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.