the order was not confined to one section of the population. Freemasonry had been widespread throughout the whole of Ireland as at present until the Holy Father put a ban for no apparent reason. It is possible that after or during the 1798 Rebellion any Lodges in existence would have changed to their present form and maybe some former brethren carried the teachings of Freemasonry to Australia to the parts to which they were possibly transported. A similar situation would have existed following the 1841 potato famine when America and Canada would have benefited. In 1813, the Lodge moved to Enniskillen and it is understood that the present day Deanery then known as Carlton House served as the Masonic Hall. When the Lodge moved into Enniskillen it brought with it a Royal Arch Chapter. It is regretted, that due to the passage of time no records of the Lodge for this period are available and one can only assume that communication of the Lodge were held in some suitable premises. In July 1888 a joint committee was appointed "to inquire as to any suitable sites for a Masonic Hall in Enniskillen, terms, costs, etc."

The Lodge took part in the formation of the Grand Lodge of Ulster brought about by what was called Lord Leitrim's revolt.

The Warrant of the Lodge was called in by Grand Lodge because an address had been sent to the Lord Lieutenant without the permission of Grand Lodge.

Due to the efforts of several prominent Brethren of the period, the Warrant was restored.

On 24th May 1838, Lodge No. 473 gave a handsome entertainment to a numerous party of brethren and friends in celebration of the birthday and the Coronation of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, and it is probably from this date that the Lodge took the title of Victoria to be known as Victoria Masonic Lodge. Whether the Lodge had a name previously is not known.

On the 23rd June, 1887, Lodge No. 473 joined with the other two Enniskillen Lodges No. 891 & 205 and dined as a celebration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. It is known this period Lodge No. 473 took the appearance of being a Military Lodge because an old book showed most of the officers and many brethren belonged to 27th Regiment (Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ) and in an account for a dinner in 1899 the stewart was recorded as a fatigue man.

At this time the meeting place was the Town Hall for both communications and dinners.

Lodge 473 continued to progress and many of the leading business men, farmers and members of the services were initiated and affiliated. During 1939 - 1945 war Lodge 473 was attended by many Servicemen and one, a Canadian who was a Jew was initiated.

Mention has been made of the Constitution of the Lodge on 8th September, 1769, the bicentenary was celebrated in September 1969 when Worshipful Brother John Stirling was Worshipful Master. To mark the occasion new lighting was installed in the present Masonic Hall and a chalice suitably engraved was presented to Cleenish Parish Church, Bellanaleck. A considerable number of Brethren attended the service.

Lodge 473.

Victoria Masonic Lodge 473 met at their Lodge-rooms, Town Hall, Enniskillen, on the 28th ult., at 5 p.m.

Having initiated two candidates, the following officers were duly installed:-

Bro. Kiltson, W.M.; Bro. Benson, S.W.; Bro. McMillan, J.W.; Bro. Rev. A.C. Maclatchey, P.M., Chaplain; Bro. J.W. Neile, Sec.; Bro. Johnson, Treas.,; Bro. Ternan.

At 7 p.m. the Brethren were called from labour to refreshment, and 25 Members sat down to a sumptuous dinner. The banquet room was very tastefully festooned with wreaths of flowers, and decorated with Masonic mottoes and emblems. Several Masonic songs were sung by the Brethren, when they separated as usual, in Peace, Love and Harmony, after having spent a most agreeable evening.

NT 5 January, 1864.

Vol. 12.p. 241.