No. 43 was first issued to Waterford, 20th December 1735, and was cancelled by order of Grand Lodge on 1st July 1815. On 24th June 1817, it was re-issued to Carrickfergus, the names on the Warrant being:-Ezekiel Milliken, Robert McAlpine, William McKinstry.

A Masonic Warrant No. 270 was issued to Carrickfergus on 2nd June 1756. Original members:-Patrick McDowell, John Patterson, Patrick Allen and Whittney Bowman.

The following note re. No. 270 appears in the Grand Lodge Register:
"This Warrant and Jewels etc., was taken the time the French was in this place and the Lodge did not meet since." History records that Thourot, the French Admiral, when he visited Carrickfergus in 1760, carried off the Warrant and Jewels belonging to Lodge 270. They were afterwards restored by Captain Elliott, who captured the French Fleet off the Isle of Man, Thourot being killed in the engagement. From the earliest records available, this Warrant was eventually returned by the French. A new warrant was issued by Grand Lodge free of charge and was working in Carrickfergus from the year 1805 continuously until 1817.

The following is an extract from an old Minute Book of Lodge No. 270 from the 24th. May of that year (1817):
"Ezekiel Milliken in the chair, when the old officers were re-elected and the Lodge voted to have a new Warrant,"
Again on 22nd November 1817, "Lodge No. 270 met in due form, when it was resolved that the Installation shall take place on Saturday, 29th November, 1817, of No. 43 at the hour of 6 o'clock."
And on Saturday, 29th Nov. 1817, "Lodge 270 met to install No. 43."

Thus Lodge 43 is a continuation of Lodge 270; when Warrant No. 270 was sent in to Grand Lodge and exchanged for No. 43 on 24th June. 1817.

The first Masonic Warrant issued to Carrickfergus was No. 253. on 10th February, 1755-one year previous to No. 270. Lodge No. 253 ceased to exist as a regular Lodge in Carrickfergus on 2nd June, 1892, its Warrant being suspended. No record of the exact date of its cancellation can be found in the books of the Grand Lodge.

Unhappily all the Minute Books and other documents of this Lodge have disappeared and are not likely to reappear now. What a light they would throw on the period of the French invasion of 1760 and the disappearance of the Warrant.

Whether or not our ancient Brethren had access to an ancient triad which records "St Patrick blessed a tower or stronghold of the Dalaradians, in which was a well of miraculous efficacy, called the "Well of St Patrick" is not known, but the name adopted by our brethren in 1756 was St Patrick's Masonic Lodge.

It is of course interesting that Fergus, the reputed first Scottish King, lost his life in a storm off the town whilst attempting to land to partake of the miraculous waters and it is from this part of history that the town takes its name. Carrickfergus (The Rock of Fergus).

Coming now to the seven years war 1756 - 1763, the town was invaded and held for a week by the French Commander Admiral Thourot, and on his leaving, he took with him the Warrant and Jewels.

In a Commemorative Order of Service printed in 1917, it is noted that a Captain Elliott who encountered Thourot's ships off the Isle of Man, with Thourot being killed in the engagement afterwards, restored these possessions.

Grand Lodge of Ireland records show that a duplicate Warrant No 270 was issued "free of charge" in 1805 and it is only from this date that we have continuous records. Glancing at the earliest of these, it is not surprising that there is no earlier trace, as the minutes are scant. e.g. "Lodge opened in Form - no business done".

In 1817 the Warrant No 270 was exchanged for Warrant No 43 and the minute of November 29th 1817 records " 270 met to install No 43. Met in good order the Worshipful Ezekial Milliken in the chair." The reasons for this exchange of numbers was of course in order that the Lodge would be given a higher precedence in processions, especially church processions, which were very common in the early days.

Despite Grand Lodge having instructed Craft Lodges in the early part of the nineteenth century not to confer the higher degrees, we find recorded in the minutes of 1857 the Templar Degree still being conferred.

Currently the Lodge is thriving with membership close to 100 and a very high standard of ritual being maintained. The Lodge meets on the 4th Friday of each month, except July and August, at 7:30pm in the Masonic Hall, Victoria Street, Carrickfergus and visitors especially from our sister Constitutions are always welcome.

It is again interesting that the hall in which we currently meet was erected in 1898 and is currently completing a major refurbishment and extension to make it a centre for our Brethren families and friends for the 21st century.