The years 2005 and 2006 were historic ones for St. Patrick's Masonic Lodge No. 43. The year 2005 marked the 200th anniversary of the issue of the replacement Warrant No. 270 in 1805 (this Warrant being exchanged for the lower number of 43 in 1817), while 2006 marked the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Lodge in Carrickfergus.
Exemplification of the Entered Apprentice Degree
In preparation for the principal events, the Lodge invited the Grand Lodge of Instruction to visit Carrickfergus to see an exemplification of the Entered Apprentice Degree. The invitation was accepted, and the opening Meeting of the 2005/06 Session of the Grand Lodge of Instruction was held in Carrickfergus. All current Officers of the Lodge took part in the exemplification, and the work received a good account from the Grand Lodge of Instruction.
The Anniversary Meeting on St. Patrick's Day
The next significant date for the Lodge was Friday 17th March 2006, St. Patrick's Day. An Emergency Meeting of the Lodge had been called for 3 pm on that day, and the Lodge was honoured by the attendance of R. W. Bro. G. Dunlop, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, R. W. Bro. J. Dunlop, Provincial Grand Master of Antrim, and a large number of visiting Brethren, including representatives of Fortwilliam Lodge No. 43 (Scottish Constitution) and Lodge Battlefield No. 1258 (Scottish Constitution).
At the Meeting, congratulations and gifts were exchanged and a short paper on the history of the Lodge from 1756 was read by W. Bro. Jim Adamson PPGMSB.
Civic Reception
After the Meeting an official reception was given by the Deputy Mayor of the Borough, attended by the Deputy Grand Master, the Provincial Grand Master, the Worshipful Master of Lodge 43 (W. Bro. E. Moore), the Worshipful Masters of Fortwilliam No. 43 SC and Lodge Battlefield No. 1258 SC and a number of other representatives of the Lodge, together with their Ladies.
Masonic Ball
St. Patrick's Day concluded with an excellent Ladies' Night at the Clarion Hotel, again honoured by the attendance of the Deputy Grand Master. After dinner, during which commemorative gifts were given to both Ladies and Gentlemen, dancing continued until a late hour, the Shamrock being duly honoured.
Divine Service
The conclusion of a memorable weekend was a special Divine Service held on the Sunday afternoon at Joymount Presbyterian Church, where a large congregation was welcomed by the Minister. It was particularly appropriate for the Service to be at Joymount, as the Congregation and the Lodge have had a long and happy association: the foundation Minister of the Congregation was initiated into the Lodge in 1853.
Trip to St. George's Lodge No. 270, Enniscorthy
As No. 270 was our original Warrant, it was felt fitting to mark the anniversary by sending fraternal greetings to St. George's Lodge in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, who are now the proud holders of Warrant No. 270. This led to an invitation to visit, and on 16th November 2006 a party of some forty Masons, wives and friends took a long weekend coach trip to Wexford, visiting St. George's on Saturday 17th November.
The party was warmly received by the Worshipful Master and the Provincial Grand Master of Wexford. What was to have been a short meeting turned into a most enjoyable exchange between the two Lodges, with presentations including an engraved Belfast Crystal decanter with two tumblers and a bottle to fill it, a 250th anniversary jewel, and a Carrickfergus plaque.
Anniversary Flower Bed
The celebration of more than 250 years of Freemasonry in the Borough continued openly throughout the summer of 2006 with a commemorative Flower Bed on the Marine Highway, sponsored by St. Patrick's Lodge.
