PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1944
CATEGORIES OF JEWELS
FIDELIS LODGE No. 577
PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1944
CONTENTS:-
[TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO A SECTION CLICK ON NUMBER ]
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1. DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL.
2. SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT No. 577.
3. HISTORY OF FIDELIS LODGE No. 577, 1924 - TO DATE.
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OBVERSE OF JEWEL
A silver Past Master's Jewel suspended from a sky blue ribbon by two silver bars.
The top bar has the name of the Lodge, "Fidelis Masonic Lodge" , and the bottom bar has the number "No. 577 " .
Centred on the ribbon is a pierced plaque of the initials of the holder of the Jewel "JAO".
The Compass and Square is a standard silver Past Master's Jewel with a suspended "G".
REVERSE OF JEWEL
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"Presented to
W.Bro. James A. Orbinson. P.M.
January 1944"
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2. SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT No. 577.
THE 3rd IRISH HORSE
1780 - 1858
The Minutes of Grand Lodge dated 7th September 1780 ordered that a Warrant [No. 577]issue to Brs. Henry Doyle, Thos. Lark and Jas. Dixon to hold a Lodge in the "3rd Regiment of Horse" - the 3rd Irish Horse.
Warrant No. 577 issued to `The Carabiniers Lodge' in The 3rd IRISH HORSE, (later the 6th Regiment of Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers)), on the 7th September 1780.
Volume 2 of the extant Grand Lodge Register records only 3 brethren registered on the 7th September 1780, Henry Doyle; Thomas Lark and James Dixon. No registration of Master or Wardens.
A further 64 brethren registered up to 22nd January 1802.
The annals of the Peninsular war furnish many Masonic illustrations, and those of the Sixth Dragoon Guards, in which there was an Irish Lodge (No. 577), an especial one. The regiment, after a sever engagement, lost its baggage, among which was the chest containing the Lodge furniture, warrant and jewels. The commander of the capturing party, when he saw the Masonic emblems on the chest, immediately sent for one of the prisoners, and demanded the meaning of the marks, which the soldier, as far as was prudent, explained. The French officer, on finding the chest belonged to a Freemasons' Lodge, directed it to be returned to the English regiment, with a flag of truce, and a guard of honour, forwarding at the same time a letter, stating that, although not a Freemason himself, he respected the Society, and that his brother officers would never forgive him if he did not treat the misfortunes of their Masonic Brethren with consideration.
The Grand Lodge Minute of the 5th December 1799 notes in regard to Warrant No. 577 -
`Ordered Wt. 876 for 6th Dragoon Guards in lieu of Wt. 577, lost in the wars at Helvoetsluys in 1794.'
The Lodge was compounded for arrears on the 5th December 1799, however the Minutes of Grand Lodge of the 6th February 1800 show concerning Warrant No. 577 -
"Ordered that a Duplicate of the Warrant No. 577 be granted to the Petitioners of the 3rd of December last in lieu of No. 876 then Ordered to them to be held in the 6th Regt. of Dragoon Guards."
"Here lieth the Body of Michael Connell Late Quarter Master of the 6th Dn. Gds. or Carabiners, Who departed this life the 14th day of January 1802 Aged 47 Years.
This stone is Erected to his Memory by the Brethren of Lodge No. 577 held in the above Regiment."
Inscription on upright limestone tombstone in St. Nicholas Churchyard, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Copied by F.C. about 1905.
Working at "Golding's", Pembroke Quay, DUBLIN, 1823.
Working at "Price's", Horse Barracks Gate, DUBLIN, 1824.
A total of 199 brethren either transcribed from Vol. 1 or registered up to 3rd December 1849.
the Minutes of Grand Lodge of the 22nd July 1837 show concerning Lodge No. 577 -
"Read a Statement of the Military Lodge 577, of donations which they granted to certain Members on their retirement from the service and consequently from the Lodge. No Order."
Warrant No. 577 was cancelled on the 2nd December 1858.
[The above represents the all of the facts relating to Warrant No. 577 before same reissued to Fidelis Lodge No. 577 on the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom ]
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3. HISTORY OF FIDELIS LODGE No. 577.
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 4th February 1924 show concerning Warrant No. 577 -
"Read Memorial from various brethren praying for a warrant to establish a Lodge in Ballymacarrett in the County of Down to be called the Fidelis. Recommended."
The Recommendation of The Board was followed,as is shown in the Grand Lodge Minutes of 6th March 1924 as "Confirmed"
Warrant No. 577 reissued to `Fidelis Lodge' in Freemasons' Hall, BALLYMACARRET, BELFAST, 7th March 1924.
Series five Vol. 20 shown as Vol. 5 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows -
"Warrant No. 577 to Ballymacarrett, Belfast as “Fidelis Lodge”, 7 March, 1924 - Benjamin A. Lennox, Clerk; Richard Davey, Clerk and Thomas H. Ballintine, Engine Driver, all from Lodge No. 347, together with twenty-six others, all, apart from four, from Lodge No. 347"
there was no indication as to Master or Wardens."
The Minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down dated 17th April 1924 show concerning Warrant No. 577 -
"Freemasons Hall,
Newtownards Road, Belfast.
17th April, 1924.
An Occasional Meeting of the Right Worshipful The Grand Lodge of the Province of Down was held in the Masonic Hall, Rosetta, Belfast on Saturday 16th February, 1924, for the purpose of Constituting the ‘Fidelis’ Masonic Lodge No. 577
The Grand Lodge was opened on the First Degree with the following Officers:-
R.W. Bro. J.D. Williamson, MD., JP., acting P.G.M.
V.W. Bro. W. Bel Burrowes, acting D.P.G.M.
V.W. Bro. John G. Harris P.S.G.W.
V.W. Bro. James Boland, P.J.G.W.
V.W. Bro. M. MacDonald, P.G. Secretary
W. Bro. Rev. D.D. Boyle, P.G. Chaplain
W. Bro. Jno. Herron, P.S.G.D.
W. Bro. Jas. Floyd, P.J.G.D.
W. Bro. John Martin, P.G. Dir. of Cer.
W. Bro. A. McCaugherty, P.G. S. Br.
W. Bro. Wm. Rollins P.G.I.G.
W. Bro. A.H. Coley, P.G. Org.
The Roll was called and the attendance’s and apologies of Provincial Grand Lodge Officers recorded.
The notice convening the Meeting was read
The Grand Master and the Grand Lodge Officers carried through the Ceremony of Constitution and the ‘Fidelis’ Masonic Lodge No. 577 was declared to be at Labour. Brother Benj. A. Lennox P.M. was installed as first Worshipful Master.
The Grand Master congratulated the Worshipful Master upon being called on to preside over such a Lodge which he was certain would prove to be an unqualified success & a credit to the Province.
Our Order being a world wide one, it was an absolute necessity the members must be careful selected and he felt that in this Lodge due care would be exercised in the admission of new members. It was a source of great satisfaction to him that politics or religion were matters which were kept entirely outside a Masonic Lodge, and that Peace Love & Harmony were hereby assisted to prevail. In past years a certain section of the community were of the opinion that Freemasonry was a combination against them and their objects, but when they broke into our Halls they were disillusioned and found the idea of such a thing never entered into our methods.
Great credit must be given to our Southern Brethren for their support of our Charities in the past, as the Brethren of the North had failed to do their share. However he was glad to say the Northern Brethren were now doing their part nobly and it was well that such should be the case as many of our Brethren in the South & West were not now in a position to support the Charities as they formerly did. He regretted some of the Brethren failed to remember the obligation taken on the volume of the Sacred Law and the various clauses involved.
He wished the new Lodge every success.
The Worshipful Master on behalf of the members of the new Lodge thanked the Grand Master and his Officers for attending to Constitute their Lodge.
The brethren of the Lodge afterwards entertained the Grand Lodge officers and visiting brethren.
(signed) R.G. Sharman Crawford P.G.M. 13th Nov. ’24.
Malcolm MacDonald, P.G. Secretary."
Lodge No. 577 was Constituted in Ballymacarrett and on 11th November, 1924 Provincial Grand Lodge refused to sanction a request to move to Rosetta as reasons given were considered inadequate.
However Lodge No. 577 was Removed to Freemasons' Hall, ROSETTA, BELFAST, in October 1938.
A total of 177 brethren registered up to 18th December, 1951. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series six Vol. 22 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers commences with the registration of George Fox, Iron Turner, registered 19th December 1952.
A total of 84 brethren registered up to 20th December, 1983. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Warrant No. 577 was returned to Grand Lodge in 200?
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4. SHORT HISTORY OF THE 3rd IRISH HORSE.
The regiment was descended from the Ninth Horse regiment, raised in response to the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion in 1685, the first year of the reign of King James II. Colonelcy of the Ninth Horse was given to Richard, 2nd Viscount Lumley of Waterford. In accordance with tradition of the time, the regiment became known as Lord Lumley's Horse. Shortly thereafter, Lumley petitioned the Queen Dowager to permit labeling the regiment The Queen Dowager's Horse, which request was granted. In 1691, during King William's Irish Campaign, the regiment distinguished itself, as a result of which it was posted to London and re-named The King's Carabiniers.
The regiment participated in putting down the rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745-46. By this time, it was recruited almost entirely from Irish Protestants, and so the regiment was redesignated the Third Irish Horse, but continued to be known as The Carabiniers. In 1788 a reapportionment of the army establishment resulted in the designation 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers), which was to remain in place for the next 133 years. The regiment fought under this title through the Napoleonic Wars, to include the Peninsula Campaign; the Crimean War; the Boer War; and World War I.
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6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers)
In 1906, the regiment was part of The Cavalry Brigade at the Grand Durbar (the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Bangalore), during which HRH presented a new standard to The Carabiniers. The regiment was in the 1st and 2nd Battles of Ypres in France, at the Battle of the Somme, Allenby's attack at Arras, and at Longueval. Following the war, the regiment was on constabulary duty in Ireland from 1919-1922.
In July 1922, the 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers) was returned to England and posted to Aldershot. There, they were amalgamated with the 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales'), and this regiment was designated the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards.
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