Page 40 - EM-Issue-93

Online Supplement
O n lin e S u p ple m en t

My Sec’s Life

By Dr Gerald Chevin
.Bro Dr Gerald Chevin is a member of Earlham Lodge No. 7266 and an experienced
WLodge Secretary. In Craft he is a Past Grand Standard Bearer (PGStB). In Royal
Arch he is the Scribe E (secretary) of Earlham Chapter, a Past Provincial Grand Scribe
Nehemiah (PPGSN) and also holds Senior London Grand Chapter Rank (SLGCR). His
amusing story gives us an insight into his Sec’s life.
So, as the last of our members troop out of the Masonic Centre all that remains for me to do is to check to see who has
left their mobile phones/cases/coats or indeed all three (there will be frantic calls on the morrow). As the old computer
adage says ‘first in, last out’ yes that’s my Sec’s Life.
Day after the meeting…wake up very early get ready for work, (or Masonic Business) type up the minutes of the meeting
held yesterday from my copies details almost “illegible” scrawl. . . Can that be right yes of course Bro x said this and
Bro y Proposed that . . . . . . .
Print out the first of many updates and amendments somehow it looks different on paper than the screen the mistakes
seem to have multiplied exponentially on the print-out!!! Oh well back to the Word Processor at last just one or two more
amendments there goes the phone “Yes it was a great meeting I agree shame about the . . . . .”The telephone does not
stop ringing off the hook regarding last night’s meeting and some members/guests asking about their lost property “Yes,
I have it in my case don’t worry”
“Yes, I’ll make sure that you sit next to Bro z next meeting and not with Bro q”
“Yes, I will ensure that your fish is grilled not fried next meeting”
“Yes, I will try to arrange . . . . . . . . . . .”
This goes on for some time and I am still trying to “clean up” the
minutes for circulating.
At last a hiatus in the telephone situation I might just get some actual
work done now but wait . . . . .
I must just check with our Worshipful Master (WM) about the next
meetings schedule, and give him my suggestions for the meal. That
“brief” call took nearly forty minutes.
Still I can now e-mail the members with my draft minutes for their
approbation. I can also upload them onto our Lodge WEB SITE. Back to some real work, but first I must just produce the
layout for the next summons…. wow that’s eaten away another hour.
Time for lunch as soon as I take this telephone call from one of our members. To inform me he is on a special diet so
could I ensure he gets what he needs at the next meeting not what I order.
I sometimes wonder if we refused to supply “special meals” and offer the only choice as take it or leave it would we have
so many people actually leaving it?!!!!
Just a quick bite of my sarnie as I really must talk to the Director of Ceremonies (DC) to ensure that Bro’s a b c & d are
up to the work they have volunteered to do at the next meeting.

After a long chat covering almost everything but the main reason for my call, he refers me to the Preceptor who is
apparently intimately involved with the various members capabilities. Now where is the rest of my lunch, oh under this
pile of photocopies of the minutes of last night’s meeting.

Ok just a quick munch on my apple, the phone rings again it’s the Preceptor…. well it saves me a call, we chat about last
night’s meeting and what we could do to improve at the next meeting.
We finally get to the various Brethren’s Masonic grasp of the ritual and finalise who is doing what but I should call them
in turn to ascertain their level of happiness and availability for the next meeting.
Oh, the apple has turned a horrible shade of brown; I best “bin it”, and have a coffee just to keep my throat lubricated
all this talking (I really must try to do some work as well)!
I try to contact all the nominated Brethren but run up against a brick wall as some are actually doing a paid job and are
unavailable at this particular moment in time, but I do get many promises (usually unfulfilled) that a return call is on the
cards.
I must just produce the dining slip and wait, Bro h has moved, and Bro j has a new telephone number. Oh, how I wish
that they would change their details in alphabetical order, it would make my life so much easier!!!
Ok, just about ready to finalise the dinning slips when one of the more senior members calls me and relates many
apocryphal stories about the “old” days culminating in the standard line of how things were so much tougher/better/
cheaper (perm any one out of three) in his time!!!!