So clearly do that ritual defined the duty of each Officer of the watch that one his only to scan the spoken word for a correct definition of the work of the men in there's several stations and places. In the ritual the language is the exact, the duties claiming stated, and with a simplicity of expression that admits of no misunderstanding. There is no excuse for laxity on the ground of
misunderstanding, no excuse for an assumption of authority that is not the right or the prerogative of the chair in question.

This chapter has to do with the Secretary of the Lodge. It is prompted by some experience with, and considerable observation of, Secretaries whom I have met during past years. By far the great majority have been splendid Officers. Their books have been models of neatness and legibility. They are prompt in the performance of every duty. In some few cases I have discovered evidence of literary ability to add to the "fair record" required. The minutes of one man formed a record that was of tremendous help to a Brother who, later on, was busied in writing a history of the Lodge.

Nor is there any reason why this latter should not be done. Some Lodges read, not only the minutes of the last Communication for information, but go back over the minutes of ten or twenty years and read them, too. It is then that we appreciate that completeness which takes us back to other times and gives us a complete and dear picture of the events occurring in an early day.

But there is a very important thing that a good Secretary must do to serve his Brethren most completely it is mentioned in the recital of his duty in the opening of Lodge. Let's look at it - and as it is monitorial I may quote:

"To observe the proceedings of the Lodge, make a fair record of all things proper to be written, receive all money due the Lodge, pay the same to the Treasurer, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge."

For simplicity and directness this bit of ritual will compare favorably with any in the Lodge. No superfluous word - a smoothness of diction - a statement of all that is to be done! But the second ward is, to my mind, the most important of the statement: "OBSERVE"! His is not to dictate to the Master and the Wardens, but to "observe" what is going on, and, having observed, to make a fair record of those things pertaining to the business of the Lodge that are "proper to be written."

And there is a large order. Words mean little unless they are considered in the light of their interpretation, and no interpretation of this word can, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered as giving: Secretary the license to attempt to give orders to the Worshipful Master. This is sheer presumption. Years of service, knowledge of good Masonic practice - all of these do not give any Brother dictatorial powers. Any Secretary who so interprets his work as to include the right to tell the Master how to run his Lodge is riding, sooner or later, to a fail. His business is that of an observer, and a recorder of those things which he observes, provided they are proper to be written.

I am fond of interpreting the work of an Officer in the light of his duty as recited in the ritual pertaining to it. Therein is a completeness, free from overstatement. The diction is incisive, calculated to bite into the mind - in which respect the ritual of Craft Masonry is unique, in that it possesses those qualities of diction that impress the mind of the hearer, both with the beauty of the English and the lessons it teaches. But let us continue:

". . . and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Constitutions of Grand Lodge."

Let us take a look at the Book of Constitutions, Section 313, commencing on page 24 of the 1934 edition. Apropos of what has been said above please observe that the Secretary is to record the proceedings of a Lodge, "under the direction of the presiding officer." Those Secretaries who, by an attitude of ultra-criticism, indicate a delusion that it is their duty to supervise the work of the Master, should familiarize themselves with the definition, as well as the limitations, of their Office as prescribed in the Volume from which I quote.

In the Constitutions of Grand Lodge twelve paragraphs enumerate the duty of the Secretary. I shall not take the space to enumerate those paragraphs, but I do commend them to the earnest attention of all Secretaries.

And may I comment on one word that represents a desirable quality for all Secretaries: "Promptness"! Nothing is more aggravating to one of business-like tendencies than to be held up by dilatory and un-business-like practices on the part of one given to procrastination and tardiness. The desk of the Secretary is one over which passes the business of the Lodge. The Secretary may well be called the businessman of the Lodge, and promptness is one of the qualities of a successful business man, and is one which the Secretary of a Lodge particularly should exemplify. The Constitutions of Grand Lodge emphasize this word "Immediately." The phrase, "To make a full and accurate return," stresses the need of accuracy in the Secretary's work. It has been my observation that in those cases where the Lodge records disagree with those in the Grand Secretary's office in respect to such matters as the number of members, nearly always the error has been made by the Lodge Secretary.

And so one could go on and on in analyzing the duties of the Secretary, but space does not permit. I have attempted to do little more than whet the reader's curiosity, to the end that he may acquire the habit of considering the functions of this important office in the Lodge. I have also endeavored to point out to Secretary that their work is constructive, not destructive. Theirs is a place for work, not for exhibiting an attitude toward the man in the East that tends to discourage him; theirs is a place that comes under the supervision of the presiding Officer - and the Master of the Lodge alone is responsible for the work of the Lodge, not the Secretary.

"Make a Fair Record"! This many times is a large order. And always it is enough of a task to give the conscientious Brother elected to the Office an opportunity to serve his Lodge in a manner that will call for the beet in him. And in a proper performance of his task he will grow immeasurably in spiritual and intellectual stature.

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