Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

At first sight the matter of exclusion of Brethren in arrears of dues to a Lodge may appear to be mainly one of administrative procedure. But on deeper thinking it will be seen to be related to the question of membership retention or, in the more usual negative way of putting it, preventing the 'drop-out' of Brethren from the Order. There are, of course, many reasons for such 'drop-outs', but it cannot be denied that circumstances which lead to, and the procedures which are followed for, exclusion from at least a contributory reason.

It is not often that members who regularly attend meetings that fail to pay their dues in time Even if by any chance they forget to pay, the Treasurer is there in the Lodge to remind time, not necessarily explicitly, for, as he proceeds with the collection from those who pay at the time of the meetings, either just before the beginning or in an interval when the Lodge is allowed to be at ease, others are reminded of their obligation to pay their own dues. This implies that the Treasurer should attend meetings regularly; and, if for unavoidable reasons he has to be absent, that he should arrange in advance for a Brother (or the Assistant Secretary) to officiate for him in his absence, not only to present the monthly statement of accounts but also to collect dues and issue receipts. Otherwise even members who attend and pay their dues regularly may happen, for no fault of theirs, to fall into arrears.

More often it is in the case of members who do not regularly attend meetings that arrears of dues accumulate. In many Lodges members are reminded of their individual dues in the part of the summons relating to Lode notices, besides a general reminder among the notices and the name and address of the Treasurer to whom the dues are to be remitted. But sometimes the reason for the members' absence, such as their being away from their station, may also be the reason for their not reading the summons at all, and thus the reminder may fail to come to their notice. The next step is generally a personal letter of reminder usually mailed some time towards the end of the Lodge year, about the time of the end of the Lodge year, about the time of the drafting of the annual report, informing the member that "the accountant show arrears..." etc. and requesting early remittance. In most cases this letter evokes favourable response, but sometimes even this letter fails in its purpose. it is then, after allowing a reasonable interval, that the matter of exclusion, provided for in the bylaws of the Lodge, is taken up by the Permanent Committee in the first instance and the required procedure is set in motion.

This 'required procedure' is not a pleasant thing for the Secretary or the Treasurer, or any of the members. Secretaries have been known to shrink from the unpleasant task of sending registered notices. A few entertain a pious hope that the inclusion of the item of exclusion in the summons for the next meeting, without the actual issue of registered notices, may act as another reminder and produce the desired result. But, alas, it does not, and all that can be done at the next meeting is to postpone the matter, justifying the postponement as the required procedure has not been followed.

Even when the prescribed procedure has been followed, there are members present who are averse to the unpleasant sequel - either because it is unpleasant, or, sometimes, under the wrong impression that 'exclusion' is the same as 'expulsion.' In either case, they raise their voices against proceeding with voting on exclusion out of a false sense of sympathy, not realising or not knowing that it is really no kindness to the members concerned, as thereby their arrears are allowed to increase as the months pass. It is one thing if they take a solemn responsibility to contact the members and see that the dues are soon paid, but it is another when their 'kindness' has ceased with the 'passing over' of the item. Against such happenings, it is only the Master's competence with the rules and his exposition of their implications that can act as a remedy. If he succeeds in pointing out that the so called 'kindness' is no real kindness and that it is the Lodge which will have to pay from its funds the defaulters' dues to the Grand and Regional Grand Lodges, and if he is alert enough to see the motion for postponement is made with a due sense of responsibility and commitment by the member moving it, he would have done some service to the Lodge and to the members in arrears.

But there is also something more the Master can do, long before the situation reaches this stage. When an absent member's apology it reported and he directs it to be recorded, he has only "worked-to-rule." the unwritten spirit of Brotherhood demands something more He may make a stone of members what absence may have been continuous and end vour to contact them by letter or telephone, in person, as he considers suitable, find the son for the absence and persuade the member to attend the next meeting. This is all more important when even and apology has been received. Such a contact may often useful and has been known in many cases have revived the interest of the members attending meetings. Once the members' contact with the Lodge is revived, the matter arrears falls into tits place and the meamber resume regular payment of their dues. There will then be no cause for extreme measures notices of exclusion; and, what is more important step will have been taken in the vention of 'dropouts' and the maintenance a growth of membership, and expression Brotherly Love which our Order seeks to inculcate in us.