Lodge Officers.

Lodge Officers .

THEIR QUALIFICATIONS , DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

STJiq J $ _ enta : W & vfrm .

Whon ( lie Senior Warden , standing in tlic AVcst , ( . 'nils us from our LAlim'its to partake of rest , We unite , wliilst lie recites The duties of a Mason . On the level meet , on the square we part , Repeats each worthy brother ; This rule in view , we thus renew Our friendship for each other . " —WKBU

MP all the appointments to office which it is in the power of a j HI newly-installed Worshipful Master to make there is not one JtWJs in any respect of so much importance as that of the Senior Kfeww ^ l Warden . The choice of the probable , though not assured , successor to the exalted dignity and grave duties connected with the chair of K . S ., is one that demands most careful consideration , and

should not be made in any perfunctory manner . The elevation of a Brother to the position of second officer in the Lodge should not , as unfortunately is too frequently the case , depend upon mere rota unaccompanied by any evidence of zeal and earnestness in the attainment of proficiency for command and ability to teach . And that Master of a Lodge most faithfully and efficiently discharges

his first duty to the Craft who has the judgment to determine where merit should receive promotion , and the courage to exert such judgment in the best interests of the Lodge notwithstanding any supposed right of prescription by service in subordinate capacities . The Senior Warden is the selection of one individual to whom has been , by the suffrages of the Brethren , entrusted a power

which may tend to either make or mar their future prospects ; and the Brother who looks to bo the object of the W . M . ' s choice should take care that he has fully qualified himself in every respect for the promotion he desires , and is able to be truly that Pillar of Strength to the Lodge which is required in the West . On the other hand , if during his service in the less important offices of the Lodge he

lias negligently omitted to make the requisite progress , and . given reasonable cause for doubting his efficiency , he ought not to be either surprised or annoyed if the " fountain of honour" in his Lodge bars his further advancement , and the Brethren generally approve of their Master ' s decision . He will have failed to reap because he had not sown , and to complain of the natural result of

his negligence , and to designate it as an injustice done to him , would but proclaim that , in his opinion , his self aggrandisement was of much more importance than a consideration of the best interests of Freemasonry . We have spoken of the Senior Warden as the Pillar of Strength , the second of the Three Great Pillars which support a Lodge . His

prototype is Hiram , lung of Tyre , who so effectually supported King Solomon in providing materials for the building of the Holy Temple at Jerusalem . His symbol is the Doric Column of Architecture , strong and massive , and represents that as King Hiram so assisted King Solomon , the Senior Warden ' s duty is to support the authority of the Worshipful Master—to facilitate his designs ,

and to see that his commands are carried into full and permanent effect . For all purposes in relation to the ruling of the Lodge and the transaction of its business , except only in that of initiating candidates or conferring degrees , the Senior Warden in the compelled absence or incapacity of the Worshipful Master is the supreme authority , as under similar circumstances affecting the

Master and himself at the same time would be the Junior Warden in the absence of both . However much it was a former custom in Freemasonry that failing the presence of the W . M . his authority reverted to the I . P . M . or Senior Past Master then attending the Lodge , it has been now settled that the governing powers of the absent W . M . devolve on the Senior , and in his absence also on the

Junior Warden . It should not be forgotten that the Warrant of Constitution is granted to the Master and Wardens and their successors in office , and not to the members of a Lodge ; and that therefore the Lodge cannot be legally congregated without the authority of at least one of these officers . We may , however , say , in parenthesis , that in cases where the Warden is himself an

Installed Master , he can perform all ceremonies and discharge all duties ordinarily devolving on the Master , hut it is generally , out of respect and courtesy , customary for that officer to resign the Chair to a Past Master of the Lodge who , however , derives his authority from the Warden . To meet any possible , though certainly most unlikely , contingency resulting in the removal or absence of all

three principal officers , the Constitutions of the Order ( Sec . 141 ) provide for the exercise of the necessary powers for congregating the Lodge , and conducting the ceremonies and business by a subscribing Past Master of or in the Lodge . In view of the foregoing , it is not too much to say that the necessary qualifications of a Brother for the office of Senior Warden do not fail

far short of those which should bo absolutely possessed by the Worshipful Master . He should be perfect in ritual and ceremonial , " that the Brethren may not suffer from want of proper instruction , " and should be well acquainted with the laws and constitutions of the order , " that he may bo enabled to induce the Brethren to hold our ancient usages and customs in veneration . " All his attainments

should be directed to the support of the Master , whether it be to assist him in some portions of his ceremonial labours , or in obtaining a thorough knowledge of the ability and earnestness of those concerned in the work , and over whom he may in his turn , if found worthy , be called upon to rule . An old charge to Wardens calls upon them to be careful to instruct those whom the Master may place under then : care , " neither to palliate nor aggravate their

Lodge Officers.

offences , but , m all cases , to judge with candour , admonish with friendship , and reprehend with mercy . " In former days , doubtless , the Senior Warden had more scope for the exercise of a governing power , more to do with the work than at present seems to be granted to him in many Lodges . In some , however , the laudable practice of permitting the Wardens to share the W . M . ' s work obtains , and some

of the addresses , explanations of the working tools and charges are delivered from their respective pedestals , affording to the Brethren generally a pleasing variation , to the Master himself a sometimes sorely needed relief , and above all to those who are qualifying for the chair of K . S . incitement to a perfect understanding of our symbols and allegories , and a confidence which , in the higher

station , will be found of inestimable advantage . The jewel of office of the Senior Warden indicates his duty . It is the symbol of eqiality , the level , the moral tendency of which , as a speculative emblem is so graphically expressed in the course of our Sectional Lectures , demonstrating our common origin as members of the same human family , il partaking of the same

nature , and sharing in the same hope . " It is the typo of that platform upon which all Freemasons meet , : ' yet taking no honour from a man that he had before , " and reminds him that strict impartiality , without respect of persons , should govern his distribution of that "just due" which the Master has , through him , to render unto every man engaged in the Lord ' s work . He stands in

relation to the work of speculative Masonry in similar position to that of the overseer of the work in Operative Masonry , and that his support of the Master should be effective , a regularity of attendance at commencement of proceedings as well as a continuance of supervision until their close , is an essential part of his obligation and responsibility . His presence is required both at the rising and

the setting of the sun that a full day ' s labour may bo the result . Of the nature of most of the Senior Warden ' s further duties the ritual of the order itself affords information , and there are portions of the Ancient Charges particularly relating to his office with which he should make himself acquainted . We shall have occasion , most probably , to refer incidentally to some points in ritual , in respect of which the Senior Warden is more immediately concerned , and

which may possibly prove interesting to that officer . Until such opportunity arises , it may suffice to suggest to those who at present occupy that station , a consideration of much that they have to say as well as do in the discharge of their functions , with a view to the correction of many- solecisms and contradictions which have perverted the beautiful language and expressive meaning which their portion of ceremonial originally contained .

In support of the article of our esteemed contributor on the duties and responsibilities of the Worshipful Master of a Lodge , which appeared in our last number , we cull the following from "A Century of Ajiliorixwx . ' by the late Bro . The Rev . G . Oliver , D . D ,, in '' THE BOOK OF THE LODGE" : — " fs the Jlaster of a Lodge beloved by the Brethren ? You may be sure he is a just , and clever , and amiable man . "—Aph . 3 ti .

" Before you pronounce a man a good Mason , let him pass the Chair . That is the test which will infallibly display botli virtues and failing ' s , mental imbecility and moral strength . If he pass through his year of honour , but real trial , creditably , he will have nobly earned the character of a worthy and intelligent Mason . " —Aph . 59 . "In the Master of a Lodge some degree of eloquence is necessary to enable him to explain symbols , to illustrate allegories , and instruct the Brethren in the general

principles of . Masonry , as well as to perforin the routine business of the Lodge . His manner of speaking should be clear , brief , and to the purpose . Declamation , ornaments or llgurcs of speech , will but confuse the orator without producing any benelicial effect upon the hearers . Plain grammatical language is all that is required . "—Aph . 7-i . "When a Lodge becomes disorderly , it is lost . 'Would you subdue turbulence and restore harmony ' . Dismiss the Master . "— . !;)// . 77 . We commend a consideration of the above to all whom it may concern .

A Copy of this Number of THE MASONIC STAR has been addressed and posted to the SENIOR WARDEN of each Lodge under the English Constitution at home and abroad . If any one of those Officers fail to receive same in due course , a communication to the

Editor is solicited , and the omission shall be rectified . Secretaries of Lodges and Scribes of Chapters , & c , will greatly oblige us by forwarding notices of forthcoming meetings , and information relating to Masonic matters of local or general interest to the Craft . Every attention shall be given to their requirements

m respect of same , and we shall be happy at all times to reciprocate their favors to the full extent of our power . We respectfully solicit the support of each regular Lodge and Chapter and each Lodge and Chapter of Instruction by subscription for at least one copy to be regularly forwarded .

The Fifteen Sections will be worked at the Doric Lodge of Instruction No . ... 53 , at the " Duke ' s Head , " Whitechapel Road , E ., on Monday , 3 rd September , at 7 . Bro . B . Da Costa , S . D ., No . 131 !) , Preceptor , presiding as W . M . The Sections will be worked in the following order : —

FIRST Lucrum .. -1 st Section , Bro . M . Corper , No . 13-19 ; 2 nd , Bro . A . Jacobs , I . G ., 13-10 ; 3 rd , Bro . Shoesmith , W . M ., 1310 ; 4 th , Bro . L . Da Costa , S . W ., 1340 ; 5 th , Bro . . 1 . DeCasseres , J . W ., 13-19 ; Cth , Bro . . ) . Maloncy , J . W ., 1025 ; 7 th , Bro . W . Richardson , J . W ., 174 . Suco . vi ) TJKCTI . UI .. —1 st Section , Bro . C . Fox , J . D ., No . 13-19 ; 2 nd , Bro . L . Simmons , 185 ; 3 rd , Bro . Oxley , . I . W ., 130 G ; 4 th , Bro . D . Moss , P . M ., 1275 ; 5 th , Bro . D . Shuter , 1349 . Tumi ) LKCTL ' J . I .. —1 st Section , Bro . 71 . Marks , P . M ., No . 1349 ; 2 nd , Bro . W Musto , P . M ., 1340 ; 3 rd , Bro . Harris , 1340 .