Qualifications For Office.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE .

A remark of ours last Aveek , in connection with the last meeting of the CaA-eac Lodge , No . 176 , Avhen the acting W . M . gave the Lecture on the tracing board in the 1 st degree , that it is to be regretted the practice of delivering these lectures is not more frequently observed , leads us , not unnaturally , to the very important question :

What are the qualifications for office in the Lodge r Are the qualifications of a candidate for office over seriously put to tho test ? The ambition to rise in one ' s profession is very natural . No man Avishes , or perhaps Ave shonld say rather , but few men Avish to remain apprentices always .

Having completed their period of probation , having shoAvn their proficiency in the minor duties of their calling , men aspire to become mastei ' -Avorkmen , for then their sphere of labour Avill be more extensive , and their opportunities for doing good and useful Avork greater . Similarly , brethren ,

having attained the sublime degree of M . M ., not unnaturally look fonvard to the day Avhen they will hold some post of honour in their Lodge ; in the first instance a subordinate office , and then rising , by degrees , higher and higher , they hope , in the fulness of time , to reach the very

enviable distinction of Master . This is all very right and proper , and Ave should have no very high opinion of any brother , qua member of the Craft , who Avas not animated by such legitimate ambition . Just in the same Avay every regimental captain aspires to become first a field

officer ancl then a general , and no ckrabfc every man in the ranks would like to be captain of his company . But just as this mere mechanical knowledge of the manual and platoon exercises is not necessaril y a qualification for the captaincy of a company ; just as the mere knowledge how

to command a company is not sufficient for the command oi a regiment ; Avhile the colonel of a regiment is not always capable of fulfilling the still higher and more important duties of a general officer , so in Masonry . A brother may be a good Master Mason , regular in his attendance at

Lodge , zealous in all Masonic duties , and capable , perhaps , of fulfilling some minor office , with credit to himself and the Order generally . He may even attain the still higher rank of Warden , and be found not Avanting in the discharge of the still more onerous duties of his rank . But docs it

folIoAv that he will make a good ruler of his Lodge ? We grant that , prima facie , a good M . M ., Avho has shown himself an efficient J . D ., and afterwards S . W ., may be expected to perform the duties of W . M . respectably , if not efficiently . But ifc must bo remembered that different and

additional qualities aro looked for in a Master . Zeal , of course , we expect in all grades ; moreover , wo have assumed that in every capacity ho has filled he has SIIOAVU abundant zeal . Punctuality and regularity in attending Lodgethese , also , AVC have given him credit for , as Avell as for a righteous desire to shine in Avorks of benevolence . But

admirable , nay essential , as arc all these traits , they do not fit him for the chair . The command of a Lodge requires something more than zeal , punctuality , kindliness , and a knoAvIedgcof the ordinary duties of Craft Masonry . Tarvis componerc magna solebom . A good Speaker of our House

of Commons must be something more than a good man of business , a ready debater , a powerful orator . He must be thoroughly acquainted Avith all the ins and outs of Parliamentary usage . The laAvs , both written and ivmvritten , which govern the conduct of public business must be as

familiar to him as the A B C of ordinary duties to the ordinary member . A man is generally chosen to fill this office Avho unites to these qualities the further merit of having a commanding presence , a sonorous , yet suasive voice , ever-ready tact , and not a love only of , but the power

to maintain , order at all times and under all conditions . To expect ail these qualifications in every W . M . Avere to carry expectation to an extreme point , for the friendly government of fifty men , more or Jess , is not as the stern rule of a multitude . But a W . M . should possess , not only the

ornamental qualities of his office , such as Ave have alread y enumerated , but the useful likeAvise . Zeal , and an eager desire to promote the Avelfare of the Craft , are essential . So , too , are knoAvledge , presence , tact , and resolution . The

last two qualities are most imperativel y needed . The labour of Masonry is a labour of love , but not all brothers Avork after the same method . HoAvever agreed as to the Avorthinoss of certain ends , they aro not necessaril y agreed as to the means Avhereby those ends shall be attained . Hence

tnct is necessary , .-o that if members differ , itinay be without anger . I fence also firmness and resolution in the conduct of

Qualifications For Office.

business are necessary . Men readily bow to an authority , when they would yield unwillingly , or with an ill grace , to an equal . Moreover , a Master should not only be the ruler of his Lodge , he should be also its guide and instructor . But to enact this latter role he must be

intimate with the Constitutions of the Order , with the byelaAvs of the Lodge , Avith the ritual , Avith even the minutest details of every ceremonial to be observed . The usage and practice of other Lodges should be familiar to him , so that he may never be at a loss , when difficult questions arise , as

to what course is the best to bo pursued . How much greater is the respect Avhich a young member feels for his Master if he knoAvs the latter is competent to fulfil all the ordinary requirements of his office . How infinitely stronger still is this feeling Avhen he knows that his

Master can not only rule and direct him in his duties , but also aid and instruct him IIOAV they should be fulfilled . All may not be equally competent . It Avere as ridiculous to expect this as that all should have the same means . But all may attain a certain standard of

competency . At all events , all who aspire to this office should possess , in a certain degree , certain qualities . Without these , or , at all events , till he has acquired them , no member should bo deemed eligible . The mere ambition of an individual member , hoAvever honourable it may be ,

is of less consequence than the proper conduct of the Lodge . Preston , on the subject of office holders , says : " It must also be admitted that those Avho accept offices and exercise authority in the Lodge , ought to be men of prudence and address , enjoying the advantages of a well

cultivated mind and retentive memory . All men are not blessed with the same poAvers and talents , all men , therefore , arc not equally qualified to govern . He Avho wishes to teach must submit to learn ; and no one can be qualified to support the higher offices of the Lodge Avho has not

previously discharged the duties of those which are subordinate . Experience is the best preceptor . Every man may rise by gradation , but merit ancl industry are the first steps to preferment . " These are the views of one of our most eminent authorities , that to men " of prudence

and address , possessing also " a Avell cultivated mind and retentive memory " should be entrusted the higher offices of a Lodge . Unhappily for the good government of the Craft , it is not always such men as these who are chosen to support the more exacting duties . Some kind and degree

of merit they doubtless possess , bub not the merit Avhich enables them " to govern Avell . To faithfully execute the duties of any high office demands more time than it is in the power of every Mason to give , and more talent than every member possesses . Speaking of men Avho hurry

through the several grades , and seek advancement Avithout any qualification to recommend them , Preston observes : " Passing through the usual formalities , they consider themselves authorised to rank as Masters of the Art , solicit and accept office , and even assume the government

of the Lodge , equally unacquainted with tho rules of the institution that they pretend to support , and the nature of the trust Avhich they are bound to perform . The consequence is obvious ; anarchy and confusion ensue , and the substance is lost in the shadow . " And again , " Were the

brethren who preside at our meetings to be properly instructed previous to their appointment , and duly apprised of the importance of the offices they are chosen to support , a general reformation Avould speedily take place . This conduct Avould establish the propriety of our

government , and lead men to acknowledge that our honours were not undeservedly conferred ; the ancient consequence of the Order would be restored , and the reputation of the Society preserved . " It is over a hundred years since Preston ' s Illustrations Avere first published . " The

consequence of the Order" has not only been " restored , " but extended ; " the reputation of the Society " not only " preserved , " but increased . The sublime truths of our ancient mystery are more studied , better understood , more highly appreciated . But even now there are members

Avho look rather to personal advancement than to the interests of the Order . AVe question if many regard their entrance into and presence in the Brotherhood Avith the same solemn feelings as our late Grand Master H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , who , in a speech at Sunderland , in 188 . 9 , thus

expressed himself—( See Oliver ' s Historical Landmarks oj Freemasonry , footnote , p 7 ) : — " When I first determined to link myself Avith this noble institution , it was a matter of very serious consideration with me ; and I can assure the Brethren that it was at a period Avhen , at least , I had