The Secretary.

our Secretaries who have done much damage to the Institution by inducing any class of men who would listen to their arguments , to join their respective Lodges , greatly to their detriment . Better it would be if the Secretary ' s name was never seen in the summons as a proposer of a Candidate for Initiation , than to find scarce one

issued without such an announcement . Rather let him " stand by " whilst others propose , and take upon himself the duty of inquirj ' and report to the W . M ., as was enjoined upon him by former custom . The duties of the Secretary are multiplied beyond those of any other Lodge Officer . The ) ' consist of transcribing the proceedings

of the respective meetings into the proper books provided for that purpose ; and here we may remark , en passant , that minutes are not correctly recorded unless " the names of all members present at each meeting of the Lodge , together , " & c . ( see Sec . 172 , " Book of Constitutions" ) , are entered therein . The words , of very recent

introduction , " and others as per attendance book , " are not in compliance with the law , which requires , and most properly so in case of future necessity for reference , that the record of proceedings should of itself answer every ; question which might arise in connection with the meetings recorded . In some Lodges " rough "

minutes are read over before closing , so that any omission or error on the part of the Secretary may be rectified before transcribing into the minute book , and for this and for many other reasons the practice is to be commended .

He has also to keep an exact list of the first and surnames of all the members of the Lodge , with their residences , dates of admission , and advancements ; and annually to send a copy thereof to the Grand Secretary , with a statement of deaths and withdrawals during the previous year . To each of the members he must send , within the time appointed by the Book of Constitutions and the

by-laws of bis Lodge , a copy of the summons for ensuing meeting . In most Lodges the Secretary keeps the record of payments made by members for subscriptions and dues , and receives the same with all fees for Initiation , which he at once passes into the hands of the Treasurer for safe custody and to await the direction of the

W . M . or the votes of the Lodge for distribution . For all these and several other incidental duties , the Grand Lodge has ruled that he may not be a contributing member to the Lodge funds , yet be entitled to all the privileges of a subscribing member , and subject to the payment of the usual quarterage entitling to certain benefits in case of need . We know of cases in which brethren holding office

as secretaries , being socially and financially in a better position than the majority of their humbler brethren , altogether decline the privilege thus accorded . We think this a great mistake , as it creates a very invidious distinction between brethren whose position of all others should be , as officers , equalised throughout the Craft . Be the Lodge large or small , the office is no whit less necessary and

honourable . To decline the reasonable compliment offered to each and all is to say to others in as many words , " I am better off than you are and can afford what you cannot . I do as much as you do without reward or monetary consideration , and am , therefore , so much superior to you ! " This is certainly the feeling in many quarters ,

and it ought not to be permitted to increase . A remedy , and a good and profitable one , ought to be found in those individual cases where it is considered infra dig . to accept the recompense for services which the Grand Lodge allows , by the Secretary directing the appropriation of the amount to one or other of the Charitable

Institutions , endowing first his own chair , and then those of others , with Life Subscriber or Life Governorships . JAMES STEVENS .

A new line from Maldon to Southend was opened on Monday last , and the Mayor and Corporation of Maldon accepted an invitation to the opening luncheon at Southend . On their return to Maldon West Station they were met by 1 , 000 people , and the Mayor , Bro . Joseph Sadler , recently elected Prov . Grand Treasurer of Essex , walking home alone , was followed to his residence by a mob of 200 persons , who howled and hissed , and pelted him with mud . The only reason for the demonstration appears to be that he did not stay at home to organise rejoicings . The conduct of tlie mob is universally condemned by the respectable inhabitants .

Round And About.

Round and About .

The Indian tour of Prince Edward will not include a visit to the newly-acquired territory of Burmah . The Prince ' s suite contains the names of several men who are well known in Masonic circles , one gentleman being a Past Grand Provincial Officer of Norfolk . It is to be hoped the Masons of the colonial districts included in the tour will not forget the expressions of respect that are

due to the son of the Grand Master of the English Craft . Prince Edward—or , as he is more generally styled , Prince Albert Victorwill not allow Freemasonry to forget him , but will accept Provincial Grand rank as soon as a suitable office can be found . The Prince was good enough to express a high appreciation of

THE MASONIC REVIEW , and desired Captain Holford to compliment us upon the portrait of his Royal father , and the " interview " at Sandringham in our first issue .

* * * The Secretaryship question of the Boys' School is likely still lo generate a deal of ill-will , and I gather from important sources that the opposition to a pension of ^ 350 per annum to the retiring Secretary is both strong and universal , especially in the

North . Bro . Binckes has , I think , wisely refrained from expressing his opinion on the whole matter , but , in accordance with the wishes of several of our subscribers , which I sent to him , he has agreed to sit for an " Eminent Mason at Home , " which will appear in our issue for November .

* * * All the Masons left or kept in town turned up at Drury Lane the other evening to sample a new Scotch blend by Ross & Cameron , talk shop , and gaze at the decorations . Lennox Browne took a worthy interest in several fair patients , and tried hard to forget that

terrible sketch of " Easton Lodge . " My little namesake of the Freemasons' Chronicle took big Binckes under his arm with the air of a man who knew more of ballet-girls than he cared to admit . Bro . Matier was too much imbued with his own "Mark" honors to take

more than one " drain , " and that drain was Irish . The " house " was represented by the host , henchman Bro . Broadley , and Harry Nicholls , in a brown bowler and an Inverness . My worthy contemporary , the Queen-street Guide , was represented by its editor and his wife , who looked supremely comfortable on an out-of-the-way ottoman in the saloon .

* * * Bro . Lake seemed quite out of " training , " or was it that he was wondering what next he should steal from my pages ? After an existence of twenty years , my contemporary has invested in new type and better paper . It has changed the color of its wrapper

from green to blue , and has tried to imitate the ink of the Hansard Publishing Union . It has started " Masonic Notes , " and has replied to " Eminent Masons" with " Notable Lodge Meetings , " illustrated . And now I see that "Gathered Chips" has a rival in " Masonic Light and Truth . " When a journal makes an abortive

attempt to change its entire working in the course of a few weeks , after a stereotyped existence of a fifth of a century , it offers its philosopher and guide a sincere compliment , and I accept it . In its old garb the " Queen-street Guide" served its purpose gallantly , and was much required ; but it is floating rapidly on to the rocks

of ambition , and will have to choose presently between the devil and the deep sea . For the love of journalism , Bro . Lake , do stick to Correspondence and Lodge Reports ?

* * * The greatest joke of the evening was the meeting of Bro . Edward Terry and George Everett for the first time since the memorable 6 th of March . The former has promised the latter his support in ' 91 . The Grand Secretary was as sedate and overpowering as a Grand Secretary ought to be . The Naval W . M . of the Drury-lane Lodge came in late in company with many Masonic friends , and