UP

GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
OF IRELAND

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION ‑SATURDAY, 2nd OCTOBER, 2004

at

THE QUEEN'S HALL, NEWTOWNARDS

  Present:‑

M.W. Grand Master Eric N. Waller on The Throne
R.W. Deputy Grand Master George Dunlop
R.W. Assistant Grand Master William Mawhinney
R.W. Senior Grand Warden Robert J. Thomson
R.W. Junior Grand Warden John Greer
R.W. Grand Secretary Michael W. Walker
R.W. Director of Ceremonies Cecil D. Buns
R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain

Rev. Canon George N. Little
R.W. Junior Grand Chaplains Ven. Archdeacon John Murray
. Rev. Selwood Graham
V.W. Senior Grand Deacon Winston C. Patterson
V.W. Junior Grand Deacon Alan R. Crowe
V.W. Grand Superintendent of Works David T. Young
V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary D. Barry Lyons
V.W. Assistant Grand Secretary Michael R. McWiliam
V.W. Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Marcus O. Steenson
As V.W. Grand Steward Samuel Scott
V.W. Grand Sword Bearer Gordon Morrison
V.W. Grand Stewards of Charities Robert Bankhead
V.W. Grand Stewards of Charities Robert T. McCaffrey
V.W. Grand Almoner Alan R. G. R. Patterson
V.W. Grand Almoner William M. Lee
V.W. Grand Organist John N. Rowden
V.W. Grand Lodge Standard Bearer Kenneth Abernethy
V.W. Grand Master's Standard Bearer Samuel W. J. Craig
V.W. Grand Inner Guard Robert J. Robinson
V.W. Grand Secretary for Instruction Michael J. Ward
V.W. Asst. Grand Secretary for Instruction Robert J. Armstrong

 

There were also present:‑ RW. Brother R Eric Fenelon, Past Deputy Grand Master; the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, the Midland Counties, North Munster and Tyrone & Fermanagh; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, the Midland Counties, North Munster, Tyrone & Fermanagh and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W. Brother William J.E. Dukelow, Past Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Brother William E. Wood, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; RW. Brothers the Rev. Charles McCurdy, the Rev. Canon Kenneth W. Cochrane and the Rev. W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; R.W. Brother Richard Ensor, Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; VW. Brothers Albert Topping, William G., McElwaine and Leslie V. Johnston, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brothers Arnold J. Cooke and Mervyn W. Morrison, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; VW. Brothers James I.A. Davison, Trevor Monteith, William J. Johnston, J. ArdIe Agnew, Andrew McFetridge and Charles A. McCullough, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brothers David A.R. Lovesy and Victor Whyte, Past Grand Almoners; and VW. Brothers Robert J. Hunter, S. Gordon Leathern, Thomas A.D. Martin, David M. Wright and William J. Dixon, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers.

SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED

The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Scotland, Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Costa Rica, Cuscatlan of El Salvador, Mexico (York), Grand Orient of Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mato Grosso, Peru, Sao Paulo, Venezuela, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, China, India, the Philippines, the State of Israel, the Dominican Republic and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Colorado and Ohio.

APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE

Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ R.W. Brother Daniel B. Fincher, Past Senior Grand Warden; the Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh, Munster and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W. Brothers T. Noel Bownes, Robert Campbell and William W. Hughes, Past Provincial Grand Masters; the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of Armagh; R.W. Brothers Thomas G. Anderson and Charles Hatch, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Masters; R.W. Brother the Rt. Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Brothers the Ven. R Clayton Stevenson, the Rev. Canon Richard H. Bertram and the Rev. Walter Herron, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; VW. Brothers R. Ian Wilson and Noel Millar, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brothers Gordon V. Bradshaw, and Samuel H. Boyle, Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother Ralph B. McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; VW. Brother Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; VW. Brothers Arthur W. White, Herbert A. Walsh and Dennis R. Millen, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Tasmania, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Guinea and Japan; and R.W. Brothers Henry Robinson, Harold Ross and Douglas Wakefield, Past Grand Representatives.

OBITUARY

Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R .W. Bro. William S. Cunningham, Past Grand Treasurer, Hon. Past Junior Grand Warden; R.W. Bro. Thomas W. Nicholson, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master, South Eastern; R.W. Bro. W. Gordon Geary, Representative of the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy; R.W.Bro. James A. Syme, Past Representative of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey; R.W. Bro. George N. Hegarty, Past Representative of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia; and R.W. Bro. William H. Boyd, Past Representative of the Grand Lodge of Canada in Ontario, whose memory was saluted.

WELCOME BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF DOWN

R.W. Brother Robert J. Armstrong, Provincial Grand Master of Down, welcomed the Grand Master, Grand Officers and Members of Grand Lodge to the Province of Down on his own behalf and on behalf of the Province of Antrim. The Grand Master in reply, thanked R.W. Brother Armstrong for his welcome saying how pleased he was to be back in Newtownards for this Grand Lodge Communication, remembering that it was in this very hall that he had been elected Grand Master exactly three years ago.

MINUTES

It was proposed by the R.W. Senior Grand Warden, seconded by the R.W. Junior Grand Warden and passed unanimously that the Minutes of the Quarterly Stated Communication of Grand Lodge held on June P, 2004, as circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

INVESTITURE OF NEW GRAND REPRESENTATIVES

R.W.Brothers Reginald K Price, Richard Lyons, John O. Dunlop, David J. McIntyre, Thomas H. Beattie and Adrian Levey, 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 Grand Lodges of Montana, Texas, Virginia, Costa Rica, Venezuela and the State of Israel, respectively. The newly invested Grand Representatives were conducted to their seats and were saluted.

GRAND OFFICERS FOR 2005

The Grand Officers for 2005, as nominated by the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes at the June Communication of Grand Lodge, were elected, along with the Auditor of Grand Lodge accounts for the year 2004:‑  

M.W. Grand Master Eric N. Waller
R.W. Senior Grand Warden John Greer
R.W. Junior Grand Warden T. Noel Bownes - Past Provincial Grand Master of Armagh
R.W. Grand Treasurer Charles W. Olden
R.W. Grand Registrar Arthur D.S. Moran
R.W. Grand Director of Ceremonies Cecil D. Burns
R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain The Rev. Canon George N. Little
R.W. Junior Grand Chaplains The Ven. John G. Murray
  The Rev. Selwoode Graham
VW. Senior Grand Deacon Cecil P. Tilson
VW. Junior Grand Deacon Gordon Morrison
V.W. Grand Superintendent of Works David T. Young
V.W. Asst. Grand Director of Ceremomies
 William J. Dyer - Past Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Antrim
VW. Grand Steward Kenneth Abernethy
V.W. Grand Sword Bearer Robert J. Robinson
VW. Grand Stewards of Charities Roger Matthews
  Robert Bankhead
  Robert T. McCaffrey
V.W. Grand Almoners William T.H. Balmer - PM of Lodge No. 149, Ballymena
  Richard Ensor - Chairman of the Metropolitan Board
V.W. Grand Organist John N. Rowden
V.W. Grand Lodge Standard Bearer Frank Arnold - PM of Lodge No. 300, Coalisland
VW. Grand Inner Guard John L. Frazer - Provincial Grand Secretary, Antrim

AUDITOR OF GRAND LODGE ACCOUNTS

W. Brother Peter H. Mullock, F.C.A. Past Master of Lodge No. 395, Dublin, was elected Auditor of the Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2004.

RE‑APPOINTMENT OF THE DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT GRAND MASTERS

Immediately following his election, the Grand Master announced that he was re‑appointing R.W. Brother George Dunlop as his Deputy Grand Master; R.W. Brother William Mawhinney as his Assistant Grand Master; and W. Brother Brian Kearon, Past Master of Wicklow Militia Lodge No. 877, Arklow, as his Standard Bearer for 2005. The Grand Master's announcement was greeted with acclamation.

REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES

The Board noted, with regret, for reporting to Grand Lodge, the decision of the Brethren to return the Warrants of Lodges Nos. 285, Belfast, on amalgamation with Lodge No. 169; Lodge No. 692, Belfast; and Lodge No. 729, South Africa Northern.

A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy, the Board recommended the name of W. Brother Douglas T. Grey, Past Master & Secretary of Leinster Lodge No. 141, Dublin, be sent forward to the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy for consideration as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Latvia, submitting the name of M.W. Brother Dr. Valdis Pirags, Grand Master, as a suitable Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Legal Grand Lodge of Portugal/GLRP submitting the name of R.W. Brother Agostinho F. Garcia, Past Grand Treasurer, as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered requests for recognition from the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of The Bahamas and the Caribbean & Jurisdiction. The Grand Secretary confirmed that these applications had been considered at the recent Tripartite Meeting when it was the unanimous consensus that these Lodges were fully regular and deserving of recognition. R.W. Brother Ralph D. Seligman, Past Provincial Grand Master of Bermuda, had also recommended that recognition be granted. In these circumstances, the Board recommended to Grand Lodge that recognition be granted to the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of the Bahamas and the Caribbean & Jurisdiction. Confirmed.

The Board considered requests for dispensations under the terms of Grand Lodge Law No. 118 for a Brother to serve a third year as Wor. Master in Lodge No. 129, Natal; and for a Brother to serve a Principal Office in two Lodges concurrently, in the year 2005, in the Province of Wicklow & Wexford. On consideration of these requests, the Board recommended that Grand Lodge grant the dispensations. Confirmed.

ELECTION OF THE BOARDS OF MANAGEMENT OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS

Grand Lodge approved the election of the Brethren, as nominated by the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes, to form the Boards of Management of the following Masonic Benevolent Institutions:

The Management Committee of the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund in accordance with paragraph 4(d) of the Scheme for the Regulation of the Charity.

B. Bradshaw R. Mark P. Mullock, W.T. Brown D. McNulty J.W. Patching, S.J.P. Holt I. Miller N. Sufferin

The Management Committee of the Masonic Boys Benefit Fund in accordance with paragraph

4(d) of the Scheme for the Regulation of the Charity.

T.H. Beattie L.G. Evans D.J. McIntyre T.A. Wilson, J. Bell, G.F. Ginnelly, T. McNeill, L.N. Woods, G. Bratten, E.G. Hodgett, T. Monteith, R Ensor, Rev. E. Hunter, A.L. Reed

The Board of Governors of the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund in accordance with Rule 3(b).

W.T.H. Balmer, R. Gordon, J.R.P. Mitchell, W.W.T. Shortland, W. Dickson, N. Humes, J.W. Nicholson, K. Spring, N. Fenton, J. Kelly, R.J. Patterson, J. Stanley, J. Finkel, N. McElwee, R.W.J. Robertson, R.V. Whyte, I. Gawley, D.R Millen, B.R Brewster, D. Williams.

The Board of the Masonic Welfare Fund.

D. Atkinson, R.R. Gyles, D.R. Millen, J. Strong, D. Benson, J.R. Hadden, B. O'Byme, D.C. Webster, J. Crowley, W.J. Johnston, A.R.G.R. Patterson, S. Weafer, J.I.A. Davison, E. Mackarel, C.E. Ruttle, J.F. Wood, B.A. Eve, T.C.B. McBain, W.W.T. Shortland

COMMITTEE OF CHARITY & INSPECTION SPECIAL GRANT

Grand Lodge approved a recommendation coming forward from the Committee of Charity & Inspection for a special grant of E700 to the widow of a late Brother of Lodge No. 510, Dublin.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

The Grand Secretary, on behalf of the Grand Treasurer, handed in Notice of Motion under the Provisions of Grand Lodge Law No. 29 to make an appropriate donation from Grand Lodge funds to the Benevolent Institutions; and also, on behalf of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes, the Grand Secretary handed in Notice of Motion to amend Grand Lodge Law No. 5 in connection with the precedence of the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; and Law No. 155 to clarify the procedures necessary in the case of a Brother resigning from his Lodge.

CONFERRAL OF HONORARY GRAND RANK

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

Past Junior Grand Warden

R.W. Bro. Gerard W. Bean  ‑ Past Provincial Grand Master, Bermuda

Past Grand Deacon

VW. Bro. David Kirkwood    ‑ Provincial Assistant Grand Master, New Zealand

Past Grand Superintendent of Works

V.W. Bro. Tjaart L. Adlem     ‑ Past Provincial Grand Warden, South Africa Northern

Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies

V.W. Bro. Vincent S. Milton ‑ On promotion from Overseas District Grand Rank.

VW. Bro. Evan J. Edwards - On promotion from Overseas District Grand Rank

VW. Bro. Anthony A. Pisani ‑ Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies (E.C.)

Founder Member of "Hospitaller Lodge" No.931, Malta.

Past Grand Steward

V.W. Bro. Euchar Grecb ‑ On promotion from Overseas District Grand Rank

VW. Bro. Hendrik A. Erasmus ‑ Past Provincial Grand Chaplain, South Africa Northern

VW. Bro. Bruce Dais ‑ Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, South Africa Northern

V.W. Bro. Malcolm T. Humphreys ‑ Past Provincial Grand Warden, South Africa Northern.

Past Grand Sword Bearer

V. W. Bro. Noel E. Ashby ‑ Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, New Zealand

Past Grand Inner Guard

VW. Bro. Rev. Samuel A.J. Pratt ‑ on promotion from Overseas District Grand Rank

V. W. Bro. Hussein Ali Fawaz ‑ on promotion from Overseas District Grand Rank

REPORTS ON THE MASONIC CHARITIES

R.W. Brother James Kelly reported on the work of the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund; R.W. Brother Leslie V. Johnston reported on the work of the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund and the Masonic Boys Benefit Fund; and R.W. Brother William W.T. Shortland reported on the work of the Masonic Welfare Fund over the previous year. These reports will be printed in the Annual Report of Grand Lodge for the year 2004.

REPORT BY THE GRAND MASTER

The Grand Master, in his personal report to Grand Lodge, thanked the Brethren who had reported on the Masonic Benevolent Institutions and for bringing Grand Lodge up‑to‑date on their operation and achievements. The Grand Master went on to outline and report on various happenings since the June Communication of Grand Lodge including the holding of the Annual Tripartite Meeting between the three Home Grand Lodges in Dublin in late August; the final of the Millennium Charity Cup Golf Competition, 2004, held at the Killymoon Golf Club, Cookstown, on Friday September 10'°; the Judicial Review into the matter of Freemasonry being considered a notifiable membership by the PSNI authorities, which was due to be heard on November 10' & 11`x; the forthcoming major Concert to be held in the Point Theatre, Dublin, under the auspices of Events GLI Limited; and the 15'h meeting of European Grand Secretaries to be held in Dublin over the coming weekend, at which the new Allen 3 manual digital organ, which had been installed recently in Grand Lodge, would feature in a Concert to mark the occasion.

The Grand Master went on to mention that he would, on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and supported by a considerable number of Irish Brethren, constitute the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta in the Island on Thursday November 18d' which would also be attended by senior representatives of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Scotland as well as other Grand Lodges. The Grand Master also mentioned that he would be travelling to Edinburgh in late November to attend the Installation of the new Grand Master Mason of Scotland, Brother the Rev. Canon Joseph Morrow, where, as principal guest, he would be proposing the toast to the Grand Lodge of Scotland at the banquet following the Installation. In conclusion, the Grand Master welcomed R.W. Brother William L. Buist, Provincial Assistant Grand Master of South Africa Northern. R.W. Brother Buist acknowledged the greeting.

THANKS TO ORGANIZING BRETHREN

The Grand Master thanked V.W. Brother Rodney McCurley and the many Brethren involved in helping with the arrangements for the splendid lunch held just before the meeting and for re‑arranging the room to accommodate the Grand Lodge Communication immediately thereafter.

CHARITY COLLECTION The Charity Collection amounted to €1,600.

Grand Lodge Closed.