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GRAND LODGE INSTALLATION COMMUNICATION ‑ THURSDAY 27th DECEMBER, 2012 Present:
There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Midland Counties, Munster, North Munster and Wicklow & Wexford; and the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim; Armagh, North Connaught, Down, 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, Harvey F. Heavener, J. Kenneth Dunne and Robert J. Quigley, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W.Brothers John Hadden and Edward C.W. Smith, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Masters; R.W.Brother Alan Megarry, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; R.W.Brother the Rt. Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Brothers the Rev. Charles McCurdy, the Rev. W. Warren Porter and the Rev. John Murray, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W.Brothers Terence O. Read, Frank Arnold, Robert J. Robinson, Kenneth Abernethy, John L. Frazer and John O. Dunlop, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. Ralph B. McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W.Brothers 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. Brothers James Copes, David Penpraze and John J. Ramsay, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers and R.W. Brothers D. Jack Long, William C. Colhoun, Hugh Hamilton and John Whittaker, Past Grand Representatives. The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Canada in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New South Wales, Victoria, New Zealand, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota,Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Guinea, and the Philippine Islands; and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction, Massachusetts, Ohio and Ontario and Jurisdiction. APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ the R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Bro. Leslie Nixon, Grand Steward of Charities; V.W.Bro. James McFarland, Assistant Grand Secretary for Instruction; the Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh, Meath, Tyrone & Fermanagh, South Eastern, Natal and India; the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of South Connaught; R.W.Brothers Alan Campbell, George Miskimmins and William Shortland, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W.Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W.Bro. William J. Dyer, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; V.W.Bro. Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W.Bro. Samuel H. Boyle, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W.Bro. Donald R. Galbraith, Past Grand Almoner; V.W.Bro. Donald H. Finlay, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer; the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Switzerland (Alpina), Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Madagascar and Colombia. GRAND MASTER PROCLAIMED Grand Lodge being opened ‑ The Grand Master, M.W.Brother George Dunlop, was proclaimed and saluted. The Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Douglas T. Grey was proclaimed and saluted. The Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Rodney L. McCurley was proclaimed and saluted. OBITUARIES The Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W.Bro. T. Noel Bownes, Past Provincial Grand Master, Armagh, Past Senior Grand Warden and Past Foreign Representative; R.W. Bro. Samuel I. Gourley, Past Foreign Representative; William G. Giboney, Past Foreign Representative; V.W.Bro. Patrick T. Chinniah, Hon. Past Grand Superintendent of Works (Sri Lanka) and V.W.Bro. Norman Campbell, Hon. Past Grand Steward of Charities. WELCOME The Grand Master welcomed all Brethren attending Grand Lodge noting and complimenting the very large attendance. MINUTES On the proposal of the R.W. Senior Grand Warden, seconded by the R.W. Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the October 4th 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 Warrants of J.D. Williamson Lodge No. 283, Rosetta; Stormont Lodge 560, Rosetta; Ark of Freedom Lodge No. 664, Belfast and El Alamein Lodge No. 721, Natal. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Israel, the Board recommended that the name of W.Bro. Norman J.E. Close, Past Master of Lodge No. 636, Newtownabbey, 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 the Philippine Islands, the Board recommended that the name of V.W.Bro. Samuel Brennan, Past Master of Lodge No. 788, Caimcastle, 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 Brazil, Grand Orient, the Board recommended that the name of W.Bro. Raymond E.A. Rea, Past Master of Lodge No. 474, Crawfordsbum, be sent forward to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. Read letter from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas submitting the name of M.W.Bro. Wilbert M. Curtis as a suitable Representative there. Confirmed. The Board considered requests for dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to serve as Principal Officer in two Lodges in 2013 and recommended same to Grand Lodge : The Board considered a request for dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to serve a third consecutive year as Worshipful Master in 2013 in Lodge No. 171. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board approved the removal of the Warrant of Albertbridge Lodge No. 535 from the Mount Masonic Hall to Milltown Masonic Hall, Ballylesson and the Warrant of Harlandic Lodge No. 989 from Ballymacarrett to Holywood Masonic Hall. The Board approved a proposal from the Province of Down to appoint a Provincial Information Officer, for IT purposes. The Board approved a proposal to establish a Chapter of the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association – a charity fundraising group ‑ within the Province of Down. The Board approved a Memorial for the issue of a new Warrant to establish a Lodge in Derriaghy (with permission to meet in the Metropolitan area, twice a year) in the Province of Antrim, to be called Quis Separabit, and to be numbered 960 and principally to comprise members, past and present, of the Irish Guards. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board heard an initial proposal from the Metropolitan Chairman on the establishment of an Irish element to the hugely successful English Charity for children ‑ Teddies for Loving Care. There being a vacancy in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Grand Master announced that he wished to recommend the appointment of R.W.Bro. D. Barry Lyons, Grand Secretary and Past Master of Lodge No. 141, Dublin as their Representative here, in succession to R.W.Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary. Agreed and confirmed. APPOINTMENT OF PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS AND INSPECTORS The Grand Master announced that he was re‑appointing all Provincial Grand Masters and all Grand Inspectors, who were saluted. INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND WARDENS The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented R.W.Brother Selwyn S. Davies to the Grand Master for investiture as Senior Grand Warden. R.W.Brother Davies was installed and was saluted. The Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented R.W.Brother Geoffrey G. Ashton to the Grand Master for investiture as Junior Grand Warden. R.W.Brother Ashton was installed and was saluted. INVESTITURE OF THE GRAND OFFICERS The following were then invested or proclaimed, and saluted, as the Grand Officers for 2013:
INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES W.Bro. George A. Woolsey, Past Master of Lodge No. 506, 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 Norway. W.Bro. William R. Prescott, Past Master of Lodge No. 697, 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 Connecticut. W.Bro. James S. Patterson, Past Master of Lodge No. 861, 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 Chile. The newly invested Representatives were conducted to their seats 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: R.W.Bro. Michael J. Ward - Past Senior Grand Warden GRAND LODGE CHARITY MOTION & DUES The Grand Treasurer proposed a Motion that Grand Lodge make a donation of €3000 to the Masonic Benevolent Institutions. The Motion was seconded by the Assistant Grand Master and was passed unanimously. The Grand Treasurer proposed and R.W.Bro. Bernard V.A. Woods, seconded, an increase in Grand Lodge Dues from €30 to €32, with comparable increases for Overseas Areas. 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 appear in the Annual Report for 2012. CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS The Grand Master, with the concurrence of Grand Lodge, conferred the following Honorary Ranks:
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 €1,782.13. 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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