Eminent Masons At Home.

unobserved on to the stage of " Old Drury , " you will find Augustus Harris surrounded by three hundred ladies of the ballet with whom in a few weeks time he intends to startle London .

The Treasurer.

THE TREASURER .

THE importance of this officer in connection with Masonic Lodges is evidenced by the fact that it is the second elective office by ballot of the members generally , and is not subject , as are all others except that of the Tyler , to appointment by the Worshipful Master . The position is one of distinct honor , and should be the reward of a long and creditable connection with the Order , and

the particular section thereof with which the honored individual is associated . In our Private Lodges the new order of things which has made the corresponding office in Grand Lodge one of annual change of person , does not apply ; and there are abundant reasons why it should not . In the capacity of Treasurer to a Private

Lodge , the holder of that office must take upon himself the onus of many responsibilities , and , to some extent at least , be a working officer . The duties and responsibilities of a Grand Lodge Treasurer are of an entirely different and perfunctory nature , and the qualifications for that exalted office are best judged of by general services

to Masonry in the fulfilment of accepted duties during an extended Masonic career , and evidence that the grand principles of the Order have been thoroughly understood and acted upon by those who seek the position . But so much is not required from the Treasurer of a Private Lodge . To what should be characteristic of every good

Freemason , as kindliness of disposition , courtesy , and good fellowship , there need only to be added reasonably good social position , a reputation for strict integrity , and a capacity for keeping correct and explicit accounts . It is a most satisfactory reflection that amongst the thousands of Brethren now holding office as Treasurers of our Lodges , the whole of these qualifications can be found united in a very considerable majority of them .

The duties ot a Treasurer are not set forth in the Book of Constitutions , but there can be no doubt that they are , in the first place , to receive all moneys due to the Lodge , and to keep correct entries thereof . But from or through whom is he to receive the fees , dues , and other assets of the Lodge ? The Book of Constitutions , rule 177 , says : " All money received or paid for on account

of a Lodge shall be from time to time regularly entered in proper books , which shall be the property of the Lodge . " It also provides ( rule 173 ) that " a regular list , signed by the Master and Secretary , of its contributing members , & c , shall be transmitted ; and rule 173 provides for remittance of fees , & c . ; but it is nowhere stated

what particular officer shall discharge the duties referred to other than the Master , who is expressly mentioned and made responsible . In our last number we wrote : " In most Lodges the Secretary keeps the record of payments and receives the same . . . . . which he at once passes into the hands of the Treasurer . " To this exception has been taken , and a worthy Brother and esteemed

friend informs us that " Secretaries have nothing whatever to do with the money The Treasurer sits in his proper place for the purpose of receiving and giving receipts . " We join issue with our good friend , for we do not find it so stated in our laws and regulations , and it is neither , in our opinion , politic nor convenient that it should be so . We maintain that the

Treasurer has no more to do than act as custodian of the funds applicable for Lodge purposes under the authority of the Lodge members . To obtain subscriptions as they become due , see that they , together with initiation and joining fees , are paid over immediately on receipt of same , and generally to keep the records ,

clearly form part of the Secretarial duties ; which duties , however , would be materially lightened were it invariably the case that the Treasurer was in his place during Lodge work . I go so far as to say that the Treasurer should require , if he be present at the termination of Lodge work , an account of financial business during that time ; or , if absent , that the same should be forwarded to him

The Treasurer.

at the earliest possible convenience of the Secretary after the meeting ; but further than that we do not think his power to exercise control over " payments in " extends . He is the fiduciary agent of the Lodge , its place of safe deposit , its Treasurer and Banker , and in that capacity has more control over " payments

out . " As to these , the Treasurer should be cautious not to make payments without sufficient warrant ; to make none unless the funds are de facto in his hands , and on no account permit over-drafts . Many a promising new Lodge has been placed in difficulties for years by the over-good nature of iheir Treasurers , who , anticipating

payments which were never made , and progress which did not realise expectations , provided or guaranteed expenditures which were not justified at starting . True , after some length of time , the return of advances may have been made , but the principle is wrong in any result . I have said above that the Treasurer is " custodian of the funds

applicable for Lodge purposes , " and meant to imply that he was not by virtue of his election the purse-bearer in connection with those sums of money which are to be transmitted to the Grand Lodge as , familiarly speaking , Grand Lodge dues . It was , up to a very recent period , well understood that for these the Master himself

was directly responsible , and that he was expected to retain in his own hands such sums until the regular period for transmission direct to the Grand Secretary . If the Treasurer , at the Master's request , took charge of these amounts , it was always " on separate account . " I may be in error , but as I read the revised laws of 188 4 , this

requirement of Grand Lodge no longer seems to exist , and all money paid to the Lodge , on whatsoever account , is placed in charge of the Treasurer . As a matter of simplifying accounts , and as far as equal security is concerned , there could never have beeiv any sufficient reason for such division of responsibility ; and , to my

thinking , should there be any clause which has been overlooked still requiring a divided pecuniary responsibility , although absolute breach of any of the laws or regulations should not be tolerated , an application of the telescope to the blind eye would not be altogether censurable .

How much it is in the power of a Treasurer to promote the best interests of a Lodge as one of good work and progress , and the social enjoyment , happiness , and comfort of its members when the hour of "high twelve" has sounded , need hardly be described . His influence is universally acknowledged , and more particularly

and effectually so when it is exercised in a firm arid courteous manner , neither turning to the right or to the left from the strict line of his duty . I have never yet found in any Lodge other than a good word for the Treasurer who would not hesitate , when the exchequer was low , to assert that he had no Lodge money to meet

orders , and would not pledge the credit of the Lodge for the sake of present convenience ; nor , on the other hand , for him who , when his money-bags became plethoric , would suggest that they should be bled in the cause of good fellowship and of Charity . It is only where Treasurers assume a right to direct exactly how the Master and his

Brethren should dispose of that over which they have no control whatever in a personal capacity , that unpleasantness will sometimes ensue . Although it cannot be said that these do not sometimes arise through arrogance and assumption of individuals , still the exceptions to the general rule are so few in number in the large aggregate of faithful Brethren as not to be of any importance . J AMES STEVENS .

At a cost of , £ 1 , 300 a new Masonic Hall is being built at Dumfries . The entire amount is found by the brethren of St . Michael's Kilwinning Lodge ( 63 ) . Lord George Hamilton and Lord Charles Beresford have accepted an invitation to become honorary members of the Royal

Naval College Lodge of Freemasons at Greenwich , of which Bro . Montague Primrose , of the Admiralty , is the Master for the ensuing year .