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The
"Polly Woodside"
A three-masted iron barque, built in 1885 by Workman, Clark & Co.
Ltd, Belfast, is the Melbourne Maritime Museums main attraction.
This restored sailing ship, a floating exhibit, made 16 voyages around
Cape Horn before sailing for 20 years in Australasian waters.

Corn Market (Arthur Square)
Belfast 1897
Click on
photos below to enlarge
Lodge Members 1958











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Sir George Clark Memorial Lodge No 669 I.C.
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Irish Constitution Lodge Warrant No. 669 first met in Dungiven,
Co. Londonderry, from 1787 until 1856, then reissued on the
23rd April 1938.
In
1880 George Smith Clark then aged 19, was a founding partner
in the Belfast shipbuilders Workman,
Clark & Co Ltd., known locally as "The Wee
Yard". It expanded rapidly to employ 3,500 men in 1895,
and 9,000 in 1909. In 1902, and 1909 its tonnage produced was
the highest of all UK yards.
The new shipyard had already taken the repair and new construction
contract for J.P. Corry & Company, and was the first shipbuilder
to produce refrigerated ships for carrying beef and fruit. After
the First World War it enjoyed mixed fortunes, and closed in
1935.
Both partners had served their time as premium apprentices at
Harland and Wolff the largest shipbuilder in Belfast, and graduated
to junior management positions.
A detailed history of the Wee Yard "Forgotten Shipbuilders
of Belfast" is published by Friar's Bush Press ISBN 0-946872-66-x
The Clark family was very much involved in the Scottish and
Ulster textile industries. Sir George Clark's father was a senior
partner in one of the largest thread spinning businesses in
Scotland, based in Paisley.
Sir George Clark, also held the office of Member of Parliament
(M.P.) for North Belfast between 1907 and 1910. He was created
1st Baronet Clark, of Dunlambert, Belfast [U.K.] on 6 July 1917.
He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.), held the office
of Senator [Northern Ireland] in 1925, was chairman of the Great
Northern Railway Company (Ireland) and he was a director of
Henry Matier and Company, linen manufacturers of Belfast.
He was also a director of the Bank of Ireland.
Hot Metal Linotype Typesetter
Bro.
Albert Brand contemplated the forming of Sir George Clark Memorial
Lodge for the benefit of those brethren who were night workers,
and were unable to attend their Mother Lodges, many of whom
worked in the newspaper printing industry. With the assistance
of W. Bro.Thomas McClure, W. Bro. Joseph McAdam, and Bros. Arthur
Patterson, and Henry Harrison, all of whom were enthusiastic
members of the craft, at the first meeting, which was held at
28 Gainsborough Drive, the home of Bro. Henry Harrison, it was
decided to approach Sir George Clark, 2nd Baronet
for permission to name the Lodge after his father (of renowned
shipbuilding fame) who was a keen Freemason.
They received permission, and called a meeting in Alexandra
Park Avenue School, Belfast, which all 25 foundation members
of Sir George Clark Memorial Lodge attended.
The Lodge was dedicated on the 23rd of April, 1938 at 5 o'clock,
by the R. W. Bro. John W.Gilmour, Deputy Grand Master of the
Province of Antrim
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V.W. Bro. Richard Robinson,
W. Master of Lodge 669 I.C. 1968, who went on to become
Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies,
then
Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Antrim.
1985 - 1987
In recognition of the high esteem in which Bro. Robinson was
held by the Brethren of the
Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim, the" Richard Robinson
Memorial Lecture" was inaugurated.
This Lecture was given each year at a stated communication of
Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim
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The KEEMUN was built
in 1902.
During the First World War she had the minor distinction of carrying
much needed fuel oil in her ballast tanks from Shell installations
in the Far East to Europe. On 13th June 1918 she survived a gunfire
attack by a surfaced U-boat in the Atlantic by driving her off
with an accurate return of fire
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Workman
Clark ships built for:
Blue
Funnel Line
In a simply worded circular published on 16th January, 1866,
Alfred Holt stated his intent to set up a shipping company.
'I beg to inform you that I am about to establish a line
of Screw Steamers from Liverpool to China...
For
a list os ships-
Click here
TEENKAI 1895
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Workman
Clark ships built for:
Joseph. P. Corry and Co. Belfast, with
whom a close relationship evolved as they were both interested
in the development of refrigerated cargo spaces.
For
a list os ships
- click here
Star of New Zealand 1895
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Past Masters of theLodge
| 1938 - Thomas J. McClure |
1962 - Harold Sloan |
1986 - Robert Beggs |
| 1939 - Arthur Patterson |
1963 - Hugh Harkness |
1987 - Robert Nesbitt |
| 1940 - Henry Harrison |
1964 - John McCormick |
1988 - Brian Getty |
| 1941 - James Carson |
1965 - Neil Thompson |
1989 - Robert Paton |
| 1942 - John Stuart |
1966 - Alfred Hill |
1990 - Alexander Gray |
| 1943 - George Kissick |
1967 - Thomas Bradley |
1991 - Norman Nelson |
| 1944 - Albert Cecil Brand |
1968 - Richard Robinson |
1992 - Malcolm Adams |
| 1945 - John Smyth |
1969 - William Johnston |
1993 - Robert McKibben |
| 1946 - Hector Stuart |
1970 - Robert Galway |
1994 - Kenneth Beggs |
| 1947 - James Patterson |
1971 - Robert Quail |
1995 - Kirk Vokes |
| 1948 - Samuel Allen |
1972 - Robert Henry |
1996 - Alan Gibb |
| 1949 - Henry Shannon |
1973 - Edward Thompson |
1997 - David Beggs |
| 1950 - Thomas Shields |
1974 - James Marshall |
1998 - David Beggs |
| 1951 - Alfred Brown |
1975 - James Thompson |
1999 - Norman Nelson |
| 1952 - Cecil Vance |
1976 - Thomas Caldwell |
2000 - David Crothers |
| 1953 - James McGroary |
1977 - Thomas Cheddy |
2001 - George MeGaw |
| 1954 - James Menelly |
1978 - Alexander Coulter |
2002 - Samuel Donaghy |
| 1955 - William Nixon |
1979 - Thomas Black |
2003 - Roger Beatty |
| 1956 - William Hunter |
1980 - Fredrick Sloan |
2004 - Malcolm McDowell |
| 1957 - David Sharpe |
1981 - Martin Nesbitt |
2005 - William Cardwell |
| 1958 - Albert Nelson |
1982 - Robert McRoberts |
2006 - William Cardwell |
| 1959 - George Walsh |
1983 - James Gibb |
2007 - Adrian Hales |
| 1960 - Henry Glenn |
1984 - William Beggs |
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| 1961 - Robert McRoberts |
1985 - Samuel Murphy |
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Foundation Officers and Members
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Worshipful Master 1938
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W. Bro. Thomas McClure
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Senior Warden
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Bro. Arthur Patterson
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Junior Warden
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Bro. Henry Harrison
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Treasurer
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Bro. Albert C. Brand
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Secretary
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W.Bro. Joseph McAdam
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Senior Deacon
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Bro. James Carson
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Junior Deacon
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Bro. John Stuart
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Inner Guard
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Bro. George Kissick
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Senior Steward
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Bro. Albert C. Brand
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Junior Steward
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Bro. Joseph Rea
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Chaplain
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Bro. John Smyth
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Deputy Chaplin
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Bro. James Brown
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Bro. Hector Stuart
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Bro. Thomas Sands
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Bro. James Patterson
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Bro.Samuel Allen
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Bro. Edwin Pitt
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Bro. Alfred Black
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Bro. Alexander Moutray
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Bro. John Torrens
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Bro. Alfred Brown
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Bro. Henry Shannon
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Bro. Thomas Shields
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Bro. John McKeown
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Bro. James Brown (2)
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Bro. John Getty
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"May those Brethren who follow,
take as keen an interest in the Lodge as those who worked to
create it - so that when the time comes to lay down their working
tools, they will have earned the commendation - Well Done, Thou
True and Faithful Brother"
W. Bro. Albert C. Brand
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