A Master Mason's Word.

to communicate , of exceedingly great interest to the members of this Masonio Veteran Association in particular , and for tho benefit of Freemasonry in general , which were worthy of consideration , reooanitior . aud action of this association . Early in tbo year of 1875 , in New York city , a young man of abont 28 years of age took his degrees of Masonry in one of tho

Lodges of that city . At that time ho was employed as purser on board of the steamship City of Havana , plying between tho ports of New York , Havana and New Orleans , Tampico and Vera Crnz . In the month of Jnly 1870 , on one of the trips , he met a brother Master Mason at Now Orleans , who for another brother Master Mason raised the ila- ** of distress and made an appeal to him for assistance , which

none but the purser , and as a Mason , conld grant , and then only under the most trying and peculiar circumstances , which might involve himself in great personal danger and almost to a certainty cost tho brother in distress his life . An officer in the Mexican army and a brother Mason had become involved in a revolution against the government of Lerdo de Tejada ,

President of Mexico , and had escaped to the United States , and was domiciled at New Orleans , but was anxious to return to Mexico , his native country , incognito if possible , and retrieve his shattered fortunes , even in the face of tho reward of fifty thousand dollars that waa offered for hia head , dead or alive . The risk of running his head direct into the tiger ' s mouth , or being stung to death by the

serpent by treacherous betrayal , he was willing to undergo , provided he had the plighted word of a brother Master Mason that he wonld shield and protect him on board of the steamer , at all risk of personal danger , loss or blame . The moment was a trying one for the parser , who had but recently , as it were , become a Master Mason , and his fidelity , integrity as well aa powers of strategy were to be tested

to their fullest limit . Who this stranger brother was at this time he did not know , bnt a fictitious namo as passenger was given him , and he assigned him a stateroom in a certain part of the steamer . Dae precaution was taken for his security , and with a tireless eye , that scarcely slept , the purser kept watch during the voyage and counselled at times with his mysterious passenger and brother Mason .

On arrival at Tampico , the steamer was boarded by a regiment of Mexican troops , who guarded every door of entrance and place of exit . This adventurous passenger heard the voices of officers and men , gome of which he recognised , and among them all he had not a single friend who would aid him in peril , but , on the contrary , each would strive for himself to secure the reward of fifty thousand dollars

offered for his head , dead or alive . Strange as it may seem this passenger was determined to take the most desperate chances , and in disguise he contrived to get out of his stateroom in some way , and leaped overboard in the harbour of Tampico , among the sharks of the sea and the almost certainty of being discovered , and losing his life for his temerity , by the troops ,

who were under orders to capture him at all cost and hazard . Being unable to swim ashore without detection and capture , he swam to the gangway and would most certainly have been recognized had not a friendly hand thrown a shawl or sheet over his head as he climbed to tho deck of the steamer , and was immediately seized by the purser , who scolded him severely as a crazy man and

got him down below and to his stateroom , and there secured him , and then caused it to be given out that it was an insane man who had broken loose and wanted to commit suicide , and that he wished to God he had , and thus , for a time , all suspicion was lulled . The steamer arrived and anchored at Tampico , in the midst of a heavy rainstorm and gale . The sentries , which had been placed at all the doors on deck , went to the leeward side of the upper cabins

on deck , to obtain shelter from the pitiless storm . In the night , and while the gale was raging , this mysterious passenger made his way out and up on deck , guided by the purser and , crawling like a rat along the windward side of the ship , unperceived , got to the door of the purser ' s stateroom , which was opened instantly , and he was at once concealed in the purser ' s wardrobe , where for three long days he had to stand erect , roll with the ship in the sea , aud breathe through the slats .

He could look down and see what waa going on , but others could not look up and observe him . Tho sentries wore relieved from time to time and a watch kept on every part of the ship . No food could be smuggled in without its being seen , and the least suspicious movement on the part of the purser would have given the whole thing away .

Fastening the shutters and blinds on tho inside and locking tho door , he let his brother Mason prisoner out of the wardrobe every mght , gave him a cracker to eat , and put him to sleep in his own berth , while he kept faithful watch . A few hours' rest and then he replaced him in the wardrobe again . The soldiers were ordered ashore with their baggage and equipment , while sentries wero planed at the mole and a largo number patrolled the shore to capture this brother

, if he attempted to swim ashore and make his escape . The steamer was there hired to convey this regiment of troops from Tampico to Vera Crnz , and for several days afc sea , and comparativel y without food or sustenance , thafc passenger and brother Mason was a volnnfcnry aud barred prisoner , It waa surmised that tie was on board of the steamer , by some of the officers and soldiers ; and who watched with intense prying eyes into the faces of every man on board . J

The most consummate tact , wariness and vigilance had to bo practised b y the purser , to provide against discovery . He , for the time incurred the hatred of every officer and man , from tho captain down to the coal-heaver , on board of that steamer for hia pretended ea- ^ erness to capture that individual aboard of the ship , so -well did " he cnaracter

n . I , •, ot a man who would do anything to secure the blood money offered for that brother's head , while at the same wt . Tu P '? nniD S t 0 Bem ™ his safety and aid him to escape . When the ship arrived at Vera Crnz , and while still in the parser ' s ET . ZHf Te & dj , , leftVe ' hi 8 brother M » a ° ' ASer rfavonrnftl PaPeram . . < r 0 W . ' draft for fifty thousand dollars , w lavour of tho purser , stating thafc ifc would bo paid ou presentation .

A Master Mason's Word.

Tho purser indignantly spurned the offered note and tore it into infinitesimal fragments ' , spying : " Da not you attempt that thing again , unless you wish to insnlt me . I was appealed to as a Master Maaon , to aid a brother in distress and convey him in safety under my immediate care and protection to his native laud . " His passenger brother said :

" This ia the amount offered for my head , dead or alive , and I cannot see why I should not reward the man who saved it by presenting him with at least the promise of an equal amount , which will surely be paid on demand , aa that juat offered to you in my hearing by the colonel of the regiment . " Tho purser replied : " My Maaonio word of honour is pledged to carry out my agreement fco the end with a

worthy brother Master . Mason , as you were so vouched for to mo , and I want neither money or price for what I havo done in this affair for you . " Thus the matter was dropped . A disguise of the dirty clothing of one of the coal-heavers , or one of the crew , was brought to tha purser ' s room from time to time , as opportunity offered , nnd when the

Inat lighter , filled with freight , was leaving the steamer at dark in the evening , the passenger jumped aboard , as it waa to be hauled toward the mole or landing . It got so near that the voices of the officers of troops could be heard in conversation concerning the man whom they hoped to capture , and how tbey would share and spend the blood money offered for his head , either dead or alive . The

intended victim heard it all , and but a few moments moro and his fate was to be determined . He quietly crept over to tho side of the lighter , and , when unperceived , slipped down into the water in the darkness , and , at the risk of being devoured by sharks , swam a long distance , of nearly two

miles , to the mouth of a small stream , and silently feeling his way along the banks until he reached a shallow spot , where , almost exhausted , he waded ashore , and among the thick grass , and under the foliage of an immense shady tree , laid himself down to rest upon the bosom of his native land .

The next morning , rising very early , he took to the stream again , and following up the banks , he came near to a ford , where he secreted himself , as he heard the voices of men and horses and mules approaching . Watchful and wary , he bided his opportunity and , judging from their conversation , that they might prove to bo friends , and as he was on the point of starvation , he approached them , and

travelled along into the interior of the country with them , until he arrived where he knew he had friends who would look out for his personal comfort and interests . They did so , and when he fully recuperated , and became supplied with means , hia friends flocked to his standard , he gathered and disciplined his army , met his enemies on fche field of battle , and successfully routed them ; established

rights of conscience , drove out the foreign and Jesuit priests from his country , established law and order everywhere , with public education for all classes , fostered , protected and maintained the Lodges of Freemasonry everywhere , when persecution had closed the doors of their temples , and marching on the road of freedom and progress to a higher state of development and civilisation , wifch civil

and religious liberty guaranteed to all . There stands that brother Mason , the once refugee , hunted by enemies , the brave , the noble , the faithful , indomitable aud unconquerable patriot President of Mexico , Illustrious Brother and General Porfirio Diaz , the Bobert Bruce of tho Mexican Eepublic . What of thafc faithful brother Mason , the purser of thafc steamship ,

who , when hi » fortunes were at their lowest , saved his brother Mason ' s life for the benefit of his country and mankind ? Some considerable of a length of time afterwards , that purser thought he would take a hasty trip to fche city of Mexico , nofc having been there for many years . He accordingly went and put up at his hotel , and in the evening , retiring to his room , he closed the door and

was disrobing for the night when he heard the noise of feet and the jingling of metal , followed by a knock afc his door . Expecting no one and not being acquainted in that large and strange city , he cautiously opened it , when in marched several general officers in brilliant uniform , with their leader in advance , who halted tbem and said : " Gentlemen , and brethren , there stands the man to whom I

owe my life , and all of us our positions . " It was General Porfirio Diaz , the President of Mexico and his staff . He then embraced the purser , who was astounded at what he saw , and with difficulty could scarcely recognise the poor brother Mason whom he had so faithfully given protection and given his Masonic word to , in the person of the President of Mexico , and his staff , who

now stood before him . Bewildered and confused at what he saw , it waa some time before he could recover hia senses . Tho interview was briefly brought to a close that evening , and the next day the purser waa the guest of Bro . Diaz , the Prcsidanfc of Mexico , who prevailed upon him to accept the position of Consul of Mexico at fche Port of St . Nazarro , iu Brittany , France , where he waa

stationed for several years , performing his official duties to the satisfaction of tho Mexican Government . He was then promoted to Consul General of Mexico at the City of Paris , from whence , at hia own request , he was a few years since transferred as Consul- General for Mexico afc tho city of San Francisco , where ho is now , to tho entire satisfaction of the Mexican Government and all who havo

business with him , filling tho duties of his office . He married a lady of Mexico , and has a mosfc charming and interesting family . Ho is still a Master Mason in good standing and a member of Parfaite Union Lodge , 17 , F . and A . M ., at San Francisco , California ,

and his name ia Alexander K . Coney , an American by birth , having beeu born 1 st April 1847 , in tho State of Louisiana . Truth ia stranger than fiction , and theae events of actual fact transcend any tale of romance ever written . —Brother Edwin A . Sherman , 33 degree .

Ad00902

rMPOUTANT NOTICE . —Confidential Advice free per post to nil jL in \ vo ! ik and failing health , with loss of strength and vitality . Fifty years experience in Nervous Ailments . Address , tho Secretary , ' . ' > Fity . allan Square ; , fcihellield . Form of correspondence I ' rec . Write to-day . 00 years experience . All di ^ euoos arising from impurity ol tho blood absolutely cured .