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 centrality was further maintained in the 17 th 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 Page 1.
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 Page 2.
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 17 th 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 Page 4.
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 24 th 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 19 th 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 11 th 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, Page 6.
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 1 st 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 1 st Principal, 2 nd Principal, 3 rd Principal, High Priest, Principal Soujourner, 2 nd Soujourner, 3 rd Soujourner, 1 st Scribe and 2 nd 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 62 nd 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 62 nd 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 175 th 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 16 th 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 6 th Earl of Donoughmore commissioned a portrait of Sir Richard Parsons Bart 1 st Earl of Rosse and 1 st 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.