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about the change should be thanked , or otherwise recognised by those for whom they have acted . We

have already spoken ot tho difficulty or suggesting a change in an office held for many years by tho same brother—a distinguished Mason in his own locality ,

and against whom no cause ol complaint is possible , and it will at once be recognised that the Mason who puts himself forward to contest the office so long

enjoyed by the one brother runs a very great risk of being m ' sunderstood . Still some one must come forward to champion the cause of his fellows , and if he

does not always meet with success it must not be assumed he acted unwisely , or that any slur is cast upon him by his rejection . The time may not have

among their fellows , and yet disapprove of the actions of those who brought those principles into effect . This may appear a somewhat strange line of argument , but the old adage tells us that truth is often stranger than fiction . Having said thus much in favour of the system of

promoting an annual change in the office of Treasurer , as opposed to the old principle of re-electing , year by year , the same brother to the honour , we will for a moment consider what is probably the only drawback associated with it . With an annual change , opinions are more likely to be divided as to

who is best entitled to the votes of the brethren , and in their anxiety to secure the return of their favourite the supporters of one candidate may work strenuously and zealously—perhaps actually antagonistic—to the

supporters ol another . It does not follow that the differences of opinion expressed in the heat of an electioneering campaign must of necessity be permanent sources of disagreement , but it not unfrequently happens that strange things are said , and much

stranger things are done under such circumstances , with the result that misunderstandings do arise , and permanent differences ure created . We can never discover what considerations influenced the mind of ¦ nerhans our staunchest friendwho . either instfv

nv—, J- J . f •— J o—— - " 1 / w unjustly , had the credit of voting against us , and many men find themselves in most awkward positions when the time arrives for the filling of an elective office . Thev mn , v he . and in n . ] n . rop . mn . invifv nf PSI . QPX - « . . . . ~ v . . ^ jw- ^ WlWUl

J ^ , £ 2 .. . . .. . w * .. .-. are , entirely free to give their support - \ Vhere they choose . On the other hand , a brother may find himself pledged to one party , and opposed to the one he considers the better candidate , or for whom he would

vote if he were wholly free to act ; while the opposite dilemma may force itself upon him , and he finds himself pledged to support a candidate who is not the one his Lodge or personal friends are working for . Some people would very strongly censure the Mason who

voted in opposition to his convictions on such an occasion , but in every walk of life events arise which have to be regarded from views very far removed from those of a strictly personal character . The good fellowship and comfort of a Lodge or large number of

been ripe for the alteration , or a large number of his supporters may have been frightened to vote , lest by so doing they might upset existing harmony , and offend a section of those with whom they were in friendly and nerhans daily communication . But even

if the brother who came forward to champion the cause was not personally successful in inaugurating a new condition of affairs , it not unfrequently happens that his action really aroused the brethren to a knowledge of their privileges , and led to the early adoption

of the system worked for . But how often is the brother who championed the cause overlooked when the principle he worked for is firmly secured ? We do not wish it to be understood that we regard Freemasons as behind their fellows in recognising the actions of those who work on their behalf , but it is all but natural to forget the difficulties which surrounded

a certain course when that line of action has come to be regarded as a natural every day event ; while it is even possible for men to approve a certain principle

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Masons is of far greater importance than the exercise of a man's personal whim or fancy , and we cannot believe that the brother who at times acts in opposition

to his own ideas , in the hope that he may cenient friendship and promote general good fellowship , j s guilty of any crime . He is rather to be commended for sacrificing self in the hope of benefiting the laraev

number of his fellow creatures . It must not be thought our present remarks have special application to any particular brother or

district . We have striven to generalise our comments and if by chance they appear to specially apply to any individual case , it will rather prove that the subject is one of actual existence than that we have singled out any particular spot for attention . While

we ask our readers to dismiss anything like personalities from onr discussion of this topic , we think a little space may profitably be devoted to one particular case , as a few facts may perhaps prove much more

than three times the quantity of argument addressed to our readers in the ordinary way . We will take the Province of Essex , as being near us , and because it just now supplies a practial illustration of many of

fche points wo have considered in the course of our remarks . Up to within the last few years the office of Treasurer of this Province , although annually filled by the vote of the members , was virtually a

close appointment , the same brother being re-elected year after year , and his appointment giving general satisfaction . Then came the new idea of things , and a periodical change was advocated by a strong section of the membership of the district . A brother was put

forward to contest the office—not out of any ill feeling , but , as we have already pointed out , to champion a principle which was then beginning to secure attention . To ' show how equally opinions were divided on the point , we have only to refer to the fact that Bro . E . J . Aeworth—who was the member selected to

tost the point—lailecl to secure election by only two votes , and when we bear in mind the many considerations that may have influenced the voters against him , as the inaugurator of a new system , the result may fairly be described as a moral victorv ; but it

failed to secure the coveted purple , and Bro . Aeworth is again seeking the suffrages of his district , not unopposed , as some would imagine , but as one of two well recommended candidates . The friends of his

opponent have sent out a circular , in which they ask for an expression of opinion as to the desirability of persevering with the candidature of their nominee , who , they say , is above all things anxious not to create any dissension in the Province . It is very

difficult for us to advise one -way or the other , but in this case an unopposed election would probably meet favour in the eyes of a large section , and we almost think unanimity will be regarded as due to

the brother who stepped forward at the outset of . the movement which has resulted in the adoption of the new order of procedure , generally approved of in the district . We are pleased the Mason who has been selected to compete with Bro . Aeworth for this

appointment recognises that his doing so may lead to dissension , as it may be assumed he will not , in consequence , press matters to extremes ; but even if he sees a fair prospect of success , would it not be gracious on his part to stand aside for a twelvemonth , in favour of his rival ? Although he may succeed

m this case , he runs the risk of raising up a storm 01 disapproval of his actions . If this view does not find favour in the eyes of the friends of Brother Acworth ' s co-candidate , then we would ask if the matter is not one worthy of consideration from the

ruler of the Province himself , who , as has been cloni in other quarters—even in Grand Lodge itself ¦ might see his way to prevent a contested election by placing one of the candidates in a suitable office at the approaching annual meeting . We do not presume to dictate , but in such cases as this unfortunate