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Correspondence
COREESPOraEICE
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents , ] '
RIGHT OF VOTING FOR W . M . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AN !) MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , — -Your correspondent , ' S . W ., " at p . 507 , has not gone far enough respecting the duty of the W . M . in calling the attention of the members to the o ^ alifications of the can didates for the highest office in the Lodged—an appointment to which workmen fairly look upon as a point of Masonic honour to be attained—the fair reward for their assiduous arid willing service . Suppose the case be different to Hierophants ( p . 175 , Magazine for 1857 , that the S . W . and J . W . of this year are both expert men and capable of performing the duties and conferring the different degrees—that should command the votes of the Lodge in favour of the S . W . ( who traverses to that position through the chair of the J . W . ) , ' and the mantle of elevation should be placed on him , the aid and assistant of the W . M . in all cases , and upon whom devolves , in the absence of the W . M . and the P . M ., the duty of summoning , ruling , and conferring degrees , as preliminary to the higher office ; and this points out the further duty of the W . M ., of appointing as his Wardens tlg £ e only who in the assistant offices have given proof of their proficiency , and of the progress they have made in the science . Therefore , if members of Lodges have no appointments offered to them , they may surely attribute it to their own lukewarmness in the exercise of the established customs of the Craft , inattention to their respective duties , or absence from their Lodge . Being a jolly fellow " is no qualification for the honour of presiding
over a Lodge of Freemasons . A thorough knowledge of the Constitutions and the by-laws of the Lodge , moral worth , merit , and ability , should be the guiding stars to the rank of J . W ., S . W ., and W . M ., in regular rotation ; and if the Lodge should deviate from that custom , they cast a vote of censure on the head of the retiring W . M ., for appointing , as his Wardens , men whom they consider are unfit to follow him in the sovereignty of the Lodge . The examinations before the Board of Installed Masters , if justly performed , are an ordeal that would produce much good , not only to the W . M .
elect , but those who hope by good works to take the higher position . Rank or station should never operate in the choice of the W . M ., nor should the S . W . be put aside , ox passed over , to compliment those who may have previously occupied that position , and been loaded with the honours of the historic degrees .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence
COREESPOraEICE
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents , ] '
RIGHT OF VOTING FOR W . M . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AN !) MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , — -Your correspondent , ' S . W ., " at p . 507 , has not gone far enough respecting the duty of the W . M . in calling the attention of the members to the o ^ alifications of the can didates for the highest office in the Lodged—an appointment to which workmen fairly look upon as a point of Masonic honour to be attained—the fair reward for their assiduous arid willing service . Suppose the case be different to Hierophants ( p . 175 , Magazine for 1857 , that the S . W . and J . W . of this year are both expert men and capable of performing the duties and conferring the different degrees—that should command the votes of the Lodge in favour of the S . W . ( who traverses to that position through the chair of the J . W . ) , ' and the mantle of elevation should be placed on him , the aid and assistant of the W . M . in all cases , and upon whom devolves , in the absence of the W . M . and the P . M ., the duty of summoning , ruling , and conferring degrees , as preliminary to the higher office ; and this points out the further duty of the W . M ., of appointing as his Wardens tlg £ e only who in the assistant offices have given proof of their proficiency , and of the progress they have made in the science . Therefore , if members of Lodges have no appointments offered to them , they may surely attribute it to their own lukewarmness in the exercise of the established customs of the Craft , inattention to their respective duties , or absence from their Lodge . Being a jolly fellow " is no qualification for the honour of presiding
over a Lodge of Freemasons . A thorough knowledge of the Constitutions and the by-laws of the Lodge , moral worth , merit , and ability , should be the guiding stars to the rank of J . W ., S . W ., and W . M ., in regular rotation ; and if the Lodge should deviate from that custom , they cast a vote of censure on the head of the retiring W . M ., for appointing , as his Wardens , men whom they consider are unfit to follow him in the sovereignty of the Lodge . The examinations before the Board of Installed Masters , if justly performed , are an ordeal that would produce much good , not only to the W . M .
elect , but those who hope by good works to take the higher position . Rank or station should never operate in the choice of the W . M ., nor should the S . W . be put aside , ox passed over , to compliment those who may have previously occupied that position , and been loaded with the honours of the historic degrees .