The Masonic Mirror.

wliioh might have been fanned into a flame to the detriment of the Craft . I believe that the value of such services is incalculable to Masonry . As to this alloivanoe diminishing the resources at your disposal for charity , I have told you that your surplus income is £ 2 , 500 a year ; and clo not be over generous to some charities , Avhile you underpay your Grand Secretary . I shall make no appeal to your feelings in favour of Bro . Clarke ; and as to the only charge brought against him , I shall only add to the words of the Deputy Grand Master , that Bra .

Havingtoii , Avhom Bro . Portal quotes , is to Canada ivhat Bro . Portal is to England , ancl that but for these two men the question , now happily settled , ivould never have arrived at the height it did . ( Cheers ) . The M . W . Grand Master then put the amendment , which was lost by a vast majority . The question for increasing the Grand Secretary ' s salary was then put as a substantive motion , and carried with less than a- dozen dissentients . INCREASE TO TUB SALARY Ol' BRO . BUSS . ]

The President of the Board next moved , that the salary of Bro . Buss , who hacl been in tho service of Grand Lodge some four years , be increased to £ 150 a year . He said—I shall not be doing my duty unless I pay Bro . Buss a tribute which is justly duo to him . - A more zealous and useful officer no body ever had than Bro . Buss . Bro . AVhitmore—I am happy to agree with the mover of this motion , and—Bro . Havers—How about the charities , now ? ( Laughter , aud cries of oh , oh I )

Bro . AVhitmore : From my heart , I pity the brother who could make such an observation . ( Oh , oh ! laughter , aucl Order , order !) I was going to say that I have some opportunity of knowing that Bro . Buss is a faithful servant , inefficiently remunerated , and I havo great 2 * le ; i 3 iire in seconding the motion . Carried nem . con .

WIOFESSIOHAL AUDITOBS FOK GEAND LODGE ACCOUNTS , The President of the Board then read the next paragraph of the report , which was as follows : — " The Board have under their consideration a plan for simplifying aud improving the system of keeping the accounts of the society , which they believe will be of advantage . Considering tho magnitude of the accounts and the impossibility of carrying out any systematic or efficient audit under the present regulations , the Board are of opinion that ( without interfering with the present audit by the

Masters of Lodges ) , ib would be desk-able aud advantageous that the accounts should be audited once at least in each year , by professional accountants , who should bave free access to ail such books and documents as they may require . Tlie Board believe that brethren thoroughly competent to undertake such work may be found ; and that a sum of twent y guineas per annum will be an adequate remuneration , they therefore recommend to Grand Lodge to empower the M . W . Grand Master to appoint two such professional accountants as auditors . "

He moved a resolution in accordance with the above , except that ho substituted the word " one "in the place of " two , " ou the ground that though twenty guineas might be enough for one good professional auditor , it would not suffice to secure two auditors of that standing and competency which the urgency of the case demanded . The present mode of audit ivas unique . ( Hear , and a laugh ) . The Masters of twenty Lodges in succession were invited to tho Grand Secretary's office at seven o ' clock , to audit the accounts , an immense mass of books was put

before them , aucl they were told that supper would be ready at nine o ' clock . ( Laughter ) . Twenty men coulcl not audit tho accounts at all , none could audit them in two hours . Ho proposed that tho professional auditor should submit his statement and report to these twenty Masters , whom ho neither wished to deprive of their privilege or their supper . ( Laughter ) . Bro . Binckes saicl he seconded the motion with pleasure ( laughter ) , ivell knowing from experience that the present audit was mosfc inefficient .

Bro . AVhitmore opposed the motion , and thought the present plan would work if they put oft" the supper till another occasion . He opposed the appointment of . u professional auditor , believing thafc the present system might be so improved as to render it unnecessary ; and though he did not suppose that such a case could occur ivhilst the Board of General Purposes ivas as pure as it ivas at present , he could