UP

GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
OF IRELAND

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION ‑ THURSDAY 2nd OCTOBER, 2008
at
THE LODGE HOTEL, COLERAINE

 Present:­ 

M.W. Grand Master George Dunlop, on the Throne
R.W. Deputy Grand Master Douglas T. Grey
R.W. Assistant Grand Master Leslie V. Johnston
As R.W. Senior Grand Warden John S. Dunlop
R.W. Junior Grand Warden William J. E. Dukelow
R.W. Grand Secretary D. Barry Lyons
R.W. Grand Director of Ceremonies William J. Dyer
R. W. Junior Grand Chaplain The Rev. Selwoode Graham
V.W. Senior Grand Deacon Noel A. Drain
V. W. Junior Grand Deacon Rodney L. McCurley
V.W. Asst. Director of Ceremonies
Ivan A. Meldrum
As V.W. Grand Steward Samuel Scott
V.W. Grand Sword Bearer John O. Dunlop
V.W. Grand Almoner J. Edward Brownell
As V.W. Grand Organist Brian Simpson
V.W. Grand Lodge Standard Bearer Thomas R. McDowell
V.W. Grand Master's Standard Bearer James Copes
As V.W. Grand Inner Guard
Basil Elliott
V.W. Grand Secretary for Instr. Michael J. Ward
V.W. Asst. Grand Secty. for Instr. James McFarland

There were also present:‑
the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, North Munster, Meath, South Eastern and Wicklow & Wexford; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, the Midland Counties, North Munster and Wicklow & Wexford; R.W. Brothers Robert Campbell and Robert J. Armstrong, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Brothers Allen G. Megarry and Michael R. Bicknell, Past Grand Directors of Ceremonies; V.W. Brothers J. Noel Millar, Robert J. Robinson, Frank Arnold and John L. Frazer, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brothers Samuel H. Boyle and Cyril Quigley, Hon. Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother Ralph B. McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W. Bro. Kwesi O‑P Ackah, Hon. Past Grand Superintendent of Works; VW. Bro. Michael R. McWilliam, Past Assistant Grand Secretary; V.W. Brothers Trevor Monteith, William J. Johnston, Andrew McFetridge and Samuel J. Patience, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Brothers Maurice W. Lee and William T.H. Balmer, Past Grand Almoners; V.W. Brother William J. Dixon, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer; and R.W. Brothers Andrew W. Coid, Hugh Hamilton and Hugh A. Taggart, Past Foreign Grand Representatives.

SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Alberta, Victoria, New Zealand, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Turkey, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Chile, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paolo, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, South Africa, China, the Philippines, Mauritius, the Dominican Republic and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Colorado, Massachusetts and Ohio.

APOLOGIES FOR NON‑ATTENDANCE
Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ The R.W. Grand Treasurer; the R.W. Grand Registrar; the R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain; the R.W. Junior Grand Chaplain, the Ven. John Murray; the V.W. Assistant Grand Treasurer; the V.W. Grand Steward; the V.W. Grand Stewards of Charities; the V.W. Grand Almoner, Richard Ensor and the V.W. Grand Organist; the Provincial Grand Masters of Armagh, South Connaught and Munster; R.W. Bro. William T. Shortland, Past Provincial Grand Master; R.W. Brothers Robert J. Thomson and T. Noel Bownes, Past Senior Grand Wardens; R.W. Brother Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; 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. Charles McCurdy, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Brothers George B. Crooks and Gordon Morrison, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Brother Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W. Brother Arthur W. White, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W. Brother Bernard V.A. Woods, Past Grand Almoner; V.W. Brother Donald H. Finlay, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer; and the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Western Australia, Tasmania, Greece, Poland, Switzerland, Alpina; Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Brazil G.O. and Senegal; and R.W. Brothers Douglas Wakefield, Henry Robinson, John F. McDermott and Edwin Hunter, Past Grand Representatives.

OBITUARY
Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master referred to the recent death of R.W. Bro. Adam McKinley, Senior Grand Warden and Past Provincial Grand Master, Antrim and, in a short eulogy, recalled his distinguished Masonic career.

The Grand Master also referred to the recent deaths of R.W. Bro. Harold Ross, Past Foreign Grand Representative; V.W. Bro. Derek L. Robinson, Past Grand Deacon; R.W. Bro. Victor Lynn, Foreign Representative, Ivory Coast; R.W. Bro. Walter Herron, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Bro. David M. Wright, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearer; W. Bro. Arthur M. Cam, Hon. Past Grand Deacon, South Australia; V.W. Bro. Owen R. Fisken, Hon. Past Grand Deacon, New Zealand; V.W. Bro. Ronald Kilpatrick, Hon. Past Grand Steward, Zambia; V.W. Bro. George E, Cunningham, Hon. Past Grand Steward, Natal; V.W. Bro. Sydney M. Palmer, Hon. Past Grand Superintendent of Works, Southern Cape; and V.W. Bro. Petrus Van Rooyen, Hon. Past Grand Steward of Charity, Southern Cape.

The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted in accordance with ancient custom.

WELCOME BY THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF
LONDONDERRY & DONEGAL
R.W. Brother Robert Quigley, Provincial Grand Master of Londonderry & Donegal, welcomed the Grand Master, Grand Officers and Members of Grand Lodge to the Province in general and Coleraine in particular, and gave a short historical resume of the place and name. The Grand Master in reply, thanked R.W. Brother Quigley for his warm welcome and looked forward to a productive and informative meeting.

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 5th 2008, as circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

GRAND OFFICERS FOR 2009
The Grand Officers for 2009, as nominated by the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes at the June Communication of Grand Lodge, were elected:  

Grand Master

George Dunlop

Senior Grand Warden        

William J.E. Dukelow

Junior Grand Warden

J. Kenneth Dunne, Past Provincial Grand Master, Midland Counties

Grand Treasurer

Charles W. Olden

Grand Registrar

Arthur D.S. Moran

Grand Director of Ceremonies

William J. Dyer

Senior Grand Chaplain

The Rev. Canon George N. Little

Junior Grand Chaplains

The Rev. Noel H.L. Regan, Provincial Grand Chaplain, N. Conn.The Rev. Richard W. Moore, Provincial Grand Chaplain, Armagh

Senior Grand Deacon

Douglas Thompson

Junior Grand Deacon

John O. Dunlop

Grand Superintendent of Works

David T. Young

Asst. Gnd. Dir. of Ceremonies

Ivan A. Meldrum

Grand Steward

Thomas R. McDowell

Grand Sword Bearer

Basil Elliott

Grand Stewards of Charities

Diarmuid McNulty
James C. Stanley

Grand Almoners

Richard Ensor
J. Edward Brownell

Grand Organist

John N. Rowden

Grand Lodge Standard Bearer

John Dickson, Provincial Grand Registrar, Antrim

Grand Inner Guard

John A. Graham, Provincial Assistant Grand Master, Londonderry & Donegal

W. Brother Peter H. Mullock FCA, Past Master of Lodge No. 395, Dublin, was elected as the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2008. 

Immediately following his election, the Grand Master reappointed R.W. Brother Douglas T. Grey as the Deputy Grand Master and R.W. Brother Leslie V. Johnston as the Assistant Grand Master.

He also announced the appointment of W. Bro. David Penpraze, Past Master and Secretary of Lodge No. 636, Newtownabbey, as his Standard Bearer for the forthcoming year. 

INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES
W. Brothers Thomas F. Jamison, P.M. Lodge No. 189, Kells; David Morgan, P.M. Lodge No. 613, Belfast; Kenneth Doherty, P.M. Lodge No. 297, Moville; John Casement, Provincial Grand Steward of Charities, Down; Alan R. Hopkins, P.M. Lodge No. 760, Rosetta; James Hughes, P.M. Lodge No. 637, Cogry and VW. Bro. Arthur A. Prentice, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden, Down 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 Denmark, Finland, Mauritius, Arkansas, Indiana, Oregon and Prince Hall, Ohio, respectively. The newly invested Grand Representatives were conducted to their seats and were saluted. 

REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
The Board noted, with regret, for reporting to Grand Lodge, the return of the Warrants of Lodges Nos. 587 Belfast; 757 Holywood; 837 The Mount and 879 South Africa Northern.

The Secretary confirmed to the Board that the proposed Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ghana by our Brethren in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ghana, Irish Constitution and their Scottish counterparts would now take place on the 24th January, 2009 ‑ the Grand Master to Constitute the new Grand Lodge and (the Scottish) Grand Master Mason to then Install the first Ghanaian Grand Master. 

The Board heard that, subsequent to the above, our Nigerian Brethren are now proposing to establish a Grand Lodge of Nigeria on similar lines ‑ i.e. a joint venture between the Irish and Scottish Brethren with the English not participating, but also, fundamentally, not objecting. 

A vacancy having arisen in the Representation of the Grand Lodge of Cuscatlan, El Salvador, the Board recommended that the name of W. Brother John Strong, Provincial Grand Lodge Almoner, North Connaught, be sent forward for consideration by the Grand Lodge of Cuscatlan as a suitable Brother to act as their Grand Representative here. Confirmed. 

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Alaska, submitting the name of W. Brother John K. Bishop, as a suitable Brother to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. 

The Board considered a letter received from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Natal requesting permission to install two Provincial Senior Grand Wardens in the one year. The Board did not approve this request. 

The Board considered a request from Skibbereen Lodge No.15 to rename itself  “The Fifteenth Lodge”. The Board approved this request. 

The Grand Secretary reported that the following Grand Lodges were seeking recognition, or were reapplying for recognition ‑ Liberia, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria ‑ and he would be reporting on these in due course, following consultation with his counterparts in England and Scotland. 

The Board considered and approved a request for a replacement Warrant for Hannibal Lodge No. 224, Bermuda, the original having been stolen following a break‑in at the Lodge premises. 

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 Masonic Girls Benefit Fund

R.G. Beamish           S.T. Mahon               J.W. Patching

W.T. Brown               R. Mark                      K. Spring

D. McNulty                 I. Miller                       N. Sufferin 

The Masonic Boys Benefit Fund

J. Bell                         D.R. Williams           D. McIntyre                A.L. Reed

G. Bratten                  E.G. Hodgett             J. McKinstry              T.A. Wilson

R. Ensor                    A. Bryan                     T. McNeill                  L.N. Woods

L.G. Evans                D. Lyness                  T. Monteith
 

The Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund

L. Clarke                    B. Brewster                D. Williams              L.J. Nixon

N. McElwee               J.W. Oakley               J. Stanley                  N. Fenton

J. McGookin              I. Gawley                    R. Gordon                  L. Sibbald

W. Dickson                R. Hackett                  J.R.P. Mitchell          P. Daley

J. Kilpatrick                R.V. Whyte                J.W. Nicholson         J.E.V. Smith

The Board of the Masonic Welfare Fund

J.E. Brownell             B. Eve                        W.J. Johnston           I. McCullagh

D. Atkinson               C. Ruttle                     D. Douglas                J.D. Nesbitt

M. Kidd                       J. Houghton              J. Hobson                  J.I.A. Davison

J. Strong                    J. Crowley                 S. Davies                   A.R.G.R. Patterson

E. Mackarel               B. Corcoran               C.P. Killick

NOTICE OF MOTION
The Secretary handed in a Notice of Motion, on behalf of the Grand Treasurer, under the provisions of Grand Lodge Law No. 29 to make an appropriate donation from Grand Lodge funds to the Benevolent Institutions.

REPORTS ON THE MASONIC CHARITIES
W. Brother Barry R. Brewster reported on the work of the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund. R.W. Brother J. Edward Brownell reported on the work of the Masonic Welfare Fund. R.W. Brother George Ginnelly reported on the work of the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund and the Masonic Boys Benefit Fund. V.W. Brother David T. Young reported on the work of Masonic Havens Limited. (All the Charity Reports will be printed in the Annual Report of Grand Lodge for the year 2008.)

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

Past Grand Almoner  
V.W. Bro. Calvin Chan Provincial Grand Lodge Instructor, Far East
   
Past Grand Steward  
V.W. Bro. Colin P. Martin Provincial Grand Lodge Treasurer, Natal
W. Bro. Arthur Pemberton Past Master of Lodge No. 224, Bermuda
W. Bro. R. A. L. Outerbridge Past Master of Lodge No. 123, Bermuda
W. Bro. Robert O'Shea Past Master of Lodge No. 580, Bermuda
W. Bro. Melvin W. Gibbons Past Master of Lodge No. 894, Bermuda
   
Past Grand Inner Guard  
VW. Bro. Richard Jacques Provincial Grand Chaplain, Far East
   
Overseas Dist. Gnd. Rank  
W. Bro. Too Wan Jin Past Master of Lodge No. 830, Kuala Lumpur 
W. Bro.Surendra Naidu Past Master of Lodge No. 830, Kuala Lumpur
W. Bro. Balram Menon Past Master of Lodge No. 830, Kuala Lumpur
W. Bro. George D. Ananda Past Master of Lodge No. 830, Kuala Lumpur
W. Bro. Lim Edward Seng Tiong Past Master of Lodge No. 765, Singapore
W. Bro. Sivakumar Murugayan Past Master of Lodge No. 765, Singapore
W. Bro. Lee Keng Bin Past Master of Lodge No. 936, Thailand
   

THE GRAND MASTER'S QUARTERLY ADDRESS

The Grand Master, in a short address to Grand Lodge (a full copy of which isattached to the original Minutes) thanked the aforementioned Brethren who had just reported on the activities of the Masonic Benevolent Institutions and Masonic Havens, and their respective Committees, for all their hard work, on behalf of the Charities in the last year. He also reported on a number of visits he had made since the Communication in June and made the following points:

The Membership Project Team of W.Bros. Michael Egner and James Johnston of Lodge 578 under the guidance of R.W. Bro. Richard Gray, P.G.M of Down, are making good progress with the Membership Analysis of the Belfast Metropolitan Area and I await the outcome of their endeavours. Finding a solution to this problem will, all being well, help to return overall membership to a more acceptable level. 

Membership Research Projects have been undertaken by other Grand Lodges which hai a indicate‑d that the causes of loss are not necessarily the same for each Constitution or Provincial Area, thus justifying the Belfast project. A number of questionnaires are currently being sent to Lodge Secretaries in Antrim and Down and I would appeal to them to complete and return their replies with accuracy and promptness. 

The Deputy Grand Master has set up a Committee, under the Chairmanship of R.W Bro. Hugh Milne, Provincial Grand Master of North Munster, to reconsider the function of Provinces. There is a feeling that in these modern times, a general review should be undertaken to assist in determining any changes which may prove to be logical and appropriate. 

A proposal was put to the Grand Master's Council that the St. John's Day Communication should alternate between Dublin and Belfast so giving equal opportunity to both Northern and Southern brethren to attend. It is my intention to hold it in Belfast in 2009 and to monitor the cost and effect from that point; trusting that this will lead to a best option being formally adopted. 

I am pleased to report that, to date, €182,740 has been realised for the Grand Master's Festival, which augurs well for the rest of the Masonic year. 

My sincerest thanks go to all Brethren, with special reference to the Chairman and Vice‑Chairmen, R.W Bros. Ensor, McCurley and Fenton and to their committee members. 

R.W Bro. Douglas Grey, my Deputy, attended a British Legion Commemoration Ceremony in Dublin on Saturday 12th July when he laid a remembrance wreath on behalf of The Freemasons of Ireland. 

I accepted an invitation from the Taoiseach and his wife to attend the National Day of Commemoration on Sunday 13th July at Kilmainham Hospital, “IN HONOUR OF ALL THOSE IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN WHO DIED IN PAST WARS OR ON SERVICE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS". I was privileged to be there as it was the first occasion that the Grand Master of Ireland has been invited to such a function by the Taoiseach; the President also attended and we were blessed with fine weather. Representatives of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths led an act of Commemoration, each according to their own tradition and we were royally entertained by the music of a Military Band and the singing of Dr. Bernadette Greevy ( who, sadly, died last week). I was accompanied by V. W. Bro. Sean Murphy and R. W. Bro. Noel Simpson. 

Finally, the Metropolitan Summer Lodge organised by the Metropolitan Board on 16th July. was most impressive. My thanks to R.W Bro. Richard Ensor, Chairman, for such a fine event, incorporating an Informal Festive Board and a quality presentation by Jane McKenna of Laura Lynn Childrens' Hospice. 

THANKS
The Grand Master thanked V.W. Bro. Raymond Robinson and the many Brethren involved in helping with the arrangements for the reception, the lunch and the meeting.

CHARITY COLLECTION
The Charity Collection amounted to €1,903.12.

GRAND LODGE CLOSED