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Dual Offices.
DUAL OFFICES .
IN a recent number we considered some of the points which are associated with the prin ciple of dual Masterships—touching upon the system , as we did so , in vogue in many private Lodees , where it is prohibitive for a joining member to hold office . We arrived
at the conclusion that Grand Lodge was wise m prohibiting the same Brother serving as Master in two Lodges at the same time—except in the case of emergency—and that Private Lodges were fully justified in making special laws with a view to ensuring the
regular promotion of their own initiates , even at the risk of keeping back their joining members . All our arguments , however , in this latter direction were based on a foundation of mere policy and individual opinion , for there is no prohibitive law in
Freemasonry on the point , as there is in the case of dual Masterships ; in fact the contrary system is almost general , promotion being given in most of our Lodges to joining members and initiates alike , in their turn , or as a reward of special merit .
There is , however , another phase of the subject , in which the Constitutions of the Craft do interfere , Eule 129 laying it down that " no Brother can hold more than one regular office in the Lodge at one and the same time . " This
regulation , like many other apparently minor points of the Constitutions , is occasionally overlooked by Brethren who desire to utilise to the fullest extent the special abilities of some one of their number , and who see no particular harm in conferring dual office
on him , provided he does not mind the cares and responsibilities of the extra appointment . But in doing so they infringe the Regulations of Freemasonry , and it would be found their action brought them into conflict with the Grand Lodge if attention
Was drawn to their case , or it was noticed by the authorities . The duties of Treasurer and Secretary are so often undertaken by the same person in affairs outside of Freemasonry , that it is not to be wondered at that
proposals are sometimes made for the same duality within our ranks , and if there was nothing in the Constitutions to prohibit the appointment of the same Brother to the two offices , we can well believe it would
become a pretty regular proceeding to associate the duties of the two , and probably the work would generally be as well done under such an arrangement as is now the case when it is divided ; but on the other hand the Lodge would lose the advantage of having
that check on its affairs which is now provided by the Secretary and Treasurer , each , in a measure , being responsible to the Lodge as a whole . But beyond all this there remains the fact that duality is specially
prohibited , as we have already shown , by Eule 129 , which in its earlier part calls for the appointment of both a Treasurer and a Secretary among the regular Officers of a Lodge , and we are convinced that the
Dual Offices.
Law is intended to be applied as we have shown , because we know of a case having been referred to the late Grand Secretary , in consequence of our
having directed the attention of the Master of a London Lodge to it , when on the occasion of his Installation he called up the same member—a well known London Mason—to receive the dual
appointment oi Treasurer and Secretary . The case then appeared so plain that two different brethren were appointed , but as " a matter of curiosity " the point was referred to the ruler at Freemasons' Hall , who fully endorsed the view taken at the meeting we have
mentioned . But the Craft does not seem to be clear of infringements of this regulation , and possibly there would be many cases of dual office holding to be met with if a diligent search were made for them , although in
making such an assertion we may seem to imply neglect of proper supervision and a general want of knowledge among individual members . But this is such a minor point that we can well believe it is passed over most innocently , especially in view of the
frequency in the outside world of the same person dis ? charging the duties of both Treasurer and Secretary , and as we have already surmised there does not appear to be any very tangible objection available against the association of the two offices in
Freemasonry apart from the fact that it is contrary to the Regulations , and , as we have said , deprives the Lodge , of a part of the check on its financial and business affairs which is provided by separation of the two posts .
We have before us the report of a Lodge meeting , at which a presentation was made to a Brother who , according to the local report , " has held the joint offices of Secretary and Treasurer for the past 14 years , " a fact , continues our contemporary , "
altogether unique in the annals of English Freemasonry . " We can well believe it is almost , if not quite unique , and we are sorry to run the risk of putting an end to an arrangement that has apparently worked so well , but the continuance of the dual appointment is so
opposed to the Eules of the Craft that we have no option but to draw attention to it , especially as it serves to emphasise our remarks on the whole subject and may probably prevent others violating the Regulations of
Freemasonry , because of lack oi knowledge of what is required in such a case . We hope the Brethren of the Lodge primarily concerned will not object fco our interference , and that the Brother himself will look upon the whole matter in a correct light . None of
them can desire to infringe the Constitutions of the Order , and will doubtless be as ready as any of its members to bring their practices into unison with the laws , now that the irregularity has been pointed out
to them . Possibly it may be argued that we could have met the case by privately commuuicating with the Lodge , but that is not so ; if the members have erred they have done so unwittingly , and they will
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Dual Offices.
DUAL OFFICES .
IN a recent number we considered some of the points which are associated with the prin ciple of dual Masterships—touching upon the system , as we did so , in vogue in many private Lodees , where it is prohibitive for a joining member to hold office . We arrived
at the conclusion that Grand Lodge was wise m prohibiting the same Brother serving as Master in two Lodges at the same time—except in the case of emergency—and that Private Lodges were fully justified in making special laws with a view to ensuring the
regular promotion of their own initiates , even at the risk of keeping back their joining members . All our arguments , however , in this latter direction were based on a foundation of mere policy and individual opinion , for there is no prohibitive law in
Freemasonry on the point , as there is in the case of dual Masterships ; in fact the contrary system is almost general , promotion being given in most of our Lodges to joining members and initiates alike , in their turn , or as a reward of special merit .
There is , however , another phase of the subject , in which the Constitutions of the Craft do interfere , Eule 129 laying it down that " no Brother can hold more than one regular office in the Lodge at one and the same time . " This
regulation , like many other apparently minor points of the Constitutions , is occasionally overlooked by Brethren who desire to utilise to the fullest extent the special abilities of some one of their number , and who see no particular harm in conferring dual office
on him , provided he does not mind the cares and responsibilities of the extra appointment . But in doing so they infringe the Regulations of Freemasonry , and it would be found their action brought them into conflict with the Grand Lodge if attention
Was drawn to their case , or it was noticed by the authorities . The duties of Treasurer and Secretary are so often undertaken by the same person in affairs outside of Freemasonry , that it is not to be wondered at that
proposals are sometimes made for the same duality within our ranks , and if there was nothing in the Constitutions to prohibit the appointment of the same Brother to the two offices , we can well believe it would
become a pretty regular proceeding to associate the duties of the two , and probably the work would generally be as well done under such an arrangement as is now the case when it is divided ; but on the other hand the Lodge would lose the advantage of having
that check on its affairs which is now provided by the Secretary and Treasurer , each , in a measure , being responsible to the Lodge as a whole . But beyond all this there remains the fact that duality is specially
prohibited , as we have already shown , by Eule 129 , which in its earlier part calls for the appointment of both a Treasurer and a Secretary among the regular Officers of a Lodge , and we are convinced that the
Dual Offices.
Law is intended to be applied as we have shown , because we know of a case having been referred to the late Grand Secretary , in consequence of our
having directed the attention of the Master of a London Lodge to it , when on the occasion of his Installation he called up the same member—a well known London Mason—to receive the dual
appointment oi Treasurer and Secretary . The case then appeared so plain that two different brethren were appointed , but as " a matter of curiosity " the point was referred to the ruler at Freemasons' Hall , who fully endorsed the view taken at the meeting we have
mentioned . But the Craft does not seem to be clear of infringements of this regulation , and possibly there would be many cases of dual office holding to be met with if a diligent search were made for them , although in
making such an assertion we may seem to imply neglect of proper supervision and a general want of knowledge among individual members . But this is such a minor point that we can well believe it is passed over most innocently , especially in view of the
frequency in the outside world of the same person dis ? charging the duties of both Treasurer and Secretary , and as we have already surmised there does not appear to be any very tangible objection available against the association of the two offices in
Freemasonry apart from the fact that it is contrary to the Regulations , and , as we have said , deprives the Lodge , of a part of the check on its financial and business affairs which is provided by separation of the two posts .
We have before us the report of a Lodge meeting , at which a presentation was made to a Brother who , according to the local report , " has held the joint offices of Secretary and Treasurer for the past 14 years , " a fact , continues our contemporary , "
altogether unique in the annals of English Freemasonry . " We can well believe it is almost , if not quite unique , and we are sorry to run the risk of putting an end to an arrangement that has apparently worked so well , but the continuance of the dual appointment is so
opposed to the Eules of the Craft that we have no option but to draw attention to it , especially as it serves to emphasise our remarks on the whole subject and may probably prevent others violating the Regulations of
Freemasonry , because of lack oi knowledge of what is required in such a case . We hope the Brethren of the Lodge primarily concerned will not object fco our interference , and that the Brother himself will look upon the whole matter in a correct light . None of
them can desire to infringe the Constitutions of the Order , and will doubtless be as ready as any of its members to bring their practices into unison with the laws , now that the irregularity has been pointed out
to them . Possibly it may be argued that we could have met the case by privately commuuicating with the Lodge , but that is not so ; if the members have erred they have done so unwittingly , and they will