Original Correspondence.

I do not feel that one need wait for the replies invited by your correspondent last week , although doubtless they will be satisfactorily given , because it does not appear that any question was raised as to Bro . P . M . Bigg being a Mason ,- indeed lie bears an historic name his father was one of the

leading and prominent Masons of a past generation , and no doubt his son wore the splendid jewel , presented to his worthy sire in olden time . No the rejection and outrage were from a principle of exclusiveness unworthy of the Lodge and cf Masonry , which it is hoped exists to a very small

extent elsewhere . This should be broken down by less tenacious Masons than Bro . Bigg . Brethren steady and firm of purpose must visit the Middlesex Lodge , now and again , as enjoined by the Book of Constitution , till the Middlesex brethren are taught better , or the Lodge is

erased from an Order which , in one instance at least , it has disgraced Bro . P . M . Bigg had an invitation to visit that Lodge but any Past Master has a right to visit that lodge , and remain throughout the working without any invitation . Let me say to the Middlesex exclusives that

we have an organ of Freemasonry circulating in every part of England and vastly beyond it , and its violations of Masonic law and the principles of Freemasonry are disgusting every true hearted Mason within its wide and extended circulation . Yours truly , and fraternally , AN OLD PAST GRAND OFFICER .

READING THE SCRIPTURES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to " P . M . 402 , " I may say thc passage of Scripture used in the . 3 rd degree , is always repeated—never " read . " I am soiry I used the word " read , " it was a great mistake on my part .

I would also assure your correspondent that the woiking of the ceremonies in the Hertford Lodge differs in no wise from that of any other lodge using the Emulation working . We only flatter ourselves that it is better done than in most lodges . With hearty good wishes , I am , fraternally yours , A P . M ., 403 .

A CAUTION . To thc Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — It having come to thc knowledge of the members ofthe Lindsey Lodge that a person giving the name of Geo . W . Ward , has , on more than one occasion succeeded in obtaininsr

money from the Almoners of other lodges by representing himself to be a member of the Lindsew Lodge , and shewing a copy of the byelaws of that lotige in his possession , permit me to state for the benefit of your readers that although Mr . George Went Ward was initiatetl

and passed in this lodge some two years ago , he never received the 3 rd degree , circumstances having occurred which led to the loelge declining that honour . He has no certificate from Grand Lodge , and is returned as a defaulter

by the Lindsey Lotige . I am , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK D . MAKSIM : * , Prov . G . See . Louth , Dec . 10 th , 187 , 3 .

BRO . LUPUS AND BRO . MACLEODMOO KE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In your issue of the ist New ., page 705 , acknowledging from Bro . Emra Holmes the receipt of a cony of my address delivered

befere the Grand Lotige of Canada , on the 14 th August last , you state with reference to the Order of St . John , that " I adopt" the views of Bro . Lupus . I beg to say that long before I ever knew that our talented brother was a member of the Order , or had written em the

subject , I entertained those views , but must confess I feel much gratified h y finding they are shared by so competent an authority as Bro . Lupus . / am , yours fraternally , F . W . J . li . M (; LEOD-MOOKE , Grand Prior of Canada .

Original Correspondence.

MASSACRE OF FREEMASONS IN CUBA .

To thc Editor of Thc Freemason . Dear Sir , and Brother , — I beg to call your attention to the following lines , taken from the New York Times of Wednesday , November 19 , 1873 , " Letters have been received in this city under

date of 'Santiago de Cuba , via Jamaica , Nov . 10 , " showing that thc Spaniards in Cuba , in addition to the bloody cruelty exhibited in the case of those on board the Virginius , have also recently been guilty of other atrocities . The facts are thus related in one of the letters :

' It is known that on the night of thc 7 th inst . after the Virginius had been brought here , the volunteers , together with thc crew of the Tornado , wound up their infernal orgies by making an excursion outside the city where the widows of the unfortunate Master Masons , executed in

1868 , lived in poverty . Shortly after the . outbreak of the Cuban revolution , the Masonic fraternity in Cuba were forbidden to meet in council . The then Captain General issued an order prohibiting the ' contemplated session of the Grand Lodge at Santiago de Cuba . The officers ignored

the pronunciamento , and a company of Spanish volunteers were sent to the lodge-room . They broke open the doors , seized the officers and placed them in irons . The next day they were taken a short distance from the town and shot . The widows and orphans of the murdered men

were sent into the woods and denied subsistence and clothing . They were also forbidden to leave the territory under the penalty of death . Since the year 186 9 , these outcasts have lived on what was surreptitiously sent to them by the humane Cubans . On the night of the 7 th inst .,

when thc news of the Virginius reached Santiago the Spanish volunteers , in fiendish exultation over their triumph , visited these poor creatures . The ruffians brutally outraged the helpless women , and in thc struggle four of them were killed . Seven others have since died , and

several are in such a dangerous condition that they cannot possibly recover . ' In view of the above terrible statement of facts , a petition is now being circulated in tin ' s city , which is being signed generally by the Masters of Masonic lodges in New York , and

Past Masters of lodges residing here , calling for an emergent session of the Grand Lodge of thc State , to take such action as may be necessary in the matter . Similar action on the part of the Masonic fraternity is being taken also in New Jersey and Massachusetts . "

In thc American State papers for 1 S 6 9 , "information in regard to the progress of the revolution in Culm "—pages 5 S , 59 and 60—full particulars arc given of the massacre of the Freemasons alluded to . They were all heads of families and well known in Santiago ; Gonzalo Yillar , lawyer ; Jos 6 Antonio Perez , physician ; Manuel Espin ,

physician •Salvador Benitez , merchant ; the brothers Bruno and Jose Antonio Collazo , merchants ; Miguel Asciencio ; Antonia Villasana , notary public ; and Manuel Fremcda , notary public . They were shot by order of Colonel Palncios of the regiment of Onleguera , without any form of trial , or authority of any source whatsoever . Their only crime was to be Freemasons .

I entreat you to make these facts known to your readers . Freemasons as Freemasons have nothing to elo with politics , but the -Masonic fraternity of Englatu ! can , for humanity ' s sake , ask the British Government not to be indifferent to such atrocities .

Yours hraternally December 3 rd , 1 S 73 . MAXJICUTAN HONORARY MEMBERS . To the Editor of The Freemason . ( IN * KIU'I . Y TO A lUiOTlIKR . OT NO . 1353 . ) Dear Sir and Brother , —

Honorary member ;; should be composed of brethren upon whom the lodge may confer the distinction as a mark of respect , and in consideration of their zeal anil exertion in the cause of Masonry and also for services rendered . Lodge 1353 shoulel have a bylaw such as this"No member shallhavc a right lo vote on any decision , or to sit down to banquet , nor shall he

Original Correspondence.

be eligible to any office unless he shall have previously paid his subscription . " Now as honorary members pay no subscription it is clear they cannot vote , take office , attend the banquet without invitation , nor can they legally address the chair without the

consent of the W . M . unless called upon by the W . M . to give their opinion upon any subject . An honorary member is simply enrolled on the register of a lodge and receives the usual summonses , and has the privilege of attending the meetings , unchallenged as an ordinary visitor

would be . Grand Lodge will not recognize honorary members , and honorary members , P . M ' s who do not subscribe to some lodge cannot obtain admission to Grand Lodge by virtue of their being honorary members , even if P . M ' s of a lodge . MAGNUS OHREN , P . M .. 33 and 452 , G . J . W . for Surrey .

CHARITIES . To tlie Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to make one or two remarks on the unfavourable , but good-natured comments on the "Charity Voting Reform " movement contained in the leading article of last week .

I shall leave Bro . Hogg to speak for himself For myself I am happy to say I am not a " new convert" but an old manager who has seen with deep regret thc gross abuses of the voting system during the last ten years , at least . I did not , and do not say that our "Charities "

are " a pauperizing system , " hut that the mode in which the elections to them are conducted is certainly so . For instance , I should feel much humiliated to see the child and widow of my deceased friend running up and clown the stairs , and corridors of Cannon Street Hotel , with

supplicating looks and gestures ; and thrusting cards of particulars into the hand of every supposed voter ; ov to find the latter sending out 6000 printed cards or circulars giving particulars of her domestic misfortunes , & c , & c . I think , too , you will agree with me that it is rather a

" travcstie of chanty to gravely offer by advertisement " six votes " for a certain "Asylum " in return for a " lop-eared rabbit" or a " seal-skin jacket . '' I look , sir . on every vote as a trust , to be exercised with a sense of responsibility , not a mere chattel for indulging patronage , making money or open to exchange .

Thc charities of England , as of Masonry , are amongst the brightest jewels in its crown of glory—and the managers are , in general , men of the highest integrity , the greatest ability and the most disinterested zeal ; hut it is not the charities or thc managers we attack , it is something

outside of both- a fungus growth of years , eating out the life of charity , and impeding thc healthy action of the voting system . I may mention that our present movement was intended to take within its scope only the general charities , and not those of particular

bodies such as the Freemasons , Clergy and the like . Yet I cannot but ( eel in regard to all our charitable institutions , that the more British sympathy and Christian charity have free course ihe less shall we seek an equivalent for our gifts , or if we must have an equivalent in the shape of

a vote , the more scrupulous shall we be to use it as a solemn trust , to be put out in the interest of thc most poor , most friendless and most deserving . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Fraternally yours , Dec , 17 , 18 73 . R . J . SiMi'SOx .

HOLLOWAY ' OINTMENT AND J ' ILI . S . —During- every break oi wintry ive .-itiier , cxci lions should be made by tile : alllictcd lo recover health before unremitting cold anil trying . '•tonus pet in . Throit ailments , coughs , wheezings , asthmatical affections , shortness of breath , morning nausea , and accumulation of phlegm , can easily be removed by rubbing this line derivathe ointment twice a day upon the

chest and neck . Holloway's ointment is strongly recommended with thc view of giving immediate case , pieventing prospective danger , and effecting permanent relief . These all-itnpo ; t : int ends his ointment and pills can accomplish , and will surely prevent insidioas diseases from fastening on the constitution , to display themselves afterwards in those disastrous forms th . it will probably embitter life till deatf > itself is almost prayed for . AUVT .