Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Secretary's Minutes.
true , and for the best interests of Freemasonry . A Secretary is more than the mere scribe of the Lodge—he prepares much , if not all , of the business for its action . All communications to the body pass through his hands ,
and are presented by him . Many motions are mado by him , and some are adopted by the force of his single vote . He determines the direction given to much of the charity . He observes , or neglects to observe , the regulations of
Grand Lodge bearing upon Lodge action . Now , what guide has he , over and above his own experience ? In the jurisdistion of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and we opine in most Masonic jurisdictions , there is a model form
of Minutes furnished him . This is so fall , so exact , so minute in all of its details , and so specific in all of its directions , that if a Secretary will always have it before him in writing out the Minutes , he cannot err . For almost
every possible proceeding in a Lodge there is a p lainly prescribed form . And this form is not an empty form , since it comprehends matter of substance , of the hig hest importance . For example , take the following : — "A
communication was received from the Grand Secretary , stating there was nothing on the records against John Jones . " Suppose a Secretary omits to insert this in the Minntes , in the case of a petition for initiation and membership , or for
membershi p only ? The probabilities are that he has failed to make the necessary inquiry of the Grand Secretary , and having so failed , and the Lodge having initiated a candidate without it , it becomes the imperative duty of the
Grand Master to issue an edict , striking the name of the initiate from the roll of the Lodge ; and as a result the Lodge is obliged to commence de novo , and do its work over again , after having made the necessary inquiry of the
Grand Secretary , and learned that the applicant's record is clear . Take another example : —A member writes to a Secretary , simply asking for what is often termed a Dimit , although we , in Pennsylvania , st y le it simply a Certificate ;
and the Secretary moves ( in error ) that it be granted , and , thereupon , the Brother is erroneously considered to be no longer a member of the Lodge . But the " Form of
Minutes , " if it had been consulted , would have instructed the Secretary that a member must ¦ present a resignation of membershi p in % vriting ) which must be accepted , before any such Brother can be entitled to receive a Certificate to
enable him to apply to another Lodge for membership , which Certificate he is entitled to as a matter of course alter the Lodge has , by vote , accepted his resignation—the
Secretary giving it to him on his request , without any motion for it in open Lodge . The repeated neglect by Secretaries to observe this form of Minute is another
fruitful source of edicts from the Grand Master . Now , no Grand Master is fond of issuing edicts of this characterindeed , we have known a Grand Master to feel that he was soiling his bands by the use of the edictorial pen , and to
wash his haods after tbe unpleasant duty was performed . It is always more agreeable to praise than to blame , and if Secretaries of Lodges would only perform their simple duty , would only follow the printed precedents plainly set before
them in the "Form of Minntes , " they would not only have their Minutes in proper form , but they also would have , what is far more important , the substance of them correct , and the action of the Lodge regular , unnecessary to be set aside by an edict from the Grand Master .
The examples we have given above are only two out of many which we mig ht cite . It is not too much to say that almost all of the errors into which Lodges usually fall ,
might be prevented by the Secretary being guided by the information specifically conveyed in the regulation " Form of Minutes . "
In this connection we may advert to three related matters . The Secretary should leave a line blank between the individual minutes . This renders a reference to the
Minutes easy , when it is desired to discover the action of the Lodge in any particular . This end is further attained by abbreviated memoranda , in red ink , in a blank about two inches in width reserved at the left hand side of the
Minute Book , from top to bottom . Add to this the indexing of the more important actions in a general index of the volume , and the engrossing of the Minutes in a clear , legible hand , and the Secretary ' s work is performed
precisely as in every case it should be . All of these suggestions are not difficult of observance , their performance by the Secretary is his simple duty , and every W . M .
of a Lodge owes it to his Lodge , as well as to himsolf to see lhat they are diligently and faithfully followed . —Key stone .
Third "Ammoniaphone" Concert.
THIRD "AMMONIAPHONE" CONCERT .
THAT Dr . Carter Moffat ' s Ammoniaphone rank * high in public favour was evidenced by the presence of a di > tingnished Company at Holloway Hall , London , on Friday , tho 19 sh inst ., in response to in » itatioua issu-d by Mr . C . B . Harness , Managing Director of the Medical Battery Company , Limited , of 52 Oxford Street , London , W ., the proprietors of Dr . Carter Moffatt ' a invention . Not the least
interesting feature of Friday 8 concert was the fait that all the artistes were Ammoninphonical votaries , whott > stilvd their appreciationof the benefits they have derived from Dr . Carter Moffat's reroarknbl * invention by volunteering their services . The Programme consisted of a Part Song , " Awake , iEolian Lyre , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ;
New Song , " Old Soldier * , " Mr . Dudley Towers ; Song , " O ' er the Meadow * , " Miss Alice Crang ; Duet , " The Burial at Sei , " M'S-ir * . Roy St . C'aire and Dudley Towers ; Part Song , " Hail to the Chief , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ; Piano Solo , "The Wanderer , " Mr . Alfred Allen ; Song , " Masks and Faces , " Miss Paula Costello ;
Patriotic Song ( new ) , " London , " Mr . Roy St . CIar « ( accompanied by th * composer ) ; Part Song , " Hush thee , my B ; iby , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ; Song , " The Lost Voice , " Mr . Roy St . Claire ; Part Song , " 0 who will o ' er the Downs so free , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ; Song , "The Gauntlet , " Mr . Dudley Towers ; Piano Solo , ( a )
"A da beist blurae , " ( b ) "Invitation to the i \ finu « t , " Mr . Alfred Allen ; Song , " Absent , yet Present , " Miss Paula Costello ; Sonsr , " The Lost Chord , " Mr . Roy St . Claire ; Song , " Good Byo , " Mis * Alice Crang ; Humorous Quartette , " Prophundo Basso , " Misses Costello , Ridgway , Messrs . St . Claire and Towers . God Save the
Queen . Mr . Alfred Allen accompanied on a special Concert Grand Pianoforte by Messrs . John Brinsmead and Sons . Between the parts of the Concert , Dr . Carter Moffat briefly explained the extraordinary properties of the Ammoniaphone for increasing and enriching the Vocal Tone , and for the trt atment of Asthma , Bronchitis , aud
pulmonary affections by inhalation . After the Concert Mr . C . B . Harness entertained the artistes , and a distinguished party of literary musical , and scientific celebrities at snpper in the Ammoniaphone Saloon of the Medical Battery Company , Limited , 52 Oxfi rd Street , VV ., while the band rendered a choice selection of solo and concerted pieces .
Ar00702
£ 20 . — TOBACCONISTS COMKKNCTSG . —An illustrated guide ( 110 pages ) , How to Open Respectably from £ 20 to £ 2000 . " 3 Stamps . H . MYKBS & Co ., Cigar and Tobacco Merchants , 109 Euston Road , London . Wholesale only . Telephone No . ; 7541 .
Ad00703
STANMOREHILL,MIDDLESEX. THEASEE€Om»H0TM, 10 miles from Marble Arch , by road . 2 mile * from Edgware Station , G . N . H 3 J miles from the Harrow Station , X . & N . TF . E . 3 % miles from Mill Sill Station , Midland Railway . rpHIS old established Hotel is very retired , healthy , nnd charm-1 ingly situated , it offers great inducements to private families , and a large Assembly Room ha 3 lately been added for Meetings , Balls , Wedding Breakfasts , Dinners , Masonic Lodges , Banquets , & c . Arrangements can be made for conveyances . CHARLES VEAL , Proprietor . The Abercorn Lodge , 1549 ; Sub-Urban Lodge , 1702 : and the Stanmore Chapter , are held here .
Ad00704
THEFREEMASON'SCHRONICLE, A Weekly Record of Masonic Intelligence . Reports of United Grand Lodge are published with the Special Sanction of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales the M . W . the Grand Master of England . 11 HE FREEMASON'S CHRONICLE will be forwarded direct from the Office , BelvitJere Works , Hermes Hill , Pontonville , N ., on receipt of Post Office Order for the amount . Intending Subgcribers should forward their full Addresses to prevent mistakes . Post Office Orders to be made payable to W . W . MORGAN , at Penton-street Office . Cheques crossed " London and County . " The Terms of Subscription ( payable in advance ) to THB FRKBMASON ' S CHKONICLE are—Twelve Months , post free •. £ 0 13 6 Six Months , ditto - 0 7 0 Three Months ditto . 0 3 6 SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ( ADVERTISEMENTS . Per Page ... ,.. ... ... £ 8 0 0 Back Page ... £ 10 0 0 Births , Marriages and Deaths , Is per line . General Advertisements , Trade Announcements , & o . single column , 5 s per inch . Double Column Advertisements 1 B per line . Special Terms for a Series of Insertions on application . Advertisers will find The FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE an exceptionally « ood medium for Advertisements of every class . Agents , from whom copies can always be had : — Messrs . CURTICE and Co ., 12 Catherine-street , Strand . Messrs . KENT and Co ., Paternoster-row , E . C . Mr . RITCHIE , 6 Red Lion Court , E . C . Messrs . SIMPSON BROS ., Shoe Lane . Mr . H . SIMPSON , 7 Red Lion Court , E . C . Messrs . S MITH and SONS , 183 Strand . Messrs . SPENCER and Co ., 23 A Great Queen-street , W . C . Messrs . S TEEL and JONES , 4 Spring Gardens , Charing Cross Mr . G . V ICKERS , Angel Court , Strand . Mr . H . VICKERS , 317 Strand .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Secretary's Minutes.
true , and for the best interests of Freemasonry . A Secretary is more than the mere scribe of the Lodge—he prepares much , if not all , of the business for its action . All communications to the body pass through his hands ,
and are presented by him . Many motions are mado by him , and some are adopted by the force of his single vote . He determines the direction given to much of the charity . He observes , or neglects to observe , the regulations of
Grand Lodge bearing upon Lodge action . Now , what guide has he , over and above his own experience ? In the jurisdistion of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , and we opine in most Masonic jurisdictions , there is a model form
of Minutes furnished him . This is so fall , so exact , so minute in all of its details , and so specific in all of its directions , that if a Secretary will always have it before him in writing out the Minutes , he cannot err . For almost
every possible proceeding in a Lodge there is a p lainly prescribed form . And this form is not an empty form , since it comprehends matter of substance , of the hig hest importance . For example , take the following : — "A
communication was received from the Grand Secretary , stating there was nothing on the records against John Jones . " Suppose a Secretary omits to insert this in the Minntes , in the case of a petition for initiation and membership , or for
membershi p only ? The probabilities are that he has failed to make the necessary inquiry of the Grand Secretary , and having so failed , and the Lodge having initiated a candidate without it , it becomes the imperative duty of the
Grand Master to issue an edict , striking the name of the initiate from the roll of the Lodge ; and as a result the Lodge is obliged to commence de novo , and do its work over again , after having made the necessary inquiry of the
Grand Secretary , and learned that the applicant's record is clear . Take another example : —A member writes to a Secretary , simply asking for what is often termed a Dimit , although we , in Pennsylvania , st y le it simply a Certificate ;
and the Secretary moves ( in error ) that it be granted , and , thereupon , the Brother is erroneously considered to be no longer a member of the Lodge . But the " Form of
Minutes , " if it had been consulted , would have instructed the Secretary that a member must ¦ present a resignation of membershi p in % vriting ) which must be accepted , before any such Brother can be entitled to receive a Certificate to
enable him to apply to another Lodge for membership , which Certificate he is entitled to as a matter of course alter the Lodge has , by vote , accepted his resignation—the
Secretary giving it to him on his request , without any motion for it in open Lodge . The repeated neglect by Secretaries to observe this form of Minute is another
fruitful source of edicts from the Grand Master . Now , no Grand Master is fond of issuing edicts of this characterindeed , we have known a Grand Master to feel that he was soiling his bands by the use of the edictorial pen , and to
wash his haods after tbe unpleasant duty was performed . It is always more agreeable to praise than to blame , and if Secretaries of Lodges would only perform their simple duty , would only follow the printed precedents plainly set before
them in the "Form of Minntes , " they would not only have their Minutes in proper form , but they also would have , what is far more important , the substance of them correct , and the action of the Lodge regular , unnecessary to be set aside by an edict from the Grand Master .
The examples we have given above are only two out of many which we mig ht cite . It is not too much to say that almost all of the errors into which Lodges usually fall ,
might be prevented by the Secretary being guided by the information specifically conveyed in the regulation " Form of Minutes . "
In this connection we may advert to three related matters . The Secretary should leave a line blank between the individual minutes . This renders a reference to the
Minutes easy , when it is desired to discover the action of the Lodge in any particular . This end is further attained by abbreviated memoranda , in red ink , in a blank about two inches in width reserved at the left hand side of the
Minute Book , from top to bottom . Add to this the indexing of the more important actions in a general index of the volume , and the engrossing of the Minutes in a clear , legible hand , and the Secretary ' s work is performed
precisely as in every case it should be . All of these suggestions are not difficult of observance , their performance by the Secretary is his simple duty , and every W . M .
of a Lodge owes it to his Lodge , as well as to himsolf to see lhat they are diligently and faithfully followed . —Key stone .
Third "Ammoniaphone" Concert.
THIRD "AMMONIAPHONE" CONCERT .
THAT Dr . Carter Moffat ' s Ammoniaphone rank * high in public favour was evidenced by the presence of a di > tingnished Company at Holloway Hall , London , on Friday , tho 19 sh inst ., in response to in » itatioua issu-d by Mr . C . B . Harness , Managing Director of the Medical Battery Company , Limited , of 52 Oxford Street , London , W ., the proprietors of Dr . Carter Moffatt ' a invention . Not the least
interesting feature of Friday 8 concert was the fait that all the artistes were Ammoninphonical votaries , whott > stilvd their appreciationof the benefits they have derived from Dr . Carter Moffat's reroarknbl * invention by volunteering their services . The Programme consisted of a Part Song , " Awake , iEolian Lyre , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ;
New Song , " Old Soldier * , " Mr . Dudley Towers ; Song , " O ' er the Meadow * , " Miss Alice Crang ; Duet , " The Burial at Sei , " M'S-ir * . Roy St . C'aire and Dudley Towers ; Part Song , " Hail to the Chief , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ; Piano Solo , "The Wanderer , " Mr . Alfred Allen ; Song , " Masks and Faces , " Miss Paula Costello ;
Patriotic Song ( new ) , " London , " Mr . Roy St . CIar « ( accompanied by th * composer ) ; Part Song , " Hush thee , my B ; iby , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ; Song , " The Lost Voice , " Mr . Roy St . Claire ; Part Song , " 0 who will o ' er the Downs so free , " Ammoniaphone Concert Party ; Song , "The Gauntlet , " Mr . Dudley Towers ; Piano Solo , ( a )
"A da beist blurae , " ( b ) "Invitation to the i \ finu « t , " Mr . Alfred Allen ; Song , " Absent , yet Present , " Miss Paula Costello ; Sonsr , " The Lost Chord , " Mr . Roy St . Claire ; Song , " Good Byo , " Mis * Alice Crang ; Humorous Quartette , " Prophundo Basso , " Misses Costello , Ridgway , Messrs . St . Claire and Towers . God Save the
Queen . Mr . Alfred Allen accompanied on a special Concert Grand Pianoforte by Messrs . John Brinsmead and Sons . Between the parts of the Concert , Dr . Carter Moffat briefly explained the extraordinary properties of the Ammoniaphone for increasing and enriching the Vocal Tone , and for the trt atment of Asthma , Bronchitis , aud
pulmonary affections by inhalation . After the Concert Mr . C . B . Harness entertained the artistes , and a distinguished party of literary musical , and scientific celebrities at snpper in the Ammoniaphone Saloon of the Medical Battery Company , Limited , 52 Oxfi rd Street , VV ., while the band rendered a choice selection of solo and concerted pieces .
Ar00702
£ 20 . — TOBACCONISTS COMKKNCTSG . —An illustrated guide ( 110 pages ) , How to Open Respectably from £ 20 to £ 2000 . " 3 Stamps . H . MYKBS & Co ., Cigar and Tobacco Merchants , 109 Euston Road , London . Wholesale only . Telephone No . ; 7541 .
Ad00703
STANMOREHILL,MIDDLESEX. THEASEE€Om»H0TM, 10 miles from Marble Arch , by road . 2 mile * from Edgware Station , G . N . H 3 J miles from the Harrow Station , X . & N . TF . E . 3 % miles from Mill Sill Station , Midland Railway . rpHIS old established Hotel is very retired , healthy , nnd charm-1 ingly situated , it offers great inducements to private families , and a large Assembly Room ha 3 lately been added for Meetings , Balls , Wedding Breakfasts , Dinners , Masonic Lodges , Banquets , & c . Arrangements can be made for conveyances . CHARLES VEAL , Proprietor . The Abercorn Lodge , 1549 ; Sub-Urban Lodge , 1702 : and the Stanmore Chapter , are held here .
Ad00704
THEFREEMASON'SCHRONICLE, A Weekly Record of Masonic Intelligence . Reports of United Grand Lodge are published with the Special Sanction of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales the M . W . the Grand Master of England . 11 HE FREEMASON'S CHRONICLE will be forwarded direct from the Office , BelvitJere Works , Hermes Hill , Pontonville , N ., on receipt of Post Office Order for the amount . Intending Subgcribers should forward their full Addresses to prevent mistakes . Post Office Orders to be made payable to W . W . MORGAN , at Penton-street Office . Cheques crossed " London and County . " The Terms of Subscription ( payable in advance ) to THB FRKBMASON ' S CHKONICLE are—Twelve Months , post free •. £ 0 13 6 Six Months , ditto - 0 7 0 Three Months ditto . 0 3 6 SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ( ADVERTISEMENTS . Per Page ... ,.. ... ... £ 8 0 0 Back Page ... £ 10 0 0 Births , Marriages and Deaths , Is per line . General Advertisements , Trade Announcements , & o . single column , 5 s per inch . Double Column Advertisements 1 B per line . Special Terms for a Series of Insertions on application . Advertisers will find The FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE an exceptionally « ood medium for Advertisements of every class . Agents , from whom copies can always be had : — Messrs . CURTICE and Co ., 12 Catherine-street , Strand . Messrs . KENT and Co ., Paternoster-row , E . C . Mr . RITCHIE , 6 Red Lion Court , E . C . Messrs . SIMPSON BROS ., Shoe Lane . Mr . H . SIMPSON , 7 Red Lion Court , E . C . Messrs . S MITH and SONS , 183 Strand . Messrs . SPENCER and Co ., 23 A Great Queen-street , W . C . Messrs . S TEEL and JONES , 4 Spring Gardens , Charing Cross Mr . G . V ICKERS , Angel Court , Strand . Mr . H . VICKERS , 317 Strand .