Lodge 242 (IC

Lodge 242 in Kilbarchan

Abbey Lodge No. 242 (in Boyle, Co Roscommon) and Concord LodgeNo. 854 amalgamated some years ago, both deriving from military lodges, namely – 242 Roscommon Militia and 854 Leitrim Militia. The lodge was founded 1808 so is 3 years older than our lodge.

Roscommon Militia Regiment 5th May 1808 242 Leitrim Militia Regiment 5th January 1797 854

The first 242 warrant was opened in 1808 and worked under Seton's warrant then formally under the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The lodge then settled in Boyle in 1817 where both lodges still meet. Lodge 854 appears to have worked until 1817 when it removed to Carrick upon Shannon in 1816 and possibly a permanent warrant in 1817 in Boyle.

One notable brother was Colonel William James Bury Macleod Moore, High Knight Templar and Knight Malta in the Encampment was attached to Lodge No. 242, Boyle, County Roscommon, 1844. He received his early education in Aberdeen,Scotland, graduated in 1825 and attended the Military School at Sandhurst On his graduation in 1831, he received an Ensign's commission in the 69th Regiment of Foot, in which he served for twenty years. Colonel Moore first saw the light in freemasonry on the 17th of August 1827, when only seventeen years old. He was also passed and raised at the same time. This was a special meeting of Glenkindel Lodge No. 333, held in the house of the Master, Major General Sir Alexander Leith, K. C. B. at Aberdeen, Scotland.

In 1831, Moore was exalted to the Holy Royal Arch degree and made a Mark Master in St. Macher's Chapter No. 37 in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 1834, when his regiment was in Dublin, he joined St. Patrick's Lodge and Chapter No. 50 and also Victoria Mark Lodge No. IV. On 29th October, 1844 he was installed High Knight Templar and Knight Malta in the Encampment attached to Lodge No. 242 in the old Town of Boyle, County Roscommon, in Ireland, in which Lodge he served as Senior Warden. He became very involved in the formation of the Canadian Orders such as the Red Cross of Constantine, Knight Templars, Rose Croix and the Rosicrucian Society.

In 1872, 242 visited St. Barchan No.156 in order to carry out the MM degree on 17 candidates. The master Bro. William Guy PM was well known for visiting and conferring certain degrees in particular the MMM which not every lodge was able to confer. Clearly, a busy night but then followed the installation of 15 office-bearers! The business was then conducted in the newly re-modelled hall. “After the business had terminated, the brethren spent the remainder of the evening in the greatest harmony.”