Privileged Communications.

PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS .

T ? EW who have not had an actual experience can J- form any idea of the amount of work which devolves upon the Secretary or Worshipful Master of

a Lodge , outside of what we may term their public performances . An ordinary member of the Craft is accustomed to take his place at the regular meetings

of his Lodge , and witness , from the time of opening until the Tyler gives the concluding toast at the supper or banquet , a succession of events following one another with clock-like regularity , and all apparently

running their own natural course , without let or hindrance . But is it reasonable to suppose all this happens without previous arrangement ? or that the business of a meeting can be carried through

without skilful guidance and manipulation somewhere ? Previous attention is essential , and the more successful the meeting , and the more regular the

proceedings , the greater the credit clue to those to whom is due its preparation . In many cases we need not go further than the Secretary of a Lodge to disp . nvfiv who has had thfi avranefflmfrnt nf affairsn . nrl in ¦ ¦¦ ——»

, — — — - —•—~ o —— » - »» .., ' " " ^ that Officer is due , more often than otherwise , the success or failure of an assembly . This is giving the Secretary credit for a great deal , but as our readers are aware , we entertain the feeling that a

good Secretary is an all-important factor in a Lodge , and we do not think that too much credit can be accorded the Brother who faithfully discharges the work attached to the appointment . We do not mean that the Secretary performs the lion ' s share of the

actual Masonic work of a particular meeting , but he has so much to prepare , that on him , to a marked extent , depends the result of a gathering . If everything is properly arranged beforehand , success is

more than half assured ; but if , on the other side , all , or a part of the work , has been left to chance , then it is we feel the want of a guiding hand , and learn to

appreciate the work of those whose forethought ensures comfort and success . In this respect the Secretary of a Lodge doubtless receives considerable

assistance from the Worshipful Master , but as the one ; is often a sort of permanent official , while the Masteronly holds the office for a single year , the work can

hardly be said to equally divide itself , the one ! knowing everything associated with his office , the ! other being removable , as soon as he begins to get ! used to the duties of his appointment . Buti

it is not only in arranging for the regular meetings of ; a Lodge that the Secretary is called upon to show his ability . There are many other matters which really

depend on him , and on his capacity immediately to decide on a course of action . Not the least important in this respect is the correspondence addressed to his Lodge . He must be able to form an oninion as to

which are privileged communications , and which of a ; general character ; which he shall announce in Lodge , and which he shall pass over without comment . !

Privileged Communications.

In this respect we cannot help the feeling that most Lodge Secretaries are very loth to consider a communication so far " privileged " as to deserve notice in open Lodge . The majority—a very large majorityof communications received are dismissed without public comment , or without being officially brought

under the notice of the Lodge members , and , as a consequence , it has now become very difficult to address the members of the Craft , as a body , except through

the columns of the public press . We do not wish that every circular or every letter sent out broadcast should be read in open Lodge , but , as we have said , we think that Lodge Secretaries have too much power in

then * hands when the question of communications addressed to their Lodges is considered , and one of the results of such a system is , that mistaken ideas arise as to what is goin g on

throughout the Order . As an example of what we mean , we may refer to the work of canvassing for the Masonic Charitable Institutions , and concerning which so much has been said and written during

the last few years . We were recently present at a meeting when conversation turned on this topic , when one brother , well known in Craft , Arch and Mark Masonry , gave his experience . He said he had

been a member of one of the best London Lodges for upwards of fifteen . years , during which time he had regularly attended , but during the whole of that period neither one of the Charity Secretaries had ever sent a circular or a letter to the Lodge . We

tried to convince him of his error , but he was not to be convinced , as he felt sure every communication sent to the Lodge was regularly announced to the members . It is auite useless to armie against such

ideas as these ; unless we had heard them ourselves we should never have believed it possible any one could entertain them , but that we have stated is actually what occurred , and of course the

only explanation of such a statement is to imagine the Lodge Secretary never looked upon Charity appeals and circulars as " privileged" communications . The question is , —what other letters and

other matters were treated in the same manner ? while it behoves us to ask , —how far does such a system extend ? We were aware that many communications which

we should regard as essentially of a public . character never went beyond the Secretary's table , but we were certainly taken aback at hearing what we have just v £ >/> min +. £ u-l ar \ f \ wo ¦ Orinlr thfi anbiAftt . ' ia wnr +. hv nf

something more than passing notice at the hands of the Craft . It is not for us to dictate what shall be done , but it seems to us that some alteration is

desirable , or it will soon be quite impossible to communicate with the individual members of the Order in anything like an official manner , for if the appeals of the Masonic Institutions are not to be considered tfs privileged , what communications are to become entitled to that distinction ?