UP |
GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
OF IRELAND
QUARTERLY
COMMUNICATION ‑SATURDAY,
6th DECEMBER, 2003
at
FREEMASONS' HALL, DUBLIN
Present:-
M.W. Grand Master |
Eric N. Waller on The Throne |
R.W. Deputy Grand Master |
George Dunlop |
R.W. Assistant Grand Master |
William Mawhinney |
R.W. Senior Grand Warden |
James Kirk |
R.W. Junior Grand Warden |
Robert J. Thomson |
R.W. Grand Treasurer |
Charles W. Olden |
R.W. Grand Registrar |
Arthur D. S. Moran |
R.W. Grand Secretary |
Michael W. Walker |
R.W. Director of Ceremonies |
Cecil D. Buns |
R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain |
Ven. E. Brian Snow |
R.W. Junior Grand Chaplains |
Very Rev. Philip J. Knowle |
. |
Rev. Canon George N. Little |
V.W. Senior Grand Deacon |
Richard H. Gray |
As V.W. Junior Grand Deacon |
John McLean |
V.W. Grand Superintendent of Works |
David T. Young |
V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary |
D. Barry Lyons |
V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary |
Michael R. McWiliam |
V.W. Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies |
Marcus O. Steenson |
V.W. Grand Steward |
Winston C. Patterson |
V.W. Grand Sword Bearer |
Alan R. Crowe |
V.W. Grand Stewards of Charities |
Charles A. McCullough |
. |
Samuel J. Patience |
. |
Dennis R. Millen |
V.W. Grand Almoner |
William M. Lee |
V.W. Grand Organist |
John N. Rowden |
V.W. Grand Lodge Standard Bearer |
Cecil P. Tilson |
V.W. Grand Master's Standard Bearer |
Peter D. G. Read |
V.W. Grand Inner Guard |
Gordon Morrison |
V.W. Grand Secretary for Instruction |
Michael J. Ward |
V.W. Asst. Grand Secretary for Instruction |
Robert J. Armstrong |
There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, North Connaught, South
Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, the Midland Counties, Munster, North
Munster, Tyrone & Fermanagh and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W. Brothers John Greer and
W.J.E. Dukelow, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the Provincial Deputy Grand
Masters of Antrim, Armagh, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry &
Donegal, Meath, the Midland Counties, Munster, North Munster, Tyrone & Fermanagh
and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W. Brother Charles Hatch, Past Provincial Deputy Grand
Master of Armagh; R.W. Brothers Kenneth G. Brislane and R. Stanley Johnston,
Past Senior Grand Wardens; R.W. Brother Allen G. Megarry, Past Grand Director of
Ceremonies; R.W. Brother The Rev. Canon Richard H. Bertram, Past Junior Grand
Chaplain; V.W. Brothers Arthur T. Pollock, Leslie V. Johnston, John N. Millar
and William G. McElwaine, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brothers Charles R. Knipe,
Arnold J. Cooke and Samuel H. Boyle, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother
Ralph B. McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W. Brother Cecil
Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W. Brothers Arthur W. White, James I.A.
Davison, William J. Johnston, Samuel H. Boyle and Trevor Monteith, Past Grand
Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brothers D. Ronald R. Galbraith, David A.R. Lovesy,
and Victor Whyte, Past Grand Almoners; and V.W. Brothers Norman Jackson, Robert
J. Hunter, Thomas A.D. Martin, John McC. Glass, Donald H. Finlay and William J.
Dixon, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers.
SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Scotland,
British Columbia, Canada in Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Queensland, South
Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Croatia, Finland, France,
Hungary, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, Yugoslavia, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia,
Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York:. South Dakota, Utah, Virginia,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mato Grosso,
Peru, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, South Africa, the Philippines and
the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Colorado, Massachusetts and Ohio.
APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE
Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ M.W.
Brother Lord Donegall, Past Grand Master; R.W. Brother R. Eric Fenelon, Past
Deputy Grand Master; R.W. Brother Daniel B. Fincher, Past Senior Grand Warden;
R.W. Brothers John F. Wood, R. Arthur Keppel and Lahu C. Chogle, Provincial
Grand Masters; R.W. Brothers Robert Campbell, T. Noel Bownes and William W.
Hughes, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Brother the Rt. Rev. Samuel G.
Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Brothers the Rev. Charles McCurdy and
the Rev. Warren W. Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Brother William G.
Manning, Junior Grand Deacon; V.W. Brothers R. Ian E. Wilson, George B. Crooks,
and Mervyn W. Morrison, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brothers Robert H.B. Mills,
Andrew McFetridge and Herbert A. Walsh, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W.
Brother Alan R.G.R. Patterson, Grand Ahnoner; V.W. Brothers David M.Wright and
Samuel A. Mackenzie, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and the
Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Alberta, Manitoba, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania, Austria, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Hawaii, Idaho, New
Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, the
Grand Orient of Brazil, Benin, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Japan, the State of
Israel, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut and R.W. Brothers Douglas
Wakefield and Thomas G. Anderson, Past Grand Representatives.
OBITUARY
Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master referred to
the recent death of R.W. Brother Peter D.M. Prentice, Past Grand Registrar,
whose memory was saluted.
WELCOME BY THE GRAND MASTER
The Grand Master then welcomed all Brethren attending
Grand Lodge.
MINUTES
On the proposal of the R.W. Deputy Grand Master, seconded
by the R.W. Assistant Grand Master, the Minutes of the October Quarterly
Communication of Grand Lodge, which had been circulated, were taken as read,
approved and signed.
INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND Or OFFICERS FOR 2004
The Grand Master, M.W. Brother Eric N. Waller, was
proclaimed and saluted.
The Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Brother George Dunlop; was
proclaimed and saluted.
The Assistant Grand Master, R.W. Brother William
Mawhinney, was proclaimed and saluted.
APPOINTMENT OF PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS AND GRAND
INSPECTORS
The Grand Master then
announced that he was re‑appointing all Provincial Grand Masters and Grand
Inspectors Overseas; and that he had very recently appointed R.W. Brother
Anthony M.D. Allen, Past Master of Kgale Lodge No. 918, Gaborone, as Grand
Inspector for Botswana.
The Provincial Grand Masters
and Grand Inspectors were saluted.
INSTALLATION OF THE SENIOR GRAND WARDEN
The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and
presented R.W. Brother Robert J. Thomson to the Grand Master for investiture as
Senior Grand Warden. R.W. Brother Thomson was installed and was saluted.
INSTALLATION OF THE JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN
In like manner the Grand Master invested and installed
R.W. Brother John Greer, Past Provincial Grand Master of North Connaught, as
Junior Grand Warden. R.W. Brother Greer was conducted to his seat and was
saluted.
INVESTITURE OF THE GRAND OFFICERS
The following Brethren were then invested or proclaimed,
and saluted, as the Grand Officers for 2004 :‑
R.W. Grand Treasurer
|
Charles W. Olden
|
R.W. Grand Registrar
|
Arthur D.S. Moran
|
R.W. Grand Secretary
|
Michael W. Walker
|
R.W. Grand Director of Ceremonies
|
Cecil D. Bums
|
R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain
|
The Rev. Canon George N. Little
|
R.W. Junior Grand Chaplains
|
The Ven. Archdeacon John G. Murray
|
|
The Rev. Selwoode Graham
|
V.W. Senior Grand Deacon
|
Winston C. Patterson
|
V.W. Junior Grand Deacon
|
Alan R Crowe
|
V.W. Grand Superintendent of Works
|
David T. Young
|
V.W. Assistant Grand Secretaries
|
D. Barry Lyons
|
|
Michael R. McWilliam
|
V.W. Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
|
Marcus O. Steenson
|
V.W. Grand Steward
|
Cecil P. Tilson
|
V.W. Grand Sword Bearer
|
Gordon Morrison
|
V.W. Grand Stewards of Charities
|
Roger Matthews
|
|
Robert Bankhead
|
|
Robert T. McCaffrey
|
V.W. Grand Almoners
|
Alan R.G.R. Patterson
|
|
William M. Lee
|
V.W. Grand Organist
|
John N. Rowden
|
V.W. Grand Lodge Standard Bearer
|
Kenneth Abernethy
|
V.W. Grand Master's Standard Bearer
|
Samuel W.J. Craig
|
V.W. Grand Irmer Guard
|
Robert J. Robinson
|
INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES
R.W. Brothers William J. Johnston, Sydney J. Ryder,
Robert E. Patterson, Victor Whyte, and Brian Dourish being in attendance and
having produced their Patents of Appointment, the Grand Director of Ceremonies
formed a procession and presented them to the Grand Master for investiture as
Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Norway, Yugoslavia, District of Columbia,
Georgia and the State Grand Lodge of Mato Grosso, respectively. The newly
invested Grand Representatives were conducted to their seats and were saluted
along with the Representatives of all Foreign Grand Lodges with which the Grand
Lodge of Ireland is in amity.
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF PAST GRAND RANK
The following Brethren were then presented to the Grand
Master to be presented with their Certificates of Past Grand Rank:
R.W. Brother James Kirk
|
Past Senior Grand Warden
|
R.W. Brother the Ven. E. Brian Snow
|
Past Senior Grand Chaplain
|
R.W. Brother the Very Rev. Philip J. Knowles
|
Past Junior Grand Chaplain
|
V. W. Brother Richard H. Gray
|
Past Senior Grand Deacon
|
V.W. Brother Charles A. McCullough
|
Past Grand Steward of Charities
|
V.W. Brother Samuel J. Patience -
|
Past Grand Steward of Charities
|
V.W. Brother Dennis R. Millen
|
Past Grand Steward of Charities
|
V.W. Brother Peter D.G. Read
|
Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer.
|
CHARITY MOTION
The Grand Treasurer, R.W. Brother Charles W. Olden,
proposed a Motion, seconded by the R.W. Deputy Grand Master, that Grand Lodge
make a donation of €2,500 to the Masonic Benevolent Institutions. The Motion was
passed unanimously.
MOTION TO AMEND GRAND LODGE LAW NO. 147
The Grand Treasurer, R.W. Brother Charles W. Olden then
proposed a Motion to amend Grand Lodge Law No. 147, as follows:‑ "in line 2, for
"twenty‑two euro and fifty cent" substitute "twenty five euro"; in line 5, "for
five euro" substitute "eight euro"; in line 8, for "seven euro and four euro,
respectively", substitute "ten euro and seven euro, respectively". The Motion
was seconded by the Senior Grand Warden, R.W. Brother Robert J. Thomson and
passed unanimously.
ANNUAL RETURNS OF OFFICERS OF SUBORDINATE LODGES
The Grand Secretary submitted the Returns of Officers of
subordinate Lodges and the names of Representatives on the Grand Lodge and
Metropolitan Boards of General Purposes, for approval, confirming that only four
Annual Returns were outstanding and that the remainder had been checked and
found to be correct. Grand Lodge approved the Returns and empowered the Grand
Secretary to issue Leave to Instal to the outstanding four Lodges providing the
Annual Returns were submitted, found to be correct, and that all dues and fees
had been paid by the end of December.
REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
The Board noted with regret,
for reporting to Grand Lodge, the return of the Warrants of Lodges Nos. 22,
Belfast, 362, Ballymacarrett; 413, Rosetta; 445, Belfast; 563, Belfast, and 707,
Belfast.
Read letter from the Grand
Lodge Alpina of Switzerland submitting the name of V.W. Brother Jean‑Pierre
Dousset, Grand Chancellor, as a suitable Representative there. Recommended to
Grand Lodge. Confirmed.
Read letter from the Grand
Lodge of Argentina, submitting the name of W. Brother George W.C. Pravaz‑Leslie
as a suitable Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge.
Confirmed.
The Board considered requests
for dispensations, under the terms of Grand Lodge Law No. 118, for a Brother to
serve a Principal Office in Lodges Nos. 2 and 171, Dublin, concurrently in 2004;
for a Brother to serve a Principal Office in Lodges Nos. 6 and 19, Dublin,
concurrently in 2004; for the Wor. Masters of Lodges Nos. 98, Belfast and 321,
Tullamore, each to serve a third consecutive year in Office; and for a Brother
to serve a Principal Office in Lodge No. 874, Blaris, and Lodge Ireland 2000,
concurrently in the year 2004. Having considered the situation in each case, the
Board recommended that Grand Lodge grant the dispensations. Confirmed.
The Grand Secretary, on behalf
of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes, handed in Notice of Motion to
amend Grand Lodge Law No. 141, paragraph 3, to grant Provincial Grand Masters in
Ireland similar powers to their counterparts overseas.
Grand Lodge approved
recommendations coming forward from the Grand Lodge Committee of Charity for
special grants of E700, in each case, to a member of Unity Lodge No. 238,
Dublin; and a dependant of a former member of Lodge No. 120 (old), Dublin.
THE GRAND MASTER'S ANNUAL REPORT
The Grand Master then presented his Annual Report on the
progress of Irish Freemasonry during 2003 and including his plans for the coming
year. The Grand Master's Address will be printed in full in the Annual Report of
Grand Lodge for the year 2003.
CONFERRAL OF HONORARY GRAND RANK
The Grand Master, with the concurrence of Grand Lodge,
conferred the following Honorary Ranks:
Past Grand Deacon
V.W. Bro. Col. Ramalingam Harindran - Grand Inspector
for Sri Lanka, on promotion from
Past Grand Superintendent of Works
V.W. Bro. Ardesgur S. Aga - on promotion from Past Grand
Steward
Past Grand Steward
V.W. Bro. Dorab E. Tata - on promotion from Past Grand
Steward of Charities
V.W. Bro. Thittorya S. Sridhar - Past Master of Lodge No.
319, Mumbai, India.
WELCOME TO VISITING BRETHREN
The Grand Master welcomed W. Brother G. Steve Merredew,
Provincial Grand Steward, Provincial Grand Lodge of Natal; V.W. Brother Austin
Akosa, Provincial Grand Secretary of Nigeria; and Brother Kabir Abdulkadir, a
Master Mason of Lodge No. 864, Lagos, Nigeria. W. Brother Merredew and V.W.
Brother Akosa suitably replied and our visiting Brethren from overseas were
saluted.
CHARITY COLLECTION
The Grand Master announced
that he wished to donate this year's Installation Communication Charity
Collection to Childline indicating that half should go to Childline, Northern
Ireland, and the other half to Dublin.
The Charity Collection
amounted to €1,407.
GRAND LODGE CLOSED
Grand Lodge closed, following which some 115 Brethren
lunched in Freemasons' Hall, where the Deputy Grand Master proposed a toast to
the health of the Grand Master. |