A brief history follows taken from the Centenary dinner menu and extra information as gleaned from Minute books etc. This history ends at the time of the merger with Tower of Lebanon 285 in 2005.

The Warrant was first issued to a Dublin Lodge on 2nd September 1747, but was cancelled on 5th September 1765.  In its early days the Lodge appears to have had a stormy history!  It had some 49 members but an entry in the Grand Lodge registry reads "this warrant cancelled by Order of Grand Lodge 5th September 1765 for not acting according to rules".  We cannot be sure what crimes the Dubliner's committed but it seems likely that they allowed excluded Brethren to attend meetings. --- NB. a brief history dated 1944 states this Lodge remained until 1782.

169 resurfaced in Magherafelt County Londonderry on 7th March 1811 when Grand Lodge minutes record "Granted Warrant 169 to Andrew Davidson, James McDonaghy, Backhouse Lenox to hold a Lodge in Magherafelt. It was Moneymore Lodge.

Some years later the Lodge seems to have been on the move to in County Londonderry.  On 1st December 1825 Grand Lodge gave permission for the Warrant to be removed to Tobermore.  The Lodge did not stay there and in 1838 Grand Lodge gave it permission to move to Moneymore.  We do not know why but in January 1860 the Lodge collapsed and the Warrant returned for suspension until August 1860.

In 1895 a number of Brethren applied for a Warrant to hold a new Lodge in Arthur Square, Belfast.  The new Lodge was to be called "Freedom".  The first Officers From October 1895 were:-

W. M. was Bro. Robert Tate
S. W. Bro. Hugh M. Jackson
J. W. Bro. Joseph H. Smyth
Treasurer Bro. Thomas Tate
Secretary W. Bro. David Hume
S. D. Bro. W. MacGregor
J. D. Bro. W. J. Hume
I. G. Bro. E. F. Bumyar
Sen. Stewart Bro. John Munro
Jun. Stewarts Bros. J. C. Carson and J. T. Leslie

All the above and many more were members of St. Patrick's Lodge #195 Belfast.  The application was supported by Donegall True Blue Lodge #92, Star of Ulster Lodge #239 and Star of Bethlehem Lodge #665.  The Warrant was issued and dated 4th October 1895. They met in Arthur Square in the "New Lodge Room".

The Lodge clearly had some problems as in 1896 Robert Tate resigned,  along with the Worshipful Master. Having checked with the Minutes and Attendance Books I cannot find any indication regarding this. Robt. Tate is signing the Attendance book and carrying out Degree work well into 1897/8. Having said that there was considerable discussion involving both these parties regarding after Lodge refreshment and Past Master Jewels.

Robert Hafferon details:-

Bookkeeper.
19 Brookland Street, Belfast.
Proposed: Bro. McIlveen Seconded: Bro. Sinton.
Balloted 23 Dec. 1897 ... Ballot being clear he was given E. A. degree that night.
F. C. Degree: 27 Jan 1898.
M. M. Degree 11 March 1897 (Emergency Meeting.

During the 1914/18 War 8 members of the Lodge fought for the Armed Forces and fortunately only one Bro. Joseph Cochrane was noted as making the supreme sacrifice.

By 1921 the Lodge had 105 members.  The role shows that they came from all parts of the City of Belfast and from all walks of life from accountants to one hairdresser.  Our older members can relate that during the 1930's and included members of the Baird family owners of the "Belfast Telegraph".

Taken from the "List of members 1944" booklet found in an old Minute book. Records George Canning as W. Master. The Lodge has 72 Full Members plus 4 Country Members plus 3 Honourary members. Of these two were in Military Service:

Thomas H. Dorman
David J. Addis (Squadron Leader).

Notable members names:-
Thomas T. McConkey (PM) whose sister has just celebrated her 100th birthday, owing to the amount of work she personally undertook for the Lodge we still recognise her at Christmas with a bouquet of flowers or similar gift.
Thomas J. Reid (PM): the Father of the present T. J. Reid.
Robert Hafferon (PM): see Jewel above.

By the late 1980's the Lodge had fallen on hard times and membership had dwindled to slightly more than the number required to open a Lodge.  Eventually in 1988 a proposal was made that the Lodge close and return its Warrant.  This proposal was defeated by the then W. Master T. J. Reid Junior.  Notable here is T. J. Reid Senior's contribution.  He was initiated in 1913 (W. M. in 1952) he died at 103 still attending the Lodge.  He had previously been appointed Grand Standard bearer in 1985.

Albert Cooke and Billy Drysdale In chapter 169 regalia

Albert Cooke and Billy Drysdale With Provincial Grand Master Bobby Thompson presenting Billy with his 50 year service jewel 1996

A recent upsurge has kept 169 alive and work is being made to bring its Social Life up to scratch.

The new Millennium opened with Freedom facing a hard time and some tough decisions regarding its future. Membership had dropped to 19 by January 2003 but there was only a core of 11/12 turning up each meeting night. A meeting to discuss the situation decided to keep the Lodge alive for as long as possible but the Lodge had to stop living in its past glory and face reality. The decision to hold regular Festive Boards was made and the Secretary contacted other local Lodges that met on the same night to see if joint ventures could be organised.

The future of both Arthur square and Rosemary Street were open to debate at this time and as I write the Gen. Purposes com. at Rosemary Street is considering selling the building to redevelopment firms hoping for large contracts refurbishing the centre of Belfast. Arthur Square is more in the clear and although redevelopment of the area is in the near future the Masonic Hall has all but been guaranteed refitting and a future live. Although there will probably be a lengthy closure of the building while Health and Safety work is carried out. During a recent clear out of the Lodge locker etc. A brown paper package was discovered. It turned out to be the first volume of our Minute Books! I hope shortly to include some passages from this excellent tomb.

Early in February 2004 following an approach from Tower of Lebanon 285 a merger was tabled between the two Lodges. Although Freedom had a good turn out at meetings they were short of members whereas Tower of Lebanon had many on the books but poor turn out at Communications. So a merger seemed an ideal solution to both problems and it was left to the two Secretaries Myself and David Jamison to set the details.

Luckily both parties were in agreement on almost all aspects of the merger and by the time Provincial and Grand Lodge were involved most of the details were sorted out.

In September 2004 Freedom 169 affiliated some 15 members of Tower of Lebanon thereby setting the seal on the future.

Basically the idea was that the two Lodges unite under the Warrant of 169 retaining their time and date of meeting. In return the name would change from January 2005 to Tower of Lebanon 169. In accordance with Grand Lodge rules 169 agreed to accept the Charity commitments of 285 and a ladder was agreed with the worshipful Master being one with experience. Leslie Mc Cutcheon was an acceptable W. Master of the first year od the combined Lodge. Well experienced in controlling meeting and backed by the equally experienced secretary it was anticipated any "teething problems" would be efficiently dealt with.

In November 2004 Tower of Lebanon 285 held its last meeting attended by the provincial Grand Secretary John Frazer who accepted the Warrant for returning to grand Lodge. The final event of the year was a "Christmas Cracker" social event which was very successful.

This history now ends and new sections to this site will open with updates as to the new beginning for both Lodges.

FREEDOM  MASONIC  LODGE  #169 BELFAST WORSHIPFUL  MASTER  1998 W.  BRO.  PETER  LEACH