The Grand Lodge Of Maryland.

the varied purposes of civilised life ; the revelations of electricity , and all the wonders of that mysterious phenomenon ; it has seen the little Republic , by whose cradle it

sat , grow into a continental empire of thirty-eight States , ribbed with iron rails , upon which oscillates the commerce of a hemisphere . Wonderful changes it has observed in that eventful and historic period .

In the bosom of a century such as the last are stored the most wonderful achievements and events of the earth's

existence . Wars and calamities , progress and development have filed before it : death , disaster and disease have marched in ghastly procession , and constant changes have marked the period as a stupendous step upward and forward for humanity .

But whilst all around changes have been going on perpetually , in form and substance , tenets and mission , Masonry has not changed . It has grown from a small to a larger body , but that is all . Improvement has been

everywhere in that century of time save here ; for the truth is perfection at all times and amid all changes . Builded upon the immutable foundation of Truth , Love and Justice , it has seen the old pass away and the new adjust itself to

the varying caprices of an energetic age , while it alone has fitted all times , all seasons and all events . Its principles being perfect , could not change ; its truths being immortal , could not grow old ; its blessings being personal

could not stale . And so , after the lapse of one hundred years , we meet to-night to commemorate a centennial ; to bow uncovered before the memories of our dead ; to reverently close the century behind us ; to begin with

fresh fervour the grander century before us , and with careful hands and dutiful hearts to continue the work committed to us through all the centuries that have tested and hallowed our beloved Fraternity .

Election Day In The Craft.

ELECTION DAY IN THE CRAFT .

ELECTIONS are always interesting , and sometimes exciting . Masonic elections are no exception to the rule . The Brother who has the most votes is the Brother who is elected , and hence each vote is a matter of interest both to the voter and to those who are voted for .

Fortunately , in Freemasonry the methods do not obtain which are common in the profane world . There is not the same anxiety for office , nor a resort to means which are more than questionable for obtaining it . The ballot is pure in

Masonry . There may be some quiet arrangements looking towards success , but the proprieties of the Fraternity forbid any indulgence in unseemly scheming , and the brother who should attempt it would deservedly meet with failure .

While merit ought to be the criterion for office in every case , civil as well as Masonic , the large majority of the members of the Fraternity evidence by their actions their feeling that the first requisites for office in Masonry are , ability , high character , and good name .

The elections in the subordinate Lodges of Pennsylvania , wbich begin this week , will be unusually interesting from the fact that , for the first time in the history of the Craft in this jurisdiction , dating from the approaching St . John ' s

Day two years' service will be required of Masters of Lodges in order to qualify them as permanent members of Grand Lodge . This rule will not require either the Senior

Warden or the Junior Warden to necessarily serve as such for two years—only the Master must do so ; bufc ordinarily both Wardens will serve for two years . Afc the same time it should also be remembered thafc neither the Wardens nor

the Master are required to serve for more than one year except for the purpose of becoming a permanent member of Grand Lodge . While in office , as Warden or Master , they are members of Grand Lodge , and no brother need

serve for two years as Master , unless he desires to attain thereby a permanent place in the Grand Body . By one year ' s service as Master he becomes a Past Master of his Lodge , with all the rights appertaining thereto .

By reason of the fact that many of the brethren elected during the current season will in dne course serve for six years in all , instead of three years as heretofore , more than usual care is required in fche selection of Lodge Officers .

To elect an unqualified brother now will be to entail , possibly , years of regret and failure . Now , above all other times , the brethren should sink merely personal preferences , and have constantly and solely in view tho respective merits of the brethren voted for ,

Election Day In The Craft.

What is it that mainly gives character to a Masonic Lodge ? Its Officers . If they are inefficient , both members and visitors become painfully aware of tho fact , the

Lodge languishes , it becomes supremely uninteresting , and both members and visitors are conspicuous by their absence . We must keep up the standard of official ability if we would maintain the high character of Masonry ?

What are the first questions asked ? Who is your Grand Masster ? Who is your District Deputy ? Who is the Master of your Lodge ? The Craffc

is primarily judged , not by its members , but by its officers . The latter are supposed to be in every respect representative , and the Fraternity at large is praised or blamed in accordance with the ability and reputation of its representatives . This is but fair . The

members elect the officers , and the members receive praise

or blame in proportion to the wisdom or carelessness fchey exercise in the choice of their rulers . What are the requisite qualifications for an Officer of a

Lodge . Briefly they are these : Ability to work , to teach and to govern , and a fair fame and good name among men . With these every Masonic Officer will be a success . The measure of his ability will be the measure of his success .

All brethren are not alike able . A ready , reliable memory ,

a studious , reflective mind , impressive speech , discriminating intonation and gesture , are more or less gifts , but what we need in the chair of King Solomon every time is a gifted brother — one with as many gifts as we can command . Let it be the motive of every brother

who casts a ballot to select absolutely tbe best candidate

for the office . We cannot afford to take any but the best . Freemasonry in some jurisdictions , and in some localities in all jurisdictions , is not as dignified and respected as ifc should be . It is marked by a lower order of initiates and

a lower class of officers . We must aim to secure the

highest men we can look up to as men—brethren who can and will work with honour to themselves and credit to the Fraternity , officers who will be suns in the Masonic firmament . More especially should this be

the aim of all members of the Grand Lodge . This is the superior body of the Craft . Here our mistakes , if mistakes result , will always be conspicuous . We cannot hide them . A Lodge is one of many Lodges , but a Grand

Lodge stands alone . It is a sovereign body , and he who is its sovereign should be the embodiment of all the Masonic virtues . He cannot lack many of them—nay , any of them —without becoming more or less a marked man ,

conspicuous as a failure . Every candidate for Masonry is not qualified for membership , much less is every brother qualified for Masonic office . Some brethren delude themselves by thinkine * it matters little which of the candidates voted for

is elected . Are they not all Masons ? True . But possibly all of them ought not to have been , and whether this be so or not , every brother has not the requisite ability for office , nor the general high repute in the world at large .

The Craffc does not demand wealth , nor lofty , and it may be fictitious , social position in its Officers , any more than it does in its initiates , but it does require ability and character adequate to the performance of the

high trusts reposed in its officials . Rulers who are supreme should maintain their supremacy , or at all events cause it to be respected , by their talents no less than by their official rank . Whenever the man is conspicuously

smaller than the office , and rattles around in his chair , he will be uncomfortable himself , giddy in action , and an official failure . Let every Brother see fco it that he is

instrumental m elevating no such brother to office m any Masonic body during the present election season . —Keystone .

A NEW ORDEU MERIT . —An " Order of Honourable Service " its being organised by the editor of The Quiver , having for its object tho recognition of long and faithful domestic service . Frizes -will ' bo awarded in special cases . Applications for enrolment may b * 5 forwarded to tbe editor of Tlie Quiver , La Belle Sanvage , London . An article on the subject is arranged to appear in fche January nnniber of that magazine .

WIKTBS REMEDIES . —HOLLOWAT ' S PILLS AWD OINTMENT are the readiest remedies for the diseases now so rife and fatal . The adverse influences of the severe frosts , dense fogs , and piercing winds , have produced a terrible increase in tlie number and severity of chest diseases of all kinds , espccia'ly Bronchitis and Inflammation of the Lungs . Loss of time in the treatment of these and other similar diseases often means death . The Ointment should be briskly rubbed into the chest and between the shoulders according to the printed directions , which , combined with the internal action of tho Pills , will lower the temperature of the blood , reduce the frequency of the pulse and respiration , and check the advance of the malady in good time .