"Lodge Endeavour 829 was constituted & dedicated on Oct 23rd 1965 in McCammon Memorial Masonic Hall, Sullivan Place, Holywood, Co Down by R.W.Bro. R F Sheldon, Provincial Grand Master of Down, and on the opposite page are the names of the Officers and members on that occasion.

So began Endeavour 829, (the warrant having previously been issued in 1796 to a Lodge in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, before being returned to Grand Lodge in 1843), according to this entry in the Lodge's Register of Members.  The majority of the foundation members came from T Hay Masonic Lodge 685, meeting in Newtownards Road Masonic Hall, Belfast - a Lodge founded in 1883 in the east of the city, in the shadows of the towering cranes and bustling activity of the shipyards.

Foundation Members

First Past Master's Jewel

W.Bro. Brown's Past Master's Jewel was returned to the Lodge following his death, and is now worn with considerable pride by each Worshipful Master of the Lodge during his term in office.   

Why is the Lodge called Endeavour?

The ethos of the Lodge has always been to endeavour to undertake any task, be it ritual, degree work, planning, social activities or any other aspect of Lodge life, with a greater commitment, approach, willingness to serve and to succeed than could be found anywhere else.  One of the great strengths of the Lodge over the years has been the ability of different teams to confer the various degrees on new candidates.  These have been a joy to watch, as well as participate in.  It was not uncommon for up to 7 or 8 members to be involved, each perfecting their own area of expertise.  Many members will never forget receiving instruction in the working tools of each degree from W.Bro. Archie McCulloch, a fervent Scot, now retired to live in England, who had a unique manner of explaining the tools, which was a cross between the Irish and the Scottish Constitutions.

Provincial Grand Lodge Officers 

A number of members have served Provincial Grand Lodge roles over the years, including -

W.Bro. William Weller, foundation member, who served as Provincial Grand Steward

W.Bro. John Fleming, foundation member, who served as both Provincial Senior Grand Deacon and Provincial Grand Inspector

W.Bro. Eric Sheerman, who affiliated from Mount Zion 713 just two months after the foundation of the Lodge, and who became a Provincial Grand Steward of Charities

W.Bro. Robert Fraser, also an affiliate from 713 in 1972, who served as Provincial Grand Steward of Charities, Provincial Grand Inspector and Provincial Grand Almoner

V.W.Bro. F Williams, presently Lodge Treasurer, who served as Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1999, and is a serving Provincial Grand Instructor

R.W.Bro. Jim Kelly, who served as Provincial Grand Steward of Charities until 2002, and who is the current representative of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut at the Grand Lodge of Ireland

W.Bro. Jim Kilpatrick, who affiliated from T Hay 685 in 1989, and who succeeded R.W.Bro. Kelly as Provincial Steward of Charities for Holywood Charity District from 2002

W.Bro. Jim Kilpatrick Snr, who affiliated from Holmlea 740 in 1989, who served as the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim Standard Bearer in 1988

W.Bro. Brian E Lee, who affiliated from Tyre 724 in Newtownards in 1990, and who served as Provincial Grand Steward in 2002

Endeavour & Endeavour

Something unique in Irish (perhaps worldwide) Masonry, is that we record in our minutes those occasions when the flights of the Space Shuttle Endeavour coincide with our  Communications.  This extract from the 4th December 2000 minutes, for example, reads .....

"The Worshipful Master wished to have recorded in the Minutes that the Space Shuttle Endeavour was once more in orbit while we in Endeavour 829 were at labour, especially since the crew were working on a new part of the International Space Station - the first man-made structure visible from earth"

The Lodge Jewel