India.

740 , or to show cause personally , at the next Quarterly Communication , why I should not be expelled . Before the next meeting took place , I recovered SO Rupees , and paid the amount to the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . Clark , informing him at the same time that I was endeavouring to recover a further sum . Thus I showed no contumacy , but , on the contrary , a desire to meet the demands of Masonic authority . As regards a neglect of duty , I would ask every Brother who has governed a Lodge , whether he has ever

made it a practice to keep in his own immediate custody the money due to the District Grand Lodge . If this is to be a iiart ot a Master ' s duty , where is the use of a Treasurer ? Bro . Roberts , however , has asked , 'If Bro . Douglas admits that a certain amount is due , why has lie not paid it ? To this I make a simple answer I paid the am-ears of dues for the time that I was Master , and I had some more mone } - by me . But before surrendering the Warrant of my Lodge , I called upon Bro . Clark , and inquired

whether there was anything due . He referred to a Baboo , and then informed me that there ivas nothing due . The impression at that time left on my mind was confirmed by a letter written by Bro . Clark to Bro . dinger , the Secretary of my Lodge , in which it was observed that there were two classes of bad paymasters , namely , those who were too slow , and those who were too quick , in paying ; and that Bro . dinger belonged to the latter class . This is the plain statement I have to make ; and now I trust that the District

Grand Lodge will not consider me to have acted contumaciously . Before the last Quarterly Communication , I asked Bros . Manly and Brown , whether , since I had paid whatever I had found it possible to reealise , they considered it necessary that I should nevertheless attend the meeting . They answered— ' No ; since you have paid , it is not necessary that you should attend . ' As to quibbling , I may state that if I were disposed to quibble . I would

have taken advantage of an error in the letter written by the Pro-Tincial Grand Secretary in August , summoning me to be present in the District Grand Lodge on the 2 ond ] September . ' If I had allowed myself to be guided strictly by that intimation , I might have come here yesterday ( Sunday ) , and refused to attend to-day . I have one word more to say . Some offence , I believe has been taken , becausein my letter to the Provincial Grand Secretary of

, 24 th December , I proposed that the District Grand Lodge should collect the outstandings of my late Lodge . Now it never was my intention to ask the District Grand Lodge to be my collecting sircars . I only meant that it should be understood that it was out of my power to collect the money , and that therefore the District Grand Lodge , who could enforce payment , should call upon the defaulters , and exercise its authority asaiust them . "

The OFFG-. PEOV . G . M . — ' I am not aware that any offence was taken at the offer made by Bro . Douglas to make over his list of outstandings to the District Grand Lodge for realization , although the course proposed by him was irregular ; nor have 1 ever heard that Bro . Douglas has been accused of embezzlement . " Bro . ROBEKTS , Offg ' . D . Prov . G . M . — " AVe have just heard Bro . Douglas state that , during a career of twenty years , he has never

been charged with any serious fault—whether it is twenty months since he became a Master appears to me very doubtful , if I am to judge from the speech with which he has favoured us , for he has furnished us in it with evidence that he does not know some of the plainest duties of a alaster . He ought to know that , whether a Master does , or does not , recover the money due by the members of his lodgehe is bound to see that the District Grand Lod

, ge gets its dues , because it is quite within his power to act up to his responsibility . He may , out of an amiable weakness of disposition , permit those over whom he rules , to establish a system of non-payment highly satisfactory to themselves ; but he ' must indulge in such amiable feelings at his own risk , not at the expense of the District Grand Lodge , unless the latter is a consenting party to the arrangement . Bro . Douglas denies that he has been

guilty of any contumacy or neglect of duty . No doubt his speech has beeu well conned over , and his arguments have been specially set forth . But after having discussed the subject at every meeting for the last year and a half , the District Grand Lodge is quite able to judge whether he has acted in the way which a ~ ser . se of duty ought to have dictated to him . I say that he has not so acted ' ; that the conduct which lie has displayed has been a deliberately lanned

p , well studied contumacious conduct . If he had frankly and dutifully come forward , at the beginning with an explanation of his difficulties , his case would have worn a different aspect ; but his non-appearance from time to time " Bro . DOUGLAS . — " I beg to correct Bro . Roberts . I have been asked only twice to appear in the District Grand Lodge , and this is the second time . " Bro . ROBEF . TS . — " Bro . Douglas has told us that he is not given to quibbling ; and I am glad to find that he did not take advantage of the error b y ivhich lie was required to be present here on a Sunday . Now what I charge Bro . Douglas with is , that he has

shown contumacy and a want of respect to this District Grand Lodge , and I find that there is no need of bringing forward proofs from past correspondence . For let it be observed , that Bro Douglas has come here flaunting before us the glaring fancy colours of a Scotch Lodge—a costume which might have been imposing and appropriate if he had been a guest invited to represent the Scotch Lodge to which he belongs , but which is wholly mat-apropos on an occasion like this , when he has been summoned to appear here as an English Mason , for the special purpose of acknowledging the jurisdiction of an English Masonic authority , and of explaining why money due by an English Lodge has not been paid . "

Bro . DOUGLAS here took off his Masonic clothing ; but thought he was entitled to something better than a Master Mason's apron , which was offered to him . The grounds of his objection were not clearly understood . Bro . W . CLAEK , P . Prov . S . G . AV . — " R . AA . Sir , Bro . Douglas apparently forgets that he can wear nothing more honourable than the apron of a Master Mason . In regard to the information which

Bro . Douglas states he obtained from me on inquiring whether he had anything more to pay , I beg to state that I never ; know what is due by the lodges until they have furnished returns to the Provincial Grand Secretary . If , therefore , Bro . Douglas knew that his returns were in arrears , he must also have known , when he came to me for information , that more money was due by him . " Bro . H . SASDEMAJT , P . J . G . AV . — " R . AV . Sir , there is a very clear

rule in the Book of Constitutions , with which , I am sorry to observe , Bro . Douglas does not seem to be acquainted , although he has been the Master of a lodge . Before any brother takes that high and responsible office , it is his duty to study the Book of Constitutions and the bye-laws of the District Grand Lodge , and to make himself thoroughly acquainted ivith their contents . AU will agree with me , that the want of such a knowledge in one who accepts the responsibility must lead to trouble . AVould any man

enter upon any profession , any secular business , without first qualifying himself for it , by mastering the rules by which he is to be guided ? Surely , then , no man should think of governing a lodge , except with the determination of making himself familiar with his duties . I was glad to hear Bro . Roberts laying down the law so well . 1 think the Boole of Constitutions does not leave it at all doubtful that the Master is wholly responsible for the clues to the Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Lodge . At page 61 we find this rule : —

" The fees or dues received on account of , and payable to , the Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge , shall be kept separate and distinct from the moneys belonging to the lodge , and shall be deposited in the hands of the Master instead of the Treasurer of of the lodge , and shall be transmitted to the Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge at such times as the laws require . ' "It is true that , in most cases , the Master allows all the moneys of his lodge to remain in the custody of the Treasurer ; but if the

latter were to be robbed , I would apply the arguine / duni ad hominem , and ask any Master whether iie would not feel himself bound to make good that portion of the amount for which he was responsible to the Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Lodge . In short , if a man accepts the honour of the office , he must also take with it its responsibilities . I agree with Bro . Roberts that Bro . Douglas has not shown that knowledge of his duties ivhich one would

expect from a Mason of twenty years' experience . He had no right to keep the Provincial Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Master waiting so long ; and I would tell him , in a friendly spirit , that such neglect and contempt of authority as he has shown , does infinite injury , not only to the authority which has been so treated , but to Masonry at large . " Bro . DOUGLASwho had made many previous attempts to speak

, , again rose to do so ; but he ivas informed that he could not be allowed to reply after each speech . He would be heard after everyone else had done speaking . Bro . AV . CLAEK , C . D ., Prov . G . Sup . of Works . — " In March last , I proposed that Bro . Douglas should be summoned to show cause personally at the next meeting why he ought not to be expelled . I did so because I found that a good deal of our time ivas being

wasted , and I thought it right that Bro . Douglas should come here and speak , when the matter could be finally disposed of . At the next meeting , however , Bro . Douglas did not make his appearance . That was in itself contumacy . " Bro . DOUGLAS . — "That is not quite correct , I had paid " ( Order , order . ) Bro . AV . CLAEK , CE . — "He ought not only to have paid ,

but he ought also to have come here , under the Resolution of the District Grand Lodge , as he had not paid all that was due , If he had come and given a full explanation as to what had been tiie cause of the delay , and had stated that he had paid a small sum ,