Correspondence.

General Purposes to require so high a rent for the use of rooms at Freemasons' Hall as to drive the brethren to seek a place of meeting elsewhere ? Is it not rather desirable that they should be tempted hy a moderately low , or at all events , a reasonable rent , to continue to meet in Great Queen-street ? Efc seems to be admitted on all sides , that whatever rent may he

charged , whatever rent lodges may be willing to pay , will not suffice to raise an annual sum that will produce more than a modicum of interest for what , that irresponsible body calling themselves the Building Committee , have so lavishly expended , aud with , I may add , such very unsatisfactory results . It is true

we have a few large rooms , inconveniently large for many , perhaps the majority of lodges , and in many respects unfit and ill suited for the working of our ceremonies . I refer more particularly to those rooms that face the west , where the light of day cannot be excluded , although it is said that thicker curtains are

to be supplied , to remedy in some measure this grave objection . The lodge rooms , however , such as they are , the Craft might be disposed to use , if a reasonable rent were charged . I am led to address you publicly on this subject , as it is Masonically a public question , and oue in which

the London Masons generally are concerned , because one lodge I know has already been turned away by the terms asked for the use of those rooms they have assisted , to build ; and I do hope that by drawing public attention to the matter , the Board will reconsider the question and re-adjust their terms , and refrain from adopting so suicidal a course of action . I have assumed that no rental will vield a fair rate

of interest on the money already expended , so far , at least , as we can ascertain from the printed accounts which are published quarterly . It is difficult—so much are we kept in the dark as to what is going on . —to form a correct estimate of the probable working expenses , exclusive of quarterly payments made to the Graud Secretary and the clerksivhich in the year

, amounts to something over £ 1 , 000 , hub I venture to make a rough calculation which may possibly induce more competent brethren to go into the matter . In dealing with this question I have regard only to what has been called tho "Masonic portion . " The buildings , furniture , and effects will I assume be' assured ;

ancl as no hazardous trade or business will be carried on , tho premium will be ot the lowest rate charged by the assurance offices . This will probably amount to £ 80 a year . The rates and taxes from £ 350 to £ 100 ; servants wages , board and clothing—say , hall porterwages £ 50 board £ 30 clothing , two suits of

, , , , Iheiy , £ 12— £ 92 . Two or three housemaids , £ 14 wages , £ 25 board— £ 117 . Fuel , coals , coke , and wood , £ 150 . Gas and lighting , £ 100 . Wear and tear of furniture at the usual per centage on the prime costs would be about £ 200 . Sundry small payments ; G 50 , giving a probable annual expenditure

of something close upon £ 1 , 200 , in addition to the before named sum of £ 1 , 000 . I have not made any allowance in the above for the expenses of a reading room , a library , or such like , which some day or another , it is understood we are to have , as at present eating and drinking seem to occupy the minds of the Building Committee , more than literature and the well being of the Craft . Possibly these rooms when provided may be made , as had been foreshadowed

Correspondence.

self-supporting . I see no objection in requiring that those brethren who use the library , & c ., should contribute to the expense . But with this subject I do not now wish to deal . The object of my letter has reference solely to lodge rooms and lodge payments for the same , and to the annual expense of maintaining those roomsomitting altogether the money

ex-, pended in building which is sunk aud will produce noreturn . I have calculated the annual outgoings at upwards of £ 2 , 000 . The reality will probably be in excess of that sum . How is this sum to be raised ? If * lodges are to be tempted to meet at Freemasons' " Hallthe payments for lodge rooms must be smalh

, Taking one lodge with another , and taking at thesame time the lodges now meeting at the hall , a revenue of more than £ 400 cannot be looked for-Chapters are fewer in number , and they meet less frequently than lodges . From tliem probably £ 150

may be obtained ; other sources of revenue , unless , indeed , majority should enforce the payment of a rent from the two Masonic Schools , and the Royal Benevolent Institution for the use of officers , do not exist . Eor the future we must spend what ought to become capital to maintain our present buildings ; : and I cannot but think that under these

circumstances it would be more politic to ask a moderate rent , and retain lodges , than to require a higher payment and thus probably force some lodges to remove , and prevent others from seeking to hold their meetings in the buildings which have been erected with the money of the Craft .

I earnestly entreat the Board of General Purposes to take this important subject into their serious consideration , and at once grapple with a difficulty which must ere long be met . I have the honour to be , yours fraternally , SCETTTATOB *

The Late Bro. Lloyd Jones.

THE LATE BRO . LLOYD JONES .

TO THE EDITOK 01 . THE EltEESTASOXS XTAGAZI 2 TE AST } MASONIC UIRHOE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —In the last number of the FEEEIIASO ' NS' MASAZIXE appeared some lines from the pen of the above brother , on the recent death of the much esteemed Bro . Estwick , P . M . At the time of those lines heiug composed Bro . Lloyd Jones was in excellent health . He is now in the cold

grave . All the eulogiums passed by him upon Bro . Estwick were applicable to himself . Although of mature age ( sixty years ) he had not long been iuitiated , but since that time he had won the esteem of many brethren . One who had enjoyed his friendship and appreciated his good qualities during a

period of twenty j-ears , desires to record this tribute to his memory . Tours fratern allv , 1 N . W . H .

Charity Stewards.

CHARITY STEWARDS .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE EREEXASOXS' MAGAZINE AKD SIASOXIC MIRROR . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —Like many , doubtless , of your country readers , I have derived a certain amount cf useful information respecting the Stewardships of the Masonic Charities , or rather of the particular institution which is so efficientl y represented by Bro . Binckes , from the letter of that brother , and from your editorial ' article , which appeared in your numbers of Dec . 30 th , and January 6 th respectively ,