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Culture
Templars and Freemasonry in Ireland: attributed to Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) D.D,
A brief history By Ita Marguet
It is commonly believed that the Masonic ceremonial roles displaying the symbols of
fraternity evolved from a guild of stonemasons masonic insignia and working tools.
during the middle ages. Over the centuries
many people in society became members A Freemason is described as a member of
of those masonic guilds and by the early this international institution established for
Enlightenment era, Freemasonry had become mutual help and fellowship. Members believe
purely a social and fraternal institution which in a divine being based, according to its own
preserved the traditions and practices of the writings, ‘on a system of morality, veiled
original guilds. in allegory and illustrated by symbols’ that
serve to promote the Masonic principles of
Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and integrity, respect and charity. The hierarchal
charitable organisations in the world, open to structure with its rigorous ceremonial and
those of all backgrounds. Its aim is to allow related activities are sworn to secrecy about
members to make the best of themselves in the freemasons’ ritual and intricate forms of
society and contribute to the communities induction. The fraternity have a number of
around them. It does this by providing coded signals for masonic recognition and
structural support to its members. Its spread greet each other with handshakes that reflect
is seen to be connected to the extensive reach one’s degree and rank. The first three degrees of
of the British Empire. It is bible based but has membership are Apprentice, Fellowcraft and
no religious, political affiliation or orthodoxy. Master before reaching the graduated elevated
Modern freemasonry is usually traced to the masonic levels that can often be a long process.
formation of the Grand Lodge in London in Entry to lodge meetings is usually controlled
1717. While initially an all- male institution by a member known as a ‘Tyler’.
Freemasonry has increasingly become open
to women through the opening of all-female Templars and Freemasonry in Ireland
or mixed lodges. Women are increasingly By the early eighteenth century Masonic
elevated to the upper degrees of freemasonry lodges in England, Ireland and Scotland had
and are now elected to serve in the highest formed Grand Lodges to govern the fraternity
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in their areas. Irish Freemasonry allegiance governing body of the organisations in Ireland.
lent towards the ’Scottish Rite’ which has During the eighteenth century there was a
its roots in the ancient Knights Templar. Its rapid growth of the society when hundreds
principal Lodge named Willow House in of lodges were established throughout Ireland
Ayrshire, Scotland, is reputed to be the oldest meeting in taverns or coffee-houses. By the
in the world. The first known record of an 1860s work had begun on the Freemasons’
active body of masonic Knights Templar in Hall in Dublin’s Molesworth Street which,
Ireland was ‘The High Knight Templars’. In having been opened in 1869 still serves as
the eighteenth century the degree of Knight headquarters of the Irish Freemasonry. It
Templar was conferred in independent governs the Masonic Fraternity within Ireland
Encampments and in Craft Lodges. There and a number of geographical provinces
exists a minute containing this degree being overseas. Irish Freemasonry boasts around
conferred on 18 August 1769. In 1805, the early 22,000 members at home and abroad. The
Grand Encampment of Ireland laid claim to Freemasons’ Hall in Belfast is situated in the
the fact that Templar Masonry had “subsisted city’s central Arthur Square. The membership
in the city of Dublin for over a century”. The in Ireland is said to lean more towards the
claim may attach an element of speculation, protestant part of the population. While
but there is evidence that it had at that period coordinated, the different Masonic lodges
subsisted for at least fifty years; and in a parody operate autonomously.
Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, a In the protracted period of political, military
reference would appear to confirm its existence and religious upheaval in Ireland, many
in the year 1724. Also proceedings recorded prominent and influential members of Irish
at the Protestant Trinity College, Dublin in society had joined the fraternity as freemasons.
the fourteenth century indicate the earlier Well known is John Toland (1670-1722), a
presence of Knights Templar. A number of controversial pioneer of polemic, pamphletic
legendary ruins and ancient structures said journalism, who travelled extensively around
to be linked to the Knights Templar can be Protestant Europe in the early eighteenth
visited throughout Ireland. century as a central figure to promote
In 1830 during repair of the Limerick bridge freemasonry. Theobold Wolfe Tone (1763-98)
over the River Abbey a brass object was found was a founding member of the United Irishmen
at the bridge foundations. Dated 1507 the movement who, having been largely forgotten,
writing was worn but legible with the words became a martyr figure in Irish Revolutionary
I will strive to live with love and care, Upon Nationalism in the late nineteenth and early
the level By the Square. Reputed to be one of twentieth centuries. Other notable freemasons
the oldest masonic objects in the world, it included Edmund Burke (1729-97), Henry
is preserved in the Union Lodge No. 13 in Joy McCracken (1767-98), Daniel O’Connell
Limerick. Numbered replicas have been made (1775-1847) Ireland’s national Catholic
and are displayed in several masonic halls and ‘Liberator’, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), William
lodges in Ireland and abroad. There are also Butler Yeats (1867-1939) and many more.
lapel pins.
The Grand Masters of the Orders of the
Temple in Ireland are well annotated along Note: Acknowledgement is given to encyclopaedic and other
with their status and titles, with the Duke of sources used in preparation of this text. Earlier texts by the
Leinster listed as the first in 1836 down to the author have been published about Edmund Burke, Henry
Grand Master serving in 2018. Joy McCracken, Daniel O’Connell, Oscar Wilde and William
Butler Yeats. *Issue No. 79 Mars/Avril 2021 (pages 23-31)
Freemasonry in Ireland of the French publication Franc Maçonnerie is dedicated
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland to IRLANDE Légendes et passions au Coeur de la franc-
was established in Dublin around 1725, one maçonnerie. www.fm-mag-fr
of the oldest in the world, as the autonomous
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