Masonic Portraits. (No. 48.)

after nil , the accepted tender was the most advantageous We will illustrate our meaning by a very simple case . A butcher tendered to supply an institution with meat for n term of six months , the best beef at so much per lb ., and the best mutton at so much . Thero was a very trifling

advance in his prico for tho former over other tenders , but his price for mutton was considerably lower , and accordingly his offer was accepted . But the consumption of beef was many times more considerable than that of mutton . Takinjr , therefore , the wholo term of his contract , the auditor who examined the various tenders was able to

satisfy the an'horities that , in the selection they had made , and setting the question of quality entirely apart , there was an appreciable loss made by tho transaction . The zealous and able auditor was in this instance enabled to show that the governing body had been misled in their

calculations and greater care was exhibited by them in scrutinising the different tenders submitted . This , we know , is a simple illustration , so simple indeed that many of our readers may feel inclined to smile at it ; but it

suffices to prove what we have just stated that an auditor ' s duty is not of that perfunctory character which many imagine . It involves something more than a mere matter of multiplication . Judgment must be exercised , and it is for this reason that onr Schools are to bo congratulated on

having on their audit board a member who is not only , so far as his arithmetical powers go , a human calculating machine , but ono who has likewise the ability to see at a glance whether the financial arrangements of our Schools are in accordance with true economy . We ba \ e felt it our duty

to lay unusual stress on these labours of our brother , because the task of an auditor is more useful than ornamental , and is apt to be very lightly regarded ; whereas it is to his discernment that we must always look as the true safeguard against hasty , ill-advised , and ill-regulated expenditure . It

is so very easy to order the payment of accounts , that people are sometimes disposed to overlook the still more important question whether this or that expenditure has been wisel y or unwisely incurred . However , we have said enough on this point without being wearisome , and it only

remains for us to add that our worthy brother never misses tho opportunity of acting as Scrutineer at tho different elections to our institutions . For this duty ho is likewise peculiarly fitted . His marvellous power in dealing with

figures enables him to keep pace even with the most rapid voting . It is hard work to distribute some 17 , 000 or 18 , 000 votes among sixty or seventy candidates , so that within an hour or an hour and a half after the close of

the poll , the scrutineers maybe able to announce the result ; and it is only possible to achieve this when the task of examining the voting papers is entrusted to men of such ability as the subject of thissketch . This completes the review of onr Brother ' s Masonic career . It is nofc as showy ,

perhaps , as many of those we have already portrayed , but it is an admirable record notwithstanding . We have laid before our readers the portrait of a most able , most industrious , and most respected Craft Mason . We have shown that in the discharge of the many onerous duties he has

undertaken to fulfil his former varied experience in differentoftentimes in difficult—positions gives him an advantage in many respects over others whose opportunities have been fewer and more limited in their range . It is an advantage to the Craft to be able to include among its most

enthusiastic workmen brethren of this class , brethren who have it in their power to supervise the business part of Freemasonry . Sorce among us are capable of throwing light on our mysteries , on our jurisprudence , on the beauty and fitness of our symbolism . Our worthy brother has shown

himself capable of doing his duty m the Lodge , for he is a Past Master of two Lodges ; but tbe grand institutions we have founded and arc now so rapidly extending require the presence in the ranks of Freemasonry of men of great business powers , and these our brother has shown he

possesses to perfection . Moreover , be it said to his credit , that he is a man of great determination , a man who is not lightly turned aside from the path he has chosen ; in evidence of which we may mention that it was once his misfortune to be embarked in

a lawsuit ; but when he found himself thus entangled , he was determined to obtain a decision one way or the other , at no matter what cost of time and

money . For eight years the suit dragged its slow length along , bnt , the perseverance of our brother was rewarded in the end , and victory remained with him . However , law-suits are to he avoided , and if we

Masonic Portraits. (No. 48.)

fudge onr brothers disposition rightly , he would far rather spend a second eight years of his life in avoiding a similar contest than find himself compelled to prosecute it to tho bitter end . Wo now bid him a hearty farewell . He is yet in the very prime of his life , and , as far as man can judge ,

has before him many years of usefulness and prosperity . He is one who may be considered as necessary to our Society . We cannot afford to have all the members of our fraternit y

devoted to the study of mystic lore . We want among us men of business , and in " a great arithmetician " wo have on who is an honour to us and to himself . We repeat to him our heartiest and most fraternal wishes that he and his may long live to enjoy abundantly the fruits of his enterprise and ability .

Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .

THE following is the agenda paper for business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday , 5 th September 1877 . 1 . The minutes of tho Quarterly Communication of the 6 th Juno for confirmation .

2 . Tho M . W . Grand Master will move : — ( 1 ) " That in consideration of the dreadful fire which has occurred at Sfc . John , New Brunswick , and which has devastated

that city , this Grand Lodgo do grant the snm of Two Hundred Guineas to be paid out of the Fund of General Purposes , in aid of tho Fund now in course of formation for the relief of the Inhabitants . "

( 2 ) " Thafc this Grand Lodgo do grant the sum of One Hundred Guineas to bo paid out of the Fund of General Pur . poses , in alleviation of the distress caused by the ' Cataclysm , ' which has recently occurred on the Coast of Peru . " 3 . Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in

which are recommendations for tho following grants , viz .: — A Brother of the Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , Derby £ 50 0 0 A Brother of the Lodgo of Concord , No . 323 , Stockport ... 50 0 0

Tho Widow of a Brother of the Saint . Tames' Lodge , No . 765 , Southwark ... 100 0 0 A Brother of the Duke of Athol Lodgo , No . 210 , Denton ... 7 . "> 0 0

The Daughter of a late Brother of tho Stoneleigh Lodge , No . 725 , Kenilworth 50 0 0 The Widow of a Brother of tho Lodgo of Faith and Unanimity , No . 417 , Dorchester 200 0 0

4 , REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PUP . P 03 ES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board of General Purposes have to report as follows : — 1 . Arising outof the opinions for somo considerable time expressed

in Grand Lodge , and more especially tho recent debates of thafc assembly , tho Board have had nnder their careful and special consideration the constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence , and having referred the question to a Committee of tho whole Board for consideration and report , have received from such Committee the following Report thereon : —

TO THE WORSHIPFUL BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . The Committee of the whole Board , to whom ifc was on the 19 th day of June last referred to consider the advisability of recommencing Grand Lodgo to alter the title and constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence , beg to report unanimously as follows : —Having fully considered tho subject , we are of opinion that it is advisable to recommend Grand Lodge to alter both the title and the constitution of the Lodge of Benevolence in manner hereinafter mentioned .

1 . Tho " Lodge of Benevolence to be in future designated the " Board of Benevolence . " 2 . The Board of Benevolence to consist of tho Grand Master , Pro Grand Master , Depnty Grand Master , the Grand Wardens , a President , and forty-five other members . The President and fifteen of such members to be annually nominated by tho

Grand Master afc the Quarterly Communication in December , and the remaining thirty members to bo elected by Grand Lodge from amongst the actual Masters and Past Masters of Lodges , snch election to be conducted in the same manner as that of the Board of General Purposes , but it should not in our opinion be a regulation that one-third or any other proportion of tho members should retire annnally .

3 . The Board to elect one of its members to be Vice-President . 4 . Five members to form a quorum . All which is submitted to the consideration of the Board . ( Signed ) JOHN B . MONCKTON , Chairman , 3 rd July 1877 .