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GRAND LODGE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION ‑THURSDAY 2nd JUNE, 2011 Present:-
There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Meath, Munster, North Munster, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh, Wicklow & Wexford, South Africa Northern and Bermuda; the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the Grand Inspector for Gibraltar; R.W. Bros. Charles W. Olden and Robert J. Armstrong, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, Midland Counties, Munster and Tyrone & Fermanagh; the Deputy Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the Assistant Grand Inspector for Gibraltar; R. W.Bros. Cyril R. Foster and Edward C. W. Smith, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Masters; R.W. Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W.Bros. the Rev. Richard H. Bertram, the Rev. Charles McCurdy and the Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Bros. Terence O. Read, Robert J. Robinson, Thomas R. McDowell and John O. Dunlop, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bros. Samuel H. Boyle, Gordon Bradshaw, Anthony J. Darlison, Mervyn Morrison and Robert S. Morrow, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Honorary Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W.Bros. Brian Sheridan and Samuel Scott, Honorary Past Grand Stewards; V.W.Bro. Robert S. Morrow, Honorary Past Grand Sword Bearer; V.W.Bros. William J. Johnston, Samuel J. Patience and Roger Matthews, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W.Bros. Bernard V.A. Woods, David Lovesy and William T. Balmer, Past Grand Almoners; V.W.Bro. Gerard Laguea, Honorary Past Grand Lodge Standard Bearer; V.W.Bros. Robert T. Bashford and Robin E.W. Newenham, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and R.W.Bros. Henry M. Robinson, D. Jack Long, John G. Whitaker and William McKelvey, Past Grand Representatives.
SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece (National), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Arkansas, Colorado, Columbia (DC), Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Brazil G.O., Chile, Mato Grosso, Sao Paolo, Venezuela, Madagascar, Mali, South Africa, The Philippines, Mauritius and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio and Ontario & Jurisdiction. APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ The Assistant Grand Master; the R.W. Grand Registrar; the V.W. Grand Sword Bearer, the V.W. Grand Inner Guard and the V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary for Instruction, Paul Kenny; the R.W. Provincial Grand Masters of South Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal; Natal and India; R.W.Bros. Thomas C. McBain, William T. Shortland and Geoffrey Ashton, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the R.W. Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of South Eastern, Natal and India; R.W.Bros. Allen Megarry and William Dyer, Past Grand Directors of Ceremonies; The Right Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz and The Rev. Canon George N. Little, Past Senior Grand Chaplains; V.W.Bro. John Murray, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W.Bros. Donald C. Willson, Cyril F.A. Quigley and Gordon Morrison, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. Ralph McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W.Bro. Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W.Bro. Trevor Monteith, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W.Bros. Victor Whyte and Maurice Lee, Past Grand Almoners; V.W.Bros. S. Gordon Leathern and David Penpraze, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, France (National), Germany, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Burkina Faso, Cuscatlan El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Gabon, Mato Grosso do Sul and Japan; and R.W.Bro. Douglas Wakefield, Past Grand Representative. DELEGATIONS FROM SISTER CONSTITUTIONS Prior to the opening of Grand Lodge, the Grand Director of Ceremonies escorted delegations from visiting Sister Grand Lodges into Grand Lodge: The National Grand Lodge of Greece was represented by the Grand Master MW.Bro. Dimitris Mamas, and the Grand Secretary, Dimitrios Kontesis. The Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany was represented by the M.W. Past Grand Master, Bro. Michael Cooper. The Grand Lodge of Scotland was represented by R.W. Depute Grand Master Mason, Bro. Hugh Bryson. The United Grand Lodge of England was represented by the MW. Pro Grand Master, Bro. Peter Lowndes and R.W. Grand Chancellor, Bro. Alan Englefield OBITUARIES
WELCOME BY THE GRAND MASTER
MINUTES
NOMINATION OF THE GRAND OFFICERS FOR 2012
W.Brother Peter H. Mullock FCA, Past Master of Lodge No. 395, Dublin, was nominated as the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2011. REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, the Board recommended the name of V.W.Bro. Thomas R. McDowell, Past Master of Lodge No. 528 and Provincial Grand Treasurer, Armagh be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Tennessee as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Confirmed. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Colombia (Cartagena), the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. David J. McFarland, Past Master of Lodge No. 328, Richhill be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Colombia as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Confirmed. The Board considered a charge of unmasonic conduct against a Brother of True Friendship Lodge No. 579, Dungannon in that he had failed in his duties as Secretary/Treasurer of the Dungannon Masonic Hall House Committee, resulting in, among other things, the committee unknowingly having a bank overdraft for six years. Having considered the evidence the Board concurred with the Provincial Standing Committee's recommendation that the Brother, be suspended for a period of five years. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board considered and granted a request for retrospective dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for Brethren of two Lodges to hold two Principal Offices simultaneously. Prior to the next item the Grand Master announced that a serious situation had arisen, within the past year, in the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise. He was therefore requesting authority from Grand Lodge to take whatever action was required, for instance suspension of recognition, should the need arise, between now and the October Communication. He would be liaising closely on this matter with the United Grand Lodge of England and The Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Grand Master's request was unanimously approved. At the conclusion of the Stated Meeting of the Board, a Special Meeting was held in accordance with Grand Lodge Law No. 66, at which were submitted the Accounts of Grand Lodge for 2010. The Accounts were considered in detail and explanations given by the Assistant to the Grand Treasurer. Following the presentation, the Board agreed unanimously that the Accounts, as presented, be recommended to Grand Lodge for adoption, with special thanks expressed to Bro. Andrew Lyall. The Grand Treasurer added to this by pointing out that copies of the Accounts were available in the Grand Lodge room and he highlighted a number of features in his commendation of same. GRAND LODGE OF INSTRUCTION
GRAND LODGE COMMITTEE OF CHARITY
INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF MUNSTER
INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF WICKLOW & WEXFORD R.W.Bro. John Hobson, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, Wicklow & Wexford, being in attendance, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Grand Master for Obligation, Investiture and Installation as Provincial Grand Master of Wicklow & Wexford RW.Bro. Hobson's sponsors were RW.Bro. Harvey F.J. Heavener, Immediate Past Provincial Grand Master and P.M. of Lodge No. 877 and W.Bro. W. Iponard McKay, P.M. of Lodge Nos. 5, 478 and 500; his Chain Bearer was W.Bro. David Irwin, Provincial Grand Lodge Standard Bearer and P.M. of Lodge No. 236. INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES W.Bro. Thomas Bill, P.M. of Lodge No. 160, Templepatrick; W.Bro. Maurice McCollam, P.M. of Lodge No. 160, Templepatrick; W.Bro. W.J. Ivan Scott, P.M. of Lodge No. 127, Coleraine; W. Bro. Barnet R. Brewster, P.M. of Lodge No. 403, Holywood and W.Bro. John Hewitson, P.M. of Lodge No. 620, Dublin 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 and formal presentation of their Patents of Appointment as Representatives of the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois & Jurisdiction, the Grand Lodge of Luxembourg, the Grand Lodge of Ohio and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ontario & Jurisdiction, respectively.
CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS
GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS The Grand Master's subsequent Address to Grand Lodge is printed below: Dear Brethren, following the meeting of Grand Lodge in Carlow my activities have been limited due to my taking a sixteen‑day family holiday in Florida during April and May. Following my return from the USA, the Grand Secretary and I were soon on our way to the Grand Lodge of Estonia, for the Installation of the new Grand Master. The glorious antiquity of the capital city of Talinn and the impressive ritual which the officers performed was most inspiring. The M.W. Pro. Grand Master of U.G.L.E., the M.W. Grand Master of Sweden and I were respectively presented with Grand Medals of Merit by the M.W. Grand Master of Estonia, acknowledging our 'long term faithful activity for the welfare of the Grand Lodge of Estonia'. In April, myself and the Grand Secretary attended the Grand Lodge of Scotland to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the Foundation stone of their magnificent Hall in George's Street and the 275th Anniversary of their Grand Lodge. We had a wonderful time and as always, enjoyed the hospitality and friendship of the Scottish Brethren, most especially Lord Elgin, who added much to the pleasure and sociability of the Festive Board One of the highlights of 2010 was the inaugural "Irish Freemasons of Ireland Young Musician of the Year Competition" which turned out to be a marvellous success. The second year of the Competition will be held, at Freemasons' Hall, on October 6th and October 8th 2011. The International Jury for 2011 has already been selected, representing England, Ireland Italy, and Austria. The Music Colleges are currently busy holding auditions to decide on who will represent them at the semifinals, so that they can notify us before the entry deadline on June 30th. Our own arrangements are well in train. The Final of the Competition will again be broadcast by RTÉ. (Tickets, by the way, for the semi‑finals and final will go on sale at the Porters Lodge from September 1st priced at €5 and €10 and will also be available to the General Public). I anticipate your support once again for this very important event in our calendar and ask that you purchase your tickets early as last year we had to turn people away. The winner of the last year's competition was clarinettist, Macdára á Searadáin who will give a solo concert with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall on August 9th broadcast by RTÉ and conducted by Conor Palliser, our 4th prize‑winner. We have received excellent publicity and feed‑back from many high profile and influential quarters outside the Order for this Competition, and I am very pleased with the way it is proceeding. My personal thanks go to the Concert Chairman, M.W.Bro. Eric Waller, our Director, W. Bro John Keeley and the members of the Concert Committee, My 'Home' activities involved an attendance at a Boys' Fund Meeting in Dublin which proved worthwhile and I chaired a meeting of my Council on 24th March where I was most impressed with the contribution of the Provincial Grand Masters. Lodges visited included: On Thursday 31st March, I had the pleasure of attending the Institution of R.W.Bro. Rev. Canon Noel Regan as Incumbent and Precentor in the Cathedral Church of St. Macartan, Clogher. It was indeed a singular honour for our Junior Grand Chaplain and an undoubted credit to our Order. I thank him for his invitation and wish him well. It would be remiss of me if I failed to acknowledge the work of my Deputy, who does sterling work and is very committed to his task Lastly, I very much appreciated my Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Leslie Johnston standing in for me at the Constitution of Lodge 949 in Portadown on 14th May. I was pleased that he felt well enough to undertake the task and am most grateful as he did an excellent job. Sadly, he has had a recent setback and is presently in Hospital. On behalf of all the Brethren, I wish him a speedy recover and assure him and Florence that they are forever in our thoughts and prayers. WELCOME TO VISITING BRETHREN The Grand Master welcomed Brethren from Overseas who were in attendance:
CHARITY COLLECTION
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