Directors Of Ceremonies.

the preparation room and ante-rooms ; but ivhcn once work has begun he cannot leave tho Lodge . He must arrange with the Master and Secretary , before work is begun , the mode in ivhich the business is to be conducted , and will receive instructions thereon from the Master . His jewel is the cross rods or wandsancl lie bears a wand . In some of the old Lodgesa very

, , handsome wand is provided . The wand should be different from Deacons' or Stewards' wands , ancl may be of a much more ornamental character . Where there are Stewards in a Lodge , they are under his direction ; and in case , of regalia or tools being wanted , they should be fetched by a Steward or other Brother , as the Master of the Ceremonies should be on the spot . His station ison ordinary occasionsnear

, , the Master , on tho left hand ; but he moves about as there may be occasion , ancl on a report proceeds to the I . G . It is his duty to attend upon visitors , to assign seats to ordinary visitors , and , where thoy are of eminence , to present them to the Master . He sees that each visitor and incomer salutes the Master .

All ceremonies he superintends , that they may be properly provided and performed , but he has no claim to interfere , unless to set matters right , as he is not an officiator . He may , however , prompt the Deacons , ivhen attending and assisting them . AAHien the Master is officiating he attends upon him to see that he is properly vided , and to assist him . This is left too commonly to the immediate

P . M . whereby the solemnity of his duties is interfered with . As a matter of course , in all processions he makes the arrangements , ancl so at installations . At banquets , assisted by the Steward or Stewards , he sees to the placing of the members ancl guests , under the direction of the Master . Whenever any considerable ceremony is at handas an installationor there is a large number of guestsit

, , , is his duty to sketch out ancl arrange with the Blaster , a programme beforehand , so that all may work well , ancl the character of the Lodge be upheld in the eyes of visitors ancl new members . It will be seen from the aboi'e , how well calculated a member of two months' standing is for such an office , which requires knowledge and experience . Prom this cause has arisen the evilthat in small

, Lodges ancl decayed Loclges , iu the attempt to fill up an accustomed office , this falls to a junior ; whereas it is much better that no such officer should be appointed , than that he should be inefficient , and the Master ; or Past Master can A'ery Avell manage by himself . However , when the number of members and work is considerable , a Director of Ceremonies should be appointed , ancl appointed , as the Treasurer

and Secretary most commonly are , from amongst the Past Masters . There would thus be the advantage of having an officer ivho has the requisite knowledge and experience , aud AVIIO , from his standing , has authority to enforce his precepts on the younger members , whether for silence , or in preventing irregularity and confusion . As the office is , -when properly performed , an active an important one , it is a further means of reivarding a Past Master , and of securing the