Early Freemasonry in Jersey. 

The Channel Islands, and particularly Jersey, being so close to continental Europe, they were, in those days, continually exposed to raids and invasion; hence, from the very early days there were usually small garrisons of the British Army stationed in the Islands.

With the start of the Napoleonic Wars about 1790, the British Government realised the value of outposts so close to the enemy coast and the garrisons were increased, fortifications were strengthened and the Royal Navy used the harbours.

There was a short economic boom which lasted till the return of peace in 1815 and then depression set in again. But over the years, the economic situation improved and the steamship particularly proved a great boon to the Islanders, making it possible for them to export agricultural produce.

Speculative Masonry first came to Jersey through travelling warrants of Lodges in the military garrisons already referred to. The names of the very early units are not well known but those which it has been possible to identify were warranted by the Grand Lodge of Ireland or the Antients Grand Lodge. But as military Lodges were not allowed to initiate local inhabitants, they made no permanent impact.

The real founder of Jersey Freemasonry was a colourful masonic character, Charles Shirreff, an Army Officer who had been initiated in Canada about 1758. When he was posed to Jersey at the end of 1764, he was already a member of the Royal Arch and the Knights Templar.

Though there were no local lodges in Jersey a Guensey merchant resident in Ireland had, in 1753, been appointed, Provincial Grand Master. Hence in 1765 the first Lodge in the Island came into being, Lodge No. 349, Union. Though the Lodge held a warrant from the Modern Grand Lodge, Shirreff completely indoctrinated it with Ancient Grand Lodge procedures.

During the Napoleonic wars, there were traces of at least 16 military lodges in the Island. By the time of the union of Grand Lodges in 1813 there were also three local Lodges, two of which Yardorough No. 244, formally the Farmers Lodge and the Duke of Normandy Lodge No. 245 formally known as the Mechanics Lodge still survive.

The foundation stone of the present Temple in St. Hellier was laid on 17th. December 1862, with much pomp and ceremony. The total membership of all the local masonic bodies in 1862 numbered about 120, hence it showed great foresight and courage on the part of these Brethren to build something so far in excess of the needs of their day. During the period from the time of the dedication of the building in 1864 up to the outbreak of WW2, both the interior of the Temple itself and the very fine Library and Museum had been furnished and equipped to a very high and elaborate standard.

In the Museum, there was a splendid collection of old Lodge seals, the famous Vonberg collection of silver and gold jewels, some made by the famous medallist Thomas Harper. Silken embroidered banners of the various masonic bodies also hung on the walls of the Temple. Then in 1940 soon after the German invasion disaster struck the Freemasons in Jersey and their Temple. . . . . .

A future issue will contain an account of the German occupation of the island and the consequent sacking of the Temple.