Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

BROTHER GREATBATCH AND THE BOYS SCHOOL .

To the Editor of the FBEEMASON ' CHBONICLE . DEAB SIB , —Allow me still to demur to your continued assumption that it is " Staffordshire and the Boys School" in spite of Bro . Greatbatch's disclaimer . I am sorry to have in any way misunderstood his expression of his views . It is much to be regretted that he cannot see his way either to

withdraw or to justify the sweeping statement that under the new management " matters are almost as bad now as ever they were . " Having served five years on the Provisional Committee and the Board of Management this is to me a personal charge . Given in these general terms it is impossible to answer it .

_ I am not concerned to discuss the question of removal , which must be dealt with by the supporters of the Institution rather than by outside criticism .

Yours fraternally , J . BODENHAM . Edgmond , Newport , Salop , 19 th January 1897 .

GOVERNMENT ENQUIRY INTO USURY .

To the Editor of the F BEEMASON ' CHBONICLE . SIB , Will you allow me , at the time of the re-assembling of Parliament , to say that I have good grounds for believing that the Government will appoint , at an early date , a Select Committee to enquire into the present system of Usury in the United Kingdom ? lenders have had

As my various publications on the practice of money something to do with the creation of public feeling on the subject , and as I have pledged myself to present the strongest possible case to any Committee that may be appointed , I shall be glad to hear at once from any of yonr readers who may be willing to give evidence or furnish me with particulars of any cases of illegality or extortion which have come under their notice . Communications will , if desired , be treated as confidential ,

Your obedient servant , THOS . FABBOW . Palace Chambers , Bridge Street , Westminster , 16 th January 1897 . [ We are pleased to hear that the commendable efforts of Mr . Farrow appear likely to produce so satisfactory a result as he mentions above . We wish him every success in the task he has set himself to accomplish . —ED . F . C ]

Auditors And Auditing.

AUDITORS AND AUDITING .

WE are in the heel of the year . The time approaches when accounts must be audited . The duty of auditing , well and faithfully performed , tends to the conservation of the honesty of our stewards as well as the safe guarding of our funds . The honest official , remembering his obligation , welcomes tha most searching investigation of his accounts and demands , as his right , that his books shall be certified correct .

In what spirit should the auditor approach his task ? As one suspicious of wrong ? As a sleuth hound scenting the track of an evil-doer ? Surely , this is not the province of an auditor ?

An auditor , who knows his duty , proceeds in the sprit of the Operative Mason who proves perpendiculars , tries horizontals and squares his work Good work , true work , square work will stand his tests and he can report on it as worthy of inspection .

Auditing does not consist in the mere verification of additions and the checking of postings . It does consist in ascertaining and reporting that all the revenue that should have been has been received and properly accounted for , and that all expenditures were made by authority and properly vouched

The sources of revenue of a Masonic body are dues of members , arrears of dues of those restored to good Masonio standing , fees for initiation and membership , or membership only , fees for life membership , interest on investments and occasionally bequests .

The minute book should form an essential feature of every audit . It corresponds to the day book of commercial transactions . In it are recorded the amount of dues paid in at each meeting of the body . The record of restorations to good Masonic standing must appear upon the minutes , as a

vote of the Chapter is necessary to restore . The fees paid for initiation , membership , life membership and the interest on investments must appear in the receipts for the evening , as well as upon the cash-book of the Secretary .

The minute book should show and must show the deaths , resignations and suspensions , and all these facts are essential to a thorough audit . In addition to the minute book , the annual returns to the Grand Body and

the list of members should be within easy reach and inspection . The report of the last audit , which , in all well-regulated bodies , is transcribed in full upon the minute book , will often furnish valuable aid to the conscientious auditor .

Auditors And Auditing.

In any audit it is essential to know what was the amount of dues outstanding at the last report . This fact should , of course , appear upon the Secretary ' s books . Its verification is in the last report of the auditors . It is essential to know what is the proper charge against the members for dues for the current year . The returns to the Grand Body show the

total membership . This can be verified by the Secretary s list . He shows so many life members and his ledger shows so many paying members . Their sum should agree with the returns . This membership , less the deaths , resignations and suspensions for the current year , is chargeable with dues at

the rate fixed by the Bye-Laws . Those initiated during the year are chargeable with varying amounts according to the date of initiation . Only by an inspection of the minute-book can the auditors verify and determine if the arrears of those restored to good Masonio standing have been duly entered among the cash receipts . So also with life membership fees .

To check off and verify the postings to the credit of the individual members , though a tedious and troublesome operation , is absolutely essential to every thorough audit . All cash balances should be verified and actual examination and count

of all securities and other evidences of indebtedness should confirm the records . Given a conscientious and able Secretary , a competent Treasurer and honest Trustees , an audit conducted on the above lines would show that every dollar due the body had been received and properly credited .

In conjunction with the minute book the expenditures are readily ascertainable , as all payments should be by orders duly authorised , signed by the presiding officer and countersigned by the Secretary , whose vouchers would show the receipt of the money by the parties in whose favour the orders were drawn .

All funds belonging to a body should be deposited to the credit of that body in some accredited fiduciary institution . Merged accounts should , under no circumstances , be tolerated . — " Keystone . "

The twelfth annual Masonic Ball of the Mount-Edgcumbe Lodge , No . 1446 , will be held in the Grand Hall , Hotel Cecil , Strand , on Friday , 19 th February next , on which occasion the whole of the elegantly decorated rooms , including the Victoria Hall , Masonic Temple , and others , will be thrown open .

Wellington ' s Light Cavalry Band has been engaged ; dancing will commence at nine o ' clock , and carriages may be ordered for 4 a . m . Tickets , including light refreshments and supper , 10 s 6 d each , may be obtained of the Ball Secretary , Bro . T . Tofts , 214 Barry Road , East Dulwich , S . E .

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