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Sir George Clark Memorial

Masonic Lodge No. 669 Freemasons' Hall Arthur Square, Belfast N. Ireland

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 The Story

Irish Constitution Lodge Warrant No.669 first met in Dungiven, Co. Londonderry, from 1787 until 1856, then was re-issued on the 23rd April 1938.In 1880 George Smith Clark then aged 19, was a founding partner in the Belfast shipbuilders Workman, Clark & Co Ltd., known locally as “The Wee Yard” located next to the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard. “The Wee Yard” expanded rapidly in 1895 to employ 3,500 men , and 9,000 in 1909.In 1902, and 1909 its tonnage produced was the highest of all UK shipyards.

shipyardThe new shipyard had already taken the repair and new construction contract for J.P. Corry & Company, a local company, and was the first shipbuilder to produce refrigerated ships for carrying beef and fruit.

After the First World War it enjoyed mixed fortunes, and closed in 1935.
Both partners had served their time as premium apprentices at Harland and Wolff the largest shipbuilder in Belfast, and graduated to junior management positions.

A detailed history of the Wee Yard “Forgotten Shipbuilders of Belfast” is published by Friar’s Bush Press ISBN 0-946872-66-x. The Clark family was very much involved in the Scottish and Ulster textile industries. Sir George Clark’s father was a senior partner in one of the largest thread spinning businesses in Scotland, based in Paisley.

Sir George Clark, also held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for North Belfast between 1907 and 1910. He was created 1st Baronet Clark, of Dunlambert, Belfast [U.K.] on 6 July 1917. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant(D.L.), held the office of Senator [Northern Ireland] in 1925, was chairman of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) and he was a director of Henry Matier and Company, linen manufacturers of Belfast.He was also a director of the Bank of Ireland.

oldmachineBro. Albert Brand contemplated the forming of Sir George Clark Memorial   Lodge for the benefit of those brethren who were night workers, and   were unable to attend their Mother Lodges, many of whom worked in the newspaper printing industry.With the assistance of W. Bro.Thomas McClure, W.Bro.Joseph McAdam,   and Bros. Arthur Patterson, and Henry Harrison.

All enthusiastic members of the craft.  At the first meeting, which was held at No. 28 Gainsborough Drive, the   home of Bro. Henry Harrison, it was decided to approach Sir George Clark,   2nd Baronet for permission to name the Lodge after his father (of   renowned shipbuilding fame) who was a keen Freemason.

They received permission, and called a meeting in Alexandra Park Avenue   School, Belfast, which all 25 foundation members of Sir George Clark Memorial Lodge attended. The Lodge was dedicated on the 23rd of April, 1938 at 5 o’clock, by the R. W. Bro. John W.Gilmour, Deputy Grand Master of the Province of Antrim.

brorichardV.W. Bro. Richard (Ricky) Robinson

  1. Master of Lodge 669 I.C. in 1968, who went on to become Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, then: Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Antrim 1985 – 1987.

In recognition of the high esteem in which Bro. Robinson was held by the Brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim, the” Richard Robinson Memorial Lecture” was inaugurated. This Lecture was given each year at a stated communication of Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim.

 

 

“May those Brethren who follow, take as keen an interest in the Lodge as those who worked to create it, so that when the time comes to lay down their working tools, they will have earned the commendation: Well Done, Thou True and Faithful Brother “W. Bro. Albert C. Brand (Founder Member) 1938

 

Foundation Officers and Members

Worshipful Master 1938

Senior Warden

Junior Warden

Treasurer

Secretary

Senior Deacon

Junior Deacon

Inner Deacon

Senior Steward

Junior Steward

Chaplin

Deputy Chaplin

Bro. Hector Stuart

Bro. James Patterson

Bro. Edwin Pitt

Bro. Alexander Moutray

Bro. Alfred Brown

Bro. Thomas Shields

Bro. James Brown (2)

 

W. Bro. Thomas Mcclure

Bro. Arthur Patterson

Bro. Henry Harrison

Bro. Albert C. Brand

W. Bro. Joseph McAdam

Bro. James Carson

Bro. John Stuart

Bro. George Kissick

Bro. Albert C. Brand

Bro. Joseph Rea

Bro. John Smyth

Bro. James Brown

Bro. Thomas Sands

Bro. Samuel Allen

Bro. Alfred Black

Bro. John Torrens

Bro. Henry Shannon

Bro. John McKeown

Bro. John Getty

 

Past Masters of Lodge 669

1938 – Thomas J. McClure

1939 – Arthur Patterson

1940 – Henry Harrison

1941 – James Carson

1942 – John Stuart

1943 – George Kissick

1944 – Albert Cecil Brand

1945 – John Smyth

1946 – Hector Stuart

1947 – James Patterson

1948 – Samuel Allen

1949 – Henry Shannon

1950 – Thomas Shields

1951 – Alfred Brown

1952 – Cecil Vance

1953 – James McGroary

1954 – James Menelly

1955 – William Nixon

1956 – William Hunter

1957 – David Sharpe

1958 – Albert Nelson

1959 – George Walsh

1960 – Henry Glenn

1961 – Robert McRoberts

1962 – Harold Sloan

1963 – Hugh Harkness

1964 – John McCormick

1965 – Neil Thompson

1966 – Alfred Hill

1967 – Thomas Bradley

1968 – Richard Robinson

1969 – William Johnston

1970 – Robert Galway

1971 – Robert Quail

1972 – Robert Henry

1973 – Edward Thompson

1974 – James Marshall

1975 – James Thompson

1976 – Thomas Caldwell

1977 – Thomas Cheddy

1978 – Alexander Coulter

1979 – Thomas Black

1980 – Fredrick Sloan

1981 – Martin Nesbitt

1982 – Robert McRoberts

1983 – James Gibb

1984 – William Beggs

1985 – Samuel Murphy

1986 – Robert Beggs

1987 – Robert Nesbitt

1988 – Brian Getty

1989 – Robert Paton

1990 – Alexander Gray

1991 – Norman Nelson

1992 – Malcolm Adams

1993 – Robert McKibben

1994 – Kenneth Beggs

1995 – Kirk Vokes

1996 – Alan Gibb

1997 – David Beggs

1998 – David Beggs

1999 – Norman Nelson

2000 – David Crothers

2001 – George MeGaw

2002 – Samuel Donaghy

2003 – Roger Beatty

2004 – Malcolm McDowell

2005 – William Cardwell 

2006 – William Cardwell 

2007 – Adrian Hales 

2008 – Norman Lacey 

2009 – Ronnie Craig 

2010 – Raymond Heald

2011 – Michael Lewis

2012 – Ivor Lamont

2013 – Jonathan Tarr

2014 – Keith Johnston

2015 – Tom Lamont

2016 – Bal Madrid

2017 – Luis Fredric Presbitero

2018 – Romeo Godines

Sir George Clark Memorial Lodge No. 669 Members Jan. 1958

L669PM1958

 

Past Masters of the Lodge 669

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