Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

Communications:

4th Tuesday of the Month.

Excluding,

June, July and August.

Warrant No.744

Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim.

1st September 1791                Cancelled 5th July, 1856

Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh,

13th June 1950.                          Current

Inniskilling Lodge.

In 1949 there were four Craft Lodges in Enniskillen, namely 891, 205, 586 and 473. These Lodges had good membership and were well attended, therefore a new member joining any of the four lodges would probably have to wait 15 to 20 years before attaining office. With this in mind, some senior brethren decided that Enniskillen could do with another Craft Lodge, so the younger brethren would have a better chance of promotion.

The following Past-Masters, led by V.W.Bro.T.C.Nelson, finally decided to apply for a new warrant - V.W.Bro.J.Morrell, V.W.Bro.J.Fawcett, V.W.Bro.J.N.Carson, W.Bro.G.Warren, W.Bro.W.A.Wilson, W.Bro.G.Cathcart, and W.Bro.W.Moore. They invited some Master Masons to join them and the following gladly accepted - Bro.R.G.Sullivan, Bro.C.F.Pierce, Bro.C.Little, Bro.W.Moore(Coagh) and Bro. F.S.Hart.

Permission was granted in early 1950, when regalia, books, bye-laws etc. were ordered, V.W.Bro.T.C.Nelson and his son, Bro.R.G.Nelson, presented the lodge with the three principle Jewels.

The Lodge was constituted on 13th June, 1950 at 3.00pm. The Provincial Grand Master, the late R.W.Bro.Col. Clifford, performed the dedication ceremony, accompanied by the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge.

The foundation Worshipful Master was V.W.Bro. T.C.Nelson, Senior Warden R.G.Nelson, Junior Warden Bro. W.J. Jackson, Senior Deacon Bro.R.G.Sullivan, Junior Deacon Bro. C.F.Pierce, Inner Guard Bro.C.Little, Director of Cermonies Bro.F.S.Hart. V.W.Bro. W. Wilson was Treasurer, and V.W.Bro.J.E.J.Fawcett acted as Secretary for one year. W.Bro. G.Cathcart acted as Secretary for the next two years, until Bro.W.J.Jackson was through the Chair in 1952. He was elected Secretary in January 1953, a post he held for 31 years until failing eye-sight compelled him to retire from the office at the end of 1983. He was succeeded by W.Bro. J.Erwin.

In January 1951, the foundation Worshipful Master, the late V.W.Bro. T.C.Nelson, installed his son, Bro. R.G.Nelson, as Worshipful Master and from that day V.W.Bro. R.G.Nelson has been a pillar of masonic strength in Lodge 744. He has conferred the degrees on practically all the candidates, and installed most of the Worshipful Masters. Other members of the Lodge who had the distinction of installing their sons were the late W.Bro. W.J.Mullan who installed his son James and V.W.Bro.W.J.Jackson who installed his sons John and Gordon.

The Lodge was keen on ritual from the beginning, and in December 1951, V.W.Bro.T.C.Nelson arranged for the Lodge to exemplify the Installed Master degree in the Grand Lodge in Dublin. The Worshipful Master,W.Bro. R.G.Nelson exemplified the degree. He now has been made an honourary member of the Lodge as he now resides in England. The Lodge has mainatined a very high degree of working ever since, and it has built up a reputation for a first class performance at every Installation Ceremony. W.Bro.F.S.Hart was the first Charities Steward, and he held that position for a number of years; during that time Lodge 744 had the proud distinction of being the only lodge in the Irish Constution which had every member a direct subscriber to the Benevolent Instutions.