Symzonia: Voyage of Discovery

The executive department is managed by Efficients, who are appointed by the Best Man assisted by the Grand Council; and, in the interval of their session, if vacancies occur, by the ordinary council of One Hundred. It is the duty of the worthies to notice the conduct of the people in their respective districts, to aid the feeble and distressed; if any such be found, to encourage the wavering, and reward the meritorious. Whenever any one of them discovers a man of retired but useful life, active but unobtrusive benevolence, extensive usefulness, with that modest shunning of the public exhibition of his doings which is necessary to possess the public in his favour, it becomes the duty of the Worthy to name him to the Grand Council, as a man of modest and exemplary merit; and if his character is, on, investigation, found to be agreeable to the representation, he is admitted accordingly. Amongst the standing rules of this body, Surui mentioned the fallowing: 1st. Any man setting forth pretensions to superior merit, with a view to obtain a place among the worthies, is to be recorded as a vain man, and to be forever debarred the privilege of membership. 2d. Any man convicted of taking measures to gain a false reputation for merit, or of secretly influencing any person or persons to exert themselves to forward his nomination to the Grand Council, is to be recorded as a deceitful man, and to be thereby forever disqualified. 3d. Any man known to have been guilty of unjust or oppressive conduct towards any of those within his sphere of influence, or to have persecuted any who have been placed within the control of his power, to be recorded as a tyrannical man, and considered as wholly unfit to have any agency in the government of his fellow beings.