Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

Harmony Lodge 586

Warrant No. 586

Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry. Compounded for arrears, 5th November, 1812;

At Magherafelt in 1814.

Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. 11th June, 1924, Harmony Lodge

 The first Warrant in the Irish Constitution with the number 586 was issued to a Lodge in Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry in the year 1781. This Warrant was cancelled in 1812 and the number 586 next appeared on a Warrant issued to a Lodge at Magherafelt in 1814, later Harmony Lodge 586, Enniskillen and was constituted by Right Worshipful The Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Bro. W.H.Darragh on the 11th Day of July, 1924. In recognition of this historic event he presented the Lodge with a maul which is kept in a glass case on the Dais.

The Foundation members numbering 25 were by and large from the sister Lodges in Enniskillen and are as follows:

The decision to have a fourth Lodge in the Enniskillen area was fully justified as during the following fifteen years the Lodge membership more than doubled and reached a total of 62 members in 1939.

Attendances at the early installations were usually less than 40 but gradually increased during the 1930's to between 70 and 80 brethren and guests. At the installation on 21st January, 1938, 82 brethren and guests subscribed £9.5.0 (£9.25) at the Dinner Charity Collection.

At the monthly stated communications during the late 1920's attendances averaged 25 members supplemented by around 5 visitors and contributions towards the Charity Collections worked out at around 6 old pence (2 1/2P) per person.

During the late 1940's and early fifties a keen and active interest in the ritual of the Order was taken by many of the Junior members who received encouragement and support from the Senior Members. This has been carried on up to the present time and in Lodge 586 the aim has always been to preserve and perfect our ritual and working. A team from the Lodge exemplified the degree of Installed Master at the Grand Lodge of Instruction in Belfast in December, 1984.

During the short history of the Lodge two distinguished brethren have served as secretary for a total of 47 years. Worshipful Bro. George H. Bleakley who served from 1933 to 1954 and Right Worshipful Bro. Ian C. Eadie who served from 1956 to 1982. The Lodge was further honoured when on 27th December, 1983 Right Worshipful Bro. Eadie was invested as Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi in Grand Lodge in Dublin.

Harmony Lodge has  very close ties with Harlech Lodge 165 Sligo. Since 1957 when their Worshipful Master, Worshipful Bro. James Donnelly extended an invitation to it to attend the communication of his Lodge. With the exception of a break due to the troubles during the 1970's and 1980's visits have become an annual event with each Lodge visiting each other on alternate years.

In conclusion, Harmony Lodge looks forward into the future determined to uphold all the principles of Freemasonry and justify the foresight and good faith of the 25 members who formed the Lodge 80 years ago.

50 Year Medal recipients.

Right Worshipful Bro. Ian.C.Eadie.                                            Joined 1933

Worshipful Bro. George Cathcart.                                              Joined 1933

Bro. Alexander Campbell.                                                           Joined 1933

Worshipful Bro. Noble Connor Johnston.                                   Joined 1935

Masonry in Ireland

Bi-Centenary Celebration.

Honour for Colonel Wallace.

Gratifying statements as to the continued progress of Masonry in Ireland were made at the great annual gathering of members in Dublin on St. John’s Day, when upwards of four hundred representatives from all parts of Ireland assembled in the Masonic Hall, under the presidency of Colonel Claude Cane, Deputy Grand Master of Ireland.  The report of the Grand Secretary stated that seventeen new lodges had been established during the year.  Of these no less than twelve had been constituted in Northern Ireland, viz – Fidelis, 577, Ballymacarrett the Rosemary, 578, Mountpottinger; True Friendship, 579, Dungannon; the Ormiston, 581, Mountpottinger; the Wheatfield, 582, Belfast; the Hugh Wallace, 584, Portadown; the Zara,585, Belfast; the Harmony, 586, Enniskillen; the Fernhill, 587, Belfast; the Woods, 590, Ballyronan, County Derry; the Albertville, 591, Belfast; and the Jewel, 592, Ballymacarrett.

Belfast Evening Telegraph, 3 January, 1925.

N.P. Vol. E G16