GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF
IRELAND

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION ‑ THURSDAY 6th JUNE, 2013
at
FREEMASONS' HALL, MOLESWORTH STREET, DUBLIN

Present:‑

There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh, Wicklow & Wexford and New Zealand; the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.WBros. Charles W. Olden, Robert J. Armstrong, J. Kenneth Dunne and Harvey F.J. Heavener, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, South Connaught, Midland Counties, North Munster and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W.Bros. Cyril R. Foster, Edward C.W. Smith, John Hadden and Anton H.G. Alsemgeest, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Masters; R.W.Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W.Bro. the Right Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W.Bro. the Rev. Charles McCurdy, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; R.W.Bro. William J. Dyer, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; V.W.Bros. Frank Arnold, John O. Dunlop, Basil Elliott and Alan Stewart, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. Donald C. Willson, Hon. Past Grand Deacon; V.W.Bros. Ivor A. Moloney, James C. Stanley, William J. Johnston and Samuel J. Patience. Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W.Bro. Bernard V.A. Woods, Past Grand Almoner; V.W. Bros. Donald H. Finlay. W. James Copes, David Penpraze and Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer, and R.W.Bro. William C. Colhoun, Past Grand Representative.

SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED

The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Scotland, Canada in Ontario, Prince Edward Island. Quebec, Saskatchewan, Victoria, Tasmania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas. Virginia, Washington, Cuscatlan El Salvador, Chile, Colombia (Cartagena). Mato Grosso, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, China, Japan, Mauritius and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Caribbean, Massachusetts, Ohio and Ontario & Jurisdiction.

APOLOGIES FOR NON-ATTENDANCE

Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ the R.W. Junior Grand Chaplain. the Rev. Noel H.L. Regan; the V.W. Grand  Steward of Charities, Lionel C. Clark; the R.W. Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh. Meath, Southern Cape and Natal; R.W.Bros. Robert J. Thomson, George Miskimmins, William W.T. Shortland, Robert Quigley and Thomas C.B. McBain, Past Provincial Grand Masters: the R.W. Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath and Natal: R.W.Bro. Allen G. Megarry; Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; R.W.Bro. the Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W.Bros. Gordon Morrison and John L. Frazer, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. Anthony J. Darlison, Honorary Past Grand Deacon; V.W.Bro. Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W.Bros. Arthur W. White, Samuel H. Boyle and Andrew McFetridge, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W.Bros. William J. Dixon and Robin E.W. Newenham, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers: the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of New Zealand, Croatia, Luxembourg, Serbia, Turkey, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Costa Rica. Mexico (York), Mato Grosso do Sul, Venezuela, Burkina Faso and Israel; and R.W.Bro. Neville Irvine, Past Foreign Representative.

OBITUARIES

R.W.Bro. Cyril F.A. Quigley, Hon. Past Grand Deacon and Past Foreign Representative, R.W.Bro. Norman McElwee, Representative of the Grand Lodge of Finland; R.W.Bro. William T. McCoy. Past Foreign Representative and Emeritus Member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction; R.W.Bro. Thomas G. Anderson. Past Foreign Representative; V.W.Bro. Samuel W.J. Craig, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer and Emeritus Member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction; V.W.Bro. Leon N. Millar, Hon. Past Asst. Grand Director of Ceremonies (Southern Cape); V.W.Bro. Derek Fuller, Hon. Past Grand Deacon (Jamaica); V.W.Bro. Kenneth Watson, Hon. Past Grand Steward (Zimbabwe) and V.W.Bro. Nadarajah Veerasingham, Hon. Past Grand Steward (Sri Lanka).
The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted.

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 Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany was represented by the M.W. Past Grand Master. Lieutenant Col. Bro. Ronald L. Davies, Hon. Past Grand Deacon I.C.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland was represented by the M.W. Grand Master Mason, Bro. Charles Ian Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont and the R. W. Grand Secretary, Bro. David Begg.

The United Grand Lodge of England was represented by the R.W. Senior Grand Warden, Major the Hon. Bro. Andrew F.C. Wigram and the R.W. Grand Chancellor, Bro. Derek Dinsmore.

WELCOME

Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master formally welcomed our distinguished visitors and the Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England, on behalf of all the guests, suitably replied.
MINUTES

On the proposal of the R.W. Senior Grand Warden, seconded by the R.W. Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the March 7th 2013 Communication of Grand Lodge, which had been circulated, were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

NOMINATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS FOR 2014

In accordance with Grand Lodge Law No. 43, the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes nominated the following Brethren to be the Grand Officers for 2014:

W.Bro. Peter H. Mullock FCA, Past Master of Lodge No. 395, Dublin, was nominated as the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2013.

REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of South Australia & Northern Territory, recommending the name of M.W. Bro. Sir Eric James Neal, as a suitable Representative there. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico, recommending the name of W.Bro. Luis A. Otero-Gonzáles as a suitable Representative there. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Florida, recommending the name of R.W.Bro. Frederick H. Stoltzfus. as a suitable Representative there. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Turkey, recommending the name of W.Bro. Faruk Han, as a suitable Representative there. Confirmed.

A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. R. Noel Magowan, Past Master of Lodge No. 83, Newry, be sent forward for consideration by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, the Board recommended the name of V.W.Bro. Thomas A. (Bert) Wilson, Past Master of Lodge No. 82, Portadown, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Missouri as a suitable Brother 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 (Sao Paulo), the Board recommended the name of V.W.Bro. Samuel Snodden, Past Master of Lodge No. 624, Killinchy, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Brazil (Sao Paulo) as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered an application from the Grand Lodge Committee of Charity and recommended a grant of €700. Confirmed.

A letter from the Grand Lodge of Instruction regarding the use of holy books was considered and agreed to. In future, similar letters for consideration, by the Board, will be forwarded with the notice for the meeting.

The Board considered and approved a request for Dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to hold two senior Offices in two Lodges in the same year‑No. 513 and No. 128. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered and approved a request for Dispensation under Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to hold the office of Secretary in two Lodges in the same year ‑ No. 199 and No. 610. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board heard a report from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down Board of General Purposes meeting held at The Mount, Belfast on Monday 22nd April, to hear charges of Un‑Masonic conduct against a W. Brother of the Province. The charges being confirmed, the report advocated expulsion. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

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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 2012. The Accounts were considered in detail and explanations given by 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 being expressed to W.Bro. Andrew Lyall and his team.

Thus, the Grand Treasurer endorsed and proposed the Accounts, as presented, to Grand Lodge; they were seconded by the Senior Grand Warden and passed unanimously.

GRAND LODGE OF INSTRUCTION

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Instruction seeking Grand Lodge approval for the re‑election of R.W.Bro. Michael Ward as Grand Secretary for Instruction and the re‑election of V.W.Bros. James McFarland and Paul Kenny as Assistant Grand Secretaries for Instruction; and the election to membership of W.Bro. A. Gordon Allen, Past Master of First Volunteer Lodge No. 620, Dublin and W.Bro. Peter W. Brown, Past Master of Acacia Lodge No. 225, Dublin. Confirmed.

INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVE

W.Bro. J. Allan W. Campbell, Past Master of Lodge No. 30, Killyleagh, 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 and formal presentation of his Patent of Appointment as Representative of the Grand Lodge of the District of Colombia. He was conducted to his seat and saluted.

HONOUR FOR THE HEAD TYLER

It being the occasion of the retirement of the Head Tyler to Grand Lodge, the Grand Master called upon the Director of Ceremonies to present W.Bro. Jack Daley to him. R.W.Bro. Young and the Grand Deacons escorted Bro. Daley from the door of the porch to the Grand Master who thanked him for his great many years' service to Grand Lodge, and all the Masonic bodies which meet in Freemasons' Hall, awarded him the rank of Grand Lodge Standard Bearer and presented him with his Certificate, to acclaim. Bro. Daley was escorted back to the door of the porch whereupon he was saluted and, once again, acclaimed.

CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS

The Grand Master, with the concurrence of Grand Lodge, also conferred the following Honorary Ranks:

GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS

The Grand Master made a short address to Grand Lodge wherein he detailed various visits he had made to sub‑ordinate Lodges, in the previous three months. He then referred to the 3rd  Duke of Leinster, this being the anniversary of his Installation as Grand Master in June 1813 and continued:

Brethren, in the central portrait on the wall to my right, which was unveiled in 1869, you see Augustus Frederick Fitzgerald our longest serving Grand Master, who I feel it is fitting to remember today.

He was born as Marquess of Kildare in Carton House in 1791 and became the 3rd Duke of Leinster in 1804 on the death of his father William Robert Fitzgerald, our Grand Master in the 1770s.

In 1813 he took his seat in the House of Lords and in June he was Installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in Taylor's Hall, Back Lane, Dublin.

So this year marks the 200th anniversary of the beginning of his 61 year reign, a period in which Irish Freemasonry was reformed and reorganised. He eliminated superfluous Masonic degrees and established the system of Provincial Grand Lodges, under Grand Lodge, for governance. The Boys School wasfounded and the Order was provided with this new purpose built permanent home in Molesworth Street.

His extraordinary legacy to us, in the modern Masonic era, cannot be underestimated or forgotten.

WELCOME TO VISITING BRETHREN

The Grand Master then welcomed and called a salute for our Brethren from Overseas who were in attendance:

R.W.Bro. Roland Whyte, Provincial Grand Master of New Zealand.

A visiting delegation from Emerald in the East Lodge No. 830, Kuala Lumpur led by W.Bro. Erric Chew Weng Leong, Worshipful Master.

V.W.Bro. Donald C. Willson, Hon. Past Grand Deacon and V.W. Bro. John Torley, Hon. Past Grand Steward, St. Patrick's Lodge No. 295, The Royal Dragoon Guards.

R.W.Bro. Robert Waldron, our Foreign Representative at the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.

R.W.Bro. James E. Zemancik, Past District Deputy Grand Master of Ohio and Provincial Grand Superintendent Ohio, Grand Council of Knight Masons; W. Bro. Kenneth D. Crouse, Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent Ohio and W.Bro. Alfred J. McCann, Past Great Chief's Standard Bearer.

R.W.Bro. Dr. Peter Gobel, our Foreign Representative at the United Grand Lodges of Germany.

W.Bro. Eric Abudarham, Past Master of Lodge No. 153 E.C. & Past District Senior Warden, Gibraltar E.C.

YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

The Grand Master invited R.W.Bro. John Keeley to address Grand Lodge on The Freemasons of Ireland Young Musician of the Year Competition, to take place in October, in the course of which Bro. Keeley stressed the need for host accommodation in Dublin being made available for competitors who lived elsewhere.

CHARITY COLLECTION
The Charity Collection amounted to €1,187.70

GRAND LODGE CLOSED