Lodge Officers, Their Powers And Duties.

LODGE OFFICERS , THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAT 5 , 1886 .

From a Lecture delivered before Stella Lodge ( No . 458 , NT ., U . SJ . ( Continued from page 328 . ) Says Preston : " Were the brethren who preside at our meetings to be properly instructed

previous to their appointment , and duly apprised of the offices they are chosen to support , a general reformation would speedily take place . This conduct would establish the propriety of our government , and lead men to acknowledge that our

honours were not undeservedly conferred ; the ancient ' consequence of the Order would be restored , and the reputation of the society preserved . Till genuine merit shall distinguish our claim to the

honours of Masonry , and regularity of deportment display the influence and utility of our rules , the world in general will not be led to reconcile our proceedings with our professions . " Commenting on which Dr . Oliver remarks :

"In coincidence with these sentiments , I am decidedly of opinion that much general knowledge is necessary to expand the mind and familiarise it with Masonic discussions and illustrations before a brother can be pronounced competent to

undertake the arduous duty of governing a lodge . A Master of the work ought to have nothing to learn . He should be fully qualified not only to instruct the younger brethren , but to resolve the doubts of those who are more advanced in Masonic

knowledge ; to reconcile apparent contradictions ; to settle chronologies , and elucidate obscure facts or mystic legends , as well as to answer the objections and render pointless the ridicule of our uninitiated adversaries . "

Dr . Mackey says : "In the Avhole series of offices recognised by the Masonic Institution there is not one more important than that of the Master of a lodge . Upon the skill , integrity , and prudence , of the presiding officer depend the

usefulness and welfare of the lodge ; and as lodges are the primary assemblages of the Craft , and by representation constitute the supreme tribunal or Grand Lodge , it is evident that the errors of government in the primary bodies must ,

if not duly corrected , be productive of evil to the whole fraternity . Hence in the ceremony of installation it was required as a necessary

qualification of him who was proposed to the Grand Master as the Master of a lodge that he should be of good morals , of great skill , true and trusty , and a lover of the whole fraternity wheresoever dispersed over the face of the earth . And it was

on such a recommendation that it ivas to be presumed that he would discharge the duties of his office with fidelity . " Bro . Townsend , in a lecture AA'hich ought to he in the hands of every Master bf a lodge , and also in those of every brother who looks forward to the attainment of that honourable position ,

says : — "To become Master of a lodge is the legitimate object of every young brother who takes any interest in our society . NOAV my young brethren may rest assured that although we may place a careless or ignorant Mason in the chair , invest

him with the badge of authority , and address him with the external forms of respect , we cannot command for him the deference and consideration

which will be sure to follow the enlightened expert . In small things , as in great things , knowledge is power , intellectual superiority is real pre-eminence . " " Some inexperienced brethren may think that

that no difficulty can ever arise in the decision of Masonic questions , because they have never seen any such difficulty in our society . But I can assure them that , in a well-regulated lodge , there is a very ample scope for the exercise of intellect ;

and that the Master will soon find that he requires even more than a knowledge of Masonic law and usages to acquit himself creditably of his

responsibility . He should knoAv his own limits , so as not to encroach on the rights of the brethren , of ivhich , I candidly warn every young Master , he will find us not a little jealous . If he falls short of his own bounds , or oversteps them , he will find clear heads

and keen tongues to remind him—respectfully but unmistakably—of the fact . The lodge will soon feel what sort of a hand holds the helm ; and as they are bound to acquiesce in his opinion as their Master , he must show equal deference to theirs . "

" We may teach him our forms , explain to him their meaning , stimulate his ambition to discharge his duties creditably ; but , after all , ive must leave him to look within his own heart for

instruction , and to be guided by his own good sense and good feeling in his general conduct . " I am willing to admit that the standard set up by the distinguished brethren whose sentiments I