Fitness For Office.

FITNESS FOR OFFICE .

CANDIDATES for official positions in Masonic bodios ought to show fitness for tho offices they seek , or which , perhaps , their friends would thrust upon them . The proposition is generally admitted in theory , but widely departed from in common practice , the result being that the organisations representing Freemasonry are often

placed m the hands of incompetent members , who are necessarily obstacles in the way of prosperity . A considerable portion of the trouble , as regards the matter under notice , grows out of the mistaken idea that a member of a Lodge , Chapter , or Coramandery , once placed in office ,

even though it be of lowest rank , must bo advanced in a regular line of promotion until the highest place ia reached . To stop him in the way—to supersede him by a member

even of special merit , having unusual gifts and qualifications for the office—is regarded as a personal wrong—an indignity very likely to be resented by the brother who is displaced and his friends .

The organisation suffers by the application of a rule that disregards fitness for office , aud not infrequently exalts incompetency over true merit . The Lodge suffers because some member started in the line of official promotion as Steward insists npon takiugeach one of the upward

steps until he reaches the chair of Worshipful Master . The Commandery is held back in progress and usefulness for the reason that somo Sir Knight named as Captain of the Guard feels that it is only just and right that he should be regularly advanced -until be attains the chief position .

In either case the man may b 9 lacking in ability—acknowledged to be unfit to teach , preside , or administer the affairs of the body—but inasmuch as he has held , the lesser office and has mastered the ritual , the claim is made that he should 00 forward .

So it is , again and again , as the readers of this paper can bear us witness , that the ablest members of a Masonic

organisation are held in tho backgrouud , while incompetency more or less pronounced comes to the front . When this is the case—when thcro is little or no emphasis laid on fitness for office—the affairs -of tho body are likely to become entangled ; the work of conferring degrees is

poorly done , albeit the words and forms may be correctly rendered ; candidates aro not edified by the ceremonies through which they pass , and the members are mortified by tho weakness or want of directing influence thown by

the brother who has been put in tho chief place because he had been for years in the lino of promotion , and thus according to the judgment of his associates , had earned the right to highest advancement .

Many difficulties would be avoided if a good deal more stress was laid on fitness for office ; not merely fitness for the office alread y held , but tho higher office . A brother may be admirably qualified to take the . office of Steward and yet lack the qualifications for Junior Deacon .

A worthy , faithful Deacon , may not be fitted to preside over a Lodge and administer the affairs placed in the hands of a Master . Discrimination should be used , the interests of tbe organisation always being regarded as paramount .

With this the rule of procedure , merit would bo sure of recognition , and less frequently than now would the spectacle be presented of a Lodge , or other Masonic organisation , subjected to weak , incompetent administration .

Of course brethren who have been faithful and efficient in lower positions should bead vanced totlie more honourable stations . Everything being equal the Officer in line should be promoted ; but it should not bo felt that such promotion is a matter of right , or that any wrong is done when a

brother elected to ono office , who has discharged its duties to the best of his ability for a year or moro , is not chosen to fill the higher office when a vacancy occurs . Especially should there be such breadth of view on the part of

members , aud such a regard for the interests of tho Lodge , fis will eusure a due recognition of merit wherever shown , « ad thus put the direction of affairs into the most capable hands .

Ihe elections will soon be at hand in the various Lodgns and other Masonic bodies . Will not brethren in all the organisations whero they hold membership see to it that

more attention is given to fitne-s for office ? Will they not demand that those best qualified to lead aud instruct shall be called to the chief places ?—Freemasons' Repository .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . WILLIAM HERBAGE . THE funeral of Bro . William Herbage , of Rosenheim , Silverdale , Sydenham , who died on the previous Monday , at his residence , at the ago of GO , took place on Saturday , the 24 th ult ., at Norwood Cemetery , amidst every demonstration of respect . The deceased gentleman had not been in the best of health for some time , but nothing serious was anticipated , and indeed ho was in attendnnce on his duties as

joint general manager of the London and South Western Bank so recently as the Wednesday preceding his death . Bro . Herbage com . menced his bankingoareer as a clerk ia the service of the London Joint Stock Bank head office . He subsequently migrated to the City Bank , being appointed as the manager of the Ludgate Hill Branch , a post he held for eleven yeare . In 1875 he was appointed to the position

he held at the time of his death . By thoso who have been associated with him in the bank he w * s highly esteemed and will be greatly missed , while his loss will not be less keenly felt in Masonio ciroles . He was a P . P . G . R . of Esses , and had served tho oirtco of W . M . in both the Brooke , No . 2005 , and tbe Domatic , No . 171 , Lodges , and took a close interest in everything concerning the welfare of the Craft .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 18.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 18 .

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FOBSHAW , LL . D ., 2417 . — : o : — tfwPMJWJM .> BRO . H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CLARENCE . K . G .

A nation ' s tears flow bitterly to-day , * With grievous sobs a myriad bosoms heave , With wild convulsive throbs we kneel to pray ; With deep lament we sadly mourn and grieve . 0 God ! watch o ' er and oomfort those who pine ,

She who so soon was to have been his bride ; 0 , comfort her , and keep her ever thine , 0 , keep her olose and hold her to thy side . Our noble Prince and his most sweet Prinoess ,

We pray Thee succour in this hour of woe ; Onr grtoions Queen , O Lord , now trebly bless , And ease ber mortal anguish here below . Soothe their distress , 0 Heavenly King , und heal The gaping wound we all so deeply feel . * 14 th January 1892 . Winder House , Bradford .

Wo last week announced that a Mr . Edmund Furgersou had undertaken the management of the Horns Tavern and Assembly Rooms . We have since been informed that this is not the case . The Horns is entirely under the proprietorship of Messrs . Ferguson and Co ., and they have uo manager of the name announced by us last week .

The funeral of Bro . T . Morgan , P . M . of the East Medina Lodge , No . 35 , took place on Thursday , the 13 th inst ., at the Cemetery , Dover , the Rev . C . R . Sharpo officiating .

Bros . J . ElJery W . M ., H . Durrant , H . Pack , J . Lowe , H . Thurlow , H . Woods , W . H . Lon

In conwqnonco of Mr . W . VV . Kelly ' s tenancy of the Princess's expiring on tho 27 th inst ., " A Roynl Divorco " must bo withdrawn on Wednesday evening , 20 th October , when it will reach its 350 th representation . On Thursday afternoon an ;! evening , the 27 ib inst ., Mr . W . W . Kelly , tho popular manager of tho Princess ' s , will

tako a well deserved benefit , for which a host of talented artistes have already kindly volunteered their valuable services . Both bills nre enormous ores , and embrace nearly all the leading lights in tho musical , dramatic , and variety wcrld . At tho evening

performance sceoe 3 from " Adrieune Lecouvreur " and "Theodora , " will be given by Miss Grace Hawthorne , snpported by a specially selected comply , including Mess-s . C . Curtwright , W . L . Abingdon , Manny Carson , Theo . Balfour , Basaett Roe , Harconrt Beatty , W . Brunton jnu ., Misa Losley Bell , Miaa Marie Dagmur , Mis 3 Adria Hill , & c .

Saturday , the 29 th inst ., baa bseo appointed for the privato view of tbe Autumn exhibition ( the twenty-aightb ) of the 19 th Century Art Society nt the Conduit Street Galleries , aud tbe exhibition will open to the public on Monday , the Slat init . The fi'St weekly number of "Cassell's Penny Stories" was

i-sued ou tho lOdi inst . Amongst the authors who will contribute early books of the series aro Thomas Key won h , the Rev . P . B . Power , C . E . Weigall ( author of "Tho Temptation of Dnlco Carrothers" ) , Herbert Russel , Kate Eyrc , nud the author of " Beauty and the Beast . "