A Lodge of Confusion No. I
           by Allen E. Roberts
Presented by the Players of Babcock Lodge No. 322, AF&AM

(An explanation follows the conclusion of this play.)

    CAST OF CHARACTERS
Master
Senior Warden
Junior Warden
Treasurer
Secretary
Past Master Dontbury
Past Master
Trustee
Visitor
Past District Deputy
    Grand Master
Fellowcraft
Others, if desired
Narrator

      PROPS
Waste basket
Several envelopes with junk mail
Letter from the Grand Master
Ballot box
Hat for the Master
Large Masonic emblem worn by
    the visitor
Minute book
Methodical digest (book of Grand
 Lodge law)

The Setting: A regular Lodge room. If a stage or another room is
the site, it should be set up as a Lodge room. With the exception
of the Fellowcraft, no signs are given.

    (The scene opens with the Brethren standing around chatting
and telling jokes--except for one fellow whom we later learn is
the speaker of the evening. He sits quietly in a corner of the
Lodge.)

Senior Warden: Worshipful, when are we going to get this show
on the road? We're more than 30 minutes late already.

Worshipful Master: Worshipful Brother Dontbury hasn't shown
up yet and you know I can't run this Lodge without him.

SW: How in the world did you ever get a certificate from the
Committee on Work?

WM: (Laughs) That was easy. I didn't have to know anything ex-
cept the ritual.

Dontbury: (Rushes into the Lodge) Here I am. Now we can get
started.

WM: (Mops brow with handkerchief) Wheew! Am I glad to see
you. O.K. fellas. Let's take our seats.

Narrator:  (Voice off stage) A Master Masons Lodge, or
something resembling one, is finally opened.

WM: What's on the agenda, Brother Secretary?

Secretary: I think the first thing you'd better do, Worshipful, is
tell us why you spent $68.45 on Mrs. Smith.

Treasurer: You'd better do just that, 'cause I ain't gonna pay
those bills for food and fuel oil on your say so!

Worshipful Master: I told you Brother Senior Warden that I had
no right to do what you said, so you had better get your cheek
ready.

Dontbury: Worshipful Master, this sounds most distressing. You
better tell us about it.

Worshipful Master: It was this way: YOUR S.W. visits Mrs.
Smith. You remember her--she's the widow of the fellow who
served as our Tiler for years.--Anyway, he finds she has no food
in the house and it's as cold as ice on account of there's no oil in
the tank. He came and got me and talked me into waking
Brother Daniels so he could fill a basket with groceries for her at
his store. Then he made Brother Andrews fill her tank with oil.
He made me guarantee the Lodge would pay these bills. And I
told him it would take a vote of the Lodge to spend that money.

Senior Warden: That's right! And I'd do it again. And let me
make this clear--if this Lodge doesn't honor those bills, I'm go-
ing to call the Grand Master tonight and recommend he yank up
our charter!

Treasurer: Well, I ain't gonna pay them!

Dontbury: Hold on there, Brother Treasurer. The Master has the
right to spend the funds in your hands for any Masonic purpose
and you are obligated to pay the bills he authorizes.

Fellowcraft: (Stands, Makes FC Due Guard, and is ignored.)

Treasurer: I ain't gonna pay those bills!

Worshipful Master: Worshipful Brother Dontbury, are you sure
you're correct?

Dontbury: Of course I'm correct, and if the Treasurer persists in
his attitude, you can prefer charges against him.

Worshipful Master: (With exaggerated sigh of relief.) You hear
that, Bro. Treasurer? Now you write those checks right now or
I'm preferring charges against you. (The Treas. busily writes.
The WM speaks to no one in particular.) I don't know what
preferring charges means, but it sure seems to work.

(There is a loud knock on the door. The Junior Deacon goes to
the door without any instructions while the WM is speaking.)

Worshipful Master: What else do we have to take care of,
Brother Secretary? I saw you come in with  ....

Junior Deacon: (Interrupts WM) Worshipful! The Tiler just said
the District Deputy Grand Master is outside--he said he's in
waiting!

Worshipful Master: For goodness sakes, Brother Junior Deacon,
let him in. He's too big a wheel to keep waiting.

Dontbury: Just a moment, Worshipful. You will have to appoint
a committee to go out and receive him.

Worshipful Master: Well, now ... Ohhhh, I know what you
mean. A couple of years ago I saw this done. I'll appoint the
Senior and Junior Deacons and Worshipful Dontbury to go out
and bring in the Deputy--and if you can't find any candles you
can use matches or cigarette lighters.

Dontbury: Just a moment, Worshipful. We don't use candles to
receive anyone but the Grand Master, and the committee should
consist of two Past Masters--not the Deacons as they have to
cross their staffs.

Worshipful Master: You are correct. Why didn't I think of that?
(A knock sounds on the door.) Brother Junior Deacon, tend that
alarm.

Junior Deacon: (Goes to door; confers with Tiler; turns to the
WM) Worshipful Master, the fellow outside said he heard us
talking in here and for me to tell you he isn't the District
Deputy--he's just a Past District Deputy.

Worshipful Master: Thank you, Brother Junior Deacon. That's a
relief. Please admit him. (PDDGM enters, walks to the altar) We
are happy to have you with us, Right Worshipful Sir, especially
since you aren't the District Deputy himself.

Past District Deputy Grand Master: Thank you Worshipful. It is
a pleasure for me to be with you. (Takes a seat.)

Worshipful Master: As I was saying before I was interrupted,
what is next Brother Secretary?

(There is a loud knock at the door.)

Junior Deacon: The Tiler wants something else, Worshipful.

Worshipful Master: Well - don't stand there. Go see what he
wants.

Junior Deacon: (Goes to door; confers with Tiler; turns to WM)
He says there's another visitor out here.

Worshipful Master: Let him in.

Visitor: (Enters Lodge. He is wearing a Masonic emblem on his
coat that belongs on the back of an auto. WM stops him close to
the West.)

Worshipful Master: Just a minute, Sir. I don't know you. Are you
a Mason?

Visitor: Of course I am. (Holds out left hand). Can't you see my
ring?

Worshipful Master: No, but now that I look I can see your lapel
pin. Come on in and have a seat. (Turns to Secretary) What's all
that stuff I see on your desk?

Secretary: (Holds up several envelopes.) Oh, this is just junk I've
received from the Grand Lodge office. Those fellows down in
Richmond don't care about us, so I don't care about them. I
never read the stuff. (He throws the envelopes in a waste basket.)

Worshipful Master: I see what you mean. I reckon that's as good
a place for it as any.

Junior Warden: (While the WM speaks the JW taps the shoulder
of a fellow close to him, whispers in his ear, then the fellow
quietly gets the waste basket and takes it to the JW. As the
dialogue continues, the JW looks through the mail in the basket.)

Worshipful Master: As I was saying before I was continually in-
terrupted, what do we do next, Brother Secretary?

Secretary: We've got the petition of Hunter Jones to ballot on.

Worshipful Master: We sure have. But I don't see any point in us-
ing the ballot box this time. Hunter is a personal friend of mine,
so all in favor of Hunter will say ...

Past District Deputy Grand Master: Worshipful Master! You
must use the ballot box, and the ballot must be unanimous!

Worshipful Master: Well, all right, if you insist. But it's just a
waste of time, because he's gonna be elected anyway.

Senior Deacon: (Takes the ballot box around the Lodge and back
to the WM without stopping. The WM looks in the box.)

Narrator: (Voice off stage.) The ballot has been spread, the
members have halloted, and the Worshipful Master has evidently
found it not clear.

Worshipful Master: Look here fellows. I told you Hunter is a per-
sonal friend of mine and he's gonna be elected. Now I'm sending
this box back and y'all stop putting in those black cubes.

Member: Worshipful Master, I want to be excused from
balloting.

Worshipful Master: If that's how you feel, my Brother, don't
ballot. I want my friend elected.

Dontbury: Worshipful, you can't excuse anyone from balloting.

Worshipful Master: You may be right, Worshipful Brother Dont-
bury, but I'll check on it later.

(The ballot box is taken to the JW who puts his hand in the box,
takes it out, puts it in again, and takes it out, and starts doing the
same.)

Senior Deacon: Worshipful Master, Brother Wilson has been at
the box an unreasonably long time.

Worshipful Master: Brother Wilson, how many times do you
plan on balloting?

Junior Warden: Just three times, Worshipful. Brother Jones and
Williams couldn't be here tonight, so they asked me to ballot for
them.

Worshipful Master: That don't seem right to me, but go ahead.
I'll check on it later.

(The SD carries the box to the WM)

Narrator: (Voice off stage.) The members have become foot-
weary. This is the ninth ballot!

Worshipful Master: Well! At last you got the message and have
elected my friend Hunter Jones.

Past District Deputy Grand Master: Worshipful Master! I
wondered how far this farce would go--and I've seen it! I fear
the Grand Master will tell you that your friend has not been
elected, but stands rejected. You are allowed to respread the
ballot ONE time -- not EIGHT. If you will excuse me, Worship-
ful, I would like to leave. I suspect your District Deputy will be
visiting you by order of the Grand Master to look into the ac-
tivities of this Lodge.
(The WM and the Brethren are dumbfounded as the PDDGM
stomps out of the Lodge.)

Worshipful Master: Well! ... Worshipful Brother Dontbury,
what did I do wrong?

Dontbury: Worshipful Master, it would take too long to
enumerate your mistakes. Suppose we get together tomorrow
morning and let me tell you then?

Worshipful Master: All right. Brother Secretary, what's next?

Fellowcraft: (Stands. Makes FC due guard and is ignored.)

Junior Warden: (Stands. Waves letter.) You're asking the wrong
man what you should do, Worshipful. Your Secretary has gotten
you in a peck of trouble.

Secretary: (Angrily.) What do you mean by that vicious remark.
Let me tell you something. If it wasn't for me this Lodge would
have been extinct years ago.

Junior Warden: And it's about to be real soon now.

Worshipful Master: You'd better explain yourself, Brother Junior
Warden. I'm not about to have you or anyone else talk mean to
our Secretary.

Junior Warden: We all saw the Secretary throw letters into the
waste basket. He said it was junk from the Grand Lodge office
and that he never read the stuff. Well, there's at least one letter
he should have read. So let me read it. (Reads official looking let-
ter.) This letter is signed by the Grand Master of Masons in
Virginia, and it's attested to by the Grand Secretary. Here's what
it says:
Dear Brother Franck: This is to inform you that because your
Lodge has ignored all letter from your Grand Secretary for over
two years, and because your Lodge has filed no annual returns
for three years, and has ignored all letters from me, and has
refused to let the District Deputy Grand Master make an official
visit to your Lodge for two years, I have instructed your District
Deputy Grand Master to meet with you and your officers on the
first day of June, and I have given him full authority to remove
your charter if he is not satisfied that your Lodge will mend its
ways and conform to the laws, rules and regulations of this
Grand Lodge.

Worshipful Master: Wow! What does all that mean, Brother
Dontbury?

Dontbury: If you need me to answer that question, you certainly
have no business being Master of this or any Lodge.

Fellowcraft: (Stands. Makes FC DG and is ignored.)

Junior Deacon: I'll tell you what it means, Worshipful. It means
the Secretary hasn't been doing the job we elected him to do.

Worshipful Master: Well, I'm not going to worry about it yet.
We've got until the first to find out what's we've done wrong.
Now--what do we do next, Brother Secretary?

Senior Deacon: Worshipful Master, before the Secretary gets us
more confused than we already are, I want to nominate my good
friend Brother Donald M. Robey for Honorary Membership in
this Lodge. He's been a member for 16 years and has worked
hard even though he has never had any desire to play musical
chairs and go through the line. He attends at least two meetings
every year and hardly ever refuses to serve refreshments while
he's here.

Worshipful Master: Thank you, my Brother. I agree with you
completely, so those in favor of electing Brother Robey to
Honorary Membership say...

Dontbury: Worshipful Master, you've gotten yourself and this
Lodge into enough trouble already. Let's not get into any more.
You've got to use the ballot box, because it takes a unanimous
ballot to elect an Honorary Member.

Worshipful Master: Thank you, Brother Dontbury. I don't know
what we'd do without you. Get the ballot box again, Brother
Senior Deacon.

Senior Deacon: Let me tell you, Worshipful, you sure can do
without this particular advice of Brother Dontbury. Every
recommendation for Honorary Membership must lie over for one
lunar month--that's a Masonic month for those who may not
know--and anyway, Brother Robey isn't eligible. He hasn't been
a Mason long enough.

Worshipful Master: Is that right, Brother Secretary?

Secretary: While they were talking I was looking--and that's
right, Worshipful.

Worshipful Master: Brother Dontbury, you are fired as my ad-
visor.

Fellowcraft: (Stands. Makes FC DG, and is ignored.)

Senior Warden: Brother Adair of Williamsburg Lodge told me
his Lodge had suspended Brother Brown of this Lodge because
he didn't pay his dues. I note that Brother Brown is here tonight
and I'm wondering if he should be allowed here.

Treasurer: Brother Brown has always kept his dues paid up in
this Lodge. I don't think we should care whether or not
Williamsburg Lodge couldn't get any money from him.

Worshipful Master: Brother Secretary, what does the rule book
say on this?

Secretary: Darned if I know, Worshipful. Never had this happen
before. But, personally, I don't think we should worry about it.
If all the members kept their dues paid like Brother Brown does
we wouldn't have to worry about a busted treasury.

Treasurer: I say Amen to that!

Worshipful Master: Does anyone here know what we ought to
do?

Treasurer: What do we care about anyone else? I'll just say
this--if he goes, I go, too.

All: (Ad lib "Me, too." "You betcha." "Right on. ")

Fellowcraft: (Stands. Makes FC DG. Is ignored.)

Worshipful Master: (Raps for order.) OK, fellows. You've made
your point. Brother Brown will stay. What's next Brother
Secretary?

Senior Warden: Worshipful Master. We never do anything for
our wives, and I think it's time we did do something for them, so
I move we set aside $200 to hold a first-rate ladies night eelebra-
tion.

Treasurer: (Jumps to his feet.) What a waste of money that
would be! I'm opposed to it. And, anyway, we ain't got that kind
of money in the treasury!

Senior Warden: The trustees have over $2,000 of our money. We
can vote to order the trustees to turn over $200 to the Treasurer.

Trustee: You can vote to do that, Worshipful, if you want to, but
the trustees won't do it. We've got that money invested in iron-
clad securities and we're not about to sell any.

Senior Deacon: Worshipful Master, I don't want to start any
feud here, but the chairman of our trustees has just made a rash
statement. The trustees must use the funds in their hands as this
Lodge directs.

Worshipful Master: How about that, Brother Secretary?

Secretary: I've been lookin' while you've been talkin' and Wor-
shipful Brother Beatty is correct. The trustees must follow the
orders of this Lodge. So, if this Lodge votes to transfer any
amount from their funds to the Lodge treasury, they've gotta do
it.

Worshipful Master: Thank you Brother Secretary. You keep on
looking and keep me straight. Now, Brethren, before we go
feuding with the trustees, we better find out if you favor this
ladies night proposition. So all who want a ladies night costing
$200 say "aye." (Ayes from the SW and JW, only.)
Opposed, "no." (No -from everyone else.) Well, that solves that.
We won't have to tangle with the trustees.

Senior Warden: Worshipful Master, our guest this evening has
traveled over 200 miles to be with us. While I don't know how
he's fixed financially, it would appear to me that we ought to pay
his expenses.

Treasurer: I'm opposed to that. As I've stated time and time
again, we don't have much money in our treasury, and anyway,
he should be glad of the chance to talk to us about Masonry
without getting paid for it.

Senior Warden: That sounds selfish to me, Worshipful. This sub-
ject was discussed at the last Area Conference on Masonic Educa-
tion, and it was the consensus of opinion that the expenses of
guest speakers should be paid.

Worshipful Master: What's this area conference you are talking
about, Brother Senior Warden? I've never heard of it.

Senior Warden: I don't know why you haven't Worshipful, even
though you attended this Lodge irregularly while you were going
through the line. Our District Deputies and District Educational
officers have visited our Lodge--when we used to let them--and
pleaded with us to attend. And from what has been taking place
here tonight, it looks like all of us should resolve right now never
to miss another Area Conference.

Worshipful Master: Are you insinuating that I don't know what
I'm doing?

Senior Warden: Please, Worshipful, don't insist on me answering
that.

Worshipful Master: Well, if you're so smart, Brother Senior
Warden, why didn't you get your certificate from the Grand
Lodge Committee on Work so you could oppose me last year?

Senior Warden: Worshipful, Sir, I did not mean for us to delve
into personalities. But to get back to what I was saying, our guest
had to get a room in the hotel, he has traveled over 200 miles,
and it has cost him extra for meals--not to count the time lost
from work. I therefore move we pay our guest 10 cents for each
mile traveled, round trip, plus the cost of his meals and hotel.

Treasurer: (jumps to his feet and stammers.)

Worshipful Master: (Interrupts the Treasurer.) Sit down,
Brother Treasurer. Our Senior Warden has made a good point. Is
there any discussion?

Treasurer: (Treasurer starts to speak.)

Worshipful Master: Except from the Treasurer? (Silence.) Those
in favor of the motion will say "aye."

All: Aye. (except the Treasurer.)

Worshipful Master: Opposed "No."

Treasurer: No!

Worshipful Master: The ayes have it. Brother Treasurer, you will
check with our speaker and write a check for his expenses.
What's next, Brother Secretary?

Secretary: I have nothing else, Worshipful, except the notices
from the other Lodges in our District about petitions they've
received and will ballot on, but we never read them anyway.

Junior Warden: Worshipful, I have a feeling everything we've
done this evening must be done over.

Worshipful Master: What are YOU insinuating, Brother Junior
Warden?

Junior Warden: Worshipful, I'm not insinuating anything. But I
just noticed our charter isn't hanging on the wall where it always
is.

All: (Stare at rear wall.)

Junior Warden: And doesn't the law say we must have our
charter in the Lodge to open legally?

Worshipful Master: By golly! You are right. I had never sat in a
Lodge with our speaker of the evening and when I sent out a
committee to examine him--he insisted on seeing our charter. It
must have been left in the ante-room.

Senior Deacon: I don't blame him for asking to see the charter.
You had been in Grand Lodge with him and you knew he was a
Past Grand Master, because our Grand Secretary told you so.

Worshipful Master: But sitting in Grand Lodge isn't the same
thing. The law says I must have sat in a regular Lodge with him.

Senior Deacon: Are you calling the Grand Lodge irregular? And
doesn't information from the Grand Secretary constitute lawful
Masonic information?

Worshipful Master: We won't belabor the point, Worshipful
Brother Beatty, but I've got to get out of the dilemma of not hav-
ing the charter in the Lodge.

Junior Deacon: If you will excuse me, Worshipful, I can answer
that. It's one of the questions that came up during an Area Con-
ference on Masonic Education. The ante-room is a necessary part
of every Lodge, therefore the charter is legally in the Lodge.

Worshipful Master: Brother Secretary, is that correct?

Secretary: I don't know, Worshipful, but if Brother Madison says
it is, it must be. He knows more about Masonry than any of the
rest of us. That's why it took him so long to be elected Junior
Deacon. No Worshipful Master would recommend him. They
didn't want anyone smarter than them in the line.

Worshipful Master: I see what you mean, Brother Secretary, but
now I wish I had recommended him. Looks like he has saved us
from having to go through this meeting again.

Senior Deacon: For that I, too, am thankful. I hope we never
have to sit through another like it.

Fellowcraft: (Stands. Makes FC DG.)

Worshipful Master: I don't know who you are, young man, but
all night long you've been standing up and then sitting down.
What is it you want?

Fellowcraft: I came here tonight to get some instruction on the
Fellowcraft degree, but after witnessing what has gone on here,
don't think I care to go any further.

Worshipful Master: Well! Now I'm being insulted by a
Fellowcraft. Brother Junior Deacon, please let this fellow retire.

Fellowcraft: (Makes FC DG, then goes out the door.)

Worshipful Master: Do we have anything further, Brother
Secretary?

Secretary: Nothing further, thank goodness, Worshipful.

Worshipful Master: Well, my Brethren, there being nothing fur-
ther on the agenda for this evening, we will now hear from our
speaker. Most Worshipful Brother Alfred Douglas Smith, Jr.,
needs no introduction to any of you, so will you step up here
Brother Smith and tell us what you came to tell us?

Smith: (Walks to the East; pointedly looks at his watch; shakes
his head in bewilderment; looks at WM and again shakes his
head.) Worshipful Master and my Brethren, the hour is now
10:40. I don't know about you, but I'm tired and want to get in
bed. This manuscript I have took about 60 hours to prepare, but
I'm too tired to speak on it, and I'm sure you're too tired to listen.
So, let me just say, you have had a glorious 100 years as a
Lodge-- you may not have another--but if you get straightened
out--I hope you will have another glorious 100 years. Now I'm
going to quit.--Good night!

(Smith returns to his seat as the WM sits with his mouth open.)

Treasurer: I move we adjourn, Worshipful.

Worshipful Master: (Raps gavel.) So ordered.

(The Brethren noisily leave the Lodge.)

Narrator: Thus endeth another version of the Lodge of Confusion.
Each of you will be given a list of the mistakes made during this
session--to help you not to make the same ones in the days ahead.


An Explanation of a Lodge of Confusion No. 1
 as Portrayed at the Northeast Conference on
       Masonic Education and Libraries
    Williamsburg, Virginia - May 27, 1988

    OVER a period of thirteen years it was proved that it's easier
to teach through laughter. People remember the mistakes of
others when they are privileged to laugh along with the players
and the audience. This should come as no surprise. Most people
remember the jokes made by speakers, but often forget the
serious points he tried to make.
    Various versions of "A Lodge of Confusion" were portrayed
each year during the annual sessions of the Grand Lodge of
Virginia. After the first year the attendance became "standing
room only." More men attended the play than they did anything
else at the Grand Lodge. Nothing was discussed more throughout
the year than what was portrayed at "A Lodge of Confusion."
    It should be noted that everything shown in each play actually
occurred in one or more lodges in Virginia. This made it easier
for the audience to empathize with the players. In many in-
stances there was no exaggeration at all.
    To help those who had witnessed the glaring errors made by
the officers of this lodge, each member of the audience was given
a list of things that should not be done in a Masonic lodge.
    What follows is a guide that may be used to assist officers as
they perform their Masonic duties.
    Although each Jurisdiction has its own peculiarities, all are
somewhat the same. This play, and this list, may be easily
adapted to any situation.

1. Every meeting, Masonic or otherwise, should always begin at
the appointed hour. There is no excuse for a presiding officer to
start late.
2. No Master should have to depend on any person to help him
preside over his lodge.
3. In Virginia, a Warden must have a certificate from the Grand
Lodge Committee on Work to be eligible to be elected a Master.
The Warden must know Masonic ritual; he need not know
anything else.
4. No Master should have to depend on his Secretary, or anyone
else, for an agenda. The Master should prepare his agenda prior to
the communication and give it to his Secretary and other officers.
5. In Virginia, the Master can use the funds in the hands of the
Treasurer for any legitimate Masonic purpose. Charitable, and
life saving purposes, are certainly Masonic. To spend funds to
assist a Masonic widow does not require a vote of the lodge.
6. Any Treasurer of a lodge who refused to obey the order of a
Master would certainly be open for Masonic charges.
7. No stranger should be admitted to a Masonic lodge without
first determining his Masonic standing. In this "Lodge of Confu-
sion" three of them were admitted without a proper examination
or legal Masonic information.
8. A Virginia Grand Master is officially received by a committee
of three holding lighted candles. A District Deputy Grand
Master, Grand Lodge officer, Past Grand Master, Master or Past
Master, by a committee of two with no candles.
9. It's certainly poor judgment for any Freemason to wear an
outlandish Masonic emblem.
10. No Secretary should be allowed to disregard anything ad-
dressed to the lodge. The Master is charged with what his lodge
does or doesn't do. He should insist on seeing everything received
by the Secretary. Then he should make a decision about what to
do with it. When the Secretary does not fulfill his duties, it is the
Master who is at fault, because he is responsible to all actions
taken by any member of his lodge. The Master must make cer-
tain all proper reports are made in a timely fashion.
11. The ballot on no petition may be taken by voice vote. A ballot
box must be used.
12. The Master is allowed to respread a ballot one time, and one
time only. More than that is unlawful, and should the petitioner
be "elected" on a subsequent ballot, the Grand Master would
have to declare him rejected.
13. In Virginia, no member of a lodge can be excused from
balloting on a petition.
14. A member is allowed to ballot only for himself. There can be
"proxy" votes in a Masonic lodge.
15. In the case of the letter from the Grand Master, the Grand
Lodge has been overly generous in its treatment of this lodge.
16. In Virginia, a Past Master, no matter how long he has been a
member, or a 50 year member who is not a Past Master, may be
recommended for Honorary Membership in any lodge. By
dispensation at the request of a member's lodge, the Grand
Master may permit a 25 year member to be recommended for
Honorary Membership.
17. Recommendations for Honorary Membership, as well as peti-
tions, must lie over for one lunar month before they can be
balloted on. The Master may hold them over to the following
month if he so desires for any reason.
18. Plural membership is permitted in Virginia. A member of a
lodge who is suspended for non-payment of dues, or for any other
eason, in one lodge must also be suspended in all other lodges of
vhich he is a member. During this suspension he has no visita-
ion rights whatsoever.
19. The duties of lodge trustees are often misunderstood. They
are not officers of the lodge. They are elected by the lodge and
appointed by the court holding jurisdiction. Insofar as the lodge
is concerned, trustees merely hold title to the lodge property,
hold and invest lodge funds as the lodge may direct, and only
have as much or as little authority as the lodge permits. They
may invest lodge funds at their discretion should the lodge give
them no particular instructions. They must do what the lodge
directs them to do.
20. The Treasurer voiced a common thought found throughout
Freemasonry when he said the speaker "should be glad of the
chance to talk to us about Masonry without getting paid for it."
Few, if any other, organizations are this inconsiderate.
21. Should a Masonic guest speaker be reimbursed, at least for his
out-of-pocket expenses? This question has been around for many
years. It's one only the lodge of those involved can answer. But it
might be well to take into account that a Freemason's car doesn't
run on water, hotels don't give him a free room, meals cost him
just as much as they do anyone else, time spent on preparing a
talk is lost forever, and often he must use leave time to travel.
22. Area Conferences on Masonic Education, often using other
names, have become prevalent in most jurisdictions. These af-
ford excellent opportunities for the leaders in the Craft to discuss
and solve many problems confronting Freemasonry.
23. The Master, not the Secretary, should determine what infor-
mation should be passed on to the members of a lodge. If
Masonic law states something should be done, or read, it should
be done.
24. Any visitor has as much right to determine if a Masonic lodge is
legitimate as does the lodge to determine if the visitor is a Master
Mason. A visitor has the right to read the charter of a lodge.
25. In Virginia, at least, the ante-room, or preparation room, is a
part of the lodge. Anything in it becomes a part of the lodge.
26. Surprisingly, perhaps, there have been many who would not
vouch for Master Masons even though they had sat in Grand
Lodge with them, because they had not sat in a lodge with them.
Yet, nothing can be more legitimate than one's own Grand Lodge.
27. Any Master who would permit a candidate of an inferior
degree to sit in a Master Masons lodge should be removed from
office. As noted earlier, the Master is charged to make certain all
visitors are actually Master Masons in good standing in a lodge
recognized by his Grand Lodge.
28. No speaker, particularly one from any distance, should be
kept waiting to make his presentation--unless he requests it.
Consideration should be given to a noted speaker and the
business of the evening shortened, or postponed until the next
Communication.
29. The episode with the speaker did actually happen. And the
speaker actually was A. Douglas Smith, Jr. Few Masonic
speakers have the courage he did in not presenting his talk. Most
will suffer the indignities without making the officers of a lodge
look as bad as they may be.
30. No Masonic lodge can adjourn. It must be closed in the pro-
per manner.

    May this give you many pleasant hours of recalling the time
you joined with your Brethren in learning through laughter.


