GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE, AND ACCEPTED MASONS
OF IRELAND 

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION - SATURDAY 2nd MARCH, 2002
at
THE ROCHESTOWN PARK HOTEL, CORK

 Present:­

There were also present:-
M.W. Brother the Most Hon. the Marquess of Donegall, Past Grand Master; R.W. Brother R. Eric Fenelon, Past Deputy Grand Master; the Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh, North Connaught, South Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Midland Counties, Munster, North Munster, South Eastern and Wicklow & Wexford; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of North Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Munster, North Munster, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh and Wicklow & Wexford; the Provincial Grand Master of Bedfordshire (EC) R.W. Brother Martin Foss; R.W. Brothers James E. Weir and Daniel B. Fincher, Past Senior Grand Wardens; R.W. Brother Rt. Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Brother Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Brothers Arthur T. Pollock, William G. McElwaine, Leslie V. Johnston, R. Patrick J. Wharton, John R. Hadden, Ralph D. Seligman and Arnold J. Cooke, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother Michael R. Bicknell, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; V.W. Brother Arthur W. White, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W. Brothers Thomas W. Nicholson, Robert J. Hunter and Donald H. Finlay, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and R.W. Brother Douglas Wakefield, Past Grand Representative.

SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED

The following Grand Lodges were represented, England, Scotland, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New South Wales, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, South Africa, China and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.

APOLOGIES FOR NON-ATTENDANCE

Apologies for non-attendance were received from:- the R. W. Assistant Grand Master; the R. W. Junior Grand Warden; R.W. Brother Rev. Canon George N. Little, Junior Grand Chaplain; the V.W. Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W. Brother Samuel J. Patience, Grand Steward of Charities; the V.W. Grand Secretary for Instruction and the V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary for Instruction; the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Down and Tyrone & Fermanagh; R.W. Brothers T. Noel Bownes and John Greer, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Brother Leslie G. Evans, Provincial Deputy Grand Master of the Midlands; R.W. Brothers Ven. R. Clayton Stevenson, Rev. Canon R.H. Bertram, Rev. Charles McCurdy, Rev. Walter Herron and Rev. Canon Kenneth W. Cochrane, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; R.W. Brothers Alan S. Watt, Robert Campbell, and W.W. Hughes, Past Senior Grand Wardens; V.W. Brothers Charles R. Knipe, Gordon V. Bradshaw and Sq. Ldr. L.J.T. West, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brothers Samuel H. Boyle, William J. Johnston, J. Ardle Agnew and Trevor Monteith, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brothers Cecil G. Oakes, Bernard V.A. Woods and David A.R. Lovesy, Past Grand Almoners; V. W. Brothers Thomas A.D. Martin, David M. Wright and Samuel A. Mackenzie, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Saskatchewan, New Zealand, Austria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut, El Salvador, Mexico (York), Grand Orient of Brazil, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Japan, the Philippines, the State of Israel, the Dominican Republic and R.W. Brothers T.G. Anderson and R.J.H. Scott, Past Grand Representatives.

WELCOME BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER

Grand Lodge being opened, R.W. Brother C. Edward Fleury, Provincial Grand Master of Munster, welcomed the Grand Master, Grand Officers and Brethren to the Province of Munster which was celebrating its 275th Anniversary just one year late because this Communication of Grand Lodge had to be cancelled in 2001 due to the outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease. The Provincial Grand Master outlined the history of the Province and said how pleased they were to be hosting this Communication of Grand Lodge.

OBITUARY

Following his reply thanking the Provincial Grand Master and Brethren of Munster, the Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W. Brothers George F.I Geoffroy and Edward Keag, Past Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Quebec and Indiana, respectively. The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted in accordance with ancient custom.

MINUTES

On the proposal of the Senior Grand Warden, seconded by the Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the November 22nd, December 6th and St. John's Day December 27th, 2001, Communications of Grand Lodge were confirmed and signed.

INSTALLATION OF NEW PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF MUNSTER

R. W. Brother Alan J. Campbell, Provincial Grand Master Designate of Munster, being in attendance, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Grand Master for Obligation, Investiture and Installation as Provincial Grand Master. R.W. Brother Campbell's sponsors were R.W. Brother C. Edward Fleury and R.W. Brother Charles W. Olden, Past Provincial Grand Masters of Munster. On placing him in his chair, the Grand Master proclaimed R.W. Brother Alan J. Campbell as follows, "Brethren, I hereby proclaim that, this day, R.W. Brother Alan J. Campbell, a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, has been duly obligated, invested and installed as R.W. Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster"; and he was saluted.

MOTION TO AMEND GRAND LODGE LAW NO. 7

A Motion to amend Grand Lodge Law No. 7 to discontinue the St. John's Day December 27th Installation Communication of Grand Lodge, which had been handed in at the December 6th  2001, Communication was considered and, on the proposal of the Deputy Grand Master, the Motion was unanimously carried. The second sentence of Grand Lodge Law No. 7 will therefore now read "The Grand Officers elected for the ensuing year will be proclaimed and saluted at the December Stated Communication of Grand Lodge, when the newly elected Officers of subordinate Lodges will be submitted to Grand Lodge for approval".

INSTALLATION OF NEW PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF BERMUDA

R.W. Brother Ralph D. Seligman, Honorary Past Grand Deacon and Past District Grand Master of the Bahamas & Turks, (E.C.) being in attendance, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Grand Master for Obligation, Investiture and Installation as Provincial Grand Master of Bermuda. R.W. Brother Seligman's sponsors were R.W. Brothers Arthur D.S. Moran, Grand Registrar and R. Eric Fenelon, Past Deputy Grand Master.

On placing him in his chair, the Grand Master proclaimed R.W. Brother Seligman , as follows, "Brethren, I hereby proclaim that, this day, R.W. Brother Ralph D. Seligman, Master of Arts and Bachelor of Laws of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, one of Her Majesty's Counsel, Past District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of the Bahamas and Turks of the United Grand Lodge of England, an Honorary Past Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, has been duly obligated, invested and installed as R.W. Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bermuda"; and he was saluted.

INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES

The Grand Master presented R.W. Brother George Dunlop, Deputy Grand Master, with his Patent of Appointment and Grand Representative's jewel as the Representative of the Grand East of the Netherlands at the Grand Lodge of Ireland. R.W. Brothers Gordon A. Thompson and Leslie V. Johnston also being in attendance, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented them to the Grand Master for investiture and presentation of their Patents of Appointment as Representatives of the National Grand Lodge of Poland and the Grand Lodge of Gabon, respectively. The newly invested Grand Representatives were conducted to their seats and were saluted.

GRAND LODGE LAW NO. 67 - PARAGRAPH 2

In accordance with the Provisions of Grand Lodge Law No. 67 paragraph II, the Grand Secretary submitted the list of Warrants surrendered and the names of Brethren expelled, suspended, struck off and restored during the previous twelve months. The Grand Secretary drew attention to the lengthy list of Brethren struck off for non-payment of dues which seemed to be an annual event.

FREEMASONS OF IRELAND MEDICAL RESEARCH FUND

M.W. Brother Darwin H. Templeton, Past Grand Master, having indicated his wish to resign as a Trustee of the Freemasons of Ireland Medical Research Fund, Grand Lodge resolved to accept his resignation in accordance with the terms of the Declaration of Trust.

TEN YEAR RULE SUSPENDED FOR CRAFT LODGES

On the proposal of R.W. Brother Robert G. Quigley, Provincial Grand Master of Londonderry & Donegal, seconded by R. W. Brother Geoffrey G. Ashton, Provincial Grand Master of North Munster, Grand Lodge resolved, on the recommendation of the Grand Master's Council, to suspend the Provisions of the Ten Year Rule concerning tenure of Offices and appointments insofar as these apply to Craft Lodges.

REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES

A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Idaho, the Board recommended that the name of V.W. Brother Sydney C.A. Stephens, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden of Wicklow & Wexford, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Idaho as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grande Loge de Côte d'Ivoire submitting the name of Brother Emmanuel Djakoure as a suitable Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered a charge of unmasonic conduct brought against Brother Joseph Irvine, a member of Lodge No. 717, Ballinahinch, in that he was at Downpatrick Crown Court on June 27th, 2001, on his plea of guilty, convicted of 26 counts under the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order, 1978 and Offences against the Person Act of 1861 and one under the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983. Read report thereon from the Provincial Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of Down which met to consider the matter on October 29th, 2001, finding that the charge of unmasonic conduct was proved and recommending that Brother Joseph Irvine be expelled from the Masonic Order. The Grand Lodge Board so recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered a charge of unmasonic conduct brought against V.W. Brother Isaak J.J. Botha of Lodge No. 323, Benoni, South Africa Northern, in that on November 16th 1999, when acting as Director of Ceremonies, he interfered or tampered with the ballot for an affiliate member and that he failed to carry out proper normal and accepted procedures in the execution of the ballot. Read report thereon from the Provincial Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of South Africa Northern which met to consider the matter on January 7th, 2002. The Provincial Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes found that the charge was proven and recommended that V.W. Brother Isaak J.J. Botha be suspended during the pleasure of Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge Board so recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Grand Secretary outlined the situation as obtaining in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bermuda and, in particular, in connection with Hannibal Lodge No. 224. He reported that the matter was now hopefully near to settlement and this had been greatly facilitated by the input of the Provincial Grand Master Designate, R.W. Brother Ralph D. Seligman QC. Having considered the matter, the Board agreed that if the terms of settlement were finalized and a Consent Order signed and a Court Order issued that Grand Lodge would give final approval at the March 2nd Communication so that matters could return to normal in Bermuda; and Hannibal Lodge No. 224 could recommence meeting.

A copy of the Consent Order, signed by the respective Attorneys for the Plaintiffs and the Defendants and by a Judge of the Supreme Court of Bermuda, being to hand, Grand Lodge approved the revocation of the Order suspending 17 Brethren of Hannibal Lodge as promulgated on the 6th December, 1999, and agreed that the Brethren concerned be restored to membership of Hannibal Lodge No. 224, in their former ranks and seniority. It was further agreed that notice to this effect be posted on the Grand Lodge website for a period. The newly installed Provincial Grand Master of Bermuda indicated that he would be visiting his Province in early April when he planned to preside at an Emergency Meeting of Hannibal Lodge so that matters might return to normal at the earliest possible opportunity. ,

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Grand Lodge Law No. 7 having been amended, as previously recorded, the Grand Secretary handed in Notice of Motions to amend Grand Lodge Laws Nos. 43, 119, 121 and 148 which were thereby affected and also to amend Grand Lodge Laws Nos. 47 and 49 dealing with procedure for the election of the Grand Master.

CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANK

The Grand Master, with the concurrence of Grand Lodge, conferred the following Honorary Rank:

Past Grand Director of Ceremonies - V.W. Brother John G, Mitchell - Past Master of Lodge No. 32, Waterford, and long-time Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies of the Provincial Grand Lodge, South Eastern.

GRAND MASTER'S COMMENTS

The Grand Master in his report referred specifically and especially to the resolution of the problems in Bermuda and he thanked all concerned for their input in resolving the difficulties saying that he hoped all this could now be put behind us and that we should go forward, looking to the future, in Peace, Love and Harmony and without rancour. The Grand Master indicated that he wished this matter to be recorded on the Grand Lodge website and he asked the Web Master, V.W. Brother Richard Gray, Grand Steward, to arrange this.

The Grand Master also referred to the recently introduced Grand Lodge News Sheet saying that he was very pleased with the first edition and he hoped that subsequent editions would now be issued with the notices for the Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge and be distributed widely.

Lastly, the Grand Master referred to the work of his Grand Master's Council noting that a sub­committee had now been formed to consider the whole matter of membership and hoping that, in due course, this would have a positive effect.

THANKS TO ORGANIZING BRETHREN                 `

The Grand Master thanked V.W. Brother Wilfred Baker and all the many Brethren involved in helping with the arrangements for the meeting, the forthcoming banquet and the preceding reception and luncheon for Grand Officers at the Tuckey Street Masonic Hall.

CHARITY COLLECTION

The Charity Collection amounted to €1612.

GRAND LODGE CLOSED.

Later that evening a gathering of more than 400, including Brethren, their Ladies, friends and relatives attended a most enjoyable Celebratory Banquet in the Rochestown Park Hotel to mark the 275th Anniversary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster.