The question is often asked: "What's in a Name?" When it comes to Masonic lodges in particular, what counts as much or even more than the name, is the number associated with it.

For instance, there is Abercorn Lodge No. 123 on the Grand Registry of Ireland (GRI) which meets regularly in Hamilton.

Members of that lodge are busy laying plans for a grand celebration of its centenary set for June 2008. Abercorn's Wor. Master, Bro. Reginald Alfred Fitzgerald Rawlins, and brethren at their regular December meeting received a totally surprising and authoritative backgrounding on the history of No. 123 which was first issued on May 8, 1741 to a lodge in Northern Ireland then known as Vernon Lodge.

The briefing was from Very Wor. Bro. Raymond Robinson, an eminent Masonic historian from Omagh, who is a Past Wor. Master of Vernon Lodge. He made a flying visit to Bermuda, bringing with him priceless jewels substantiating the history of No. 123, as well as a booklet he has produced detailing how the number made its tortuous journey to Bermuda over the centuries.

Our photo shows the Master of Abercorn on the right receiving a copy of the booklet on Masonic Number 123 from Very Wor. Bro. Raymond Robinson. Left is the Provincial Grand Master of Irish Lodges in Bermuda, Rt. Wor. St. Clair Brinky Tucker.

Abercorn was constituted in Hamilton by a group of leading black Freemasons of the day. Their mother-lodge was centuries-old Hannibal Lodge No. 224, GRI that meets in St.George's.

Those dedicated masons were anxious to overcome the rigours of travelling from as far away as Somerset and other western and middle parishes by sailboat, horse-drawn vehicles and bicycles to attend meetings in St. George's. They went through the procedures of establishing a lodge in the middle, hence Abercorn came into being.

If they had petitioned Grand Lodge in Ireland for a charter two or three months later their number might have been different than 123, according to the researches of RW. Wor. Bro. Robinson.

Bro. Robinson did some intensive detective work when he was installed as Junior Warden of his lodge. There was something that intrigued him about the last digit of the number engraved on the sterling silver plumb rule given him for his term of office. It turned out to be a 'three'. And that set him on a search about No. 123.

When he discovered it was in Bermuda, his interest in Bermuda was intensified, particularly as he knew that one of his old Northern Ireland school mates, a rugby-playing friend and Masonic brother lived and worked on the island. He is Wor. Bro. Norman Wilson, a Past Master of Lodge 200 in St.George's, who invited Bro. Raymond to be a guest at his South Shore, Smith's Parish home. Together, they went to Abercorn's December meeting.

Following is part one of extracts from the booklet on Masonic Number No. 123 that Bro. Robinson presented to the Wor. Master of Abercorn.

Warrant number 123 was issued to Vernon Masonic Lodge, Coleraine on May 8, 1741. It would appear that this was not a warrant for a new Lodge but for one already in existence. "Time Immemorial" Lodges were ordered by Grand Lodge to apply for warrants "or they will be proceeded against as Rebel Masons".

Volume 1 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers records Willm. Kinkead, Gent.; Alex. McCacken, Gent., and Dom. Heyland, Gent. together with Andw. Todd, Gent and Robt. Giveen, Gent as members.

Where they are known, names used by individual Lodges have been recorded by Grand Lodge and the "earliest instance known is the old Lodge No. 123 Coleraine, warranted May 8, 1741, and known from its foundation as the 'Vernon' Lodge".

The name of the Lodge was out of a compliment to Admiral Vernon who was a popular hero within the Craft. His name appears on the Toast List of various Lodges at this time (and it also appears in the records at the Bermuda Maritime Museum, according to its director, Dr. Edward Harris) when Vice Admiral Vernon was appointed Commander in Chief West Indies on July 9, 1739.

In November of that year he took Porto Bello despite strong opposition. His next exploit, in January 1741, was not as successful due to the lack of expertise by the general in command of the land forces.

Coleraine celebrated, on March 25, 1740, the victory at Porto Bello with bonfires and the Mayor "gave an Elegant Entertainment".

A similar celebration took place on June 2, 1741 when it was reported that "Sir John Abercrombie Bart, Master of The Worshipful Vernon Lodge of Free-Masons establish'd here, attended by the Brethren, appeared all in Proper Clothing, and Marched out in Order to the Table . . . " (Reilly's Dublin News Letter, June 6, 1741).

The first official record of the election of deacons is also mentioned in the June St. John's Day minutes with the election of Bro. Robt. Heyland and Bro. Bristow.

In February 1766 the Brethren "were ready to meet and sit as a Lodge, but as no 'accomidation' could be had, adjourned to 1st Thursday in March.

"An Occasional Lodge was called and formed (the Master being absent) on Rodger Douglas a brother, being Buried in a desent publick manner (a list of ten Brethren present is included with Bro. Dom. Heyland as Master).

"At the request of the Master of No. 138, six of the Senior members of our Lodge were Bearers and after the Funeral the Lodge adjourned as before to the first Thursday in April at the Usual Hour."

At the April meeting "the Master ordered that Bro. McKachan would write next post to Bro. J.W. Galt to have 6 Officers' Aprons and 18 Brothers made propperly for our Lodge".

However, they discovered that "Bro. Galt had left Town" and it was ordered that Bro. McKachan "should immediately write Wm. Jackson requesting he would be pleased to order his Servant Richard Cox to have aprons made in time to be here if possible against first St. John's Day".

A Lodge was formed on June 23 and the total cost of the aprons was £20.3.8 but as Bro. Jackson made a present of the Master and Wardens aprons (£3.11.4) the final bill was £17.2.4.

The St. John's meeting the next day is the first instance of Lodge 235 appearing in the minutes "walked to church accompanied by our neighbouring Lodges No. 138 and No. 235. The Charity collection was £5.17.0 and it was divided two thirds to Coleraine £3.18.0 and one third for Killowen £1.19.0.

"At this Lodge the Master & Brethren came to know that it was the Intention of the Grand Master as this day, to Elect Bro. Richard Jackson, deputy Grand Master, for the Province of Ulster which no doubt will take place and in that case let it be observed that in future time, when we have the pleasure of having him in the country, he is allways to be at the head of our Lodge As Deputy Grand Master."

A letter dated April 7, 1767 from Bro. Calder, secretary to the Grand Lodge, also stated that "Bro. Richard Jackson, was appointed Provincial Deputy Grand Master of Ulster on St. John's Day 24th June 1766 and as soon as he come to this Kingdom he will get a Commission for that purpose".

In December 1766 there is an interesting entry regarding "the Sixpences of the Wine & Spirit Lysences, Granted at the Custom House, and taken out by our late Secritarry Will Kinkead for afoarding an accomidation to us, which otherwise he was not determined to take, shall be paid out of the Fund of the Lodge from and after March 1760 to March 1765 being 5 years at £4.4.10 (£21.4.2). And that all Fines & Absentee money now due be drawn out and collected next Lodge night, for that purpose. And that the Sacritarry shall make out an Account between the late Sacritarry and the Lodge, so it may be examined and settled with Andrew Todd Esq and recorded in this Book".

The meetings moved to Todd's but in May 1767 "Todd Aquainted the Brethren that it was Inconvenient for him to Entertain the Lodge any longer" and a committee was set up to find accommodation "& soon after agreed with Mrs. Alice Lindsay, for the use of a room and closet for one whole year to commence 1st June 1767 . . . for three guineas". The records show that she was paid £3.8.3 for June 1767 / June 1768, £3.8.3 for June 1768 / December 1769 and £6.16.6 for December 1769 / August 1771 (and hence the reference to a guinea being £1.2.9d earlier).

The first St. John's Day that year saw "as many Brethren from 3 Lodges now being 16 each & the Church as full to Appearance, yet so much falling off happened" which was a reference to a reduction in the charity giving. However, a full list of the recipients, some 22 names, are recorded in these minutes, many of whom were widows but also mention Blind Jennet and The Brannock!

The move from Todd's is also explained in the December minutes as the secretary was ordered "to buy wine at Todd's Auction".

What would appear to have been a Masonic funeral is reported in the minutes of December 27, 1768. "Our Worthy Brother John McAlister who died on Monday 26th inst. The Master Acquainted the visiting Brethren of No.138 and 235 that he was to be buried at 8 o'clock, next morning at the Cams and that Our Lodge Intended to Attend the Funeral, and would be glad of their company" (a list of ten members who attended the funeral is then recorded). ". . . the pall handled by Six Senior Members, the Usual Solemnity performed by the Rev. Robert Heyland & accompanied by Lodges No.138 &235 in propper clothing, the Corps was Decently Interred in the Grave Yard of Cams".

In March 1769 the Lodge was again called upon to adjudicate on a problem in Lodge 414 Bushmills. It involved the expulsion of two Brethren due to a complaint from Lodge 229 (also Bushmills) that they had served processes of law on their Brethren.

On June 30 that year an Occasional Lodge was formed when Lodge 123 refused to pay Grand Lodge dues to the Grand Lodge secretary on his visit to Coleraine!

"Bro. Thomas Cocker, Secretary to the Grand Lodge, being present, was the occasion of convening this Lodge. He produced his Credentials from their Worshipps, with a small book or pamphlet Intitled Rules, orders & Regulations for the better Government of the Most Antient & honourable Fraternity of Free & Accepted Masons.'And upon reading over his Said Credentials, Also the 16 & 29 Rules contained in the pamphlet, viz the 16th, Every Lodge in the Kingdom of Ireland Shall pay ten shillings & 10 pence Annually to the Grand Lodge for the Relief of the Sick and distressed Brethren, and for defraying other incidental charges of Said Grand Lodge; which contribution shall be brought & paid to Grand Lodge or to the Grand Treasurer, by the Citty Lodges on or before the first Thursday in August and February for the half year ensuing; and in default of such payment on the days aforesaid, No Master or Wardens shall be suffered to sit in the Grand Lodge until such contribution be paid; this annual payment to be in lieu of one shilling and one penny formerly paid by each member and to commence from 27 December 1768, the Country Lodges to be allowed to the 25th March, on or before which day they shall pay their years Arrears, every Lodge refusing or neglecting to pay such contributions aforesaid shall be excluded all benefits of Grand Lodge, and their names shall be struck out of the Grand Lodge books, the Grand Master's Lodge to pay what they shall think fit."

Part two of this series will show how Lodge Vernon went into complete decline, was eventually closed for many years and then revived.