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GRAND LODGE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION ‑ THURSDAY 4th JUNE, 2015
There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, North Connaught, South Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Midland Counties, North Munster, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh, Wicklow & Wexford, Far East and South East Asia; the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.W.Bros. Charles W. Olden, William T. Shortland, J. Kenneth Dunne, Harvey F.J. Heavener, Robert G. Quigley, Robert S. Hackett, Geoffrey G. Ashton, R. Wilson Mark and G. Hugh Milne, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, Midland Counties, Tyrone & Fermanagh, Far East and South East Asia; R.W.Bros. John R. Hadden and Walter Craig, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Masters; R.W. Bro. Selwyn S. Davies, Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W.Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W.Bros. Allen G. Megarry and William J. Dyer, Past Grand Directors of Ceremonies; V.W. Bros. Terence 0. Read, Frank Arnold, Alan Stewart and Ivan Gillespie, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro. The Rev. Philip J. Knowles, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W.Bros. Ivor A. Moloney, James C. Stanley, William J. Johnston and Edward Brownell, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W.Bro. Bernard V.A. Woods, Past Grand Almoner; V.W.Bros. William J. Dixon, David Penpraze, John J. Ramsay and Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and other Senior Brethren. SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Scotland, Canada in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas. Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil (G.O.), Chile, Sao Paolo, Venezuela, Gabon Guinea, Madagascar, Senegal, the Philippines, Mauritius, Israel and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Caribbean, Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario & Jurisdiction and Texas. APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE
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 Grande Loge Du Gabon was represented by V.W.Bro. Guy J. Masquefa, Grand Deacon The National Grand Lodge of Greece was represented by R.W.Bro. Dimitris Mamas, Past Grand Master The Grand Lodge of Scotland was represented by the R.W.Depute Grand Master, Bro. W. Ramsay McGhee The United Grand Lodge of England was represented by the R.W. Assistant Grand Master, Bro. Sir David Wootton and the V.W. Deputy Grand Chancellor and Past Grand S\iord Bearer, Bro. John Hamill OBITUARIES The Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W.Bro. Claude E. Nicol, Grand Inspector, Sierra Leone & Hon. Past Grand Deacon; V.W.Bro. Albert W. Topping, Past Grand Deacon & Emeritus Member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction; V.W.Bro. Robert H.B. Mills, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W.Bro. Gordon B. Jennings, Hon. Past Grand Organist; R.W.Bro. Reginald D. Atkinson, Foreign Representative of the Grand Lodge of Hungary; R.W.Bro. Sydney Graham, Foreign Representative of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota & Member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction; R.W.Bro. William G. Thompson, Past Foreign Representative and R.W.Bro. William G. Finnegan, Past Foreign Representative. The Grand Director of Ceremonies called a salute to the memory of all our Departed Brethren. WELCOME Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master formally welcomed our distinguished visitors and all delegations 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 5`h 2015 Communication of Grand Lodge, which had been circulated, were taken as read, confirmed and signed. NOMINATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS FOR 2016 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 2016:
W.Bro. C. Desmond Mullock, Past Master of Lodge No. 395, Dublin, was nominated as Auditor of the Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2015. REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
The newly agreed wording for the process of awarding Leave of Absence to individual Brethren, recently approved at the March Grand Master's Council, was queried by a number of Board members. The Grand Registrar in reply, whilst maintaining that the wording should be perfectly acceptable, said that he would provide an explication of those Brethren eligible and those Brethren excluded, for the September meeting of the Board. The original handout, denoting the function and responsibilities of Representatives of Foreign Grand Lodges, was to be circulated to all Lodges once again, with an addendum noting that the Representatives were permitted to wear their specific regalia on all masonic occasions, including at their own Lodge meetings. A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. Keith E. Wray, Past Master of Lodge No. 136, Belfast, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, 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 Latvia, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. Leslie A. Shiels, Past Master of Lodge No. 823, Strabane, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Latvia, 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 Poland, the Board recommended the name of V.W.Bro. William F. (Wilfred) Baker, Past Master of Lodge No. 27, Cork, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Poland, 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 Turkey, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. Francis P. Beckett, Past Master of Lodge No. 336, Banbridge, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Turkey, 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 Idaho, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. Neale L. Woods, Past Master of Lodge No. 748, Wicklow, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Idaho, 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 New York, the Board recommended the name of W. Bro.Brian Ruttle, Past Master of Lodge No. 13, Limerick, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of New York, 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 the Ivory Coast, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. Thomas A. Armstrong, Past Master of Lodge No. 473, Enniskillen, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of the Ivory Coast, 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 Mato Grosso, the Board recommended the name of W.Bro. Robert S. Agnew, Past Master of Lodge No. 459, Coagh, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Mato Grosso, as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board had received a note from the Grand Secretary for Instruction on the matter of Exemplifying Degrees in other Constitutions: ‑ a reminder is to be circulated, from The Grand Lodge of Instruction, that this is strictly forbidden without, amongst other things, first receiving Grand Lodge permission and also that of the hosting Grand Lodge. ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ 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 2014. 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 Bro. Colin Forbes and his team in the Accounts Office. GRAND LODGE OF INSTRUCTION
Also: the election to membership of W.Bro. John Heery, Past Master of Corinthian‑Commercial Lodge No. 245, Dublin; W.Bro. Michael Curran, Past Master of Duke of York Lodge No. 25, Dublin and W.Bro. Brian L. Ebbs, Past Master of Whitla Masonic Lodge, No. 55, Monaghan. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF SOUTH CONNAUGHT R.W.Bro. Nigel Foley‑Fisher, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, South Connaught, 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 South Connaught. R.W.Bro. Foley‑Fisher suitably replied and was acclaimed. INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF THE MIDLAND COUNTIES R.W.Bro. Cecil Wellwood, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, The Midland Counties, 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 The Midland Counties. On having him placed in his chair, the Grand Master proclaimed Bro. Wellwood as follows: "Brethren, I hereby proclaim that this day R.W.Bro. Cecil Wellwood, has been duly Obligated, Invested and Installed as the R.W. Provincial Grand Master of The Midland Counties"; and he was saluted. R.W.Bro. Wellwood suitably replied and was acclaimed. GRAND LODGE OF INSTRUCTION ‑INVESTITURE V.W.Bro. James McFarland, and W.Bros. A. Gordon Allen and James Gilchrist, being in attendance, the Grand Director of Ceremonies presented them to the Grand Master, who invested them with their Chains of Office, as Grand Secretary for Instruction and Assistant Grand Secretaries for Instruction respectively. They were installed in their seats, saluted and acclaimed. INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES V.W.Bro. D. John Cairns, Past Master of Lodge No. 716, Coleraine, 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 Alberta. He was conducted to his seat and saluted. W.Bro. Joseph C. Byrne, Past Master of Lodge No. 4, Dublin, 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 British Columbia & Yukon. He was conducted to his seat and saluted. W.Bro. Samuel G. Plews, Past Master of Lodge No. 235, Coleraine, 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 Andorra. He was conducted to his seat and saluted. W.Bro. James F. McDowell, Past Master of Lodge No. 104, Kircubbin, 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 Belgium. He was conducted to his seat and saluted. W.Bro. J. Alan Hanna, Past Master of Lodge No. 168, Ballymacarrett, 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 Moldova. He was conducted to his seat and saluted. W.Bro. W. Robert J. Dickson, Almoner of Lodge No. 396, Cookstown, 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 Mississippi . He was conducted to his seat and saluted. W.Bro. Henry D. Friar, Past Master of Lodge No. 823, Strabane, 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 Texas. He was conducted to his seat and saluted. CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS
GRAND MASTER'S QUARTERLY ADDRESS The Grand Master made a short address to Grand Lodge, in the course of which he paid a lengthy tribute to R.W.Bro. Michael J. Ward, who had served as Grand Secretary for Instruction since 1978. He welcomed a number of Senior Brethren from other Masonic Orders; he then welcomed and called a salute for our Brethren from Overseas who were also in attendance Brethren from the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Far East; R.W.Bro. Brendan Bong, Provincial Grand Master; R.W.Bro. Terence G. Hicks, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, W.Bro. Tommy Cheng, Provincial Grand Secretary: W.Bro. Tuck Weng Lai, Provincial Grand Steward and seven other Brethren. Brethren from the Provincial Grand Lodge of South East Asia; R.W.Bro. Thong Kean Sin, Provincial Grand Master and R.W.Bro. Thomas Cummin, Provincial Deputy Grand Master. A Brother of Hibernia Lodge No. 749, Nairobi W.Bro. David Monk (also of 322). Brethren from Sassena RAC No. 33 and Sassena Council No. 84. A Brother from the United Grand Lodge of Victoria ‑ R.W.Bro. James A. Mitchell, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, and our Foreign Representative at the United Grand Lodges of Germany, R.W.Bro. Peter Gubel.
CHARITY COLLECTION GRAND LODGE CLOSED |
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