GRAND LODGE
of
ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF IRELAND 

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION ‑ THURSDAY 1st JUNE, 2006
at
FREEMASONS' HALL, DUBLIN 

Present:‑ 

 There were also present :- the Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, Armagh, Noah Connaught, South Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, Midland Counties, North Munster, Wicklow & Wexford, and, Nigeria; R.W. Bros. Adam J. McKinley, Kenneth J. Dunne, Geoffrey G. Ashton, William J.E. Dukelow and Herman A. Mould, Past Provincial Grand Masters of Antrim, the Midland Counties, North Munster, Tyrone & Fermanagh and Ghana; the Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of North Connaught, Londonderry & Donegal, Meath, North Munster, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh, Wicklow & Wexford and Nigeria; the Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master of North Munster, Cyril R. Foster; R.W. Bro. Michael W. Walker, Past Grand Secretary; R.W. Bros. David McKee and Allen G. Megarry, Past Grand Directors of Ceremonies; R.W. Bros. Richard H. Bertram, Charles McCurdy and W. Warren Porter, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Bros. Terence O. Read, Leslie V. Johnston, J. Noel Millar and Gordon Morrison, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bros. Major E. James Bate, Amold J. Cooke, Raymond A. Leadbeater, Anthony J. Darlison and Mervyn W. Morrison Honorary Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bro. Ralph B. McGuckin, Past Grand Superintendent of Works, V.W. Bro. Cecil Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Treasurer; V.W. Bro. Michael McWilliam, Past Assistant Grand Secretary; V.W. Bros. Reginald Mack and R.S. Morrow, Honorary Past Grand Sword Bearers; V.W. Bros. Ivor A. Moloney, James I.A. Davison, Trevor Monteith, William J. Johnston, Charles A. McCullough and Samuel J. Patience, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; V.W. Bro. Emmanuel D. Andrew Jaja, Honorary Past Grand Steward of Charities; V.W. Bro. Bernard V.A. Woods, Past Grand Almoner; V.W. Bros. Brian Sheridan and Samuel Scott, Honorary Past Grand Stewards; V.W. Bros. Robert J. Hunter, Peter D.G. Read, Robert T. Bashford, S.A. Mackenzie, D.H. Finlay and Brian Kearon, Past Grand Master's Standard Bearers; and R.W. Bros. Henry R. Robinson, John F. McDermott and Thomas G. Anderson, Past Grand Representatives.

 SISTER CONSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED

The following Grand Lodges were represented:‑ Scotland, Alberta, Canada in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, New South Wales, Victoria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Cuscatlan El Salvador, Chile, Equador, Peru, Sao Paulo, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, India, Japan, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Ohio and The Caribbean and Jurisdiction.

 APOLOGIES FOR NON-ATTENDANCE

Apologies for non‑attendance were received from:‑ the R.W. Provincial Grand Masters of Down, Munster, South Eastern, Tyrone & Fermanagh and New Zealand, and the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board; the R.W. Provincial Deputy Grand Masters of South Connaught, Down, and the Midland Counties; R.W. Bros. William W. Hughes, Daniel B. Fincher and Robert J. Thomson, Past Senior Grand Wardens; the R.W. Grand Registrar; R.W. Bro. the Rt. Rev. Samuel G. Poyntz, Past Senior Grand Chaplain; R.W. Bros. the Ven. John G. Murray and the Rev. Selwoode Graham, Junior Grand Chaplains; R.W. Bros. the Ven. R. Clayton Stevenson, the Rev. Canon Ken Cochrane and the Very Rev. Philip J. Knowles, Past Junior Grand Chaplains; V.W. Bros. Arthur T. Pollock and Norman Humes, Past Grand Deacons; V.W. Bro. Donald C. Willson, Honorary Past Grand Deacon; R.W. Bro. Charles Hatch, Past Provincial Deputy Grand Master, Armagh; V.W. Bros. Arthur White and Samuel H. Boyle, Past Grand Stewards of Charities; the Representatives of the Grand Lodges of British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Saskatchewan, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Turkey, Alaska, Arizona, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Argentina, Brazil, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Benin, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, South Africa and China; R.W. Bros. Douglas Wakefield, and Harold Ross, Past Grand Representatives.

 DELEGATIONS FROM SISTER CONSTITUTIONS

Prior to the opening of Grand Lodge, the Grand Director of Ceremonies escorted delegations from visiting Sister Grand Lodges into Grand Lodge:

The Regular Grand Lodge of Italy was represented by M.W. Brother Fabio Venzi, Grand Master; the Grand Lodge of Scotland was represented by Bro. David Begg, R.W. Grand Secretary; the United Grand Lodge of England was represented by R.W. Brother George Francis, Senior Grand Warden and V.W. Bro. John M. Hamill, PGSwdB.

 WELCOME TO DISTINGUISHED VISITORS

Grand Lodge being opened, the Grand Master formally welcomed our distinguished visitors and the Senior Member of each delegation suitably replied.

 OBITUARY

The Grand Master referred to the recent deaths of R.W. Bro. Boon‑Par Lim, Past Grand Inspector of South East Asia and Hon. Past Grand Deacon; R.W. Bro. Colin J.A. Clarke, Provincial Assistant Grand Master, S.A.N. and Hon. Past Grand Supt. of Works; R.W. Bro. Robert J. Fleming, Past Grand Deacon, Past Foreign Rep. of the Grand Lodge of Texas and Member of the Grand Lodge of Instruction; V.W. Bro. Robert I. Hoffman, Hon. Past Grand Deacon and Rep. on the Metropolitan Board; V.W. Bro. Keith N. Rowe, Honorary Past Grand Deacon; R.W. Bro. Okon Abia Bassey, Hon. Past Grand Deacon; R.W. Bro. Etim O.E. Isong, Hon. Past Grand Deacon and V.W. Bro. Alexander J. Weir, Hon. Past Grand Steward. The memory of our departed distinguished Brethren was saluted.

 MINUTES

On the proposal of R.W. Brother T. Noel Bownes, Senior Grand Warden, seconded by R.W. Brother Charles R. Knipe, Junior Grand Warden, the Minutes of the March 4^th 2006 Communication of Grand Lodge, which had been circulated, were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

 INVESTITURE OF FOREIGN GRAND REPRESENTATIVE

R.W. Brother Norman T. Reid, 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 Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean and Jurisdiction. The newly invested Grand Representative was conducted to his seat and saluted.

NOMINATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS FOR 2007

In accordance with Grand Lodge Law No. 43, the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes nominated the following Brethren to be the Grand Officers for 2007:‑

 W. Brother Peter H. Mullock FCA, Past Master of Lodge No. 395, Dublin, was nominated as the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 2006.

 REPORT OF THE GRAND LODGE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES

The Board noted for reporting to Grand Lodge the return of the Warrants of Lodges Nos. 98, 436 and 525, Belfast.

The Board considered application forms for membership, on the line of those drawn up and approved by the P.G.L. of Munster, submitted by the Province of Down in tandem with Antrim. Following some discussion it was agreed that this matter be returned, once again, to the Grand Master's Council for review.

A recommendation from the Grand Master's Council to discuss prospective extra Grand Officers was withdrawn at the request of the Grand Secretary, to be submitted at a later date.

The Board discussed a suggestion that Grand Lodge Law No. 141 should be modified to allow some flexibility in the conferral of the Fellow Craft Degree, while maintaining a 24 week interval between the Entered Apprentice and Master Mason Degrees. Following some debate this matter was referred back to the Grand Master's Council for further discussion.

The Board considered requests for recognition from the Grand Lodges of Mauritius and Macedonia. The Grand Secretary confirmed that they were both recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England (and also Scotland) and the Board recommended recognition. Confirmed.

Vacancies having arisen in the Representations of the Grand Lodges of Argentina, Colorado and Victoria, the Board recommended that the names of W. Brothers Shadrach Baillie, Past Master of Union Star Lodge No. 198, Newtownards, J. I. Albert (Bertie) Davison, Past Master of Sion Lodge No. 144, Kilkeel and M. Samuel Cunningham, Past Master of Castlereagh Lodge No. 694, Ballymacarrett, be sent forward for consideration to act as their Grand Representatives here. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

A recommendation from the Grand Master's Council that the Grand Lodge Communication for the Installation of Officers should revert to December 27^th was discussed and agreed to unanimously. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

The Board considered a request for the issuing of a temporary Warrant for Anchor Lodge No. 128, Belfast, the original being packed away for the Lodge's temporary move to Rosemary Street, while Arthur Square is being redeveloped. Recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

Read letter from the Masonic Trust Company recommending the addition of two new members to the Board, John A. Course and Brian G. Bradshaw. Agreed and recommended to Grand Lodge. Confirmed.

 At the conclusion of the Stated Meeting of the Board, a Special Meeting was held in accordance with Grand Lodge Law No. 66, at which were submitted the Accounts of Grand Lodge for 2005. The Accounts were considered in detail and explanations given by the Grand Treasurer. Following the presentation, the Board agreed unanimously that the Accounts, as presented, be recommended to Grand Lodge for adoption, with special thanks expressed to the Grand Treasurer's two Assistants, Brothers Smith and Lyall.

 GRAND LODGE OF INSTRUCTION

Read letter from the Grand Lodge of Instruction seeking Grand Lodge approval for the reelection of R.W. Brother Michael J. Ward as Grand Secretary for Instruction and V.W. Brother Robert J. Armstrong as Assistant Grand Secretary for Instruction. Confirmed.

 CONFERRAL OF HONORARY RANKS

The Grand Master, through Grand Lodge, conferred the following Honorary Ranks:‑

THE GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS

The Grand Master in a short address mentioned a number of visits he had made in the last quarter, including to Cork for the Consecration of the new Past Masters' Lodge No. 1011, in April.

He then issued the following short statement: ‑ "When I became Grand Master I made it clear at the outset that I would not serve ten years but would do approximately five to six. I now find that at my age I need to relax a little bit more and quite frankly the constant duties of the position do not permit this. I must, therefore, reluctantly announce my immediate retirement to take effect from the proposed Installation of my successor, provisionally scheduled for November of this year. I have enjoyed a unique experience as Grand Master and I will say more about this at our next Communication of Grand Lodge, which will take place at Newry in October.

The nomination of my successor rests entirely with the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes, which will meet in September. However, in the course of my term as Grand Master I have found myself constantly grateful for the total and unstinting support of the Deputy Grand Master (and also the Assistant Grand Master) and would have no hesitation in personally recommending the former, should he decide to let his name go forward."

 WELCOME TO VISITING BRETHREN

The Grand Master then welcomed Brethren from overseas who were attending including R.W. Bro. Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas, PGM of Nigeria and members of his Province; R.W. Bro. Nana Herman Mould, Past Grand Master of Ghana and members of the Province; V.W. Bro. Major E. James Bate MBE and members of Glittering Star Lodge No. 322, Warwickshire and W. Bro. John Hill, Lodge of Loyalty, No. 358, Bermuda (EC); all of whom suitably replied.

 CHARITY COLLECTION

 The Charity Collection amounted to €1,396.30.

 GRAND LODGE CLOSED

Later that evening one hundred Brethren and their companions enjoyed a buffet supper at the conclusion of which the Grand Master made a short address, reiterating his decision announced at Grand Lodge earlier, to retire forthwith and pass on the baton to a new man.