New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
cuoosE WE'LL AND CAREFUILY-A FE"
DONTS.

A. ,be elections in our lodges will soon oe neld'
49,, hretbren. no doubt are now looking among
49, members of their respective bodies FOR SUIT /
able candidates to I'LL the various POSITIONS
90 ,s often the case the candidates themselves arc
looking about and among the members 10 oOt"fi
votes for the various positions TO be iiled'
The old and high-sounding saying That the once
sbould see, the man. and not the man the ONCE /
looks nice In print: It sounds well IN Grand /
Masters address. and IL listened TO Win proiouh!
respect when the presiding oldest fast Master
or the District Deputy deliveries his Regulation
paaver" just before the election takes pace pu'
as soon as the members are called from Iaoor W ,
nrepare their ballots the veliest electioneerins !
is begun by the friends Of the different candl /
dates for office and while the above saying may
do very well IN theory, In practice IL II not desi
able Certain II s that IN those lodges or chap |
ters where the offices go begging, where the MEM
bers go around among the brethren and beg
or cajole brother to accept Office. there Is Jack
Of interest manifested which Is Injurious, and
which causes Just that state OF ararsno interest
no zeal no enthusiasm-whc In those bodies where
several candidates are In the field and anxious TO
obtain Office and positions each one will bring his
friends 10 meeting. and lively feeling is shown
TO bring the best materia-the best working MEM
bers-to the front.
Yet do not mean to Indicate that because a man
seeks an ONCE he should have It, or that because
q brother is anxious to become Master or a
Warden It is a sure sign that he is qualified to
All the position, but do maintain that between
the two extremes-the first. strife for onices and
anxiety to al them. or the other. apathy and
sort Of anybody-that will-take-it pan-the nrst 10
much preferable. rs II creates interest and will
stir up tho members TO DO work and take nm IN
terest in the affairs Of the lodge.
Tho main thing for brethren to to Is that
their Master has brains and above ALL that he
carries them in the right place Anatomy teaches
that mans brains are directly under his hat.
This. perhaps, has been established by the science
OF dissection. ana doubt by other proofs; still
l have known some people who carry their gray
matter in their pocketbooks Such people should
not hold office in a Masonic lodge; they may 10
very we'll somewhere near the tressurer's desk, or
they are sometimes handy TO have st a banquet.
especially when the committee is preparing 10
wrestle with mine host about the cost. Although
have just such people take their brain. l. e.
their poCketbook. out. and view with "alarum"
its small dimensions. and fearing 1t may got hurt
be s,ill more diminished, they replace their
stock OF portable knowledge safely back in their
pockets again, allowing others with less brains IN
their pocket and more IN the head to iQuidats
the debt or satisfy tho demands Of charity.
Others I have known who carry their brains on
the end Of their tongue; this specimen Is the most
dangerous among Masons Not only do these peo-
pie tell all they know, but they tell great deal
moro OF what they do not know-and which IL con-
siderable. These should he avoided rank poison.
and should be ostopped at their first effort to OBJ
tain Office. they are sure TO make mischief
wherever they may be placed. They do not de-
hberately lie (Masons never do). but. then. what
little brain they are blessed-or tursed-with IS
exactly on the point OF their tongue, and as this
wags continuously. they are sure TO poison or sting
They may not intend 10 hurt anybody,
yet the malicious fang Of their tongue is 10
strike where il is apt TO wound deeply.
Less dangerous but contemplate. is the
fellow who carries his brains Inflow shall ! ex-
press IL correctly well. not under his hat lie is
a cross between a spaniel and fox, now cring-
Ing, then cunning He always votes for the win
Ing man. and as each candidate IS declared elected
he walks up 70 the new officer and warmly shakes
hard he had worked among the brethren 10 bring
ABOUT H rd the happy T o11Sn e 6s hi,
He is everyeodys friend until some uniucky
scrape Then this fellow is the frs, TO " shout i
joid you sol" Il never liked him; know he would
If some measure OF importance is before tho
lodge THIS fellow VII never say word on or for
out and when, after considerable debate the thing
Roer ana and f S nps h eos s
IN carrying the POINT A glorious Fellow Is this
who thus carries his brains in doubtful place
offce in Masonic iods" saVe made Of wax or
butter s,. gogd be be, The only ut Of DoT tI1
half expired you would be at loss to know
whether the Master or the sr ruled your odss
hat The g Pac a d hdn IS NOT nesa
''lop,sided." runs too much to one point, or TOO
much Into one corner. It IS not exactly square"
qqs s seeks not 5qa ONCE e @ @ rs IS
Gnd Ma G %bo OR he ms or sR
office to carry out some Of his peculiar idiosyn-
form the ritual make it conform more to tho mod
ern sprit; alter or put phrase In here and there
ITles to io,s, shis 'rsfoFha upon his iods. during
Another is eager 10 gather in the shekel. II he
WIDOW and orphan may V .uer The Height Of ii.
ambition 70 TO swell the cash account in the bank.
grand and good in Masonry. Others just
eager TO swell the m, mnembeIship II they can oniy
fun classes or even call specials" they arc happy
ana think hat they have done wonderip ~ well
Masonry, end are no special credit to 1t or TO
his lodge especially Grand Lodge oaicers District
deputies and Masters OF other lodges and have
name broadcast over the city. He neglects his
vsltations lend eclat to his lodge, rather to his
administration, at least any way. during his term
And We must not forget the banqueting nend;
he, who hurries through with the business of the
on lodge nights He considers that no lodge meet
the closing. While alphabetically believe in these
social gatherings and hold that they are con
ereo the main object OF our lodge meetings; and
the higher aims OF Masonry must always pre-
dominate. Leave the banqueting Aend the
floor use him only when you really desire
spread"
Another specimen OF Office seeker to he Stunned Is
the who desires to use the East Of his lodge
a stepping stone only for greater honors He has
his the Purple Of the Grand Lodge. and all
his works and doings are solely for tho purpose OF
gaining that point He poses as ardent Mason.
and tries to keep himself constantly before tho
these worthy brethren with his importance and his
fitness for Grand Lodge office. He cares very lit
tie for his lodge or Its members and thinks only
Of his own ACKNOWLEDGMENT and his own ambition
He usually drops out of Masonry this
ambition Is satisfied: and also drops out II he does
not get there" This species Is also a good ono
to leave the floor. He Is OF no benefit 10 your
lodge and Is OF good 10 Masonry.
Ii Is an honor be Master OF a Masonic lodgs
| and the brother who shrugs his shoulder az IL and
says that he would accept" although he does not
for II, should also be left on the floor until