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GRAND LODGE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION – SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER, 2015 Present:-
There were also present:- the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, North Connaught, South Connaught, Down, Meath, Midland Counties, North Munster and Tyrone & Fermanagh; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, Down, the Midland Counties, North Munster and South Eastern; R.W.Bros. Robert G. Quigley, D. Harry Weir, R. Wilson Mark, Geoffrey G. Ashton and G. Hugh Milne, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W.Bro. Selwyn S. Davies, Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W.Bro. William J. Dyer, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; R.W.Bros. Charles McCurdy and Philip Knowles, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W.Bros. Winston C. Patterson, Robert J. Robinson, Alan Stewart and Ivan Gillespie, Past Grand Deacons; V.W.Bro Dennis Millen, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W.Bros. Bernard V.A. Woods, Edward C.W. Smith and Edward Brownell, Past Grand Almoners; V.W.Bros. John J. Ramsay, David Penpraze and Kwesi O-P Ackah, Past Grand Master’s Standard Bearers. SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED APOLOGIES FOR NON-ATTENDANCE OBITUARIES WELCOME MINUTES ELECTION OF THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS FOR 2016 Grand Master Douglas T. Grey W.Bro. C. Des. Mullock of Lodge No. 397, Dublin, was elected as the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2015. The Grand Master announced that he was reappointing R.W.Bro. Rodney L. McCurley as Deputy Grand Master and R.W.Bro. Leslie J. Nixon as Assistant Grand Master. He also announced that W.Bro. Noel Simpson, Past Master of Island of Inch Lodge No. 589, Londonderry, would be his Standard Bearer for the ensuing year. REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES The Board approved a request to remove the Warrant of Coronation Temperance Lodge No. 304 from Ballymacarrett to the Mount Masonic Hall. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board agreed a request for a Warrant to establish a new Lodge, the third, in Sierra Leone. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. A vacancy having arisen in the representation of the Grand Lodge of Spain, the Board recommended that the name of W.Bro. Kenneth H. Ramsey, Past Master of Lodge No. 384, Dundalk, be sent forward for consideration to act as their Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. A vacancy having arisen in the representation of the Grand Lodge of France, the Board recommended that the name of V.W.Bro. Gilbert T. Irvine, Past Master of Lodge No. 888, Markethill, be sent forward for consideration to act as their Representative here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board read a letter from the Grand Lodge of South Africa, submitting the name of R.W.Bro. J.E.H. Smith to act as our Grand Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board read a letter from the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, submitting the name of Gerald L. Carver, Grand Secretary, to act as our Representative there. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed. The Board noted and agreed with a number of points which had been brought to its attention by the Grand Lodge of Instruction. A letter on the subject had been circulated to all Lodges. The subject, and suggested wording, of Leave of Absence was debated at length. It was proposed, seconded and passed that the topic be referred to the October meeting of the Grand Master’s Council, and from there to the December meeting of the Grand Lodge Board, with, if agreed, a view to its eventual abolition. In the meantime, all requests for Leave were to be approved by the respective Provincial Grand Masters, or the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board, in the case of Dublin Masons. The document Policy & Procedures in respect of Charges which could lead to Reprimand, Suspension or Expulsion would be incorporated in the revised text of the Laws and Constitutions, being currently undertaken by the Board sub-committee, appointed by the Grand Master. Under the subject of Any Other Business, the P.G.M. of Antrim raised the matter of a Brother, in Good Masonic Standing, visiting Lodges, although not a subscribing member. INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVES W.Bro. Francis P. Beckett, Past Master of Lodge No. 336, Banbridge, 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 Turkey. W.Bro. William G. Downes, Past Master of Lodge No. 208 (old), 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 National Grand Lodge of Montana. V.W.Bro. Brian Ruttle, Past Master of Lodge No. 13, Limerick, 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 State of New York. W.Bro. Kenneth Vance, Past Master of Lodge No. 597, Belfast, 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 Venezuela. The newly invested Grand Representatives were conducted to their seats and saluted. ELECTION OF THE BOARDS OF MANAGEMENT OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS To elect the Management Committee of the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund in accordance with paragraph 4(d) of the Scheme for the Regulation of the Charity. The following Brethren are recommended by the Grand Lodge Board:- Michael M. Costello T. Eric Henry Norman U. Stewart Albert Bell Robert N. Espie Brian Mooney Walter Craig To elect the Board of Governors of the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund in accordance with Rule 3(b). The following Brethren were recommended by the Grand Lodge Board:- Lionel C. Clark Samuel Weir Cyril J.W. Moore John V. Magwood To elect the Board of the Masonic Welfare Fund. The following Brethren were recommended by the Grand Lodge Board:- J. Edward Brownell Trevor S. Lovell G. Arthur Woolsey Ian McCullagh NOTICE OF MOTION REPORTS ON THE MASONIC CHARITIES V.W.Bro. Eddie Brownell reported on the work of the Masonic Welfare Fund. W.Bro. Albert Bell reported on the work of the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund and the Masonic Boys Benefit Fund. R.W.Bro. John Haynes reported on the work of Masonic Havens Limited. R.W.Bro. Michael M. Costello reported on the project currently being funded by the Medical Research Fund. (All these Reports will be printed in the Annual Report of Grand Lodge for the year 2015). The Grand Master thanked the Chairmen and their respective Committees for their diligent work over the previous twelve months, and lauded the enormous contributions of all concerned, so freely given. CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS Past Grand Deacon Past Grand Superintendent of Works Past Grand Steward Past Grand Lodge Standard Bearer Past Grand Inner Guard O.D.G.R.
GRAND MASTER’S QUARTERLY ADDRESS In July I was honoured to represent the Grand Lodge of Ireland at the annual memorial ceremony for those who died in the two world wars and other conflicts throughout the world and was privileged to lay a wreath in memory of those Brethren who made the ultimate sacrifice. Also, during July I attempted to take some time off but the Deputy, the Assistant, the Grand Secretary and myself met as usual to deal with the usual routine matters, and it is at this point I wish to pay tribute and thank the R.W. Brethren, Rodney, Leslie and Barry for their commitment and continuing support. We have had discussions about the ongoing Music Competition, the Teddies for Loving Care Programme and many other routine matters. (As you all probably know, Barry and I attended a wonderful concert last night at Stormont, in support of TLC, and I wish to thank everybody involved). Towards the end of August I was present (as indeed were most of the staff of the Hall) at the performance by Gary Beecher from Cork, the winner of last year's Music Competition, in the National Concert Hall in Dublin, which was also broadcast live and at which Masonry was congratulated for its support for this competition. A few days later I attended the Golf Classic at Killymoon in Cookstown run by R.W.Bro. Noel Simpson and his wife Pauline which to date has raised over £100,000 for Masonic and Non Masonic Charities. Well done Noel! So now, we have reached September when I had the great enjoyment of attending the TLC Distributors conference. This really was a great event in achieving two things. Firstly, and in my view, most importantly - to say thank you to those who willingly give of their time to support this most worthy cause. A true demonstration to the public at large of Masonry contributing to Society. Secondly - to receive feedback from the distributors to find out how, if necessary, the scheme might be improved. I must say some very interesting thoughts and marketing strategies were expressed. On your behalf I wish to say a big THANK YOU to the committees both North and South and the distributors who play a very important part but also to you Brethren for your continuing excellent support for this enterprise. It is a great undertaking and advertisement for our Order. The Deputy, Assistant and myself continue to meet informally with the Officers of the Provinces for a relaxed free and frank exchange of views and consultation. Indeed only as late as last Wednesday we met with the brethren from Wicklow & Wexford and the South Eastern Provinces, and in our view we had a very good exchange of views. We will of course, within the next couple of weeks meet more formally at the Grand Master's Council at which all Provincial Grand Masters attend again for consultation and free, (hopefully), discussion. Today has been a wonderful day and I wish to thank R.W.Bro. Brian Gardner and his assistant W. Bro. Andy McGill for all the arrangements for today, which were up to the usual high standard. Thank you to the Province of Down for hosting and, of course, the excellent lunch. I would also like to thank you all Brethren, for attending here today and I especially welcome R.W. Bro. John Wright, our Provincial Assistant Grand Master of The Far East. I am pleased to see a number of Heads of our other Orders present - our own Grand Senior Warden is, of course, Most Ill. Bro. S. Gordon Leathem, Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council; Most Excellent President Brian Mooney is, as you all know, the recently installed President of the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons and we wish him well in his new office and assure him of our support. Also with us today is the Most Excellent Great Chief of the Grand Council of Knight Masons, Most Excellent Sir Knight Bernard V.A. Woods, our Junior Grand Warden elect. So as you can see Brethren, as I come to the conclusion of my first year in Office, your Officers and all in senior positions have been quite busy and we will continue to be so for the good of Irish Masonry. May the Great Architect Bless each and every one of you.
GRAND LODGE CLOSED
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