The Masonic Mirror.

move the following amendment— That so much of the report as recommends the increase of the salary of the Grand Secretary to £ 300 a year , be not adopted . " A Brother , ivhose name ive could not learn , seconded the amendment , on the ground that it was premature to raise the Grand Secretary ' s salary so short a time after his entrance upon the duties of his office ; ancl that the present salary was sufficient , judged by what was paid elsewhere , such as to secretaries of clubs , who

rarely get over £ 400 a year . In fact , he believed he was correct in stating thafc that was the highest salary paid to the secretary of a club , ancl the duties of fche Grand Secretary ' s office had decreased instead of increasing . In reply to Bro . Hearue , Bro . Havers said that the Grand Secretary received only £ 50 a year as Grand Scribe E . Bro . Le Veau—I feel sure that every member of this Grand Lodge , and every brother throughout the Craft , will agree with , mc when I say , that the responsible

office of Grand Secretary to our important body , should be filled by one who is in every sense of the word a gentleman . ( Hear , hear , and applause ) . By tiiose cheers I learn , that iu this jioint you agree with me . ( Hear , hear ) . My next point is , that the brother filling such a situation should be amply repaid for his servir . es . ( Hear , hear ) . The proposer and the seconded of the amendment tell ns that the duties of the office have not been increased , but that they have been decreased ; but I think I shall be able to show you that such is not the fact—that not only

have those duties not decreased , but that they have greatly increased . The gratuity of £ 100 a year to our late Grand Secretary was made partly for the lengthened services to tho Craft , but partly also on account of additional labours devolving upon him . ( Hear ) . Thafc gratuity ivas passed by a vote in 1 S 3 S or 1839 ; and has that vote ever been taken since 1 If not , how can it be saicl that the £ 100 did not substantially form part of the £ 400 a-yearl ( Hear , hear ) . Our late respected Grand Secretary also received £ 50 as Grand Scribe E , ivhich made his salary £ 450 in 1 S 39 , when the Lodges were 069 , aud all ive ask is , the same allowance for Bro . Gray Clarke , iu 1859 , when the Lodges number 1 , 094 , instead of 069 or nearly double .

, ( Hear . ) I ivill now call your attention to another important point , ivhich entails great labour upon the Grand Secretary , and that is , that ho answers every letter himself —( hear , hear)—be it long or short . ( Hear ) . In 1 S 42 , the first year in which they were numbered , 1 , 030 letters were received by post and by hand ; but in 1858 , the number was 3 , 384 ; ancl in the first six months of the present year , there hacl been received 2 , 147 ; aud if they came in in the same ratio for the rest of the year , tho number will be 4 , 29-j for 1859 . Now , I ask you , whether that does not entail a vast amount of labour . ( Hearhear ) . I ask any brother herewho will sit down

, , ancl answer four thousand and odd letters during the year , whether it is not a work of labour ; ancl then the Grand Secretary iias other letters to write by command of the Board of General Purposes , ancl other boards and committees connected with Grand Lod ge . Then he has the minutes to prepare , aud to give attendance upon the Grand Master , and on other parties connected with Grand Loclge , so that his duties engage him many an evening ivhen he ought to be taking repose . Instead of his labours being confined to the office hours , from nine till five , he often labours at

home for four or five hours in the evening . The Colonial Board has also added to his labours very materially , and therefore I feel sure that the brethren here will agree with me , that they ivould not wish any gentleman who gives up the whole of his time for the benefit of the Craft , and the promotion ol its welfare , to work nofc merely during office hours , but also afc home during the evening , without being amply repaid . I call upon you , therefore , in the name of justice , and in the name indeed of all that is honourable , to vote this extra £ 100 to Clarke

a year Bro . Gray ' s salary , and to enhance the value of it by voting it unanimously . ( Applause ) . Bro . Binckes had not intended taking parfc in tljis debute —( laughter)—in faetho had fully determined not to clo so . ( Renewed laughter , ancl ironical ' ' Hear , hear . " ) He was at a loss to understand the risibility of which he was the innocent cause ( laughter ) , for he did not know that he had so far stultified himself as to render what he said unworth y of the attention of Gvaud Lodge . He admitted , in replying to Bro . Symonds , that the salaries ivere paid from the Board of General Purposes , and not from the funds of the Board of Benevolence ; but at the