| St. Johns Masonic Lodge No 788 Cairncastle. (Province of Antrim) |
| Historical references indicate that Cairncastle represents an Irish original Carn Caisil "Cairn of the stone fort". The Irish words caiseal "stone fort", and caislean, caisteal "castle" are, like English castle, borrowed from Latin castellum. It was decided that it would be acceptable to spell all these Irish words as Castle in English. Carn is a Gaelic word, known in Scotland and Ireland, for a stone heap - often erected as a monument. It has been borrowed into English in both countries, in Ireland originally as carn, however in Scotland the word was borrowed as cairn, and then adopted by archaeologists to refer to the type of ancient monument now so-called in English generally. In Cairncastle the Carn part has been Scotticised in local use. St. John's Masonic Lodge No.788, Cairncastle, was founded in 1807 when on the 1st of October, A. Seton issued a warrant (No.788) which was, it is believed, then given up and a legal warrant obtained on the 1st of September 1814. The first warrant had been initialy issued on the 1st of August 1793, to brethren of the 44th (East Essex) Foot, later to become the 1st Battalion The East Essex Regiment who served with great distinction under the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular War. To read a brief history of this Regement and to see how the first brethren of Masonic Lodge No. 788 may have looked click here. For many years, the members occupied a small hall on Cairncastle Road, Ballygally. Here, the intimacy of the small Lodge room provided a friendly atmosphere for Members and visitors alike, which is often lacking in larger premises. The Lodge moved to a larger Hall in 1958, a short distance away on the Brustin Brea Road. The ground was donated by Sam Moore, a publican, and the new hall was built by Worshipful Brother Samuel Hunter Senior, when he was Worshipful Master. He was Senior Warden when the laying of the foundation stones took place. It is interesting to students of Masonic history to note that, in the 1890s, the seal of the Lodge described it as 'Cairncastle Blue Masonic Lodge No.788', whilst the Minutes retained their well known title, "St. John's". The Lodge still thrives in Cairncastle today. A progressive Lodge, it has helped many worthy projects outside Masonic activity, particularly in the village. It continues as a valued meeting place for Freemasons, assembling on the Friday of each month on or before the full moon (with the exception of July and August). By doing so, we are maintaining the ancient landmarks of the Craft. |
| A Short History Of Our Lodge Composed by Worshipful Brother Ian Duffin. |
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