New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
THE ELECTIONS.
If OTHER MAN WAS ELECTED.


The elections in our lodges arc over end the new
officers who are TO RUE US i"' '"e S'" ~
chosen and installed.
In .or,o cases success sits complacently ana
sm,l,n.lv enthroned In the Masters ohar' "",'
again disappointed ambition Stalks 'nro"s"
land willing and with gnashing OF "e'"' au'
NV, MANY ~ those who were chosen TO occupy th'
..C,,o,,oi Chair Of King Solomon" really MI u
How many are there among the newly Wv. "
,,as,.rs who really and sincerely strive 10 Nil II
Too many only grasp at the gavel Tor me 'o"o'
I, brings and the title Il consers IN Masonic cn''
rot thinking or caring fer the rcal "orA ~ o'
done. ,
Some only think of the manner ana style IN WHICH
TO dress They implore their officers 10 appear !"
f,l, evening dress nj every lodge meeting. ana peg
Of the members to don their swallow-tahs M"
white kid gloves. and wnen he calls IN" 'ouse
10 order the first thing this Master does Is 10 coun,
how many "clawhammers' he has before him.
hoard one Of them boast that out or tnf'y-'"o
members present twenty-one were IN run dreas'
foultlessly alfred twenty-four had white sa'in
neckties eighteen white kids and only SIX were
I'm business suits Heavens What business mas
this man In the Masters chair? Wou.d ne not y"
in q better place before some fashionable tailoring
establishment or behind some drygoods counter
He does no good although fortunately. he docs
no harm The fear Of "sassicty' keeps him from
being bad-he Ia only foolish.
Then there IS the degree fend." He Is only
show how perfect he has the standard" work and
pouts when visiting II he is not asked to asss:
in working a degree. He is earnest enough In
his endeavors, but lays too much stress on the
degree work
Tho defeated ones In most swallow their
disappointment gradually fall into line and wait
for next year. This Is as IT should be. and very
often by watching and waiting" the end Is
reached and patient labor Is rewarded OF course.
when disappointment Is upon us the pang is felt
deeply. yet by perseverlng those who keep right
on usually reach the goal OF their ambition
long chapter might be written on the subject and
the queer results Of elections and the many changes
brought about by the earnest Efforts OF rev
good workers In lodge.
| remember one lodge which was going down
rather fast when some Of the Past Masters deter
mined to take hold and try TO elect former
Warden who had been crowded out OF line OF pro-
motion some years previously The Master wanted
10 he reelected. but his own Senior Warden ran
for the East. and ballot after ballot was taken
without any result. when the Past Masters took
the Senior Warden aside and assured him OF cleo
ton next year II he would stay In the west now
and help along This he finally consented to do
and helped re-elect the Master. new life was IN
fused and the lodge prospered again
A Young brother once sent Very urgent
invitation to come to his lodge and help To install
him as Master | arrived rather late. and when
entering the lodgeroom my ambitious brother WAS
non est the Master-elect was there, but he was
not my young friend. and upon induring was told
that nv good brother was laid out bad" and he
quickly DISAPPEARED. He was TOO sure N"'''
Another good Joke happened some years ago in a
lodge not hundred miles from brooklyn. Inc
Master WAS never very popular among me mem
bers but was elected 10 the East as Ia Often the
case because no one else wanted and tbroEgh tho
personal frier lship Of a distinguished ana na'o
working craftsman he got into the good graces Oh
md Ma ST.
por1 a pight Worshipfu knew no bounds He
made his secretary-from whom obtained this
record his advancement on the minutes orr o, Una
lodge and whenever aier rvs was obliged to
record II tho Right Worshipful master, ETC an
ro,,rceG in open lodge that although he now
i,S %ran| continue TO serve them Master. He
b 3@gs ali the great lumnares to his lodge
~ lis ro-eiection that he ordered n banquet
fer the Grand officers at his own expense az
n fashionable restaurant. and Whet ih. o" LIE
such an overwhelming defeat that. blathersKI.e
as he was ne had nothing 10 say ne "as ' 0ias
iipat The successful Master who was very pain
man. invited the Grand cftcers 10 lhr ~ 80 ~.
did tho honors Of the evening at the expense u '''
defeated candidate -,.. ,-o.,o, out
This Right Worshipfu has long since droppsu @or
of Masonic activity and retired, making room LOT
more sensible and practical mon Only occas'yIi-
ay he visits lodge now and never ,orse'S w. n'
title and is always announced as me hh.ss, bjr,
sinful Past etc. Age does not seem 10 give HI"
..,,l H., cd
l., ~ con narton and no doubt many Things o'-
c,,~ Ia The observant reader that happened on
election night but then this is q dehrate 81
,rd ebould only he slightly touched upon ior lrdr
Of hurting someone's feelings. and SspccaIy M, .,"
af,er ali tho great majority Of the brethren stan;
rsdv IN and ont ~ Office to do and 20 help ana
even II human nature docs assert tseIl SOM S
~ ,h hour 81 defeat and disappon, ment. the go3h
~ the fraternity lnva riably predomnates ana me
good sens, Of the brethren returns 70 the so~' Oh
liz cauee aud TO the Advancement or the pest IN
,nrest ~ Masonry II there Is isolated case mere
and there where drops out because uiS" ~
,,oi,.ed tho constant and steady CROWN OF NJ
Fraternity and its increasing popularity SHOW tIns
the great bulk the vast majority OF me oo5
90 eound solid and ready TO stand ny INC Soou
are SCUM, ~ AN OLD SECRETARY