Charity Voting.

votes being " open to exchange . " And to the last remark of our good brother we feel specially bound to take exception , as , with all deference to him , involving both a fallacy and an absurdity .

Let us put the case in this way . A certain number of applicants are to be elected . A has case in which he takes a particular interest , B has no case in which he takes a personal

interest , except than as a well-wisher to the charity , and desirious of helping the indigent or orphan . A says to B I want to get in case 35 > you have only a general interest , but may

on distinct grounds prefer perhaps case 32 yourself , but you do not deny that case 35 is a good case ; therefore help me this time , and if you have a case next time I will help you . Is there

anything wrong in this ? B no doubt might have voted for 3 a on general grounds of philanthropy , but at the request of A he supports a very good case per

se , 35 , and how can he be blamed ? Or , D says , E vote for me this time and I will vote for your case next time ! In that way we shall certainly get them both in . Again ,

is there an ) thing wrong in such an exchange ? On the contrary is it not by such arrangements , habitually , and constantly made , that

numbers of benevolent people exert themselves to secure , and they do secure the election of cases , which but for them would perhaps have no chance at all .

There is a tendency amongst us all , just now , we dont know why , to lay down certain hard and fast lines on all subjects , charity not even excepted .

Now we profess to be somewhat old fashioned on this , as on all subjects , and modes of thought and action , and of this one fact we feel persuaded , that the less we interfere with those , whoikno w

what they are about , the better , as a general rule for us all , and the _ better for all classes in society , That some abuses in the charities may exist we do not deny . And where do not abuses

exist ? Yec if any one is so foolish as our Bro . Simpson alleges , to ofFer to exchange six votes , for a certain asylum for a " lop eared rabbit , or a seal skin jacket , " ( we fear that the offender is

a She , ) surely , that is not a sufficient justification of the little reforms proposed , which would entirely alter the character of some of our

charitable institutions , and take away undoubtedly a large amount of personal support , and of individual interest .

We still say , as we said before , that with some few changes , if needed , it is far wiser to leave well alone .

Weekly Summary.

WEEKLY SUMMARY .

The Queen and Court have left Windsor Castle for Osborne , where they arrived on Saturday . Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Marlborough House on Saturday from their visit to Lord and Lad y Rendlesham .

The Duke of Edinburgh , who presided at the Conversazione given to him b y the Society of Arts on Thursday last , will it is said leave England on the 30 th en route for Russia , and is

expected to arrive at St . Petersburgh on the 4 th of January . Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse have returned to Darmstadt . Her Majesty has raised to the high honour of

Weekly Summary.

the Peerage , Mr . Monsell , late Postmaster-General , by the title of Baron Emly ; Mr . Moncrief , Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland , by the title of Baron Moncrief ; Admiral the Hon . Edward George Granville Howard , by the title of Baron Lamerton ; and Sir J ohn Duke

Coleridge , Knt ., Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas , by the title of Baron Coleridge . The governing body of the well-known school at Rugby hare removed Dr . Hayman from the head-mastership , a proceeding which , among other consequences , will certainly give

rise to a Ions ; correspondence in iheTimes . The news from the Gold Coast continues good , though a good deal of sickness is prevalent . Colonel Wood , V . C ., and Major Home had pursued and attacked apparently Anamquartias retreating , and disorganised masses , and the

Ashantees seem " on the trail ' homewards . The Castro trial is adjourned to the 30 th , when Dr . Kenealy will be expected to finish in a week , though a good many people think , that , in his case certainly , the licence of counsel has been carried far enough and long enough in all

. There is not much home news to record , the more so as most people are thinking of the Christmas celebration , and we wish a happy

Christmas to all our readers . In foreign news there is not much to notice . Marshal Bazaine is to go to the Isle of St . Marguerite , famous in older days for being the place of detention for some time of the Man in the

Iron Mask . The Dutch have had another successful encounter at Acheen , but have lost General Dixon by cholera . The bombardment of Carthagena continues , but an assault is talked of . In the meantime

" Jack , " every ready to do a good turn to somebody , is happily and cheerfully employed in taking off the women and children ; The Carlists are quiet , but General Moriones contemplates some active movements . The Virginius

has been delivered up to the Americans , and compensation is promissd . The American accounts of the butchery of the captain and the poor crew , all non-combatants , are simply sickening , and a disgrace to the humanity and civilization of the age .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

BRO . BIGG AND BRO . SALMON . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I hope I am not exceptionally thinskinned , but I do confess to a little soreness at the tone of Bro . Bigg ' s letter , especially at his allusions .

ist . His avowed dislike to anonymous correspondents . Now Sir , I do not consider myself to deserve that character , and if ( you will allow me to be guilty of the ingratitude of grumbling just a little bit of one who is so good as to insert his lucubrations , I think an asterisk referring to a

foot note which you , Sir , might have supplied to Bro . Bigg ' s letter , should in justice to me have informed him that my letter , after the signature P . M ., contained the number of my lodge , which , Sir , you thought fit to omit , and also the place whence I dated my epistle , both which , taken

together , would sufficiently have conveyed my identity to the majority of the metropolitan esoteric world , but this locality you also thought fit to omit , and if I may venture to say so , Sir , I think rightly , although I assert that I sent them for purposes of publication , because I

did not wish to lay myself open to the charge , I think rather ungraciously , brought against me by Bro . Bigg , of being an anonymous correspondent . But , Sir , I think that upon principle your omission was commendable , for I hold that where facts are , or probably will be , admitted

and mere suggestions as to the applications of law and principles to those facts are all that are offered where accurately speaking no personal matter at all is involved , it is wholly immaterial whether the thoughts so propounded , assuming that they carry intrinsic evidence of being offered bona fide are vouched by any signature at all , so long as your rule is complied with , ( and the ap-

Original Correspondence.

- ' ' " ¦¦ ¦ ¦* - » pearance in type is a guarantee of that condition precedent having been fulfilled ) and you have access to the writer , if communication with him . subsequently should become necessary . and . The implied sneer about disturbing my fraternal impartiality is uncalled for , applied to

a writer who only wished to assert the value of the golden rule , audi alter am partem ; it is beside irrelevant , and , considering the tone of my letter unbecoming . I still venture to think that the question at issue between Bros . Salmon and Bigg does

involve a charge of boorishness and inhospitality on the one hand , and might ( if we had had a reply from the Middlesex Lodge , which I had a right to assume , when I wrote , would be forthcoming ) have involved a justification on the ground of caution and fidelity ' on the other . Nor

can I see in such an issue anything inconsistent with the proposition made by Bro . Bigg of the controversy being one which goes to the very root of Masonry and its principles . However , while protesting against the tone of Bro . Bigg ' s letter , and admitting that the other

epistle from "An . Old Past Grand Officer , " glances wildly aside from the issue , I frankly admit that the existence of the rule or bye-law , ( if the latter , what has our esteemed Grand Secretary to . say to it ) cited by Bro . Salmon to Bro . Bigg , and the line of conduct adopted

towards the latter brother , have raised a prima facte case against the Middlesex Lodge , which , to my mind , most imperatively calls for an answer , and the reticence displayed , in my judgment , goes far to justify the imputations of exclusiveness and repudiation of the principle of Masonic

equality , not obscurely conveyed by the two letters upon which I have commented . May I add in conclusion that I fully subscribe to the exposition of the doctrines of Masonic theory and practice contained in ! those letters , however much I may take exception to the tone

in which such exposition is promulgated , and I will not yield to either of the writers in strenuous advocacy of the maintenance of the landmark in its fullest spirit and completest integrity , which not merely confers as a privilege , but enjoins as a duty , the constant practice of Masons to visit

and study the working of all lodges under our English constitution , whenever they find leisure and opportunity , and possess the desire in this manner to pursue the object , dear to every true Mason , of obtaining further proficiency in the knowledge of the noble science . On the principles I have stated in a former

part of my letter , I now deliberately refrain from indicating my personalty , the knowledge is , however , heartily at Bro . Bigg ' s or Bro . Salmon ' s service , should both or either of them refer to you for it . For the information of the Craft at large I content myself by simply subscribing my non deplume as , Dear Sir , yours fraternally , P . M .

LODGE BANQUETS v . MASONIC CHARITIES . - To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I must apologize for not answering our good Bro . Gotthiel's communication before , but all my spare time has lately been required for purposes not of so pleasant a character as a friendly

discussion in the pages of The Freemason . My friend , Bro . Dr . Hodges , knowing well the true state of the funds of many country lodges , in his customary kind and effective manner , supported a few lines from me respecting our lodge banquets , and their payment out of the

the "Funds . " Bro . Gottheil , a zealous Mason in London , has in a most fraternal letter written to express his objection to the views advocated by us , and were the reasons offered for our brother ' s disapproval , as "just and true , " as he believes them to be , evidently we are wrong , and Bro . Gottheil is

right . I venture , however , to differ entirely from the description offered by Bro . Gottheil of the general character of our lodge subscriptions in the country , and while I cheerfully admit that all the members of those Lodges wherein additional , or inclusive payments are made for banquets , have a right to enjoy the festivals and