Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

At a Meeting of the Free Masons of the County of Fermanagh, (14 Lodges) consisting of 715 Members, held at Enniskillen, on the 28th of January, 1793,

Brother Chartres in the chair

The following Resolutions were unanimously agreed on:

Resolved, That at the present crisis it is the duty of every Man and body of Men, to declare their sentiments.

Resolved, That in loyalty to our Sovereign King George the Third, and our attachment to the Constitution, we will not give place to any body of Men in this Nation; and we wish most ardently that the Crown of these Kingdoms may descend in the Hanoverian Succession, to the latest posterity.

That we perfectly agree with the virtuous and enlightened part of the People, in declaring that gross corruption have been introduced into the system of Government, are multiplying beyond number, demand redress, and call for decided reprobation.

That when the Rights of Mankind are ascertained, none but the self-interested and inglorious part of the Community can implicitly submit to Taxation without Representation - for we conceive that as a large Majority of the House of Commons are now returned, they are not the Representatives of the People - and from this cause we believe our grievances arise.

Resolved, That we will join in any legal and constitutional mode, that is most conducive to regain our just privileges, and restore and maintain. to every rank, from the Prince to the Peasant. Their respective Rights.

Resolved, That, we do hereby pledge ourselves to the Civil Magistrates, as Free Masons, that we will assist and support then in their duty, in bringing forward to punishment, every person who shall attempt to disturb the peace that this County enjoys at present.

Signed by Order

S. Johnston, Sec. to the Meeting.

Northern Star

6 Feb. 1793

Enniskillen:-

To the R.W. and Rt. Hon. Richard, Earl of Donaghmore, G.M. of the Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland =

May it please your Lordship,

The Memorial of the different Representatives of the following Lodges, held at Enniskillen, on the 21st of March, 1806 - Nos. 17, 215, 303, 366, 385, 436, 439, 453, 457, 464, 468, 473, 481, 595, 648, 674, 778, 782, 797, 804, 810, 814, 819, 827, 830, 834, 853, 859, 870, 871, 889, 892, 893, 894, 896, 899, 913, 937, and 958 - the W. Bro. Christopher Hamilton, of No. 17, in the Chair, the following Resolutions were unanimously agreed to:-

Resolved - "That it appears to us that the measures lately proposed respecting certain Orders of Masonry are unwarrantable innovations, infringing on ancient and inviolable rights, and calculated in their nature to disturb the harmony which should subsist among the Brethren at large."

Resolved - "That we believe these innovations and the new, chimerical, complex, and oppressive systems of finance, originated in the love of exclusive power, and in a desire to create emolument to the now no longer necessary office of D.G. Treasurer, and that we consider them the cause of the dissections which have lately convulsed the G.L., which we cannot behold without the deepest sorrow."

Resolved - "That we sincerely regret the dismissal of Bro. G.D. Irvine Esq., from the office of G. Sec,; well acquainted with his private virtues, and his great and hereditary love of the Brethren and the genuine Masonry we regard his continuance in office a secure barrier against those dangerous novelties which, if established must separate the Country Lodges from the G.L., and greatly injure the Masonic Institution."

Resolved - "That we pledge ourselves to one another, and to all Blue Master Masons, R.A. Masons, and K.T's that we will employ our best exertions in forwarding such measures as may restore the regulations of the Craft to their former simple, pure, and admirable footing, and prevent factious, covetous, and ambitious men from disturbing the tranquillity of the G.L. in future.

Christopher Hamilton, Chairman.

Furnell's "Acta Latoromum",

Saint John's Lodge No. 88, Belfast.

Entertained a large number of Masonic American Excursionists who were visiting Belfast and other places in Ireland, and who, prior to their departure inserted an acknowledgement of the kindness and hospitality extended to them by the members of the Craft in Ireland, but more particularly in Enniskillen, Portrush, and Belfast.

The Freemason

5 July, 1873.

Masonic Sermon.

A Masonic Sermon was preached in the Enniskillen Presbyterian Church, on Sunday by Rev. Bro. Maclatchey, P.M., Senior Provincial Grand Chaplain, in which he spoke of Solomon's Temple and its emblematic significance to Christians.

A large collection was taken up at the close for the foreign missions.

Newry Reporter,

13 July, 1875.

Died – On the 3^rd inst., in Enniskillen, William Wilson in his 94^th year.  He was, for the last 60 years, a regular attending member of the fraternity of Freemasons.

Newry Telegraph

9 November, 1844

Great Masonic Excursion on Lough Erne, Enniskillen, 30 June.

[Account of event]

Newry Telegraph

3 July, 1869

How much of humanity's doings vanish and leave not a wreck behind! A masonic seal was found a few days ago in Fermanagh among some old iron. Deeply engraven on the shield-like form of brass is an arch, within which are the square and compass, and the letter "G" Surmounting the arch are the words in fine bold letters "Topped Mountain", underneath being inscribed "Lodge No. 853". A finely out lined eye forms an apex to the seal.

Not even the most learned Mason of the district, Dr. Ternan, had heard that a Masonic Lodge ever existed on Topped Mountain. At length Dr. Crossle, of Newry, a zealous Masonic historian, discovered that 853 was issued to Topped Mountain on the 3rd November, 1796, its officers being Wm. Wilson, W.M.; Jas. Moffett, S.W.; and Peter Moffett. Further nothing is known, but in 1819 Lodge No. 853 appeared in Enniskillen. In 1838 it vanished, the warrant is back in the Grand Lodge. A list of the original eight members also exists and now with the seal, is the only remnant of the extinct lodge.

Belfast NewsLetter

1898..

The Masonic Conversazione

Charming and Enjoyable

A Pronounced Success

[Long description of masonic event in Enniskillen including those contributing]

Belfast News Letter

2 March, 1905

The Masonic Bazaar

The Duchess of Abercorn is anxious, through the medium of the Belfast News Letter, to express the deepest and warmest thanks, which comes from her heart, to the ladies of Tyrone and Fermanagh, Derry and Donegal, and to the brethren belonging to the different Masonic Lodges of those provinces, for the cordial and generous way in which they came forward with money, work, and other contributions, totally unsolicited, to assist her stall at the bazaar in aid of the Masonic Orphans’ School.  She only regrets that it was impossible for her to thank each one individually as she would like to do, but their kindness has sunk very deeply into her heart, and adds yet another link to the chain of sympathy and affection that binds her and the Duke so closely to the North-West of Ireland, where so many happy years of their lives have been spent.

Hampden House, London, May 24^th, 1892.

Belfast News Letter

27 May, 1892.

Aughnacloy.

The Venerable Archdeacon MacManaway, Enniskillen, Provincial Grand Chaplain (Tyrone and Fermanagh), was the special preacher at a Masonic service, at Aughnacloy on Sunday.

Over 200 members of the Craft attended. The service was under the auspices of St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 230 and R.A.C. 230, and was held in St. James's Parish Church.

Brethren were present from Enniskillen, Portadown, Dungannon, Lisnaskea, Fivemiletown, Clogher, Caledon, and Armagh, while the Preceptories of Dungannon and Enniskillen, and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Tyrone and Fermanagh were also well represented.

Worshipful Br. Peter Brock, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and a member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction, acted as M.C. The service was read by Br. Rev. C.E. French, BA., (rector).

Belfast News Letter

June, 1927.

A MASONIC MEDALLION OF 1516

BY BRO. JOE L. CARSON. VIRGINIA

We are indebted to the courtesy of Brother Joe Carson, of Riverton, Virginia, whose name is well known to our readers, for the privilege of publishing the illustrations presented herewith. This medallion is an item of considerable importance to antiquaries, since it is computed to be 405 years old. Thus far nothing has been published about it, so that it is hoped that among our own readers may be found those who may add something to the information furnished by Brother Carson, either by way of facts or of interpretation.

Meanwhile a casual reader will find many points to challenge his speculative faculty by way of explaining the symbols and emblems exhibited in this rare old Masonic curio. What is the figure above the sun and moon in cut "A?" What signify the numbers 15 and 16? Why five steps? What is the object that lies at the foot of the stair, and looks like a coffin? What is the "X" shaped figure at the immediate left of the Sun? What is the winged figure supposed to be in cut "B" ?

Herewith are the explanatory paragraphs sent by Brother Carson:

BELOW is the authenticated history of an old Masonic Medallion dated 1516, oval in form and beautifully carved with Masonic symbols and characters, found in the ruins of an old house in the townland of Derganyneville near Dromore in the county of Tyrone in the year 1912 by Mrs. Sarah Dowd, an old lady who lived beside the house in question as caretaker of a farm, the property of Mr. John J. Nelson, of Hackencon, Trillick County, Tyrone. The composition of the medallion is believed to be petrified oak, correct size 3 5-8 by 2 3-4 inches.

Mrs. Dowd's statement given before the undersigned members of the Masonic Order is as follows:

"About the end of the year 1912 a little girl, a niece of mine, and myself, were picking out some stones from amongst the partly fallen ruins of the kitchen of an old house in Derganyneville when there fell out also a flat oval piece of something like slate, of a dark color and with a small portion of chimney soot adhering to it. Being struck with the peculiar shape of the article I picked it up from amongst the rubble, and thinking it rather a curiousity, I brought it to my employer, Mr. John J. Nelson, and told him how I had found; Afterwards, on the 8th of July, 1921, I was asked to meet Mr. Nelson and some other gentlemen at the said ruins, which I did, and pointed out the exact place where I found the article."

Mr. John J. Nelson's statement corroborates that of Mrs. Dowd, and he further states that after he had washed the soot and dirt off the medallion he recognized the carving as having something to do with Freemasonry, as although not a member of the Order himself, a Mason lodge met in his father's house when he was a young lad, of which his father was a Past Master, and the Master's chair with Masonic emblems carved thereon was for several years after his father's death and the winding up of the lodge, preserved in the family, but eventually became broken up and lost. Mr. Nelson kept the medallion in his private drawer for some years, when happening to turn it up while looking for some papers, he put it in his pocket and brought it to his old friend and neighbor, Mr. John R. Henderson, of Lisnahanna, Trillick, whom he knew to be a Freemason and whom he surmised, would be interested in it, which proved to be the case, for Mr. Henderson, or, we may now say, Brother Henderson recognizing its evident connection with early Masonry sent it by the hand of Brother Davis Graham, to Brother Robt. W. Wilson, then acting as Grand Secretary to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Tyrone and Fermanagh, who had it immediately photographed, and who also submitted it to several of the leading members of the Lodge of Research, who were all intensely interested in what they deem a rare and valuable Masonic curio.

The authenticity of the foregoing history of the same is vouched hereby by us who were present at the interviews with Mrs. Dowd and Mr. Nelson, and at the taking of photographs of the spot and of the parties named herein on the 8th day of July, 1921.

(Signed)

John R. Henderson, Trillick, P. M. Lodge 58, Trillick.

David Graham, Enniskillen, P. M. Lodge 473, Enniskillen.

James Henderson, Lisnahanna, Trillick, Dolph Lodge No. 80, Athena, Oregon, U. S. A.

John Mercer, Enniskillen, Lodge 891, Enniskillen.

Robert W. Wilson, Enniskillen, P. M.