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IRISH FREEMASONRY
The Builder, Vol. II, No. 1, January 1916, Page 7
By BRO. J. L. CARSON, VIRGINIA
Although Ireland cannot boast of having had a Mason's Guild of its own, many of the cathedrals, churches and monasteries established up and down through the country were built by bands or companies of skilled workmen belonging to such guilds who came into "The Kingdom of Ireland" from across "The Channel."
The Cathedral of The Holy Trinity (now Christ's Church), Dublin, was built 1157-1230 by a company of such workmen from Somersetshire; Grey Abbey in the County Down was erected by a body of the brotherhood of operative builders from Whitby 1190 to 1200; builders from Southwark erected St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, about 1210; and Saint Mary's Church, Youghal; Saint Nicholas' Church, Carrickfergus; The Abbey Church, Bangor; County Down, and many others were "fitly framed together" by members of some of the skilled brotherhoods of operative Masons from across the Irish Sea, whose camps or lodges scattered over the face of the land, account for the large number of St. John's Lodges pre-existing the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
That Speculative Masonry existed in Ireland previous to the Grand Lodge era we have ample proof. Of course, the early St. John's Lodges were purely operative, gradually becoming speculative, but at what date this change occurred, or of the circumstances leading up to the change, we have no intimation or knowledge. This we do know: that as early as 1688 Speculative Masonry was known and understood in Ireland. In that year John Jones in his tripos delivered at the commencement exercises of The University of Dublin, delivered before a mixed assembly of University men and prominent Dublin citizens, referred to Free Masonry in such terms as to leave no doubt that a general and wide-spread knowledge of the principles of the speculative element of our society were fully understood.
A LADY FREEMASON
In 1712 at Doneraile House County Cork, where a Speculative Lodge was being held in the Mansion of Lord Doneraile, The Right Honourable Betty St. Ledger, afterwards Mrs. Aldworth (sister of his Lordship), was admitted a Freemason, (she being the only Lady Freemason ever regularly initiated into our society, her initiation is one of the romances of Freemasonry.)
In 1717 at least four of these St. Johns or "Time Immemorial Lodges" met in the City of London with Antony Sawyer as Grand Master and inaugurated the first Speculative Grand Lodge of the World, The Grand Lodge of England. So in the year 1725 (or earlier) The St. Johns Lodges of Ireland united to form The Grand Lodge of Ireland, the oldest daughter of the Mother Grand Lodge.
The Dublin papers of 1725 inform us, that on the 26th day of June, that year, the Grand Lodge of Ireland attended a public ceremony, parading the Streets of Dublin "on a most magnificent scale," from the same source we also learn that on the 28th of June "the Master and Wardens of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Freemasons were chosen, and the Right Honourable Richard Earl of Ross was elected Grand Master," after the installation "there was a splendid dinner consisting of one hundred and fifty dishes," "after dinner and music they went to the play where Mr. Griffith," (the Comedian, who was also the Grand Secretary) "and the Honourable Society sung a song in praise of Freemasonry." All this does not look as if it was "the first day out" for our ancient Irish Brethren, but as all the old records of the Grand Lodge have been "lost, strayed, or stolen," the exact date of the origin of this Grand Lodge cannot be definitely fixed, nor the number of Lodges assisting thereat. The "Munster Records," however, are the first authentic records of any Grand Lodge in Ireland, informing us that a Grand Lodge met at Cork on the 27th of December, 1726, The Honourable James O'Brien, third son of William 3rd Earl of Inchquin, being elected (3rand Master, and Springett Penn, Great Grandson of Admiral Penn and Grandson of the famous Pennsylvania Quaker, Deputy Grand Master. On August 9th, 1731, Lord Kingston, who had been elected Grand Master of England 1728 was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in Dublin. He had also been elected in 1729 Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Munster; his acceptance of both important Irish offices served to fuse together the two bodies in 1731, into the Grand Lodge of Ireland as it stands to this day, proving the connection and good feeling then existing between the Premier Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodges of Ireland.
FIRST IRISH CONSTITUTIONS
In 1730 John Pennell transcribed and rearranged Anderson's Constitutions for the Grand Lodge of Ireland, making them the first Irish Constitutions, thus showing the identity of the systems of the Mother Grand Lodge of the World, and her eldest daughter the Grand Lodge of Ireland, previous to the establishment of the Grand Lodge of the Ancients, which deriving its ceremonial work, and methods of organization from the Grand Lodge of Ireland, was rather an offshoot of that Grand Lodge than a seceder from the Premier Grand Lodge of England.
In 1740 Laurence Dermott was initiated in Lodge No. 26, Dublin, and in 1746 was its Worshipful Master; he afterwards migrated to London and was practically the organizer of the Grand Lodge of the "Ancients." He was early appointed Grand Secretary and afterwards Deputy Grand Master, introducing the Irish working and all its methods of procedure, dubbing the followers of the premier Grand Lodge of England as "Moderns."
The Irish Craft and the Grand Lodge of the "Ancients" therefore worked pure ancient Masonry, holding fast to the "original intention" and the Ancient Landmarks, while the Modern Grand Lodge by its innovations, its errors of omission and commission, ran the risk of covering the landmarks with so much quasi-Masonic rubbish as almost to obliterate them altogether.
In 1766 Grand Secretary Crocker when changing his residence in Dublin lost a "small hair trunk" full of Grand Lodge records, and in 1801 Alexander Seton the newly appointed Grand Secretary, took the full of a "Hackney Coach" of manuscripts, books, and records from the home of Brother Crocker, which have never since been traced or recovered. Any student of the history of Grand Bodies can realize this loss; all the history of the Grand Lodge of Ireland previous to this late has been laboriously gathered together from outside sources. Alexander Seton (a Dublin Barrister) who captured the old records, left himself by this and his many irregularities as Grand Secretary open to a Chancery Suit, that ever famous Irish Orator and Brother Mason, Dan O'Connell (The Liberator) being Junior Council for the Grand Lodge. The suit went against Seton who immediately set about fomenting trouble for the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
FRILLS AND FEATHERS
At this period all known and many now unknown degrees were being worked in the Irish Lodges under no other authority than the Blue Lodge warrants. In fact, the power to grant the higher degrees was only governed by the ability to confer them.
The Grand Lodge of Ireland therefore set about cutting all the "frills and feathers" from the Blue Lodges confining them to the first three degrees. Seton seized this as a pretext to agitate the provincial Lodges, misrepresenting the attempts of the Grand Lodge to bring the High Grades under a central control, set about the establishment of a rival Grand Lodge in Dublin known variously as "The Grand East of Ireland," "The Grand Lodge of Ulster," and "The Grand East of Ulster." The central and main plank in their platform being "that it appears to us that the innovations lately proposed to be placed on the High Masonic orders are unnecessary, inasmuch as these orders have hitherto enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity without any ostensible head or controlling power." In 1805 about 200 Lodges revolted following Seton into the "Grand East of Ulster." Things for a time looked serious, but the Grand Lodge after a five years' struggle came out on top. By wise and liberal legislation speaking volumes for the good sense of the rulers of the Craft the effect of the schism died out with astonishing rapidity, and its very memory was speedily forgotten by all but the few students of Irish Masonic history. The History of the Grand Lodge of Ireland since this date has been the history of most other Grand Lodges. It had its ups and downs, its days of prosperity and adversity, but its Traditions, History and Ritual have been handed down pure and undefiled, and the glorious banner of the Craft still flies over a contented and prosperous jurisdiction.
CHETWODE CRAWLEY
The present Ritual was first adopted by the Grand Lodge in 1814. John Fowler "who had a master mind for ritual" exemplified the working before the Grand Lodge, and it was then and there decreed that "the work of John Fowler and no other" be the fixed standard for all future time. Fowler's exemplification introduced no novelties, omitted no essentials, simply put into concrete form the then existing but somewhat mixed ceremonies as they had been handed down from the beginning. Edward Thorp, a pupil of Fowler's, carried on the good work for many years. The late Judge Townsend and Harry Hodges, as well as our good Brother W. J. Chetwode Crawley, received their Masonic ritual from Brother Thorp, without "evasion or equivocation." R.W. Brothers Townsend, Hodges and Crawley have given of their best to the Grand Lodge of Instruction, so that the claim of the Grand Lodge of Ireland for the accuracy of its pure ancient Freemasonry is no vain boast. "Strict verbal accuracy" is demanded where there is neither a printed or written, recognized or unrecognized monitor or textbook, and this is the system by which this demand is attained.
A Brother in a Subordinate Lodge who shows ability and inclination to master the ceremonies, is nominated by his Lodge to attend the Grand Lodge of Instruction in Dublin. If he obtains a certificate of proficiency he becomes instructor to his Lodge. Two of the ablest of these ritualists in each province are annually elected Provincial Grand Instructors, who make regular visits to the Grand Lodge of Instruction, also visiting the Lodges in their province where no brother holds an instructor's certificate, or to any Lodge as instructed by the Provincial Grand Lodge or requested by the Subordinate Lodge. If "strict verbal accuracy" is demanded, so also is "strict uniformity of Masonic Clothing," no apron, jewel, or decoration other than those appertaining to the first three and Past Master's degree being allowed to be worn in a Blue Lodge. This rule is insisted upon in the case of visiting Brethren as well as members of the Lodge. The Grand Lodge meets in Dublin annually, the Grand Master being a life appointment and the Grand Officers the appointment of the Grand Lodge and the Board of General Purposes.
"THE JEWELS"
The Board of General Purposes arranges and decides almost all business details for the Grand Lodge, so that its decisions are usually a cut and dry ratification of the rulings of the Board of General Purposes. Provincial Grand Lodges meet quarterly, the Provincial Grand Master, usually a life appointment, is the nomination of the Grand Master. The Provincial Deputy Grand Master being the nomination of the Provincial Grand Master, it thus transpires, that the office of Provincial Senior Grand Warden is the highest elective position in the gift of the Irish Brethren.
"The Jewels" of Irish Masonry are the Masonic Orphan Boys School, the Masonic Female Orphan School, and the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Fund, all of which are supported with the generosity and good will characteristic of the Irish Freemason at home or abroad, for "Charity suffereth long and is kind."
The first Military Warrant (No. 11) ever issued by any Constitution was granted on the 7th of November, 1732, to the First Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment by the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Through the medium of these Military, Travelling, or Army Lodges, of which the Grand Lodge of Ireland and her Sister Grand Lodge the "Ancients" issued many hundreds, Freemasonry reached the limits of every British possession, and claim may be laid for the lion's share in the spread of Freemasonry through the length and breadth of the English Speaking world.
In Ireland the Royal Arch was known as early as 1743, and the degree of Knight Templar in 1758. Tradition and generally accepted Lodge gossip leads us to believe both these degrees were worked in connection with Blue Lodges or as distinct organizations long previous to these dates. Many, if not all the Regiments stationed in Ireland having Military Warrants, adopted these degrees and worked them without let or hindrance under their ordinary Blue Lodge Warrants, thus s creating what were called "Black Warrants;" hence we account for the spread of the Royal Arch and Templa; degrees as well as those of Blue Masonry, whereve these regiments were drafted.
LAURENCE DERMOTT
The Grand Lodge of Ireland issued the first Grand Lodge Certificate ever handed a Mason by his Gran Lodge. The first of these certificates that ever crossed the sea was carried by Laurence Dermott and exhibited with pride by him in the Grand Lodge in London, thus proving his identity, and his ability to perform all the Masonic Ceremonies as worked in Ireland at that date. Warrant No. 1 of the Lodge meeting at Mitchellstown, Co. Cork, is the oldest existing document of its kind ever issued by any Grand Jurisdiction. Mitchellstown was on the estate of and near the Mansion of Lord Kingston, Grand Master; thus we account for its being warranted to that village. It is quite possible it first met in the Mansion itself. This Lodge claimed to have worked as a regularly constituted St. John's Lodge for fifty years previous to the issue of its Grand Lodge warrant. For many years these St. John Lodges held aloof from the Grand Lodge and did not apply for regular warrants of Constitution. In 1840 we find the following advertisement in the public newspapers: "Such Lodges as have not already taken out warrants, are ordered to apply for them to John Baldwin, Esq., Grand Secretary to the Grand Lodge, or they will be proceeded against as rebels." Indeed it was a frequent cause of riot and disorder when the "Regulars" or members of Lodges having received Grand Lodge Warrants, and the "Bush," "Rebel" or "Hedge" Masons, as those belonging to unwarranted Lodges were called, met at fairs, markets and funerals, trailing their coats down the center of the street, each claiming their regularity and yelling "If you want to raise a row or a ruction just tread on the tail of me coat." And I say to the readers of "The Builder," if you want to raise either of the aforesaid ancient ceremonies, just say a bad word about the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and I'm with you.
