New-York tribune., 1895-12-15
CORRESPONDENCE.
WHAT A PAST MASTER HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE
ELECTIONS

WHAT A PAST MAsIEH ms 4" "''-
ELECTIONS
mr. ,.o,,o,s about 10 be held In all our Masonic
bodies lead to brief consideration as to the auan-
s,,r tho, sbould govern the brethren In selecting
,he,r ohicers Above all other qualities, an oihce'
NJ n Masonic lodge should be good Masoh' WI"
loves his lodge and the order. ana mas prove" Wv.
by regular attendance by readiness 10 MAKE nm
self useful but not oficious. in any place OF s'a
he may be put PunctuaIty IL OF the greates' '"'
portance as II enables the lodge 10 DE "pe"
promptlv at the designated hour with every place.
filed by practsed and competent ofncers' ~" o''o'
of a lodge to punctuality shoud oe composer
to fll his position especially In the rltuai' io'
Ing has such bad effect on candualee' "" inv
attendance Of members and the number OF vsitors'
as ragged disiointed work by the officers a can
didate should receive what ne expects OF the
and not imperfect. garbled or emasculated H's''"'
ton with a reference TO monitorlai ieS'""' ~
some future time. which In such lodges "ne'e
sipshod work Is allowed never comes Inc prs'
evidence Of this be found almost any evening
when comparison is made between the attendance
at lodges where good work is always done ana
slipshod lodges While ore ia always well attended,
has plenty OF work. gets numerous afnnates 'an'
these become just as good and profitable members
as those raised in the lcdze) while the other nearly
always has to depend upon few visiting brethren
(who come for that purpose) to nil the oces these
latter lodges are the never-do-weHs
Having laid down the general principles that
should govern the brethren In choosing their ohcers
ve can 90 a little into detail especially as TO the
Mastership It is not he who Is a sood reno"
thar makes the pest Master. nor the one who can
bring in the most candidates. even If these quaiiues
are desra bic but 1t is the man who has executive
ability VINO takes interest enough In the lodge 70
learn the ritual WELL who is ready speaker can
make a good impression all he comes In con-
tact with. who is always pleasant and sentemanIy.
has the necessary time TO devote 10 ne n.eIssts
OF the lodge, who can represent the lodge well In
oibep ,odees and is not too lazy 10 visit. Such
man never falls to build up the iodge NJ up p III
tions for initiation and afiiation, always mas "oiK
and makes the lodge interesting 10 an. ~ mo. A..
disposal is fortunate. especially If he is man who
has served faithfully and well in subordinate 20
has shown his fitness for the higher Office. -.
one OF the features. and one TO De very nucn
de depo5e a IN odsss Tesa le bt only come on e.
ton nights then 6epsnd DE IRon nterastes in some
candidate who sometimes is the worst one Suen
brethren should inquire Of more than one OF e tne
al the true inwardness' OF the matter. Anoiher
bad feature and one which Is directly 9pposen 70
true Masonic usage Is enf tbe lodge BY some
Old member offering a single ballot oi course
whoever presides always invites any one ssg bown
OF hands which undermnes the secrecy OF t'le pdi
lot and should not be allowed Every member snoun
insist upon his inaenable right to free expressSSn on
his opinion election night untraihihe&aisi & ~
any fear OF being accused Of delaying the WORK OF
OF a piece with this is that other un-Maso. ~
measure Of making up STATE he py cyamed Ie that
GENERALLY have the best interests or the iodge al
heart and to some sxten5 ths may o 70 tb Younger
members, ard where all are supposed 10 pe on @ t,o
level and especially where n0mlnations are io pea
Let every one give free and honest expression OK
his opinion by his ballot without fear or h,s fay2I
Such, it TO us, are some OF the precep's "'S"
should govern Masonic elections