GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF
IRELAND

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION‑ SATURDAY 6th MARCH, 2010
at
CABRA CASTLE HOTEL, KINGSCOURT, CO. CAVAN

There were also present:‑ the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, North Munster, South Eastern and Tyrone & Fermanagh and the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.W. Brothers Robert J. Armstrong, George Miskimmins, Geoffrey G. Ashton and Arthur Keppel, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Meath, Midland Counties, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh and Wicklow & Wexford and the Deputy Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; R.W. Brother Cyril R. Foster, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master; R.W. Brother Charles Olden, Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W. Brothers Allen Megarry and William J. Dyer, Past Grand Directors of Ceremonies; R.W. Brother Rev. George N. Little, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Brothers Gordon Morrison, Robert J. Robinson, Frank R.L. Arnold, Arnold J. Cooke, Samuel H. Boyle and John O. Dunlop, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Hon. Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W. Brother Samuel Scott, Hon. Past Grand Steward; V.W. Brothers Ivor Moloney, William J. Johnston, Andrew McFetridge and Samuel J. Patience, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brothers Bernard V.A. Woods, Maurice W. Lee and William T.H. Balmer, Past Grand Almoners; and V.W. Brothers Samuel A. Mackenzie, William J. Dixon and David Penpraze, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers.

SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Saskatchewan, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Andorra, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece (Nat.), Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Cuscatlan El Salvador, Chile, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paolo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, the Philippines, Dominican Republic, and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Caribbean, Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio and Ontario & Jurisdiction.

APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE
Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ the R.W. Grand Registrar; the R.W. Grand Director of Ceremonies; V.W. Brother Diarmuid McNulty, Grand Steward of Charities and the V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary for Instruction; the Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh, Midland Counties, Munster and Wicklow & Wexford; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Londonderry & Donegal and Munster; R. W. Brothers Robert J. Thomson and William W.T. Shortland, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Bro. William J.E. Dukelow, Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W. Brother Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W. Brother Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Brothers the Rev. Charles McCurdy and the Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Brother Cyril F.A. Quigley, Hon. Past Grand Deacon; V.W. Brother Ralph McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W. Brother Gordon V. Bradshaw, Past Grand Deacon; V.W. Brother Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W. Brothers R. Victor Whyte and Alan R.G.R. Patterson, Past Grand Almoners; V.W. Brothers Arthur W. White and Roger Matthews, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; and The Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Quebec, Germany, Switzerland (Alpina), Latvia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Burkina Faso, South Africa, China, Japan; and R.W. Brothers Herbert Meeke, Douglas Wakefield and Henry M. Robinson, Past Grand Representatives.

WELCOME BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
The Grand Master, Grand Officers and members of Grand Lodge were welcomed to the Province of Meath by R.W. Brother Cecil P. Tilson, Provincial Grand Master.

OBITUARIES
The Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W. Bro. John Greer, Past Provincial Grand Master of North Connaught and Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W. Bro. Daniel M. Virtue, Past Provincial Grand Master of New Zealand; R.W. Bro. Rev. Canon Kenneth W. Cochrane, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Bro. William Orr, Past Foreign Representative and member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction and V.W. Bro. S. Trevor Hanna, Past Grand Deacon and Grand Lodge Press Officer. The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted.

WELCOME BY THE GRAND MASTER
The Grand Master recognised and welcomed Senior Brethren from other branches, and all the Brethren in general, in the large attendance.

MINUTES
On the proposal of R.W. Brother J. Kenneth Dunne, Senior Grand Warden, seconded by R.W. Brother Robert S. Hackett, Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the December 28th 2009, Communication of Grand Lodge, subject to an amended opening attendance, which had been circulated, were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
It was proposed, seconded and passed unanimously that Brothers David T. Young, Rodney L. McCurley and Alan Stewart be elected as the three Grand Lodge Board Representatives on the Grievance Committee for 2010.

It was proposed, seconded and passed unanimously that Brothers David T. Young, Brian Kershaw, Rodney L. McCurley, William T.H. Balmer, Ivan Connor, Ian Kirkpatrick and John E.V. Smith be elected members of the Finance Committee for 2010.

It was agreed that the By‑Laws Committee and the Library Committee would comprise the Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Brother D. Barry Lyons and W. Bro. Morgan McCreadie, with Ms. Rebecca Hayes, being a member of the latter.

A vacancy having arisen in the representation of the Grand Lodge of Switzerland (Alpina), the Board recommended that the name of W. Bro. T.P. Benson McDowell, Past Master of Lodge No. 8 and Lodge No. 67, Cork, 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 Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, the Board recommended that the name of V.W. Bro. John Dunlop, Provincial Grand Physician Down, be sent forward for consideration to act as their Grand Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Austria, submitting the name of Bro. Peter Hoffer, as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, submitting the name of W. Bro. Robert E. Johnson, as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, submitting the name of Bro. Guy W. Wilcox, as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Provincial Grand Secretary of Natal incorporating the findings of the Provincial Grand Lodge Board on the matter of disciplinary proceedings against a Brother of Lodge No. 758. The Provincial Grand Lodge Board found the Brother guilty of unmasonic conduct and recommended that he be expelled from the Order. The Grand Lodge Board found the charge of unmasonic conduct substantiated and recommended expulsion from the Order forthwith. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland noting the expulsion of two Brethren, who had recently become affiliate members of Duke of Leinster Lodge No. 363, Adelaide. As these Brethren have been expelled from a recognised Grand Lodge, the Board recommends concomitant expulsion by Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered a revision of Grand Lodge Laws Nos. 140 and 159 and decided that, particularly as a complete overhaul of the Laws and Constitutions was about to be undertaken, this was unnecessary.

It was recommended that R.W. Bros. Richard Ensor, Grand Treasurer and Dennis Millen, Provincial Deputy Grand Master, Antrim, be appointed members of the Masonic Trust Company. Agreed and reported to Grand Lodge.

INSTALLATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF NORTH CONNAUGHT
V.W. Bro. Norman T. Reid, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, North 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 North Connaught. R.W. Bro. Reid's sponsors were W. Bro. Ivan Gawley, Past Master of Lodge No. 217 and W. Bro. William H. Reid, Past Master of Lodge No. 242 and his Chain Bearer was W. Bro. J. Ivan Bournes.
Placing him in his seat the Grand Master proclaimed as follows: ‑ "Brethren, I hereby proclaim that this day V.W. Bro. Norman T. Reid, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, has been duly Obligated, Invested and Installed as R.W. Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Connaught: Brethren assist me to salute the newly Installed Provincial Grand Master".
R.W. Bro. Reid was saluted and suitably replied.

INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES
W. Bro. W. Robert Smith, Past Master of Lodge No. 210, Caledon, 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 the Representative of the National Grand Lodge of Greece. The newly invested Grand Representative was conducted to his seat and was saluted.

V.W. Bro. S. Ian Gourley, Past Master of Lodge No. 978, Ballylesson, 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 the Representative of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina. The newly invested Grand Representative was conducted to his seat and was saluted.

 

CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS
The Grand Master, with the concurrence of Grand Lodge conferred the following Honorary Ranks:

 

THE GRAND MASTER'S QUARTERLY ADDRESS

Grand Lodge is privileged to be in the Province of Meath for this March communication and delighted to return to the Cabra Castle venue. 1 would thank the Provincial Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Cecil Tilson and his Brethren for their kind invitation to us, in the first instance.

Brethren, we all suffered a terrible shock at the Installation Communication in Dublin when we learned of the sudden death of R.W. Bro. George Ginnelly, Provincial Grand Master of North Connaught. The circumstances of his passing were most significant, in that most of his time he would be travelling to a Masonic Meeting, as he was on this occasion. George and I shared a similar lifestyle in that we were both widowers and embraced Freemasonry as our central life interest and even our late wives shared the same frst name of Irene. He was indeed a generous, kind and thoughtful man and a truly unique individual and may he rightly rest in that house of many mansions which he revered.

I am delighted that R. W. Bro. Norman Reid has accepted my invitation to succeed George as Provincial Grand Master in the knowledge that he will fit the task readily. I am also pleased that R. W Bro. Ted Smith has offered to continue as Provincial Deputy Grand Master in support of Norman during his 'running‑in' period, knowing that he will prove to be a reliable mentor.

Brethren, the Grand Master's Festival, which ended during the past year was, once again, an outstanding success, when we raised over E660,000 for the benefit of the Samaritans and Children's Hospices; very worthy causes, to which we gave of our best in the firm hope that both cure and comfort to those in need, will result.

It sent out a clear message that we are very much part of society and I was particularly amazed and pleased that such an outcome was achieved in such an unfavourable economic climate. To you all, Brethren, 1 extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

In relation to the Festival, we were very fortunate to have the company of two TV personalities, namely, Olivia Nash (Curran), vice‑President of the Nl. Hospice and Alexandra Ford, Ambassador for the Belfast Samaritans, who added much to its promotion. However, thanks to R. W. Bro. John Frazer, I have secured a description of Olivia's appreciation of the Order which describes how three generations of her Masonic family were assisted by our Charities. A copy of her article will be published in our website as an item in our Grand Lodge Newsletter.

On another sad note and related to the 'Festival' I was saddened to learn of the death of V. W. Bro. Trevor Hanna, our official P.R. man, who did so much to promote our image through the communication media.

V.W. Bro. Trevor succeeded in having reports and pictures in 37 different newspapers in the North but sadly, had little response in the South. Trevor was a truly professional communicator and will be greatly missed and we now have the task of rebuilding our PR provision. My sympathies go Trevor's family at this time.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim is now headed by R. W. Bro. John Dickson who was installed as Provincial Grand Master on 27th February, 2010 and has now reconstructed his team consisting of R.W.Bro. Denis Millen, who has offered his services as Provincial Deputy Grand Master for a limited time. R. W.Bro. Bill Dyer and R. W.Bro. Jack Dunlop who will continue as Provincial Assistant Grand Masters and W.Bro. Ken Porter and V. W Bro. Bill Balmer who will soon be invested as Provincial Assistant Grand Masters. I look forward to welcoming them into these offices and anticipate successful outcomes during their tenure and wish them well.

I wish the Provincial Grand Master and his team every good fortune for the future and may the temporary arrangements for his Lodges be short‑lived.

During the past few months, I accepted an invitation to an interview on Freemasonry by Sarah Brett of BBC Radio Foyle. It lasted for 20‑25 minutes and I enjoyed the opportunity to clarify the many misperceptions held by some sections of general society.

I have also made presentations to Probus and Rotary Groups where I was warmly greeted and well treated.

Brethren, I would like to include at this point a definition of our Order: ‑

"Freemasonry teaches moral lessons and self knowledge through participation in a programme of allegorical two part plays which are learned by heart and performed with each Lodge.
Freemasonry offers its members an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all things.
Members are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but importantly, Freemasonry also teaches and practises concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need.
Membership is open to men of all faiths who are law abiding, of good character and who acknowledge a belief in God. Freemasonry is a multi‑denominational, multi‑racial and multi‑cultural organisation. It has attracted men of goodwill from all sectors of the community into membership. "

(With acknowledgments to R. W. Bro. Ted Smith and the Grand Lodge of Scotland).

Brethren, I wish you well and may you be blessed with every good fortune.

 

THANKS TO ORGANISING BRETHREN
The Grand Master concluded by thanking V.W. Bro. Derek R. Poyntz, Provincial Grand Secretary and the many Brethren involved
in helping with the arrangements for the lunch and meeting.

ANNUAL REPORTS
The Grand Secretary reminded Provincial Grand Masters to compile and send in their annual reports for publication.

CHARITY COLLECTION
The Charity collection amounted to E1,909.02.

GRAND LODGE CLOSED