PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1931
CATEGORIES OF JEWELS
UNION LODGE NO.105
PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1931
CONTENTS:-
[TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO A SECTION CLICK ON NUMBER ]
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1. DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL.
2. HISTORY OF WARRANT NO. 105.
3. HISTORY OF UNION LODGE NO. 105 - 1828 - TO DATE.
4. DETAILS OF WHEN UNION LODGE NO. 105 MEETS.
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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 "Union Masonic", and The bottom, it's number, "Lodge No. 105".
The Compass and Square is a standard silver Past Master's Jewel with a fixed "G".
REVERSE OF JEWEL
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"Presented to
W.Bro. Robt. Caughey W.M. 1931
by th brethren of
Union Masonic Lodge No. 105"
The Maker's Mark on the reverse of Jewel is "RM".
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2. HISTORY OF WARRANT NO. 105.
There is no record of the issue of Warrant No. 105 in the Grand Lodge Register, but issued to brethren in DUBLIN, probably either April or June 1739.
Warrant No. 105 was Erased on the th5 November 1801.
Warrant No. 105 reissued to Pat. Murnaghan, Dan. Murnaghan and James McCabe enabling them to hold a Lodge in LOUGHBRICKLAND, Co. Down,
Warrant No. 105 was transferred to Tandragee on the 3rd January 1828.
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3. HISTORY OF UNION LODGE NO. 105
1828 - TODATE.
Warrant No. 105 was "purchased" [see footnote] and removed to Tandragee, County Armagh following a Petition of Transfer being laid before Grand Lodge which was granted on the 3rd January 1828.
At the time of its removal to Tandragee it had been known as "Murnaghan's" Lodge. it was common practice at the time to call a lodge after Members of a Family particularly associated with a lodge.
Lodge No. 105 took the title "Union" Lodge in 1828.
The Lodge originally met in a public house in the town.
On the Festival of St. John the Baptist in1835, the following Lodges of Freemasons met at Newry:- Nos. 18, 23, 52, 69, 77, 80, 82, 105, 119, 150, 213, 241, 269, 336, 410, 459, 526, 654, 678, 696, 697, 706, 888, and 943. Having assembled, without music or colours, in the open space at Trevor Hill, they walked in procession to St. Mary's Church, where a Sermon was preached by the Rev. Brother Mant, Archdeacon of Down, from 1 Peter X1, 15,16..... After Church the Brethren walked again in most quiet and orderly manner to Trevor Hill, where they formed themselves into a hollow square; and, having greeted each other with a public Masonic Salute, returned to their respective Lodge-rooms.
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 2nd march 1868 show concerning Lodge 105 -
"2 March, 1868 – Read letter from Lodge No. 105 Tandragee stating that one of the members of the Lodge having died suddenly and wishing to be buried with Masonic honours, they took the liberty of doing so, but afterwards found that they should have asked for a dispensation. They state that it was an oversight and now request that a Dispensation mat be sent to them and enquire the cost of same."
The Lodge was excused and no Dispensation was required.
R.W. Bro. Dr. F.C.Crossle, B.A., M.B., M.Ch.
Union Lodge No. 105 has one particular honour in that it was the Mother Lodge of Bro. Dr. F.C. Crossle. Bro. Crossle received both his Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Degree on the 4th March 1873 and His Master Masons' Degree one week later, on the 11th March 1873. He was elected Worshipful Master in 1875.
On Thursday, the 13th of August 1874, an occurrence of considerable interest to the members of the Masonic body took place in the quiet little town of Tandragee. For some months past the fraternity in the neighbourhood have been actively engaged in making preparations for the erection of a Masonic Hall, and on the invitation of the brethren of Union Masonic Lodge, No. 105, Br. Maxwell C. Close, M.P., Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Masonic Province of Armagh, consented to lay the foundation-stone of the building
At about twelve o'clock, the members of 105 and representatives of some of the neighbouring lodges assembled in the Manchester Hall, and thence repaired to the site of the proposed hall, where the Stone was laid in due Masonic form by Br. Close; Br. Wm. Trimble, of 111 and 623, acting as master of ceremonies. After the laying of the stone hearty cheers were given for Br. Close, who acknowledged the salute, and congratulated the brethren on the celebration of the event which had brought them together.
The said Hall in Tandragee, which is the oldest Masonic Hall in the Province of Armagh, opened on 12th March 1875.
The leading spirit in the building of this Hall was Dr. Francis [F.C.] Crossle, who was subsequently the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of the Province of Down.
One of the colourful members of Lodge No. 105 was Bro. Samuel Rainey, born 1 November 1799, died April 1905, "the oldest Freemason in Ireland", when he died. King Edward V11 sent £10 to erect a headstone over this remarkable mason.
Union Lodge No. 105 was represented at the memorial service in St. Mary's Church, Newry, conducted, 10th October, 1910 by the Lord Primate, in memory of the late Bro. Dr. F.C. Crossle.
Three members served in the 1914 -18 War and all returned.
A total of 136 brethren registered up to 4th December, 1923. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
A total of 101 brethren registered up to 5th August, 1952. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
A total of 130 brethren registered up to 12th June, 1984. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
From 1984 the registration of members is held, in alphabetical order, in a computerised register by Grand Lodge, Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Registration of the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Secretary of Lodges are held in separate Registers, the first Volume covering the period 1983 to 1994 inclusive and the second Volume covering from 1995 to date.
Bro. David Geddis
The following particulars were obtained from Bro. David Geddis on the 16th October, 1884. F.C. :-
"Bro. David Geddis, now aged 84 years, was born in the townland of Cargins, Tandragee, and County of Armagh, and was the son of Adam Geddis. David's brother, Adam, was a member of 105. David was himself initiated in 105, and was for a time a Member of Lodge 360, which sat in Parker Shepherds, Tandragee. Lodge 105 was at this time meeting in Loughbrickland, and David, together with James Flanagan, bought the Warrant for £4, and brought it to Tandragee, where it still remains. - James Flanagan was the first W.M. after the Lodge was removed to Tandragee."
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4. DETAILS OF WHEN UNION LODGE NO. 105 MEETS.
UNION LODGE No. 105 MEETS ON THE 1st TUES. AT 8.00p.m. (EXCEPT 7 & 8) AT THE MALL, TANDRAGEE, COUNTY ARMAGH.
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