The Grand East Of Ulster.

pated , but nevertheless determined m their opposition to constituted authority , AVC next find the re . A'olting party shifting their quarters from Dublin to Dungannon , in the County Tya-one , Avhere , for the first time , find them assuming the less pretentious title of Grand Lodge of Ulster . From this centre Ave find the following circular issued , the contents of Avhich arc of such importance that I feel bound to giA * e them " in extenso : "•—•

" Pursuant to a requisition , signed William Irvine , Grand Alaster of Ulster , by Avhom a meeting Avas called for the purpose of vindicating the rights , and for establishing the future meetings of this Grand Lodge , at such times and places as should he then and there

agreed on , and for the regulation of such other Alasonic business as should be deemed necessary' for the preservation of the ancient and general principles of Masonry in Ireland . A meeting was held at Dungannon , on Alonday , the 6 th June , 1808 , at Avhich 311 Lodges Avere represented , Avhen

" Bro . AVilliam Richardson , Esq ., in the absence of the Grand Alaster of Ulster , AA- . IS unanimously called to the chair ; Bro . William Bateman , Esq ., Senior Grand Warden ; Bro . John Taylor , Esq ., Junior Grand Warden ; Bro . Alexander Saunderson , Esq ., Secretary . " It Avas unanimously Resolved— ' That a Committee , consisting

of a Chairman and tiA * o Representatives from each County , be formed , to report their opinion on the best mode of accomplishing the object of this meeting . " The Commitee having made its report the folIoAving Resolutions Avere severally agreed to : —

" 'That a Grand Lodge be forthwith formed in the Province of Ulster , and that the said Grand Lodge AA'ill not bc governed b y the Grand Lodge held in Dublin ; the conduct of the said Grand Lodge having been entirely repugnant to the opinion of the brethren of this proA'ince . '

' That if the Grand Lodge in Dublin shall , at any future period , make such concessions to us , Avith respect to the election of officers and those other points on Avhich Ave hold a different opinion , as shall be reasonable and satisfactory * , the door of reconciliation shall be opened , and AVC Avill be happy again to meet our Brethren of Dublin .

' That a fund be forthwith formed for the relief of indigent Brethren and the support of an Orphan School in this Piwiiice , and that the fund so formed shall be expended on these purposes by a Committee of thirt y members , appointed by the country Lodges , Avhich Committe shall meet once in each month .

' That , for the formation of such fund , all dues and arrears of dues , < tc , shall be paid on or before the 6 th day of Jul y next , into the hands of the Treasurer to be this day appointed . ' That the different Lodges of Ireland , not present at this meeting , be , and are hereby requested to accede to these our resolutions , and to assist us in the accomplishment of the above objects .

'That AA * C AVIII not hold Alasonic communication AY ith any Lodge in the Province of Ulster which shall not accede to these our

resolutions . ' That the town of Dungannon is a fit and proper place to hold the meetings of the Grand Lodge . ' That saiel Grand Lodge shall hold Quarterly Communications , the first to be on the first Wednesday in July next .

' The under-mentioned persons wero unanimously elected Grand Officers for this present year , viz .: —Bro . Colonel William Irvine , Grand Alaster ; Bro . the Hon . John B . O'Neill , Senior Grand Warden ; Bro . the Rig ht Hon . Archibald Earl Gosford , Junior Grand Warden ; Bro . Gorges D'Arcy-Irvine , Esq ., Grand Secretary ; Bro . William BrownloAv , Esq ., Grand Treasurer .

'That the thanks of this Grand Lodge bo presented to ouv worthy ancl revered Brother Colonel AVilliam Irvine , for his promptitude in calling this meeting . " 'That the warmest thanks of this Grand Loelge be , and are hereby presented to , our much esteemed Brother , Gorges D'Arcy Irvine , Esq ., for his uniform , persevering , and spirited conduct , in defending the rights of the Order .

' That the Avaimest thanks of this Grand Lodge be , ancl are hereb y presented to , Brother Alexander Seton , Esq ., for his uniform , persevering , and spirited conduct , in defending the rights of tho Order , and AVC strongly recommend him to the Grand Secretary to be continued in the oilice of Deputy Grand Secretary .

' That AVC entirely approve , and hereby return , our thanks to those brethren AVIIO attended the Grand Lodge in Dublin , on the 5 th of Alay last , for their very pi * oper and spirited conduct in refusing to acknowledge as Treasurer an individutil who hael previously been disqualified to hold any situation in the Order .

' lhat thc proceedings ot this Grand Lodgo he published , and circulated to all the lodges in Ireland , and that Bro . William Canning , of Duiigannoii , be appointed Printer to this Grand Lodge . " Bro . Richardson having left the chair , and Bro . the Reverent ! Francis Burrows been called thereto , it Avas unanimously resoh'ed : —

'lhat the thanks of this Grand Lodge bc presented to Bro Richardson , for his proper conduct in the chair . ' " Signed by order , " A . Sanderson , Secretary . "

Ihe next reference io the transactions of the lodge AVith Avhich I am acquainted is daled ( ith December , 1809 , Avhen , in pursuance of the summons of the R . W . and Rt . Hon . the Earl of Belmore , Grand AIaster , a meeting Avas held in Dungannon , the Rt . Hon . A . Thomas Lord Blayney ' , Senior Grand Warden , being in the chair , Avhen the Grand Officers were installed , Bro . Seton , Deputy Grand Secretary ,

The Grand East Of Ulster.

submitted a statement of accounts , and a A'ote of thanks Avas passed to him " for his proper and spirited conduct , eA inced on al occasions , in support of the interests of this Grand Lodge , and jf the true principles of Free Alasonry . On the 27 th of December , 1809 , AA-e find a circular issued by Bro . G . D . Irvine , in his capacity' as Grand Secretary , in Avhich he "

congratulates the brethren on the growing prosperity of their establishment , " and then proceeds to accuse the Grand Lodge of Ireland AA * ith having expended in litigation a sum of " £ 500 , vested ir Government Debentures , which sum had been collected from the Brethren for Charitable Purposes " This is folloAved , in the cowse of a feAV day r s , by a similar circular from his Deput y , Bro . Seton , composed chiefly of a recriminatory attack on those opposed to Juni .

A Quarterly Communication of the Lodge Avas held in Alarch , 1810 , presided over by Bro . William Richardson , an eminent Alason , Avho for many years had occupied the distinguished position of President of the " County Tyrone Alasonic Committee . " The chief

business recorded is the adoption of a number of resolutions antagonistic to the Grand Lodge of Ireland , in Avhich that body is satirically referred to as "A Right AVorshi pful Grand Lodge held in Dublin ; " a brother A \* as expelled from the Order ; and a Warrant Avas cancelled , Avith fche consequent exclusion of its members .

Four Aveeks subsequently Bro . Sefcon addresses another of his diatribes to the members of the Order , amply abounding in selflaudation and lavish abuse of his opponents . The circular containing the transactions of the next Stated Communication , held at Dungannon on the 6 th of June , 1810 , gives us a list of the Grand Officers at that time , A * iz .: —Somerset , Earl of

Belmore , Grand AIaster ; Sir G . F . Hill , Senior Warden ; Lord Blayney , Junior AVarden ; G . D . Irvine , Secretary ; AVilliam BroAvnloAV , Treasurer ; Alex . Seton , Deputy Grand Secretary ; Robert Mitchell , Tyler ; Henry * McLaughlin , Pursuivant . Reference is made to a statement , emanating from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , to the effect that the Grand East of Ulster " AVOUM not be

acknoAVledged In any part of the world ; " but Ave have it here asserted that " the AVarrants and Certificates issued under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Ulster tire received Avith all Alasonic honours by the brethren of England , Scotland , and America . " The further transactions of this meeting testify to the bitter feeling existing betAveen the members of the Order in Dublin and those AVIIO

acknowledged the supremacy of the Grand East of Ulster . A list is given of brethren excluded from the Order for periods ranging from twenty-one years to tAvolve months ; and then folloAvs a length y communication from Seton , in Avhich , referring to the Grand Lodge of Cork as doing " all tbe acts Avithin the power of a Grand Lodge , " he claims for the Grand East of Ulster a similar privilege . The

remainder of his letter is a coarse and ribald exhibition of personal feeling against the members of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , in Avhich he charges the Grand Alaster Avith having squandered the Charitable Funds of the Order in idle litigation ; Avith having " formulated dissensions , for the sole purpose of subjecting the Order

of Free Alasonry in Ireland , in all its branches , to his absolute control , to bc converted into a tool of famil y aggrandizement ; " and with having , " at the end of tAventy-one years , forced the Order to the verge of pecuniary and Alasonic ruin . " At the same time he endeavours to justify his own conduct in the legal contest in which hc was engaged Avith the authorities in Dublin .

The next stated communication of the Lodge Avas held at Dungannon on the Sth of September , 1810 , Bro . G . D . Irvine , Grand Secretary , in the chair , at Avhich an address AVIIS adopted for presentation " to his Grace thc Duke of Richmond , Lord Lieutenant of Ireland , " as a brother ; "expressing the unshaken loyalty of the brethren of Ulster , and their implicit confidence in his Grace ' s

GoA'crnment . " A copy of the address , Avith his Grace ' s reply , is giA * en , as is also a copy * of a resolution thanking Bro . G . D . Irvine "for his zeal and unremitting attention to the interests of Alasonry , and the support of tho Independence of this R . AV . G . Lodge . " The same circular gives a short account of a stated communication , held , presumably at Dungannon , on the 5 th of December , 1810 , the

principal business of Avhich AVUS the suspension of two lodges for improper conduct , and the adoption of a resolution thanking " our Avorthy Bro . John Alaginn , Esq ., P . G . Sec . of Alunster , for his attachment to the interests , and his zeal in promoting , as far as in him lay , thc general advantage of free Alasonry . " Then folloAvs another abusiA * e letter from Seton—the length of Avhose epistles must

have been a source of considerable satisfaction to Bro . AVilliam Canning , "Printer to tho Grand Lodge "—and the document concludes Avith an account of "A meeting of the Alasters of fifty-two Lodges , convened on the 25 th day of August , 1810 , at Glenavy , Co . Antrim , for the purpose of taking into consideration the line of conduct most advantageous and honourable to adopt in the present

melancholy and extraordinary situation to Avhich Alasonry in Ireland ' s reduced . " Thirteen resolutions were adopted at this meeting , one of which I quote in full : " 9 th . That the principles on Avhich the ( 3 rand Lodgeof Ulster has been established appear to this meeting lo be the genuine , ancient , and unchangeable basis on Avhich Alasonry Avas originally founded ; and AVC conceive it the imperious duty of

every Alason in this province to attend , support , obey , and hail the the same as the true and legitimate Grand Lodge , fully * competent to protect and hand down the Craffc , in its original purity , to the latest posterity . " In these resolutions reference is made to a meeting of ' * The Belfast District Committee , held on the 4 th of June , 1810 , clearly indicating that that bod y Avas composed of Brethren determined to support the authority of the Grand East of Ulster in