IRELAND. Of the early history of Masonry in Ireland so little is known that it would be folly to attempt, in this late day, to discover the footprints of its existence upon that ancient soiL Bro. Michael Furriell, than whom no living Ma sonic writer is better acquainted with the history of Masonry in Ire land, says : " I furnish a brief abstract of the historic constitution of the Masonic Order in Ireland; and though possessing irrefutable records and data, showing the ex istence of several self-designated Grand Lodges' in past centuries, and though the Lodge No. 1, on the present 16gitimate registry, claims an uninterrupted descent from an inde pendent lodge, which existed from time immemorial, and retains many quaint old documents in her ar chives, and is by many styled, The First Lodge ( f Ireland,' yet I leave the task of research into the hazy mist of the past ages, to some more erudite antiquary, taking for granted that those gone-by powers were but by assumption or prescription. The constitution of the present Metro politan Grand Lodge dates from the year 1729, when the entire Frater nity united in electing the Right Hon. Lord Kingston, Grand Master
of Ireland." Since that time many gentlemen of noble birth have occu pied the chair, and directed the affairs of Masonry with substantial effect. The Ancient York rite is tenaciously adhered to by this Grand Lodge. In 1809, a charter for the establishment of a Supreme Council of the 33d degree, Ancient and Ac cepted rite, was granted by the Su preme Council, at Charleston, South Carolina, and creating his Grace, the Duke of Leinster, Grand Command er, ad vitam. In 1820 a Council of the Rite of Misraim was instituted, with the Duke of Leinster as the Supreme head. This organization had a very brief existence in this country. The present Grand Master (1866) of the Grand Lodge is the Duke of Leinster, who has held the office since 1813. Within the body of the Grand Lodge is a Grand Conclave of Knights Templar, a Supreme Grand Council of rites, and a Grand Royal Arch Chapter.