Good  Afternoon  Companions,  

 

And  welcome  here  to  these  excellent  surroundings  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  Lodge  Road,   Coleraine.   Today,   I   would   like   to   tell   you   all   a   little   about   the   early  history   of   Freemasonry   in   the   town   of   Coleraine,   and   its   seminal   role   in  recording   some   of   our   earliest   references   to   Royal   Arch   Masonry.   Indeed  before   the   afternoon   is   over,   I   hope   to   show   you   physical   proof   of   the  longevity   of   our   Royal   Arch   workings,   here   in   the   town   of   Coleraine.   So  Companions,  make  yourselves  comfortable  and  let  us  begin.  

As  most  of  you  know,  we  in  the  Irish  Constitution  lost  most  of  our  early  Minute  Books  and  other   records  at   the   time  of   the  Seton  Revolt.  However   there  are  sufficient   records   surviving   to   say   that   Warrant   No   123   was   issued   to  Coleraine,   in   County   Coleraine   on   the   8th   May   1741   to   form   a   Lodge   to   be  known   as   the   Vernon   Lodge.   Volume   1   of   the   extant   Grand   Lodge   Registers  records   the   three   principal   initial   applicants   as   William   Kinkade,   Gent.  Alexander   McCracken,   Gent.,   and   Dominick     Highland,   Gent.   together   with  Andrew  Todd.  Gent,  Robert    Given.  Gent.  And  others.  

From  the  numbers  involved,  It  would  appear  that  this  was  not  a  Warrant  for  a  new  Lodge,  it  was  more  a  case  of  an  old  "Time  Immemorial"  Lodge  regularising  its   position,   by   taking   out   a  Grand   Lodge  Warrant   in   response   to   one  of   the  

many  advertisements  placed  by  Grand  Lodge  encouraging  such  Lodges  to  apply  for  Warrants  "or  they  will  be  proceeded  against  as  Rebel  Masons".  It  may  even  have   been   in   response   to   the   latest   such   advertisement   published   in   the  Faulkner's  Dublin  Journal  dated  1  July  1740.  

 

The  new  Lodge  was  named  Vernon,  as  compliment  to  Admiral  Vernon  who  was  a  popular  hero  within  the  Craft.  His  name  appears  on  the  Toast  List  of  various  Lodges  at   this   time.  This  was   the  man  who   first   issued   the   rum  ration   to  our  sailors  and  who  had  on  his  staff  an  officer  called  Washington,  who  went  on  to  become  the  first  President  of  the  newly  formed  United  States  of  America.  The  

said  Washington   was   so   impressed   with   Vernon’s   ability   that   he   named   his  house  –  Mount  Vernon,  a  name  that  it  still  has  up  to  the  present  day.  

Vice  Admiral  Vernon  was  appointed  C.   in  C.  West  Indies  9  July  1739  and  took  Porto   Bello   in   November   of   that   year   despite   strong   opposition.   His   next  exploit,  in  January  1741,  was  not  so  successful  due  to  the  lack  of  expertise  by  the  General  in  command  of  the  land  forces.  

Returned   to   England   and   after   promotion   to   Admiral   of   the   White,   Vernon  commanded  the  Squadron  in  the  North  Sea,  deployed  to  contain  the  French  in  support   in  1745  of  Prince  Charles  Edward  Stuart.  Coleraine  celebrated,  on  25  March  1740,  the  victory  at  Porto  Bello  with  bonfires  and  the  Mayor  "gave  an  Elegant   Entertainment."     Here   is   the   report   from   Coleraine   published   in   the  Faulkner’s  Dublin  Journal  dates  1st  July  1740  –  

"Coleraine.     March   25.     Friday   last   on   receiving   the   agreeable   News   of  Admiral   Vernon's   Success   at   Portobello,   the  Mayor,   Collector,   and  Officers;  with   several  other  Gentlemen,  met  at  2,   Tavern,  and  after  Dinner  drank  all  the  Loyal  Toasts,  and  the  Toast  of  the  Day  [Admiral  Vernon]:  They  had  a  large  Bonfire  in  the  Street,  the  Army  were  drawn  out  and  fired,  and  were  answered  from   the   Shipping   in   the   Harbour,   and   universal   joy   reigned   through   the  whole  Town.    This  Day  Hercules  Heyland,  Esq.;  our  worthy  Mayor,  was  again  sworn  for  the  ensuing  Year,  after  which  he  gave  an  Elegant  Entertainment  to  the   Corporation   and   Gentlemen   of   the   Town."'   (Faulkner's   Dublin   Journal,  Sat.  29th  March,  1740.)  

 

"Colerain,  Nov.  4.  On  Saturday  November  the  first  Alderman  Griffin  Howard,  Mayor  of  the  Staple,  the  Clergy,  Gentlemen  and  Merchants  of  this  Town,  met  at   the   House   of  Mr.   Robert   Stewart,   where   an   elegant   Entertainment  was  provided  for  them,  to  celebrate  the  Birth-­‐day  of  that  brave  officer  our  worthy  Patriot   Admiral   Vernon.     They   drank   the   Healths   of   the   King,   and   every  Branch  of  his  Royal  Family,  Admiral  Vernon,  Success  to  the  British  Arms,  the  Liverymen,   of   the   City   of   London,   the  Mayor   of  Weymouth,   the   first   at   the  Stake   and   the   last   at   the   Standard   for   LIBERTY,   and   several   other   Healths  worthy  of  Loyal  Subjects,  and  Free  Britons.    Several  Houses  were  illuminated,  the  Ships  in  our  Harbour  fired  several  Rounds;  and  no  Methods  of  expressing  

the  Universal   joy  were   then  omitted.     The   same  day  Hercules  Hyland,   Esq.;  our  Mayor  ordered  a  large  Bone-­‐fire  in  the  Market-­‐street,  and  a  Barrel  of  Ale  to   the  Populace;  and   the   like  was  ordered  by  William   Jackson  on   the  other  side  the  River,  several  Ships  Guns  were  brought  ashore,  which  by  their  Firing  broke  many  Windows;  after  which  the  Mayor  gave  an  elegant  Entertainment  to  the  Gentlemen,  and  a  Ball  to  the  Ladies."  (Faulkner's  Dublin  Journal,  Tues.  11th  Nov.,  1740.)  

A  similar  celebration  took  place  on  2  June  1741  when  it  was  reported  that  "Sir  John   Abercrombie   Bart,   Master   of   The   Worshipful   Vernon   Lodge   of   Free-­‐Masons   established   here,   attended   by   the   Brethren,   appeared   all   in   Proper  Clothing,   and   Marched   out   in   Order   to   the   Table   ..."   (Reilly's   Dublin   News  Letter,  6  June  1741).  Indeed  if  we  read  on  in  Reilly’s  Newsletter  Report,  we  also  find  one  of  the  earliest  Irish  references  to  Masonic  Firing.  

A   reference   to   firing   at   a   banquet   may   be   quoted,   although   not   strictly  Masonic,  yet  one  at  which  Master  and  Brethren  of  Vernon  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  123,  Coleraine,  attended.    The  quotation  is  from  Dublin  News  Letter,  6th  June,  1741:-­‐  

“Celebrating  Admiral  Vernon's  (after  whom  the  Lodge  was  named)  success  at  Carthagena  in  1737.    Present  Mayor,  officers  of  Army,  Revenue  etc.  etc.    At  a  table  in  the  street  drank  the  King,  the  Royal  Family,  Admiral  Vernon,  success  to   his  Majesty's   Forces   by   sea   and   land  with   several   other   loyal   Toasts,   at  each   Toast   there   was   a   volley   from   the   Army.....   Sir   John   Abercrombie,  Master   of   the   Worshipful   Vernon   Lodge   of   Free   Masons   established   here,  attended  by  the  Brethren  all  in  proper  clothing  and  marched  out  in  Order  to  the  Table  …..”  

 

Quite   a   scene  Companions,   straight   out  of   “Pirates   of   the  Caribbean”,   and   all   this  took   place   on   the   banks  of   the   Bann,   some  

quarter  of  a  mile  from  where  we  are  sitting  here  this  afternoon.  However,  one  intriguing  point  from  our  last  press  report  is  the  fact  that  the  name  of  Sir  John  Abercrombie,  however,  does  not  appear,  either  as  a  Member  or  an  Officer  of  Lodge  123,  during  the  warranted  period,  commencing  8th  May,  1741.    Can  we  infer  that  probably  he  had  been  Master  of  the  Coleraine  Lodge  before  it  came  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Grand  Lodge?  

Like  so  many  early  Lodges,  their  Minute  books  have  not  all  survived.  Amongst  the   missing   are   the   records   from   the   date   of   Formation   in   May   1741   until  January  1749.  Here  we  find  our  first  record  of  a  Lodge  Minute  which  reads  as  follows  :-­‐  

"1749,   Jany  18th,   the   Lodge   form'd  &   the  Master   in   the  Chair  and  business  being  over  adjourn'd  till  lst  Febr.  

present          Br.  McDaniell  Ma'r.                      Br.  A.  Todd.  

                                           McAlester,                                                    W.  K[inkead].  

                                         T.  Blair,  Wdns.                                                    Jackson.  

                                         J.  Blair.                                                                            Holmes.  

                                               Gregg.                                                                          Bramhall.  

                                               Miller.                                                                        Cary.  

                                             Williams.                                                                  Dick  Heyland.  

                                     R.  Church.                                                                      Giveen.  

                                             Hollyday.                                                                Glen.  [Tyler]"  

                                             Mayor.  

 

The  paucity  of  information  to  be  found  in  these  minutes  certainly  was  not  due  to  any   lack  of  education  on   the  part  of   the  Lodge  Secretary,  or  of  any  of   the  other  Members.    The  first  minute  book  of  this  Lodge  would  serve  as  a  model  even  for  to-­‐day,  the  writing  being  clear  and  legible  and  the  mistakes  in  spelling  quite  negligible.    A  glance  at  the  list  of  Members  shows  at  once  that  here  we  

have  a   Lodge  composed  of  educated  gentlemen,  and  not  a   Lodge  of  artizans  and  farmers  as  is  so  often  the  case  in  rural  districts  of  the  North  of  Ireland  in  the   eighteenth   century.     The   Members   included   the   leading   landed  Proprietors,   Clergy,   Doctors,  Members   of   Parliament,   County  Magnates,   and  Army  Officers.    The  names  comprise  well  known  and  highly  respected  families  of   Derry   and   Antrim,   such   as   Heyland,   Giveen,   Gage,   Church,   Holmes,   Blair,  Bristow,   McAlester,   Dunkin,   Jackson,   Gregg,   Galt,   Moore,   Boyd,   and  Richardson.   The   Rules   and  Orders   (  What  we   now   call   Byelaws   )   occupy   the  first  few  pages  of  this  Minute  book  and  they  were  appointed  to  be  read  each  Lodge   Night   immediately   after   the   ceremony   of   Opening.   They   had   to   be  signed  by  each  new  Member  on  joining  the  Lodge.  Of  particular  interest  to  us  as  Researchers  is  Byelaw  7  which  reads  :-­‐  

"Rule   7th.-­‐That   a   Lesson   of   Masonry   be   given   each   Lodge   Night   by   the  Master   or   some   of   the  Members   by   his   appointment,   and   that   afterwards  there   be   a   part   of   the   Constitutions   &c.   read   before   any   other   Business   is  enter'd   upon;  whereby   every  Member   that  will   regularly   attend   the   Lodge,  and   carefully   consider   the   Transactions   thereof   in   regard   to   the   Craft,  may  soon  arrive  at   such  knowledge   in  Masonry  as  will   enable  him  with   singular  pleasure   to   examine   the   Beauties   and   enjoy   the   Benefits   wherewith   this  Excellent  Mystery  is  abundantly  stor'd.  

Equally   interesting   is   Rule   8   which   in   part   states   -­‐That   when   any   Member  happens  to  Marry  he  shall  on  the  next  Lodge  Night  pay  One  Guinea  also.    

Of  particular  interest  to  us  today,  we  find  one  of  the  very  earliest  references  to  the  Royal  Arch  degree  yet  discovered  in  a  Lodge  Minute  Book.  This  is  an  entry  dated   April   16th   1752   –   At   this   Lodge   meeting   Bro   Thomas   Blair   proposed  Samson  Moore,  a  Master  and  Royal  Arch  Mason  to  be  admitted  a  member  of  our   Lodge.     There   are   several   other   similar   references   to   be   found   in  succeeding  minutes  in  1753,  54,  56  etc  and  all  refer  to  Royal  Arch  Masons.  You  will  all,  I  hope  have  had  an  opportunity  to  read  the  circular  for  today’s  meeting  where   you  will   find   Philip   Crossle’s   take  on   the  progression  of   Irish  Degrees,  their   names   and   content.   Today,   in   Vernon,   we   are   looking   at   the   second  period  in  the  history  of  our  ritual  when  the  Royal  Arch  was  the  senior  degree  in  operation  at  that  time.  Many  people  have  commented  on  these  early  Minutes  including    QC  Lodge  2076  in  London  in  volume  36  of  their  Transactions,  issued  

for  the  year  (  1923  )  at  page  193  onwards  under  the  title  Early  Records  of  The  Royal  Arch  in  Ireland.  This  was  followed  by  a  detailed  history  of  Vernon  Lodge  No  123  Coleraine  by  Wor  Bro  William  Tate  published  in  the  1926  Transactions  of  The  Irish  Lodge  of  Research  No  200  from  page  133  onwards.  Wor  Bro  Tait’s                                                                    work   goes   on   to   record   that   the   Lodge   chest   and   regalia   ended   up   in   the  possession  of     Bro   John  Boyd  esq  of   Coleraine   about   the   year   1835.   In   1848  Boyd   and   a   few   other   Brethren   decided   to   revive   Vernon   Lodge   and   a   new  Warrant   No   127   was   issued   by   Grand   Lodge   to   that   effect.   Boyd   very  generously   returned   the   Lodge   chest,   aprons,   books   and   records   to   the   new  Lodge.  Various  discussions  took  place  in  the  new  Lodge  as  to  what  to  do  with  these   items,  and  we   find   recorded   in  a  minute  of   the  4th  October  1848,  Wor  Bro  Frederick  Mant  Wor  Master  in  the  chair    a  record  of  the  following  :-­‐  It  was  ordered   that   the   collars   of   the   Officers   be   forthwith   procured   from   the  Masonic  Orphans  School,  and  an  alteration  of  the  old  jewels  from  123  to  127.  

Thankfully  Companions,   this   little   act  of   vandalism  did’nt   take  place,   and   I’m  truly   honoured   to  be   able   to   show  you   the   jewels   still   in   use  on   the  officers  collars   of   Vernon   Lodge   No   127.   As   you   can   see   the   jewels   bear   the   name  Vernon   Lodge,   the   number   123   and   the   inscription   reading   as   follows   :-­‐  The  Gift  of  our  Worthy  Bro  Dominick  Heyland  Esq.  and  dated    -­‐  5747.  They  are  also  engraved  with   the   latin  motto  –Inter  Nos  Regnent  Amicitia  et  Veritas  which  can  be  loosely  translated  as  Between  Us  the  Truth  will  rule  Friends.    

 

As   you  will   see,   the   Junior  Wardens   jewel,   the   Plumbline   is   relatively   simple  with  text  on  one  side  and  the  Open  Bible,  Compasses  and  square  on  the  other.    And,  as  we  all  know  a  plumb-­‐line  is  a  line,  or  cord,  with  a  piece  of  lead  at  the  bottom  to  pull  it  taut,  used  to  test  vertical  walls  with  the  line  of  gravity,  hence,  by  a  simple  expansion  of  reference,  an  emblem  of  uprightness.  

 

Our  Senior  Wardens  Level   is  a  different   jewel  altogether.  On   the  obverse  we  have   a   very   high   quality   engraving   of   two   pillars   with   three   tapers,   a  representation  of  the  47th  proposition  of  Euclid  and  a  All-­‐Seeing  eye  between  the  Pillars.  On  either  side  we  have  the  Compasses  and  Plumb-­‐Line,  the  Square  and  Level.    

Now  we   turn   the   jewel   around  and  here  we   find   some   surprising   symbolism  indeed.  Bearing   in  mind  the  date  1747,  we  find  a  representation  of   the  plate  set  on  an  Altar  within  a  Vault  supported  by  Pillars.  On  top  of  the  Vault   is   the  Key  Stone  with  the  Sun  over.  On  either  side  we  find  the  pick-­‐axe  for  removing  the  Key  Stone  into  the  Vault  and  the  Rope  for  lowering  the  Candidate  down.  

Our  Level   in  the  Craft    comes  from  the  Latin  -­‐  Libra  which  was  a  balance,  the  root  of  our  liberation,  equilibrium;  libella  was  the  diminutive  form  of  the  same  word,   and   from   it   has   come   our   level,   an   instrument   by   which   a   balance   is  proved,   or   by   which   may   be   detected   the   horizontal   plane.   It   is   closely   as-­‐associated   in   use   with   the   plumb,   by   which   a   line   perpendicular   to   the  horizontal   is   proved.   The   level   is   that   on   which   there   are   no   in-­‐equalities,  hence  in  Masonry  it  is  correctly  used’  as  a  symbol  of  equality.  “We  meet  upon  the   level”  because  Masonic   rights,  duties,   and  privileges  are   the   same   for   all  members  without  distinction.  

 

Then  we  come  to  the  Master’s  spectacular  jewel,  again  bearing  the  date  5747.  In   this   case   it   takes   the   form   of   an   engraved   silver   Square  with   a   triangular  plate  suspended  beneath  by  a  series  of  three  sets  of  chains.  On  the  obverse  of  the   square   is   the   latin  motto   –   Between   Us   the   Truth   will   Rule   Friends   and  

under  on  the  triangular  plate  is  the  same  assembly  of  symbols  as  found  on  the  obverse  face  of  the  Senior  Wardens  jewel.      

 

Then  on   turning  over   to   the   rear  or   reverse   face  we   find   the   real   gift   of   our  Worthy  Brother  Dominick  Heyland  engraved  between  symbols  of  The  Sun  the  Greater  who  rules  the  Day  and  the  Moon,  the  Lessor  who  rules  the  Night,  we  find   the  Worshipful   Master’s   Gavel   as   a   symbol   of   his   authority   to   rule   the  Lodge.  For  all  we  Royal  Arch  Masons,  the  existence  of  a  Triangular  Plate  tells  its  own  story  without  need  of   the  engraved  figures  showing  the  Vault,   the  Plate  on  an  Altar,  the  Pick,  the  Rope  and  the  Keystone.    

Our   entire   story   of   the   Royal   Arch   can   be   read   on   the   reverse   face   of   these  fascinating  jewels,  which  again  go  a  long  way  in  illustrating  the  long  history  of  Royal  Arch  Working   in   Ireland.   I   am  very  grateful   to  Ex  Companion  Raymond  Robinson  and  the  Members  of  Vernon  Lodge  No  123  for  kindly  permitting  us  to  view  these  fantastic  treasures,  and  would  remind  you  all  that  these  jewels  are  unique,  both   in   terms  of  date  and   in   content.  We   truly  have  been  honoured  today   to   see   at   first   hand   these   magnificent   jewels.   So   in   closing,   I   would  merely  refer  you  all  to  that  beautiful  phrase  on  our  Irish  Past  King’s   jewel  SIT  

TIBI   SCIRE   SATIS   SI   TALIA   JUNGERE   –   It   thou   canst   unite   such   things   thou  knowest  enough.          

 

Ex  Comp  Robert  Bashford  

Editor  Irish  Chapter  of  Research