Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

The primary sources of these Warrants are of course, the archives of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Unfortunately the earliest of these to come down to us is a register which appears to be compiled around the year 1760, apparently from returns made about that time. This register is incomplete as 104 of the Warrants issued are not recorded.

From the year 1780, minutes of Grand Lodge are available.

Since the first Issue of Warrants commenced in February 1731/32, a few can be filled from other sources. Although it was the rule, that cancelled Warrants reaching Grand Lodge, should be destroyed immediately "they were usually put on the fire before Grand Lodge closed," a few survived. Newspaper references and entries in minutes of private lodges account for a few more. An invaluable early source is a list printed by W.Smith in his Pocket Companion, published in Dublin 27th May, 1735, called a list of the Warranted Lodges in the Kingdom of Ireland as they are registered in the Grand Lodge book and consists of 37 Lodges.

 

Unfortunately as it stands, this list does not agree with the earliest surviving Grand Lodge Register, nor with certain Warrants which have survived; some surviving Warrants are not included.

 

We know that the earliest Warrants were not numbered; some which have come down to us are not numbered, and others have had the numbers obviously added at a later date, in different ink, and by a different hand.

 

It is probably to be inferred then, that the "Grand Lodge Book" may not have been complete, or it may even have disappeared before 1735; replacement of Thomas Griffith by John Pennell may account for that, and that numbers had not finally allocated before the publication of the "Pocket Companion."

 

Where they are known, names used by individual Lodges have been recorded, although to an Irish Mason the name of the Lodge is very much a minor matter; from the earliest period an Irish Lodge was always identified by its number, and the town or district wherein it met.

 

Very few title appear in Grand Lodge records before 1836, when it was resolved that no particular Lodge should adopt a title without first obtaining the permission of Grand Lodge. Finally, before 1924, Grand Lodge ruled that it was undesirable to name Lodges after living individuals.

 

In 1817 a new form of Warrant was issued, worded rather more strictly than the original version, and to encourage Lodges to take out the new pattern, Grand Lodge offered inducement of a higher number, and consequently higher precedence to such Lodges as would accept the new type.

 

The law governing a change of meeting place of a Private Lodge was laid down in Spratt's New Regulation No.IX of 1744. Briefly, on Formal notice given, seconded, the Master was required to summon a special meeting of all the members, giving ten days notice to consider the matter; if the Master refused to give such notice either warden could do so. A simple majority, including the Master, sufficed, but, if the Master opposed the move, a two thirds majority was required.

 

Such removals were frequent, without reference to Grand Lodge.

 

From about 1750, in order to strengthen discipline in the Provinces, the Grand Master appointed personal representatives in Munster, Ulster and Connaught, under the title "Provincial Deputy Grand Master." Their duties were to receive the annual contributions from the Lodges in the Provinces, to hear and determine all differences relative to the craft brought before them on appeal and to take the speediest and most effective methods within the limits of Masonry for redressing the grievances of the Brethren within their district. Colonel William Irvine of Castle Irvine was elected to this office 1776 for the Province of Ulster and continued in office prior to his election as Grand Master of the Secessionist Grand East of Ulster in 1808.

 

It is interesting to note that between 1733 up to the present day 58 Lodges at on time or another were working in Co. Fermanagh. At present the number working is 12 and the total Lodges in the Province of Tyrone and Fermanagh is 41.