Masonic Discipline.—V.

in the " Constitutions " for the election of officers ; in fact none at all . It will be universally admitted , that generally speaking , every brother desires to attain to the dignity of the chair , ancl it will be equally universally conceded , that it would be very

unfair if one brother , who joined a lodge subsequently to another , should be permitted to precede the latter in office , while the latter was willing , capable , and worthy of fulfilling his official duties . Yet this is precisely what is permitted by the

second paragraph in the chapter in the " Constitutions" relating to "Private Lodges . " It is there distinctly stated that " he ( the Master ) shall appoint his wardens aud other officers , except the treasurer . " According to this law , a Master

might select the I . G . to be his S . W . in total disregard of the moral just claims of the intermediate officers . Before proceeding auy further , we have no hesitation in saying that this paragraph requires considerable modification . It may be remarked

that promotion is not conferred in the army according to seniority , merit , or ability , but we do not adduce that instance for imitation in detail , but simply to be copied for its unanimity . We do not assert that military discipline , so far as promotion

is concerned , is worthy of close imitation , but we maintain that an imperfect state of discipline , provided it be identical in the separate incorporations constituting a whole community , is infinitely superior to none at all .

The principle therefore that we advocate for unanimous adoption in lodges , aud which should be enforced by the " Constitutions" is that of seniority , dating from the time of admission into the lodge ; , whether as an initiate or a joining

member , modified by the ballot . So far as the election of the W . M . is concerned , this principle does prevail in many lodges , notably so in those having valid pretensions to good working , but it is not sufficient , in the cause of discipline , that so

important a measure should be left to the discretion of individual lodges . It should be recognised by all as one of our " laws aud regulations . " In accordance with the principle of promotion we are advocating , provided the S . W . fulfil the conditions

of willingness , capability , and merit , he becomes entitled to the chair , so soon as his year of office expires . There is just here one question to be disposed of before proceeding . It may occasionall y occur that the brethren have excellent reasons for not wishing- the S . W . to assume the position of W . M . Iu a word he may not fulfil the condition

of merit , and therefore the brethren should have the power of rejecting him b y ballot , which is not given to them in the paragraph of the " Constitutions " already alluded to . The only requisite demanded in the " ' Constitutions" for a brother to be eligible to the chair , is that he should have "served as a warden of a

warranted lodge for one year . " In other words , a brother may become a Master , after being a member of the fraternity a little over one year , for he might be placed in the chair of the J . W . two months after his initiation , ancl in a year from that

time be made W . M . This is about equivalent to making a man colonel of a regiment , one year after he had first put on regimentals . There is no reason that we are aware of , why all the officers from the W . M . dowu to the I . G . should not be selected

by the brethren according to seniority . The latter condition would not of course apply to the secretary , treasurer or tyler . The universal rule for the election of officers , applicable to every lodge would then run as follows . " The officers of every lodge

with the exception of the secretary , treasurer and tyler , to be elected annually by seniority , subject to the approval of the brethren by ballot . The secretary , treasurer and tyler to be elected by ballot . In the event of no brother under the rank of W . M .

being willing to take the chair , the present Master or any of the P . M . ' s to be eligible , and their election to take place by ballot . " We have yet another point to consider , and one of which we have received numerous

complaint . We have known members to secede from a lodge where the following system has been in full force . It is the practice of re-electing officers to duties that they have fulfilled previously , to the exclusion of younger members that are

willinoto undertake and competent to perform them . This is a crying evil , and one that deserves severe censure ; for it virtually puts a bar to the proper aspirations and lawful anticipations of every brother who joins the Fraternity . The remaining case

to be disposed of , is where an officer is absolutely incapacitated , by no fault of his own nor by incompetency , from proceeding to a higher degree . We hold in the interests of a lodge considered in the aggregate , and in accordance with the rule

suggested , that if a brother of his own free will and inclination declines to proceed to a higher degrees , he loses his turn , and cannot regain it , unless the brethren choose to permit it by a tacit agreement at the next annual ballot . The