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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 unaboidable reasons he has to be absent,
that he should arrange in advance for a Brother (or
the Assistant Secretary) to cfficiate 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 theri 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
accountants 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 'ex-pulsion.' 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 'dorp-outs' and the maintenance a
growth of membership, and expression Brotherly Love
which our Order seeks to inocate in us.
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