Companions, I regret to inform you that our

Companions,
I regret to inform you that our planned speaker, Excellent Companion
Bill Howie, has been unable to join us here tonight, due to an unfortunate
accident some fortnight ago, from which he is slowly on the road to
recovery. Consequentially, we have had to postpone Bill’s planned
presentation, so tonight we are going to look briefly into the history of Birr
and the role of Freemasonry in the town over the past 261 years.
Birr, itself is an attractive little town with many fine buildings. It can
trace its history back to St Brendan, who established a monastery here in the
sixth century, Brendan was associated with St Columba of Iona and features
in the Life of Columba written by Adamnan. It was at Birr in the year
697AD that the Book of the
Law – “Cain Adamnan”
was proclaimed which laid
out the Gaelic law dealing
with women and children in
war-time. Some two hundred
years later the Book of Birr (
Macregol’s Gospel ), was
written and illuminated in
the monestary at Birr. This
magnificent work, the largest
surviving of the illuminated
Irish gospels, with some 132
illuminated
leaves
still
survives and is preserved in
the Bodleian Library in
Oxford,
where
it
is
occasionally put on display.
The town is home to the
Seefin Stone, a large boulder
said to mark the navel of
Ireland and this theme of
th
centrality was further maintained in the 17 century by Archbishop Usher
who said Birr was considered to be the centre of Ireland. Indeed Sir William
Petty, the seventeenth century land surveyor and map-maker marks the old
church at Birr with the words –“Umbilicus Hiberniae”. As early as
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1620 the town had a commercial fishing weir on the river Camcor and two
grist mills. The old church, still exists and is located at William Street,
where its square belfry tower at one time was used as a defensive outpost for
the castle in the sieges of 1643 and 1690. You may be interested to learn that
Sir Laurence Parsons was granted authority in 1626 to convene a Manor
court, and amongst his earliest ordinances was the regulation of drinking
houses which noted that no single woman could supply drink on pain of
being put into the stocks for three consecutive market days.
Amongst the many interesting buildings in the town is St Brendans C.of.I
Church completed in 1815 and containing some very good stained glass and
memorial slabs to the Parsons family.
Those eagle eyed amongst us will recognise the three lions heads shown on
the grave slabs which also appear on the family crest usually flying over the
castle battlements. There are many interesting old style shop fronts
throughout the town and the Crimean Gun, captured from the Russians at the
siege of Sebastopol in 1855 can still be seen to the front of the Birr Heritage
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Centre at St Johns Mall.
Masonically, the Companions of Birr can trace their history back to the
days when a Royal Arch Chapter met under the sole authority of a Craft
Warrant. We know from the
surviving Minute Books that
Royal Arch and High Knight
Templar seals were in use from
the late 1770’s. Examples of
two separate RAC seal designs
still survive with the earliest
being a bell design with a Royal
Arch surrounded with the
legend Birr Royal Arch Lodge
No 163. Overhead is a Sun in
Splendour and under the Arch
are three crowns suspended
over the symbol “G” or glory
over an altar located at the top
of five steps. On one side is
Moses Rod with snake entwined
and on the other is a tombstone – symbol of mortality. The crowns shown
refer to the ritual of the day, when the three ruling officers in the chapter
were the three kings of old.
The later and less distinct seal is of oval
design again bearing the Royal Arch, this time
with no keystone and having the celestial rays
beaming down through the opening. Around
the arch is the legend - H.R.A. Chapter No
163. The All Seeing Eye – representative of
Deity is the source of the celestial rays which
go through the keystone to illuminate an altar
under. To the front of the alter are the working
tools of the order Pick/ Shovel / crowbar and
the whole sits on an indistinct raised platform.
Either side of the royal arch can be seen
representations of the Sun in the East and the
Moon and seven stars in the West.
Page 3.
St Brendan’s Lodge No 163 has a long and proud history, beginning on
the 17th July 1747 when Warrant No 163 was issued to Bros William
Macoun, Thomas Nethercott and James Armstrong to hold a Lodge in the
town of Birr in the Kings County of Ireland. This Warrant is still in use
some 261 years later, and will be in its usual place for the September
meeting.
Sadly the the early minutes for the period 1747-1775 have not survived,
although we do have details of Lodge membership during this period from
Grand Lodge records. The Lodge worked up to 1797, when meetings were
suspended as a result of the disturbed state of the country at that time.
Meetings were finally resumed in 1801, after the rebellion and its aftermath
had somewhat abated. A further upset to meetings occurred during the
period 1822-23, when the Grand Lodge of Ireland instructed all Lodges to
suspend their meetings as a consequence of the new legislation passed to
deal with secret and subversive societies. Grand Lodge, in the first few
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months of 1823 issued a draft petition, which each Lodge in the Constitution
signed and returned to Dublin, for onward transmission to the legislature
based in Dublin Castle. This dispensation was granted later in 1823, by
Government, allowing Masonic Lodges to resume meetings , provided that
each Lodge Secretary made annual returns containing names and addresses
of members to their local Justices of the Peace.
The Craft seal has been used on the surviving Minutes from 1775
onwards. It would appear from the
records that the Brethren of Birr
faithfully observed the Masonic
festivals of St John the Baptist and St
John the Evangelist. Records for the
24th June 1807 show that the W.M. a
Capt Hartly proceeded by the band of
The Carlow Regiment, the Rev Bros
Gratton and Downes, attended by the
Lodge Officers, Sir Knight Templars,
Knights of Malta, Royal Arch
Excellent and Super Excellent
Brethren, Masters and Fellow Craft
marched in solemn procession from the Lodge Room to the old Church,
where a Masonic service was held. The Rev Bro Grattan preached a most
eloquent and suitable sermon. At the end of the service the Brethren returned
to the Lodge room where Bros Colonel La Touche, Major Cornwall and
Capt Purdy presented a memorial to the Brethren of 163, seeking their
support for the formation of a new Lodge, to be held in the Carlow
Regiment. I’m pleased to say, that with the support of St Brendan’s Lodge,
and in the fullness of time the Carlow Regiment did indeed receive Warrant
No 903 from the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
A number of written records of RAC and HKT meetings in Birr still
survive, and I understand that some manuscript certificates may also survive,
showing how the ritual evolved and modified to follow the growth and
development of Supreme Grand Chapter. At that time the sequence of
degrees was Excellent, Super Excellent and Holy Royal Arch, as reflected
on the later seal. RAC and HKT meetings appear regularly in the minute
books on a quarterly basis and clearly follow the periods of the full moon, so
that Companions, who meet late, could better see to make their way home.
Page 5.
Like most Lodges in Ireland in the 19th century, the Brethren of Birr had
to play their part in assisting Grand Lodge resolve the various local disputes
and disagreements that occasionally arise between Brethren and Lodges. Our
Brethren in Birr played an active role in assisting Grand Lodge, as can be
seen from the many entries in their Lodge Minutes. Some times these
disputes concerned the working and administration of the Lodge in question,
and at other times they concerned differences between Brethren.
In the case of the Birr Brethren, Grand Lodge asked them to adjudicate on
a horse sale between two Brethren in the year 1802. So clearly, the seat of
Solomon also appears to have required more than a smattering of the
wisdom of Solomon. The Birr Lodge were up to the task and both Brethren
eventually departed satisfied with the outcome. On another occasion, just
before the Seton revolt, the Lodge were asked to inspect the Warrant No 327
of Clara Lodge, to see if it had been in any way altered or interfered with.
After inspection they found proof of erasure and overwriting, and after
reporting same to Dublin, the Clara warrant was eventually cancelled.
In the tradition of the day, the Brethren of Birr tended to open and close
the Lodge in any of the first three degrees. One entry in particular for the
11th May 1812 records that a Bro Condes raised to the sublime degree of
Master Mason went through the trials thereof with surprising firmness and
courage. Other records note that even in the days of yore, attendance was an
issue and in November 1813, a circular letter was sent out to all Lodge
Members, advising them that Brethren who failed to attend stated meetings
of the Lodge could be fined to the value of one British shilling for nonattendance. In 1804, we find reference to the presentation of a chair by Bro
Arthur Robinson. This was the same chair that was used by the Lodge when
they used to meet in Bro Fallon’s Lodge-Room. I await with great interest to
see if this is the old three seater chair, used during some of our early Royal
Arch ceremonies when the three kings used to sit in the East. If so, it is one
of the very few examples of such old Lodge furniture still in use in a private
Lodge.
Around this period, St Brendan’s Lodge seems to have moved quite
frequently. Amongst its venues were William Irwin’s of Church Lane, Bro
James Cummings House, Mrs Dooley’s House, Bro Fallon’s Lodge Room,
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Bro Ridler’s House and George Dooley’s House. The problem of suitable
accommodation would reappear for many years right up to 1914, when the
Lodge finally raised the money and erected a purpose built building which is
still in use today.
Amongst the artefacts carefully preserved is an early portrait of a young 1st
Earl of Rosse and another very fine oil painting - the first prize in the
Masonic Female Orphans School centenary bazaar held in the RDS Dublin
in 1892.
Page 7.
The portrait showing a number of girls in full size Masonic aprons, playing
in a wooded dell, was painted by Sir Thomas A Jones P.R.H.A. as first prize
in the centenary draw, and the Birr Lodge ticket had the winning number.
This valuable portrait has been quietly hanging in the Birr Hall ever since.
As in Lodge, the Chapter also played its part in the good government of the
order and from time to time it was called to investigate and adjudicate on
various matters and disputes in and between neighbouring Chapters. One
interesting letter found on file in Molesworth Street, under the bell seal of
“Birr Royal Arch Lodge No 163” is a Demit issued by the Companions to
their Brother Companion Simon Treacey, who was about to emigrate to The
United States of America. This is probably the same Simon Treacey, whose
occupation was that of “Gent” related to both Edward and Thomas Treacey,
merchants from the town of Birr. The Demit dated June 1839 bears the well
Page 8.
known abbreviated heading I.T.N.O.T.G.A.O.T.U. and contains some
interesting references as follows – I respectfully recommend Bro
Companion Simon Treacey to you and all sublime Lodges Chapters and
Brethren who understand the angles and squares of III by III. It was
around this time that the Lodge in Birr introduced a standardised printed
Demit certificate for use in the Lodge. This certificate, similar to those in use
by many other Lodges reads as follows – We the Master, Wardens and
Brethren of lodge No 163, held in Birr, and on the registry of Ireland do
hereby certify that the Bearer, Bro - - - - is a regular Registered Master
Mason: and during his stay with us, has conducted himself as an honest
attentive and worthy Brother. Therefore, we do recommend him to the
care and protection of all Free and Accepted Masons. Given under our
hans and seal of our Lodge, in our Lodge room in Birr this - - day of - - -in
the year of Grace 18- - and
of Masonry 58- - .This
certificate
was
then
authenticated with the
Lodge seal and the
signatures of the Master,
Senior Warden, Junior
Warden and Secretary.
Around the year 1847,
the annual returns show
that the principal officers of
the Chapter were known as
1st Principal, 2nd Principal,
3rd Principal, High Priest,
Principal Soujourner, 2nd
Soujourner, 3rdSoujourner,
1st Scribe and 2nd Scribe.
However by 1868, the
officer names had changed
to those of today, in line
with
Supreme
Grand
Chapter regulations. The
ties between 163 Chapter and the depot of the 62nd Regiment remained
strong with a number of Companions such as Companion, Sergeant James
Murphy, and Companion Captain James Slack, who both sought their demits
Page 9.
before setting off from the depot on their overseas postings with the
regiment. Records show that the Chapter went through a period in the 1850’s
when no meetings appear to have taken place.
You may be interested to learn that the 62nd or Wiltshire Regiment used
to get quite a few volunteers through its depot in Birr. This is the regiment
which played such a significant part in the Indian sub-continent mainly
around Madras and Bengal. Its involvement in the Sikhs uprising,
particularly the first battle of Ferozeshah, where they won a stunning victory
over greatly superior forces, but in the process lost over 50% of their
fighting strength. However the gallantry of the Regiment was particularly
commended by Sir Hugh Gough, the commanding General, and an
Ulsterman to boot. He personally went round all the regimental survivors of
the engagement and complimented them on their determined attack, and for
their steady and devoted gallantry under a storm of enemy fire.
It is interesting to note that Royal Arch Masonry was in existence in Birr
for quite some time prior to the formation of Supreme Grand Chapter in
Dublin in 1829. Indeed, inspection of the Bell Seal shows that the first Royal
Page 10.
Arch body was “Birr Royal Arch Lodge”. It was not until the year 1837,
that Birr officially joined Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter and in four
years time Birr RAC will celebrate its 175th anniversary. As some of you
know, Birr is one of the Chapters that forms the District Grand Royal Arch
Chapter of The Midlands, under the control of M.E. Comp Robert
H.Wallace, District Grand King.
The District comprises eight Chapters in total including Athlone 101
dating from 1850, Athy 167 dating from 1841, Newbridge 215 dating from
1904, Roscrea 307 dating from 1881, next door neighbours in Co Offally are
Tullamore 321 dating from 1840. Next we have Maryborough 398 dating
from 1848 and finally we have Mountmellick 660 dating from 1845. We are
particularly pleased to welcome Most Excellent Companion Wallace along
to tonight’s meeting and hope that he will enjoy his visit here with his
Companions in The Irish Chapter of Research.
We attach a copy of the
Chapter circular used in the
1870’s
to
summons
the
companions, and note that at that
time the name St Brendan’s was
not used on the printed Chapter
circular.
It was in the year 1873 that Ex
Companion Richard J Sheppard,
Chapter Register unearthed the
old 163 RAC Warrant dated 16th
February 1837. This Warrant had
been believed to be lost by the
older Companions of the Chapter,
or returned to Grand Chapter. So
Ex Companion Sheppard wrote
immediately to Dublin and
sought their approval to retain the
old original Warrant for their
Chapter workings, which was
granted by Supreme Grand
Chapter.
Page 11.
From time to time our hard working registrar had to seek the indulgence
of Supreme Grand Chapter in various matters and one such problem was the
elevation of a Companion to the position of Excellent King, which had to be
deferred for a couple of months until he had passed through the degree of
Wor Master in his mother Lodge. Fortunately Grand Chapter did a Nelson
and put their telescope to the bad eye, allowing peace love and harmony to
prevail.
In 1914, the Brethren of Birr, with the approval of Grand Lodge, issued
an appeal throughout the Irish Constitution, for financial support to assist in
the renovation and development of new premises in Birr. For many years
previous the Lodge had been using unsuitable premises and had now
purchased a building, formerly used by the Society of Friends as a place of
worship. The Lodge had already purchased the building and had themselves
raised a further £ 200 of the £ 600 required to complete the renovation. And
clearly the appeal was successful, as we are currently using these premises
tonight.
In the period
leading up to
1922,
Brother
Mitchell,
from
163 Birr was very
active
in
collecting the old
minute
books,
seals, certificates
and other Lodge
memorabilia
in
the Birr Lodge
chest
and
forwarding same
to Philip Crossle in Dublin for inclusion in his researches which were
ultimately published in Volume 1 – History of The Grand Lodge of Ireland.
This work was published in 1925 to celebrate the bi-centenary of The Grand
Lodge of Ireland 1725 – 1925. And of course, as we all know, the first
Grand Master in Ireland was the First Earl of Rosse.
Page 12.
As part of the bi-centennial celebrations in 1925 The Most Wor Grand
Master Richard 6th Earl of Donoughmore commissioned a portrait of Sir
Richard Parsons Bart 1st
Earl of Rosse and 1st
Grand Master in the year
1725 and presented same
to Grand Lodge. This
portrait of Sir Richard as
a young man was
presented
to
Grand
Lodge in 1925 and a
black and white copy was
presented to 163 Birr by
the Irish Lodge of
Research. This is the
portrait still hanging in
your vestibule right up to
the present time.
Companions,
although the hour is
getting late, it would be
remiss of us to consider
Freemasonry in Birr,
without some thoughts to
the Parsons family and
their great contribution to
life in Birr over the last
three hundred years. No visit to Birr would be complete without a visit to the
extensive grounds and gardens of Birr Castle, home to the Great Telescope The Leviathan, and indeed afterwards, spend an hour spent wandering
through the byeways of Birr, a lovely old Georgian town with many
fascinating buildings.
The Earls have all been bitten with the science bug, beginning with
William Parsons, third Earl, who back in 1827 began his experiments on the
development and improvement of the reflecting telescope technology of his
day. By 1839 he had developed a 36 inch three foot reflector, and then by
1845 he had produced a 72 inch reflector, the largest telescope of its
Page 13.
generation and for some seventy years thereafter. It is known today as “The
Leviathan. The Earl himself, was a very hands on inventor and as The
Bristol Times recorded in 1867
- “I saw the Earl, the telescope maker himself – not in state, with his
coronet and ermine robe on, but in his shirt sleeves, with his brawny arms
bare. He had just quitted the vice at which he had been working and,
powdered with steel filings, was washing his hands and face in a course
basin placed on the blocks of an anvil, while a couple of smiths sledging
away on a blazing bar on another, were sending a shower of sparks
around his Lordship, which he little regarded, as though he were a Fire
King”.
Using these telescopes, the
Earl was able to make many
scientific drawings of his
stunning observations including
a sketch of M51, the famous
Whirlpool Nebula.
Indeed this achievement is being
celebrated this very weekend, by
the
Irish
Astronomical
Association, who are holding
Page 14.
their annual visit to the Leviathan, in the castle grounds, their venue for the
Whirlpool Star Party, a very popular event amongst local astronomers.
Amongst his other many achievements was the development of a steam
powered carriage. Sadly in 1869, the Earl’s cousin Miss Mary Ward was
thrown from one of these carriages and killed. She was the first road traffic
fatality in Ireland, according to some written sources.
This tradition of scientific curiosity was continued by the fourth Earl
Laurence, who began research into the surface temperature of the Moon in
1868 and went on to discover the existence of satellites orbiting Mars in
1877.
Another younger Brother, Charles, became an outstanding scientist who
developed a revolutionary process for the more efficient generation of
electricity. The immediate advantages within the district were immediately
apparent, as Birr became the first town in Ireland to be lit with electricity.
Charles went on to refine and develop his steam turbine, which he installed
in a small steam launch called the Turbinia.
Much to the embarrassment of the Royal Navy, this little launch took part in
the celebrations of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee naval review at
Spithead, where it raced through the fleet at some 34 knots, and the Royal
Navies own torpedo boats couldn’t keep up.
A third brother Clere made his name, and his fortune in South America as a
railway builder. So Brethren, as you can see, Birr is a beautiful, area, full of
fascinating sites and interesting people. I hope you will all come along and
spend some time in our company and enjoy the many opportunities on offer.
Page 15.
On my last visit to the science museum in the castle courtyard, I was greatly
taken with the use of one of Yeats more obscure poems to make sense of the
awe and beauty of the many spectacular views recorded by the third Earl, as
he probed into the depths of space from his front lawn at Birr.
He wishes for the Cloth of Heaven.
Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Companions, I apologise for the disjointed nature of this little presentation
as it was completed rather hurriedly, in response to tonight’s meeting. Once
again, we are indebted to Ex Companion Tom Fitzpatrick for making all the
necessary arrangements, both in Chapter and with our hotel accommodation.
As in Waterford, he has again brought us into the deep south into this
marvellous and magnificent part of Ireland, where we all have the
opportunity to visit the castle, telescope and gardens, town and indeed
adjacent countryside.
Time precludes any in-depth study of St John’s Masonic Lodge and
Chapter No 321 Tullamore. Though I’m sure some of us may well look into
the medicinal effects of Tullamore dew, before the weekend is over.
Excellent King and Council, I thank you for the opportunity to make this
presentation tonight, and companions all, I thank you for the way in which it
was received.