Lodge Officers, Their Powers And Duties.

communication he may have to make , Avho would uot blush if he failed to offer him a seat and otherwise tender those little . civilities Avhich are to be had at such a moderate price , and yet go so far toAvard taking off the rough edges and

makingsocial intercourse pleasant . Now the lodge room is our Masonic home , aud all who come to visit us are our brethren , bound to us by the mystic tie of ¦ our solemn engagements , having a claim upon us ¦ and our good offices Avhich the profane cannot

equal , and still we alloAV them to come and go without offering them the cheap sacrifice of a Avelcome , or bestirring ourselves to the extent of ascertaining that they are made as comfortable as

our means permit . There is , hoAvever , no good reason Avhy we should not be as polite in the lodge room as in the parlour , nor any Avhy we should leave our civility in the anteroom with our overcoats . On the contrary , we should treat the visiting brother as a welcome guest , make him feel that he is in the house of a brother Avho is

glad to enjoy his company , and so commend ourselves and our lodgo that his visit will be to him a source of pleasant recollection . Several cases have recently come to my knoAvledge where brethren attempting to visit in a neighbouring

State have been left to cool their heels for an homer so , aud then been obliged to leave Avithout being able to obtain a hearing . I do not for a moment suppose that such an occurrence could take place here ; but I mention it to show that there is l'oom

for improvement in the matter of politeness . You Avill scarcely need to be reminded that Avhen a visitor is admitted during labour every brother is not expected to rise from his place to surround and shake hands with the new comer , or to offer

him his seat ; for the confusion thus created would be intolerable ; but you Avill , I think , agree Avith me that the Senior Deacon may and ought to make it a part of his duty to represent the lodge , and in this respect to dispense its hospitalities .

THE STEAVAEBS , OR MASTERS OI ? CEREMONIES . These ofiicers , once charged Avith the most important functions , have UOAV come to be mere aids in the performance ofthe ritual . In the days Avhen refreshment meant to take something , Avhen a

lodge meeting Avas incomplete without a supper and the trimmings , when the moral design of the society Avas made subordinate to the physical contentment of the members , when the best trencherman Avas the man to be looked up to , Avhen skill

in handling the fork and emptying the glass obtained for its possessor a certain reputation : iu those days the SteAvards Avere men of mark , as they are in England to-day ; for the Stewards of the annual feast given by the Grand Lodge in June

pay about seventy-five dollars each for the honour of directing the banquet . In former days the system prevailed here , and either the dry nature of our climate or the tendency of our people to carry everything to extremes gradually converted

Masonry into a vast dining-room , where the table was always spread , and Avhere there Avere no checks to be presented at the bar . The evil grew to such an extent that it Avas found expedient by the Grand Lodge to cut it off as the man did the dog's tail

—right behind the ears ; and since that time the SteAvards , like Shakspeare's hero , find their occupation gone . They are in most lodges replaced by the Masters of Ceremonies . Their duties are accessory to those of the Senior Deacon , and as

they are the first to come officially in contact with aspirants for our mysteries , the remarks offered in speaking of the Deacons may be commended to their appreciation .

THE TYLER , Though last in the list of officers , is far from being the least important . Iu fact , without him the lodge could not proceed to business ; nor Avould it be safe to continue should he , after the

commencement of labour , desert his post . He should be a reliable man , and a man AVIIO would discharge the duties of his position not only with firmness but with courtesy . While he is to exercise the utmost caution that none pass or repass Avithout

the requisite permission , it does not folloAV that he is to regard everyone approaching his station as a Cowan , nor answer a civil question as if he

were afraid his answer might be used against him iu a suit for defamation of character . A friend of mine lately -visited the anteroom of a lodge , and told the Tyler that he Avas a stranger , desirous of visiting and anxious to be examined . The T yler

vouchsafed a nod , but disdained any further action ; after a time the would-be-visitor thought the Tyler appeared to be watching him as if he suspected he Avas about to carry off an old arm-chair iu Avhich he was sitting , Avhile in his OAVU mind the

conviction was gradually forcing itself upon him that he had fallen into the company of a boor , and to avoid the painful necessity of deciding he left the premises . NOAV there is no Avarrant for