Correspondence.

Lodge . Unless , as stated at the end of Sec . 9 proposing members— " There be no other lodge in the vicinity of his dwelling of which he can become a member , he may be permitted to pay through the lodge in which he was initiated , the quarterly dues to the Fund of Benevolence . " But such payments ivould not constitute the Tyler or serving brother a member of that lodge . Therefore our

Bro . Davis ' s diction that Tylers cannot be considered servingbrethren cannot hold ; nor can we say with either the Deputy Prov . G . M . and Bro . Davis that tho Constitutions are not clear on this subject , although they might have been clearer . As other lodges may be labouring under the same doubts on this pointand as other brethren ' s inions or

, op your own , may differ from those here expressed , I hope the subject wil receive the benefit of your observations , and that of others , and I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , J . B ., TOUR NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT , PROV . G . T . Northumberland , Dec . 23 rd , 1861 .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE _ . _ . EE _ IASO _ . S MAGAZINE AJT _> 3 _ AS 0 _ ttC ____ REOIt . DEAB . SIB . AND BROTHER . —Being from home on the 23 rd November , the Magazine of that date was mislaid and it was not found till this clay . I therefore , only just saw P . M . 624 ' s letter on my motion to invest annually or biennally ¦ a sum of money towards the forming of every lod in

ge the province into perpetual governors of the Masonic charities . In reply , I beg to say that the scheme proposed by me was inserted in your report of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Emergency of the 5 th of March last , and the Prov . Grand Sec . and myself thought that bsending a of THE

y copy MAGAZINE , in which it was published to each of the lodges ofthe province , was fulfilling , if not the letter , at least the spirit of the resolution of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Emergency . The different lodges took the scheme into consideration , and some decided on requesting my attendance for some explanation , which I cheerfully gave and explained what

they wished explained , B ttt lodge 624 neither requested my jiresence nor asked for explanations , nor tried to understand my scheme ; but passed resolutions expressed in anything but courteous terms , requesting their representatives in Prov . Grand Lodge , to oppose my proposal . In proof of 624 not understanding the scheme , a P . M . of that lodge , ] ierhaps your correspondent , actually did not know the fund from which I proposed to raise the money , and had some foggy idea that it was the fund of benevolence ofthe

province ; a reference to its rules would have shown him that could not be touched . The reason why I did not proceed with my motion at the regular Prov . Grand Lodge was , not that I would not have succeeded to persuade the brethren present of the beneficial effect my proposal would have had ; or that the fund from which I intended to be applied for my proposal ,

perfectly free to be so employed , and that it was virtually under no control of anybody else but Prov . Grand Lodge , being the Fund of General Purposes , which is raised from the fees of honour of Prov . G . officers . But my reason for dropping my motion was partly the callousness shown by some of the lodges , while others warmly supported it , but were not in sufficient numberwithout further explanations

, , which I was ready to give , to carry the motion ; but , as was stated in your report , I got annoyed at the uncalled-for , ancl , what every one thought improper , interruptions of the D . Prov . G . M ., who , as was correctly reported in your MAGAZINE , unnecessarily called me to order in a manner that every one thought not only uncalled for , but far from courteous . For I was speaking on my motion , which I had

given notice of at the last regular meeting , and I was entering into some necessary explanations , which , if I had seen they were satisfactory to the Prov . Grand Lodge , I would have concluded with my motion , which would have increased the funds of the Charities ; and , if not approved , would have either modified or withdrawn my motion . But the manner and mode of the interruption was such that it

Correspondence.

annoyed me , and , under the circumstances , I thought it better to allow my motion to drop than create any dissension by retorting to a superior officer , although he was decidedly wrong in his call of order . I shall not abandon the Charities for all this , ancl I yet trust that I will see my project carried in some other shape . I will not ascribe uncharitable reasons for the opposition

I have experienced , but if P . M . 124 really will support the Charities , he has only to communicate with me ; I will do all I can to explain anything he cannot understand , and , if he wishes , to let him bring forward in any other shape my motion , provided the Charities get the benefit of it . I shall not care who has the honour to carry the proposition . I have been too long a Mason , and my experience has long

tought me that , provided good is done , never mind who has the credit of it ; and I can well afford that others should derive the benefit of my work . This would not have been the first time that I allowed my work to be appropriated by others , provided the Order benefitted by it . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly , JOHN BARKER , Prov . G-. Treas ., Northumberland . " Tb ' eweasth-on-Tyne , December 24 , 1861 .

The Temple And The Grand Conclave.

THE TEMPLE AND THE GRAND CONCLAVE .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FEEE __ ASO _ iS' 1 _ A (_ AZI _ . E AXD -IASO .. IC HH-BOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your last number you state " on authority" in reference to the use of the Temple by Grand Conclave " that not only was the subject not brought under the consideration of the Board , but that the Temple was never applied for . " This statementwhile I do not imply any such intention

, on the part of the " authority , " would certainly lead most of your readers to a conclusion at variance with'the facts . The use of the Temple having been refused to the Metropolitan Chapter of the Rose Croix , some members of the Board of General Purposes , who are Knights Templar , apprehensive that the Grand Conclave would experience a similar refusal for the use of the Temple at their proposed

meeting ( lately past ) , brought the subject under the consideration of the Board of General Purposes , when , after much discussion , it was decided , in effect , that until Grand Lodge or the Board should rule otherwise , the use of the Temple should be confined to the purposes of Craft and Royal Arch Masonry . An amendment proposed to the effect that in consideration

of their having long had the privilege , the Grand Conclave should , without prejudice , be allowed to use the Temple at their next proposed meeting , was lost . These decisions of the Board of General Purposes having been pronounced , might naturally , and without any impropriety , be reported by the Knights present to their absent companionsand would as naturallprevent further

, y any application . If my recollection of the tenor of the motions is incorrect it can be set right by those ivho may think so sending you copies of the motions to which I have referred . I am , clear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , K . T .

THE NEW SIITKXA LITEHARV AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION , which owes its origin mainly to our indefatigable Bro . Hyde Clarke , was opened on Thursday evening , the 28 th ult . The Impartial , of the 29 th reports the event as follows : — " The apartment was brilliantly illuminated , and the company numbered about two hundred persons . At nine o ' clock , the president Mr . Hyde Clarke took the chair , and delivered an eloquent discourse on the

advantages of the Institution , which was followed by an address from . Mr . Legal A'iee-Consul Logie . Mr . James Whittal , Dr . Mc Craith , and the Eev . Mr . Coull also delivered speeches . A vote of thanks to the president and the honorary secretary ( Mr . Tuson ) followed , after which the meeting broke up with the most agreeable impression left on the minds of all . The reading room was decorated with the flags of different nations , which th » — *" < iu 3 Consulates had lent for the occasion . "