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GRAND LODGE INSTALLATION COMMUNICATION ‑ TUESDAY 27th DECEMBER, 2011 Present:-
There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, Midland Counties, Munster, North Munster, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh and Wicklow & Wexford; and the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, North Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, Midland Counties, Munster, North Munster, South Eastern and Wicklow & Wexford; and the Deputy Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.W.Brothers Robert J. Armstrong, Thomas C. McBain, R. Arthur Keppel, R. Stanley Johnston, Geoffrey G. Ashton and J. Kenneth Dunne, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W.Brother Selwyn S. Davies, Past Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.W.Brother John Hadden, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master; R.W.Brothers Alan Megarry and William J. Dyer, Past Grand Directors of Ceremonies; R.W. Brother the Rev. Canon George Little, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Brother the Rev. Charles McCurdy, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Brothers Terence O. Read, Frank Arnold, Robert J. Robinson and John O. Dunlop, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Honorary Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W. Brothers Arthur W. White, Samuel J. Patience and William J. Johnston, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brother Samuel Scott, Honorary Past Grand Steward; V.W. Brothers Bernard V.A. Woods and David A.R. Lovesy, Past Grand Almoners; V.W. Brother William J. Dixon, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer and R.W.Brothers D. Jack Long and William McKelvey, Past Grand Representatives. SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Victoria, Western Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Chile, Mato Grosso, Venezuela, Gabon, Madagascar, Japan, The Philippines and Mauritius; and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction, Colorado, Massachusetts, Ohio and Washington. APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ the R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain; the V. W. Junior Grand Chaplain, the Rev. Richard W. Moore; the V.W.Grand Sword Bearer; the Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh, Down, Natal and India; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of South Connaught, Down and Tyrone & Fermanagh; R.W.Brothers Robert J. Thomson, Charles W. Olden and Harvey Heavener, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W.Bro. Edward C.W. Smith, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master; R.W.Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W.Brother the Rt. Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W.Brother the Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W.Brothers Cyril Quigley and Gordon Morrison, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. Ralph McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W.Brother Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W. Bro. Andrew McFetridge, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W.Brother Donald R. Galbraith, Past Grand Almoner; V.W.Brothers Norman Jackson, Donald H. Finlay and David Penpraze, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Germany, Luxembourg, Serbia, Florida, New Hampshire, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Texas, Vermont, Costa Rica, China, Ecuador and Burkina Faso; and R.W.Bro. Douglas Wakefield, Past Grand Representative. VISITING GRAND MASTER Prior to the opening of Grand Lodge the Grand Director of Ceremonies escorted the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, M.W.Bro. Richard A. Morton, to the M.W. Grand Master, who welcomed him. OBITUARIES Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W.Bro. Daniel B. Fincher, Past Senior Grand Warden and Past Foreign Representative; R.W.Bro. Robert E. Patterson, Foreign Representative; R.W.Bros. Robert J.C. Macauley, W. Lionel McKee and Andrew Stuart, Past Foreign Representatives; V.W. Bro. Alan Duffett, Honorary Past Grand Deacon (S.A.N.); V.W.Bro. Nathaniel A. Armah, Honorary Past Grand Deacon (Ghana); V.W. Bro. George K. Gillberry, Honorary Past Grand Sword Bearer (Lodge No. 322) and V.W.Bro. John Peter Brookes, Honorary Past Grand Sword Bearer (New Zealand). The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted in accordance with ancient custom. WELCOME BY THE GRAND MASTER The Grand Master welcomed all Brethren attending Grand Lodge and a number of foreign Brethren including R.W.Bro. Richard H. Williamson, Representative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland at the Grand Lodge of New Jersey; and W.Bro. Sean McGrane, Past Master of Anchorage Lodge No. 17, Alaska. MINUTES On the proposal of the R.W. Senior Grand Warden, seconded by the R.W. Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the October 1st 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 return of the Warrant of Minerva Lodge No. 214, Dublin and the imminent return of the Warrants of Temple of Fame Lodge No. 46, Comber; Mountpottinger Lodge No. 534, Rosetta; Square and Compasses Lodge No. 548, The Mount; St. Donards Lodge No. 676, Ballymacarrett and Corlea Lodge No. 790, Belfast. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of New York, the Board recommended that the name of V.W.Bro. John T. Hassett, Past Master of Lodge No. 73, Limerick, be sent forward for consideration to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Chile, the Board recommended that the name of W.Bro. James S. Patterson, Past Master of Lodge No. 861, Belfast, be sent forward for consideration to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Madagascar, the Board recommended that the name of W.Bro. Jon McA Pollock, Past Master of Lodge No. 57, Ballymoney, be sent forward to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic, the Board recommended that the name of V.W.Bro. John A. McKay, Past Master of Lodge No. 940, Coleraine, be sent forward to act as their Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Arizona submitting the name of W.Bro. Michael B. Manning as a suitable Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board considered a charge of unmasonic conduct brought against a Brother of Lodge No. 893 in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nigeria. Read report thereon from the Board of General Purposes of the Provincial Grand Lodge recommending that the Brother be expelled. The Grand Lodge Board so recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board considered a charge of unmasonic conduct against a Brother of Lodge No. 298 in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sri Lanka. Read report thereon from the Board of General Purposes of the Provincial Grand Lodge recommending that the Brother be expelled. The Grand Lodge Board so recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board considered a charge of unmasonic conduct against a Brother of Lodge No. 193 in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down in that he had been convicted in May of this year at Newtownards Magistrate's Court of seven counts of sending indecent material by post. The Provincial Grand Lodge Board recommended suspension for a period of one year. The Grand Lodge Board so recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board considered and approved a request for Dispensation, under Grand Lodge Law No. 118, for a Brother to become Worshipful Master though not having served the office of Warden in an Irish Lodge. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board considered and approved upgrading the status of Provincial Grand Lodge Inspectors: the recommendation to Grand Lodge is that they should in future appear above the ranking of Provincial Grand Steward: this then would necessitate a change of wording in Grand Lodge Law No. 180 from "they shall rank immediately after the Provincial Grand Inner Guard..." to "they shall rank immediately above the Provincial Grand Stewards..." A Past Master of Lodge No. 861 and a member of Lodge No. 776 has lodged an official appeal against the reprimand issued to him at the Board meeting of September 8th. INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND OFFICERS FOR 2012 The Grand Master, M.W. Brother George Dunlop, was proclaimed and saluted. The Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Brother Douglas T. Grey was proclaimed and saluted. INSTALLATION OF THE ASSISTANT GRAND MASTER The Grand Master called on the Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies to form a procession and present the Assistant Grand Master designate for Installation. The procession consisted of the Grand Director of Ceremonies, the Grand Deacons, the Grand Chaplain, bearing the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Grand Secretary bearing the Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the Assistant Grand Master Designate's sponsors, R.W.Bro. Robert J. Armstrong, Past Provincial Grand Master of Down, R.W.Bro. Kenneth Abernethy, Past Foreign Representative; and W.Bro. Robert Smart, as Chain Bearer. The Assistant Grand Master Designate, R.W.Bro. Rodney L. McCurley was conducted to the‑foot of the throne for presentation and was thereafter obligated, invested, installed, proclaimed and saluted. APPOINTMENT OF PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS AND INSPECTORS The Grand Master announced that he was re‑appointing all Provincial Grand Masters, apart from Londonderry & Donegal, Natal and Zambia, where he has appointed Noel Drain, David G. Patton and David J. McCabe respectively; and the reappointment of Grand Inspectors Overseas. INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented V.W.Bro. Sam Young, Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies to the Grand Master for investiture as Director of Ceremonies. R.W.Bro. Young was installed and saluted. INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND WARDENS The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented R.W. Brother Michael J. Ward to the Grand Master for investiture as Senior Grand Warden. R.W. Brother Ward was installed and was saluted. The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented R.W. Brother Selwyn S. Davies to the Grand Master for investiture as Junior Grand Warden. V.W. Brother Davies was installed and was saluted. INVESTITURE OF THE GRAND OFFICERS The following were then invested or proclaimed, and saluted, as the Grand Officers for 2012:
INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVE W.Bro. E. John Keeley, 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 Canada, in the Province of Ontario. R.W.Bro. Keeley was conducted to his seat and 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 €3000 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, checked and found to be correct. GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS The Grand Master delivered his quarterly address, the details of which will appear in the Annual Report for 2011. CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS The Grand Master, with the concurrence of Grand Lodge, conferred the following Honorary Ranks: Past Grand Deacon CHARITY COLLECTION The Grand Master announced that he was donating the Charity Collection to the Salvation Army in the South and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the North. The Collection amounted to €1,900.44. GRAND LODGE CLOSED Grand Lodge Closed, following which 90 Brethren lunched in Freemasons' Hall, where the Deputy Grand Master proposed a toast to the health of the Grand Master. |
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