Welcome to Portglenone Masonic Lodge 450

The first record of Freemasonry in Portglenone was on the 1st February 1770, when theGrand Lodge of Ireland granted Warrant No. 485, to Bros John McFaddin(Taylor), Master and Charles Ellis and Henry O’Neill as Wardens. At this time a further 8 names were registered, which suggests that this was an existing irregular or hedge Lodge, which took the the step in November 1770 to regularise its position. A further 20 brethren registered with the Lodge over the next eighteen years up to the year 1788, the Warrant was then cancelled on the 2nd July 1789. A second warrant No. 736 was issued on the 7th April 1791 to Bros George Goold, Murtagh McKinney and James McDonald. A further seven Brethren joined this Lodge by 20th May 1798. Portglenone Masons appear to have kept out of Political concerns of the time, but in the aftermath of the 1798 Rebellion, Masonic meetings like all public gatherings, were banned for approx. 1 year, by the military authorities. Unfortunately this caused a drop-off in membership which did not help the Lodge. Another problem of the time was the emigration to England, Scotland, the Americas and Australasia. In 1800, the Act of the Union was proclaimed, making England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Masonry slowly then got back onto its feet. In March 1805 the then Assistant Grand Secretary- Alexander Seton reissued Warrant No. 123 to Bros Isaac Kennedy, John Clarke and William Evelyn to hold a Lodge in Portglenone. This Warrant No. 123,was originally issued in 1741, to the Brethren of Coleraine, who used it to form The Vernon Lodge No. 123. This famous old Lodge was named after Admiral Vernon, a famous English sailor who won many sea battles against the French. The fourth Warrant No. 223 was issued on the 5th January 1809 to Bros Pat McElvena, Dan McAnally and James Greer. This Lodge had very few surviving records and had a total of 42 names registered with Grand Lodge up to the year 1818. A further warrant No. 456, was issued to the town of Portglenone on the 2nd December 1813. In this case Bros John McCurley, John Reed and Bernard Reed where the receipents. Unfortunately this Lodge had a short history, Grand Lodge cancelled the Warrant on the 7th July 1825. A small mystery was left by this Lodge in that a Demit certificate was issued to a Bro John McQuillan dated 12th August 1828. Finally Lodge 450 was Constituted in the Masonic Hall, Ballymena on Tuesday 11th March 1919, by R.W. Bro. J.H.Sterling, the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of Antrim. The Lodge had 21 foundation members and W. Bro. Hugh B Porter was the first Master.

Bros Hugh Simpson and John Peoples were the Wardens and W. Bro. John Casement was the first Lodge Secretary. On the 8th November 1929 the current hall was dedicated, the ceremony being carried out by R. W. Bro.William Wallace, the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland, who was assisted by a large number of Provincial Grand Lodge Officers.

Today the Lodge is still going strong and has around 68 members .