The Grand Treasurership.

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP .

rilHE brethren who worked to secure an alteration in _ L the rule which formerly governed the appointment of Grand Treasurer , whereby the office , instead of being virtually a permanent one was to be annually transferred ,

did so well knowing they would have to use discretion in selecting good men as competitors for the office ; that they must exhibit a certain amount of unanimity , or at least of good humour , in all that appertained to the election ,

and that they would have to keep within the limits of fair rivalry when it came to selecting one of the several candidates who might be put forward for the office . All is fair , we have been told , in love or war , but in such matters as

this , fairness is understood to have a limit , beyond which it is neither politic nor desirable to go . Brethren of the mystic tie know too well the limits of good order and regularity to lead us to suppose they are desirous of

overstepping the bounds of prudence in connection with the annual fight—we may now call it—for the only elective collar of Grand Lodge , but if they are really desirous of

keeping within due bounds they must be firm in their stand against the usual election tactics of modern days , exercised outside Freemasonry . If the annual contest for the office of Grand Treasurer is to be an excuse for the

annual splitting up of the body of Freemasons into sections working on behalf of one or other of those nominated for the Grand Treasurershi p , the result most eventually be one of disaster to that peace and harmony we all lay so much stress on preserving in Freemasonry .

At the present time the canvass on behalf of the candidates now before the Craft is being carried on to a considerable extent , and we fear that in more than one instance rivalry on this point has led to words and arguments which

should not be heard amongst Freemasons . Until this subject was made so prominent there was absolutely nothing connected with the Order which allowed or even required a personal canvass , and its introduction at the present time

is , in the minds of many , in direct opposition to the principles of tbe Craft , and is likel y to engender strife and discord among those who are personally affected by it . As all who are eligible to attend Grand Lodge—our Past

Masters , our Worshi pful Masters , and our Wardens—are so affected , it will be seen the subject is one that will strike at the heads of the Order particularly , and through them to all ranged under the banner of Freemasonry .

The annual election of a Grand Treasurer is a good rule , one which has stood for ages past , and we hope will always remain a prominent feature in Freemasonry . An annual change in the holder of the office is also desirable ,

and we should be sorry to see a return to the system formerly in vogue in England , when one brother was reelected to tbe office year by year , until death or his resignation put an end to his tenure . If , however , the

Treasurer is to be annually elected , and a fresh brother chosen for the office at each election , we think it would prove beneficial to the Craft as a body if all canvass , either personal on the part of the candidate or by his intimate

friends , were forbidden b y the Grand Master . This would no doubt be looked upon as a great hardship by some of the more energetic members 01 the Order , but , in their

calmer moments they will recognise that ; more harm than good must arise from the introduction of electioneering tactics into Freemasonry . If canvassing be allowed ! or

The Grand Treasurership.

even winked at , in connection witb one of the Grand Offices , is it likely ordinary Craftsmen will refrain from canvassing in their private Lodges ? In a few years we shall find thai every Lodge has in its midst two or more

sections who are pledged to secure the election of such and such a brother as Worshipful Master . It does not require a moment's consideration to realise what effect this would have on the Order . It . would not only influence the

brethren in their choice of a Master , but it would also make itself felt in regard to every candidate proposed and ballotted for . Candidates would be " interviewed " before their admission , and their promise of support for one

faction or another asked for ere they were permitted to see the light of Freemasonry . In other words , when once the system of canvassing becomes recognised in connection

with other Offices than that of Grand Treasurer , which we maintain it must do if the example is to be continued from headquarters , Freemasonry will be split up into factions , and harmony will be banished from our midst .

Another feature in connection with the office of Grand Treasurer , to which attention is necessary and amendment desirable , was exemplified at the last Communication of Grand Lodge , when a brother was put in nomination

without having been previously asked if he was willing to accept the office . There is no rule which requires an enthusiastic admirer to obtain tho sanction of his idol ere he nominates him for a public office ; but tho usages of

society make such a course necessary , and for reasons which were fully shown at the meeting referred to . A brother was nominated for tho office of Grand Treasurer who at once declined tbe honour which his over-zealous

friend sought to thrust upon him . In doing so he acted very wisely , and at tbe same time established a healthy precedent , which we trust it will not be necessary for other brethren to follow . The brother referred to

has a host of friends in Grand Lodge , and would no doubt receive support if he came before the Craft as other candidates for the office have done , but for his friends to put him in nomination when a large

majority of the electors had already promised their vote was a mistake , only to he excused ou the pica of bad generalship . We think it would have been anything but

flattering to the brother concerned if he had gone to the poll and been returned far below the other candidates , and yet that is the position he would no doubt have secured if he had stood the test of an election—not from

any lack of sympathy with him , but merely because most of the voters had already pledged themselves in answer to the systematic canvass which has been in progress for the last few months . We should like to see some

arrangement arrived at outside of Grand Lodge , which would render actual contests for the office unnecessary . It might perhaps be only shifting the evil from one spot to another , but we would suggest that the friends of rival

candidates should in fnture meet and decide that one only of them should be put in nomination within the precincts of Grand Lodge—it would be a display of unanimity , whereas the continuance of the present system may be considered in many ways an exhibition of rivalry .

We again remine ! onv readers that two new Lodges are to be consecrated in the Metropolitan district next week , the United Northern Counties Lodge , No . 2128 , en Monday , and the Cama Lodge , No . 2105 , on Weduesday ,