Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland

Last updated

Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland
Bewley's Hotel.JPG
Location
Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland

Coordinates 53°19′32″N6°13′29″W / 53.32556°N 6.22472°W / 53.32556; -6.22472
Information
TypeFormer orphanage school
Established1792
GenderFemale
Age10to 15

The Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland was a Masonic school in Dublin, Ireland. The school was instituted in 1792, with the aim of maintaining the daughters of indigent Freemasons, unable through death, illness, or incapacitation to support their families.

Contents

History

In 1788 Bartholomew Ruspini and nine fellow Freemasons met in London to discuss plans for establishing a charitable institution for the daughters of Masons who had fallen on hard times or whose death had meant hardship for their families. In 1790 several Irish Brethren met together and made themselves responsible for the school fees for girls. In 1792, a small house, affording accommodation for twenty girls, was taken in Dublin where the pupils were boarded, clothed and educated until such a time as they could earn their own living.[ citation needed ]

The children had to be between the ages of six and ten and were to be retained until they reached the age of fifteen and had to be the daughters of freemasons. At the end of their school life, girls were either returned to their family or supporters (known as Friends) or apprenticed and supported until they could establish themselves. [1]

Masonic orphans school bazaar in Dublin, 1882 Masonic orphans school bazaar Dublin.jpg
Masonic orphans school bazaar in Dublin, 1882

In 1852, after several removals, Burlington House in Burlington Place, Ballsbridge, was opened. The original architect was George Papworth. Extensive alterations were carried out by John McCurdy in 1861. An impressive newly built school was opened in 1881. [2]

Bazaars and fairs were held to provide funds for the school. [3] On 16 May 1892 the Masonic Centenary five-day Bazaar opened at the Royal Dublin Society grounds, adjacent to the school. The opening was presided over by the Grand Master, the Duke of Abercorn. Among the highlights were reconstructions of historic Dublin buildings, a human chess game, and landscaped gardens. Some 96,000 passed through the turnstiles over the five days. A profit of over £21,690 was made from the 50 stalls and turnstile tickets. [4]

In the present day, the school building houses the Clayton Hotel. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freemasonry</span> Group of fraternal organizations

Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 14th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. Modern Freemasonry broadly consists of two main recognition groups: Regular Freemasonry, which insists that a volume of scripture be open in a working lodge, that every member professes belief in a Supreme Being, that no women be admitted, and that the discussion of religion and politics do not take place within the lodge; and Continental Freemasonry, which consists of the jurisdictions that have removed some, or all, of these restrictions.

The history of Freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as Freemasonry. It covers three phases. Firstly, the emergence of organised lodges of operative masons during the Middle Ages, then the admission of lay members as "accepted" or "speculative" masons, and finally the evolution of purely speculative lodges, and the emergence of Grand Lodges to govern them. The watershed in this process is generally taken to be the formation of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717. The two difficulties facing historians are the paucity of written material, even down to the 19th century, and the misinformation generated by masons and non-masons alike from the earliest years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bewley's</span> Irish hot beverage company

Bewley's is an Irish hot beverage company, located in Dublin and founded in 1840, which operates internationally. Its primary business operations are the production of tea and coffee, and the operations of cafés. Bewley's has operations in Ireland, the UK and the United States; in the Boston area under the Rebecca's Cafe name and in California as Java City.

Hundreds of conspiracy theories about Freemasonry have been described since the late 18th century. Usually, these theories fall into three distinct categories: political, religious, and cultural. Many conspiracy theories have connected the Freemasons with worship of the devil; these ideas are based on different interpretations of the doctrines of those organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Grand Lodge of England</span> Freemason lodge in England

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the governing Masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England, Wales, and the Commonwealth of Nations. Claiming descent from the Masonic Grand Lodge formed 24 June 1717 at the Goose & Gridiron Tavern in London, it is considered to be the oldest Masonic Grand Lodge in the world, together with the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Aldworth</span>

Elizabeth Aldworth (1693/1695–1773/1775), born Elizabeth St Leger, was known in her time as "The Lady Freemason" and was the first recorded woman to be initiated into Regular Freemasonry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Lodge of Ireland</span> Second most senior Grand Lodge of Freemasons

The Grand Lodge of Ireland is the second most senior Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. Since no specific record of its foundation exists, 1725 is the year celebrated in Grand Lodge anniversaries, as the oldest reference to Grand Lodge of Ireland comes from the Dublin Weekly Journal of 26 June 1725. This describes a meeting of the Grand Lodge to install the new Grand Master, The 1st Earl of Rosse, on 24 June. The Grand Lodge has regular Masonic jurisdiction over 13 Provincial Grand Lodges covering all the Freemasons of the island of Ireland, and another 11 provinces worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freemasonry in Malta</span> Freemasonry by country

Freemasonry in Malta has a lengthy history dating from the eighteenth century. The main masonic influences have been from the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Today Regular Freemasonry is under the jurisdiction of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta, formed in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonic bodies</span> Auxiliary organization of Freemasonry

There are many organisations and orders which form part of the widespread fraternity of Freemasonry, each having its own structure and terminology. Collectively these may be referred to as Masonic bodies, Masonic orders, Concordant bodies or appendant bodies of Freemasonry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freemasonry and women</span> Positions on women in the fraternal organisation

Freemasonry has had a complex relationship with women for centuries. A few women were involved in Freemasonry before the 18th century, despite de jure prohibitions in the Premier Grand Lodge of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Royal Masonic School for Girls</span> Girls school in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England

The Royal Masonic School for Girls (RMS) is a private school in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England, with day and boarding pupils. The school was instituted in 1788, with the aim of caring for the daughters of poor Freemasons. In 1978, the school opened to girls beyond the daughters of freemasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Masonic Grand Lodges in North America</span>

This is a chronology of the formation of "regular" or "mainstream" Masonic Grand Lodges in North America, descending from the Premier Grand Lodge of England or its rival, the Antient Grand Lodge of England. A Grand Lodge is the governing body that supervises "Craft" Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction or geographical area.

A Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Masonic Temple</span> United States historic place

The current Indianapolis Masonic Temple, also known as Indiana Freemasons Hall, is a historic Masonic Temple located at Indianapolis, Indiana. Construction was begun in 1908, and the building was dedicated in May 1909. It is an eight-story, Classical Revival style cubic form building faced in Indiana limestone. The building features rows of engaged Ionic order columns. It was jointly financed by the Indianapolis Masonic Temple Association and the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Indiana, and was designed by the distinguished Indianapolis architectural firm of Rubush and Hunter.

Sir James Creed Meredith was Deputy Grand Master and Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Ireland; Chancellor of the Diocese of Limerick; Secretary to the Royal University of Ireland and the National University of Ireland. A prominent Freemason, J. Creed Meredith Masonic Lodge at Belfast was named in his honour. He is not to be confused with his son, Judge James Creed Meredith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McCurdy (architect)</span> Irish architect

John McCurdy was an Irish architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown and Thistle Inn, Monmouth</span> Public House in Monmouth, Wales

The Crown and Thistle Inn was a public house in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales. It was in the historic Agincourt Square neighbourhood. Prior to its conversion to a public house, the building served as the premises of an apothecary. During the early nineteenth century, the Crown and Thistle Inn briefly housed one of the earliest Masonic Lodges in Monmouthshire.

James King, 4th Baron Kingston was a British member of the peerage. King was a prominent freemason, being the Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England for 1728–1730 and also Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland for 1731–1732 and 1735–1736. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. Despite being born in France to Jacobite parents, he was naturalised at the age of 13 years old on 8 January 1707 as a British subject and was a Protestant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palatine Lodge No. 97</span> The history of Palatine Lodge No 97

Palatine Lodge No. 97 is a Craft Masonic Lodge in Freemasonry under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England. The Lodge meets at Wearside Masonic Temple, Burdon Road, Sunderland and has done so since 1932. Previously the Lodge met at the Masonic Hall in Park Terrace, which was dismantled in 1988, rebuilt and opened in April 2000 at the Beamish Open Air Museum, Stanley, County Durham, England.

The Masonic Boys School was a school in Dublin, Ireland which was originally established for the sons of deceased, or financially distressed, freemasons. It was directly supported by the Brethren of the Masonic Order and was in existence from 1867 until 1981.

References

  1. Encyclopedia of Freemasonry
  2. Thomas Stuart: Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland: Grand Centenary Celebration. Wilson Hartnell, 1892.
  3. Stephanie Rains: Commodity Culture and Social Class in Dublin 1850-1916. Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 2010. ISBN   978-0716530695 p. 119
  4. Dublin City Public Libraries - Dublin Heritage Archived 2007-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Akins, Sally (26 August 2019). "Hotel Review: Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge, Dublin". SallyAkins.com. Retrieved 6 December 2022.