W
hen the Hall was built in 1812, the ground floor of the building served as a home for the Lodge Tyler. The Tyler’s role in Freemasonry is usually to prepare the Lodge Room for meetings by ensuring the Lodge Trunk was opened, the various objects and tools for the ceremonies are laid out in the appropriate places and any Lodge regalia is available prior to the meeting. They then stand guard outside the Lodge Room to ensure that none, but Freemasons enter the Lodge Room.
Various editions of the Ulster Street Directory have listed several Caretaker / Tyler residents in Hall, they include;
• Mr. Lewis Headley first recorded in 1877 until the early 1890’s.
• Mr. James Irvine first recorded in 1894 until 1901.
• Mr. David Irvine first recorded in 1901 until 1902.
Brother Samuel Harrison, a notable Tyler, married Grace Armour in 1869 at 1st Newtownards Presbyterian Church. He worked as a land steward, a foreman in William Gill’s quarries, and later for Newtownards Urban Council. Sam and Grace had at least ten children. From 1902 to his death in 1917 at age 73, Sam served as Lodge Tyler while living in the hall.
Thomas Harrison, the eighth child and fifth son of Sam and Grace, was born in 1883. Following his father’s footsteps, Thomas worked in William Gill’s quarries and later at the Gas Works for the Urban Council. He responded to Kitchener’s call and enlisted shortly after the commencement of the First World War. Upon completing his training, he proceeded to France in October 1915 with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles within the 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division. In May 1916, Rifleman Thomas Harrison was the first County Down Volunteer to be awarded the Military Medal for ‘bravery in the field in carrying wounded comrades to safety.’
Unfortunately, Rifleman Thomas Harrison did not survive long enough to receive his Military Medal in person. Following the first day of the Battle of the Somme, he was reported missing in action, and a year later it was officially confirmed that he must be presumed to have been killed in action on 1st July 1916.
On Friday, 3 August 1917, Sam and Grace Harrison received the Military Medal on their son’s behalf. Just over a month later, on Sunday, 16 September 1917, Sam Harrison passed away from heart disease at his home beneath the Lodge Room.
