GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
OF IRELAND

 Present:­ 

There were also present:‑ the Immediate Past Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Eric N. Waller; the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, Midland Counties, South Eastern and Wicklow & Wexford; and the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Munster and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W. Bro. Geoffrey Ashton, Past Provincial Grand Master; R.W. Bro. Selwyn S. Davies, Past Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.W. Brother Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W. Bro. Allen G. Megarry, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; R.W. Brothers the Rev. Canon Richard H. Bertram, the Rev. Charles McCurdy and the Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Brothers Terence O. Read, Gordon Morrison, Robert J. Robinson, Frank Arnold, Samuel H. Boyle and John L. Frazer, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bros. Ralph McGuckin and Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Past Grand Superintendents of Works; V.W. Brothers William J. Johnston, Samuel J. Patience, Dennis Millen and Roger Matthews, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brother Samuel Scott, Honorary Past Grand Steward; V.W. Brothers Bernard V.A. Woods, David A.R. Lovesy, Victor Whyte, Alan R.G.R. Patterson and William T.H. Balmer,  Past Grand Almoners;
V.W. Brothers S. Gordon Leathern and Brian Kershaw, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and R.W. Brothers D. Jack Long and Hugh Hamilton, Past Grand Representatives.

SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium (Regular), Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Mali, Japan, The Philippines, Mauritius; and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction, Colorado, Massachusetts and Ohio.

APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE
Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ the V.W. Junior Grand Chaplain, the Rev. Richard W. Moore; the V.W. Assistant Grand Treasurer; the Provincial Grand Masters of South Connaught, Munster, North Munster and Tyrone & Fermanagh; the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of Tyrone & Fermanagh; R.W. Bros. Robert J. Thomson, Robert J. Armstrong, T. Noel Bownes, George Miskimmins and William W.T. Shortland, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Brother Charles R. Knipe, Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W. Bro. Charles W. Olden, Past Grand Treasurer; R.W. Bro. Rt. Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Bros. George B. Crooks, Norman Humes, Arnold J. Cooke and Mervyn Morrison, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bro. John Torley, Past Grand Sword Bearer; V.W. Bros. Norman Jackson and Donald H. Finlay, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Switzerland, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Texas and Mato Grosso do Sul; and R.W. Bro. Douglas Wakefield, Past Grand Representative.

OBITUARIES
Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W. Bro. George F. Ginnelly, Provincial Grand Master of North Connaught; R.W. Bro. Rev. Walter C. Spence, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Bro. Ronald S. Warren, Past Provincial Grand Master, Natal; V.W. Bros. Marc S. Labour and Horace Equere, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bro. Malcolm J. Clegg, Honorary Past Grand Steward and W. Bro. Ronald H. Grimston, Member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction.
The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted in accordance with ancient custom.

WELCOME BY THE GRAND MASTER AND DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
The Grand Master welcomed all Brethren attending Grand Lodge; he then called on the Grand Secretary to read out the Declaration of Aims and Principles, drawn up by the Home Grand Lodges in 1938, which he instructed to be read at all Lodges, annually.

MINUTES
On the proposal of the R.W. Senior Grand Warden, seconded by the R.W. Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the October 3rd Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge, which had been circulated, were taken as read, approved and signed.

REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
The Board noted with regret, for reporting to Grand Lodge, the imminent return of the Warrants of Star Lodge No. 118, Belfast, Wheatfield Lodge No. 582, Belfast and Cornfield Lodge No. 715, Belfast.

The Board considered and approved a request for Recognition from, and exchange of Representatives with, the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered requests for Dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to serve as a Principal Officer in two Lodges in 2010:-
(a) Lodge No. 49 and Lodge No. 222; (b) Lodge No. 279 and Lodge No. 432; (c) Lodge No. 92 and Lodge No. 865; (d) Lodge No. 9 and Lodge No. 579; and recommended same to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered requests for Dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to serve the Office of Secretary in two Lodges in 2010:‑
(a) Lodge No. 688 and Lodge No. 917; (b) Lodge No. 349 and Lodge No. 682; and recommended same to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered a request for Dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother of Lodge No. 104, Portaferry to serve a third consecutive year as Worshipful Master in 2010 and recommended same to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered a request for Dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 123 for a Brother of Lodge No. 299, Armagh to serve the Office of Secretary though not a Past Master and recommended same to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Finland submitting the name of R. W. Bro. Harald Relander as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge.   Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick submitting the name of R.W. Bro. Robert McKay Johnston as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge.   Confirmed.

Following the recognition of The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction, the Board recommended the name of W. Bro. John W. Hewitson, Past Master of Lodge No. 620, Dublin and Secretary of Lodge No. 261, Dalkey, to act as a suitable Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board received suggested additional wording regarding Trustees within the Order, from the Provincial Grand Registrar of Down, as follows:-
"Any Brother who has ceased to be a member of the Order, whether by retirement, resignation, expulsion, suspension, or by any other cause whatsoever, shall thereupon cease to hold any office of Trustee or any other office within or in connection with the Order."
Recommended to Grand Lodge, as a Decision of the Board of General Purposes, to be inserted in the Book of Laws and Constitutions.  Confirmed.

The Board considered a draft report from the Board sub-committee on its findings following hearings in the cases of Bros. Hood and Bro. Wilson and Senior Officers from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim. The Assistant Grand Master, as Chairman of the Board sub-committee, made some comments on its conclusion.

The Grand Master read, in full, the amended judgement of the Board and added  “I would also refer to rule 28 in connection with this matter. Namely that members present be reminded that the proceedings of Grand Lodge, or any comment thereon, or reference thereto, shall not be printed or published without the permission of Grand Lodge or the Grand Master. As Grand Master, I am not giving permission for the report from the Board sub-committee to be printed or published in any medium whatsoever.”

The Report, proposed and seconded, was recommended to Grand Lodge and carried, with five Brethren dissenting.

INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND OFFICERS FOR 2010
The Grand Master, M.W. Brother George Dunlop, was proclaimed and saluted.

The Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Brother Douglas T. Grey and the Assistant Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Leslie V. Johnston were proclaimed and saluted.

APPOINTMENT OF PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS AND INSPECTORS
The Grand Master announced that he was re‑appointing all Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Inspectors overseas. The Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Inspectors were saluted.

INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND WARDENS
The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented R.W. Brother J. Kenneth Dunne to the Grand Master for investiture as Senior Grand Warden. R.W. Brother Dunne was Installed and was saluted.

The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented R.W. Brother Robert S. Hackett to the Grand Master for investiture as Junior Grand Warden. R.W. Brother Hackett was Installed and was saluted.

INVESTITURE OF THE GRAND OFFICERS
The following were then invested or proclaimed, and saluted, as the Grand Officers for 2010

INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVE
R.W. Bro. Robert J. McDowell being in attendance and having produced his Patent of Appointment, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Grand Master for investiture as Representative of The Grand Lodge of Vermont. The newly invested Grand Representative was conducted to his seat and was saluted, along with the Representatives of all Foreign Grand Lodges with which the Grand Lodge of Ireland is in amity.

PRESENTATION OF PAST GRAND RANK CERTIFICATES
The following Brethren were then presented to the Grand Master for presentation with their Certificates of Past Grand Rank:

GRAND LODGE CHARITY MOTION
The Grand Treasurer proposed a Motion that Grand Lodge make a donation of €3,000 to the Masonic Benevolent Institutions. The Motion was 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.

Grand Lodge approved the Returns, all of which had been submitted (bar three), checked and found to be correct. Retrospective permission to Install would be granted to the outstanding Lodges provided the Annual Return was found to be in order and all Dues and Fees paid.

The Grand Master announced that he would deliver his quarterly address at the next meeting of Grand Lodge, in March.

CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS
The Grand Master with the concurrence of Grand Lodge conferred the following Honorary Ranks:

Past Grand Steward
W. Bro. Bernard McDonald Deshield   - ...Past Master of Lodge No. 123, Bermuda
W. Bro. Leonard E. Simons .................- ...Past Master of Lodge No. 123, Bermuda
W. Bro. Allen D. Richardson.................- ...Past Master of Lodge No. 123, Bermuda

CHARITY COLLECTION
The Grand Master announced that he was donating the Charity Collection to the Simon Community North and South.

The Collection amounted to €1,458.00.

GRAND LODGE CLOSED