Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

Warrant No.315 was originally issued to Tandragee Co. Armagh on 5th April, 1759 and worked there until 1831, when in accordance with the practice of those days it was surrendered in exchange for a senior number - 79.

As early as 1788 we have documentary evidence that this Lodge was known as "The Orange Lodge." This title, however had no political significance whatever, but in commemoration of William Prince of Orange, who is referred to in our early Irish Masonic Constitution as "a brother builder." Several other 18th Century Lodges as well as No.315 had Orange in their name.

Unlike many earlier numbers, No.315 lay dormant after its surrender by the Tandragee Brethren for 72 years until it was once again issued as a warrant under which the Brethren of Ballinamallard have been meeting since 1903.

It has bee uniformly successful, being efficiently managed, careful in its working, and not unmindful of practising the great precepts of Brotherly Love and generous support to the Benevolent Funds and Charities of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

The honour of having the First Masonic Lodge named in memory of the late Bro. Rudyard Kipling belongs to the loyal little village of Ballinamallard.

Shortly after the death of Bro. Rudyard Kipling the Brethren of Newporten Lodge No.315 were unanimous in their desire to perpetuate the memory of the great author and patriot. The desire arose not only out of the admiration and gratitude for his genius as a writer and poet, but for his patriotic and life long service to Empire and Freemasonry, but also from the fact that the then Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin M.P. a cousin to the late Bro. Kipling was also associated with the village.

It is recorded that the Rev. James McDonald in 1784 was a Primitive Methodist clergyman in the village and from his daughter both the afore-mentioned were descended. On the ground, therefore of the close connection of Bro. Kipling's ancestors with the village, application was made to have Kipling incorporated into the title. This was approved by Grand Lodge on 28th November, 1936, thus antedating Bro. Kipling's own Lodge, Hope and Perseverance No.782(E.C.) Lahore, which added the subsidiary title of "The Kipling Lodge" in December, 1936. Incidentally "Newporten" is the old name of the Manor or District in which the Lodge is situated.

The founders and first Officers of No.315 were as follows:-

W.M.W.Bro. W. Campbell; I.P.M, W.Bro. H.A.Burke, D.L.; J.W., Bro. R.A.Crozier; S.D.,Bro.G.O.Toole; J.D., Bro.W.J.Brown;Treasurer and Secretary, W.B.ro.Arthur Knox; I.G., Bro.R.H.T..Creighton, Bro.W.H.West.