GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF
IRELAND
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION – SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER, 2016
at
THE PROVINCIAL MASONIC HALL, ROSEMARY STREET, BELFAST
Present:-
R.W. Assistant Grand Master Leslie J. Nixon, on the Throne
R.W. Senior Grand Warden R. Arthur Keppel
R.W. Junior Grand Warden Bernard V.A. Woods
R.W. Grand Treasurer Richard Ensor
R.W. Grand Registrar N. John Hunter
R.W. Grand Secretary D. Barry Lyons
As R.W. Grand Director of Ceremonies Cecil Wellwood
R.W. Senior Grand Chaplain The Rev. Canon T. Henry Trimble
R.W. Junior Grand Chaplains The Rev. Richard W. Moore
The Rev. Noel H. L. Regan
V.W. Senior Grand Deacon William R.T. McClenaghan
V.W. Junior Grand Deacon John C. Clarke
V.W. Grand Superintendent of Works David T. Young
As V.W. Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Desmond McCormick
V.W. Grand Steward David W. Gibson-Brabazon
V.W. Grand Sword Bearer David Henderson
V.W. Grand Stewards of Charities John Edens
Kenneth McClure
James Kilpatrick
V.W. Grand Almoners Kevin Spring
James McBain
V.W. Grand Organist John N. Rowden
As V.W. Grand Lodge Standard Bearer Alastair Thompson
V.W. Grand Master's Standard Bearer Noel Simpson
V.W. Grand Inner Guard Brian L. Ebbs
V.W. Grand Secretary for Instruction James McFarland
V.W. Assist. Grand Secretaries for Instruction A. Gordon Allen
James Gilchrist
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 Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh and Tyrone & Fermanagh; R.W. Bros. Robert J. Thomson, Robert G. Quigley, D. Harry Weir, Richard H. Gray, R. Wilson Mark and G. Hugh Milne, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Bro. M. Osborne Steenson, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master; R.W. Bros. Selwyn S. Davies and S. Gordon Leathem, Past Senior Grand Wardens; R.W. Bro. William J. Dyer, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; R.W. Bros. Charles McCurdy and W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Bros. Robert J. Robinson, John L. Frazer, John O. Dunlop, Thomas R. McDowell, Basil Elliott, Alan Stewart, Ivan Gillespie and Sam Scott, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bros. Ivor A. Moloney, Dennis Millen and Diarmuid McNulty, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Bros. Edward C.W. Smith, William T.H. Balmer, Edward Brownell and T. Albert Wilson, Past Grand Almoners; V.W. Bros. Robert T. Bashford, W. James Copes, David Penpraze and John A. Boddy, Past Grand Master’s Standard Bearers.
SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
The following Grand Lodges were represented:- Scotland, Prince Edward Island, South Australia, Victoria, New Zealand, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Costa Rica, Mexico (York), Argentina, Brazil (G.O.), Chile, Ecuador, Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paolo, Venezuela, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Japan, Senegal, the Philippines, the State of Israel; and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Alaska, the Caribbean, Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.
And R.W. Bro. Alexander McL. Spiers, Past Foreign Representative.
APOLOGIES FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
Apologies for non-attendance were received from:- The M.W. Grand Master; the R.W. Deputy Grand Master; the Grand Lodge Standard Bearer; the Provincial Grand Masters of South Eastern, Munster, Wicklow & Wexford, Natal and Ireland in India; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of Midlands, North Munster, Wicklow & Wexford and Natal; R.W. Bros. William T. Shortland, Basil Fenton, Leslie G. Evans, Harvey Heavener and Alan Campbell, Past Provincial Grand Masters; R.W. Bro. Michael J. Ward, Past Senior Grand Warden; R.W. Bro. Arthur D.S. Moran, Past Grand Registrar; R.W. Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W. Bro. Michael R. Bicknell, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies; R.W. Bros. the Rt. Rev. Canon George N. little and Selwoode Graham, Past Senior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Bro. the Very Rev, Philip Knowles, Past Junior Grand Chaplain; V.W. Bros. Gordon Morrison and J. Barry Jenkins, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bro. Ralph B. McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works; V.W. Bros. Cecil Taylor and Arnold Smith, Past Assistant Grand Treasurers; V.W. Bro. Andy McFetridge, Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W. Bros. Samuel A. McKenzie, John Ramsay and Robin Newenham, Past Grand Master’s Standard Bearers; and the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of Alberta, British Colombia, Canada in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, New South Wales, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland Alpina, Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, South Dakota, Columbia (Cartagena) and Burkina Faso;
And R.W. Bros. Neville Irvine, Brian O’Byrne and Leslie Dawson, Past Foreign Representatives.
OBITUARIES
Grand Lodge being opened, the Assistant Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W. Bro. Jack B.H. Manfield, Past Provincial Grand Master, South Africa Northern; R.W. Bro. Nigel S. Tyney, Past Foreign Representative; R.W. Bro. James Jones, Past Foreign Representative; R.W. Bro. James L. McKinney, Past Foreign Representative; V.W. Bro. Samuel S. McIntyre, member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction; V.W. Bro. Reginald K.W. Cooley, Hon. Past Grand Sword Bearer (South East Asia); V.W. Bro. Alexander J. Noble, Hon. Past Grand Deacon (Southern Cape); V.W. Bro. Jack A. Marshall, Hon. Past Grand Superintendent of Works (Southern Cape); V.W. Bro. Prabhakar R. Datar, Hon. Past Grand Deacon (India); V.W. Bro. Derek Weldon-Ming, Hon. Past Grand Deacon (Southern Cape); and V.W. Bro. Brian L. Coak, Hon. Past Grand Deacon (Far East); and all deceased Brethren.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies called a salute to the memory of all our Departed Brethren
WELCOME
R.W. Brother John Dickson, Provincial Grand Master of Antrim, welcomed the Assistant Grand Master, Grand Officers and Members of Grand Lodge to Rosemary Street.
The Assistant Grand Master in reply, thanked R.W. Brother Dickson for his warm welcome and looked forward to a productive and informative meeting. He welcomed all Brethren to Grand Lodge and especially noted Senior Brethren from the other Masonic Orders.
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 2nd 2016, as circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed.
ELECTION OF THE GRAND OFFICERS FOR 2017
The Grand Officers for 2017, as nominated by the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes at the June Communication of Grand Lodge, were elected: -
Grand Master Douglas T. Grey
Senior Grand Warden Bernard V.A. Woods
Junior Grand Warden Harvey F.J. Heavener, Past Provincial Grand Master of Wicklow & Wexford and P.M. of Lodge No. 877, Arklow
Grand Treasurer Richard Ensor
Grand Registrar N. John Hunter
Grand Director of Ceremonies Samuel Young
Senior Grand Chaplain The Rev. Canon T. Henry Trimble
Junior Grand Chaplains The Rev. Richard W. Moore
The Rev. Edwin W. Hunter, Provincial Senior Grand Warden, Munster and P.M. of Lodge No. 27, Cork
Senior Grand Deacon David W. Gibson-Brabazon
Junior Grand Deacon David Henderson
Grand Superintendent of Works David T. Young
Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Cecil Wellwood
Grand Steward W. Raymond Robinson
Grand Sword Bearer Brian L. Ebbs
Grand Stewards of Charities Ciaran M.J. McAteer, P.M. of Lodge No. 760, Rosetta
John Richardson, P.M. of Lodge No. 134, Armagh
Eric J. Sheppard, P.M. of Lodge No.163, Birr
Grand Almoners Derek Brennan, P.M. of Lodge No. 249, Dublin
David J. Lyness, P.M. of Lodge No. 776, Antrim
Grand Organist John N. Rowden
Grand Lodge Standard Bearer Brian W. Gardner, P.M. of Lodge No. 842, Crawfordsburn and
Provincial Grand Secretary, Down
Grand Inner Guard David L. Blair, P.M. of Lodge No. 138, Londonderry and
Provincial Assistant Grand Master, Londonderry & Donegal
W. Brother C. Des. Mullock of Lodge No. 397, Dublin, was elected as the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2016.
The Assistant Grand Master announced that the Grand Master was reappointing R.W. Brother Rodney L. McCurley as Deputy Grand Master and he himself, R.W. Brother Leslie J. Nixon, as Assistant Grand Master.
He also announced that W. Bro. Lionel Gyves, Past Master of Lodge No. 402, Abbeyleix, would be the Grand Master’s Standard Bearer for the ensuing year.
REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES
The Board considered a request to remove the Warrant of Dunluce Lodge No. 750 from East London, Southern Cape to Helderberg, Cape Town. The Board instructed the Grand Secretary to ascertain the agreement, or otherwise, of the English District Grand Master, there being extant two English and one South African Lodges in the area. Recommended to Grand Lodge and agreed.
The Board considered a detailed proposal to establish a Past Masters’ Lodge in the Province of South East Asia. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.
The Board agreed a request for a change of status for the Warrant of Songhkla Lodge No. 936, Thailand, to that of Travelling Warrant. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.
The Board considered a report of unmasonic conduct against Brother Jonathan R. Morgan, a member of Royal Blue Lodge No. 404, Portstewart, in that he had been charged and convicted at Antrim Crown Court of fraud, involving fuel credit cards. Brother Morgan was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for three years.
Read report thereon from the Hearing Committee of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Londonderry & Donegal whose representative recommended that Brother Morgan be expelled from the Order. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.
The Board considered a report of unmasonic conduct against Brother Samuel Kelly, a member of Ramelton Old, Lodge No. 407, Co. Donegal, in that he had been charged and convicted at Londonderry Crown Court of fraud, involving forgery, false representation and obtaining a money transfer by deception. Bro. Kelly was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, suspended for three years.
Read report thereon from the Hearing Committee of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Londonderry & Donegal recommending that Brother Kelly be expelled from the Order.
Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.
INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES
W. Bro. David E. St.C. Herman, Past Master of Lodge No. 728, Dublin, being in attendance and having produced his Patent of Appointment, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Assistant Grand Master for Investiture and formal presentation of his Patent of Appointment as Representative of the State of Louisiana.
W. Bro. Thomas Fitzpatrick, Past Master of Lodge No. 397, Dublin, being in attendance and having produced his Patent of Appointment, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Assistant Grand Master for Investiture and formal presentation of his Patent of Appointment as Representative of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.
W. Bro. James McGookin, Past Master of Lodge No. 431, Ballymena, being in attendance and having produced his Patent of Appointment, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Assistant Grand Master for Investiture and formal presentation of his Patent of Appointment as Representative of the National Grand Lodge of Virginia.
V.W. Bro. Diarmuid McNulty, Past Master of Lodge No. 337, Groomsport, being in attendance and having produced his Patent of Appointment, the Grand Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and presented him to the Assistant Grand Master for Investiture and formal presentation of his Patent of Appointment as Representative of the Grand Lodge de Mato Grosso do Sul.
The newly invested Grand Representatives were conducted to their seats, saluted and acclaimed.
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 M.W. Grand Master had requested the deferral of the approval of the Committee of the Masonic Girls Benefit Fund until the December Communication of Grand Lodge).
To elect the Management Committee of the Masonic Boys Benefit Fund in accordance with paragraph 4(d) of the Scheme for the Regulation of the Charity.
Albert Bell Robert N. Espie Brian Mooney Walter Craig
Derek A. Brennan Kenneth McClure Brian Morrison Malcolm P. Tyrrell
Sidney Conn Ken McFarland Shane O’Brien
John McKinstry Noel Sufferin George Peden
To elect the Board of Governors of the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund in accordance with Rule 3(b).
Lionel C. Clark Samuel Weir Cyril J.W. Moore John V. Magwood
Malachy Ross Arthur Graham Philip Greene Sean Rafferty
Brian Hampton Jonathan W. Oakley Vincent O’Donovan Philip A.J. Daley
Graham Steenson David Cleland Rett W. Gibson Brian O’Byrne
Colin Magill John A. Boddy Charles M. Smyth Joseph Byrne
To elect the Board of the Masonic Welfare Fund.
J. Edward Brownell Trevor S. Lovell G. Arthur Woolsey George W. Kidd
John Edens Barry Brewster David W. Douglas Robert Campbell
Andrew Bingham Ian McDonald John Houghton Roland Hendy
Colin Bonnes Robin Brummitt Robert Acton Selwyn S. Davies
John Richardson James Houghton Cameron Sterritt
NOTICE OF MOTION
The Grand Treasurer handed in a Notice of Motion, under the provisions of Grand Lodge Law No. 29 to make a donation of €5,000 from Grand Lodge funds to the Masonic Charities/Benevolent Funds.
REPORTS ON THE MASONIC CHARITIES
W. Brother David Cleland reported on the work of the Victoria Jubilee Masonic Benevolent Fund.
V.W. Brother Eddie Brownell reported on the work of the Masonic Welfare Fund.
V.W. Brother Kevin Spring 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 2016).
The Assistant Grand Master thanked the various Deputy-Chairmen and their respective Committees, the Visitors and Office Staff, for their diligent work over the previous twelve months, and lauded the enormous contributions of all concerned.
He also spoke of, and complimented all involved in, the resounding success of TLC, and the achievement of providing 100,000 teddies to thirty-five hospitals, throughout the island of Ireland.