But the incompetency of either of these officers to perform his duties, by reason of the infirmity of sickness or removal from the seat of the lodge, will not, I think, authorize such an election.

Because the original officer may recover from his infirmity, or return to his residence, and, in either case, having been elected and installed for one year, he must remain the Secretary or Treasurer until the expiration of the period for which he had been so elected and installed, and, therefore, on his recovery or his return, is entitled to resume all the prerogatives and functions of his office.

The case of death, or of expulsion, which is, in fact, masonic death, is different, because all the rights possessed during life cease _ex necessitate rei_, and forever lapse at the time of the said physical or masonic death; and in the latter case, a restoration to all the rights and privileges of Masonry would not restore the party to any office which he had held at the time of his expulsion.
Section VI.
_Of the Deacons._ In every lodge there are two of these officers--a Senior and a Junior Deacon.

They are not elected, but appointed; the former by the Master, and the latter by the Senior Warden.
The duties of these officers are many and important; but they are so well defined in the ritual as to require no further consideration in this place.
The only question that here invites our examination is, whether the Deacons, as appointed officers, are removable at the pleasure of the officers who appointed them; or, whether they retain their offices, like the Master and Wardens, until the expiration of the year.

Masonic authorities are silent on this subject; but, basing my judgment upon analogy, I am inclined to think that they are not removable: all the officers of a lodge are chosen to serve for one year, or, from one festival of St.John the Evangelist to the succeeding one.