Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondent * . LODGE No . 600 .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EREELIA 30 MS' . MAGAZINE AWD MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The letter in your List MAGAZINE struck me as being a feasible manner of getting the Lodge No . GOO out of the difficulty it appears to be in , only I would suggest that the tribunal to submit the subject to should be a

disinterestedone , and not members of that lodge . As the writer remarks , the thing has now become a Craft scandal , and should be settled one Avay or another . I Avould advise Lodge No . 600 to place the matter in the hands of the Provincial Deputy , asking him to summon his

Past Wardens to examine the boots , and make a report . When this has been done , the Craft may deal with it as it thinks proper , and no doubt justice will he done . Should the lodge decline this , it must he content to remain under the stigma of having attempted an imposition through your columns . I am , yours fraternally , P . M .

10 THE EDITOR OP THE I'REEHIASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The very judicious remarks made by your correspondents in last Saturday ' s MAGAZINE , respecting the position in ' which Lodge . No . 600 is placed , induces me to give you the result of some inquiries I Live made into the matter ,

first premising that much trouble might have been spared bad the lodge either discontinued publishing such tables , or beeu prepared to defend them , instead of again provoking discussion and remaining silent as to their meaning . My inquiries into the origin of the unique system

pursued by Lodge No . 600 haA'e fully satisfied me that it owes its existence to some language used hy the Treasurer in Provincial Graud Lodges , for which he was censured by the late Deputy Provincial Grand Master , AA'hereupou he declared that he Avould never enter Provincial Grand Lodge again , when presided over by the late brother , and would take care that no further monies should

go from his lodge to the Masonic Charities . In both cases , I understand , he strictly kept his Avord , having been for some years really the ruler of the Avhole lodge . Previous to this , the lodge had supported the Masonic Charities Avith commendable liberality . As to the lodge ' s contributions to local and other

charities , the various answers to my inquiries tended so much towards attributing motives , that I withhold them , further than saying that the last vote , to the " Dramatic College , " is indebted to the Treasurer ' s in direct connection with the stage . It Avas only car-

Correspondence.

ried by a narrow majority , and resulted in the resignation of some of the members . I am assured that a mutinous spirit pervades the lodge in consequence of these votes , ancl the AvithdraAval of all support from the Masonic Charities . With respect to the "funds" and "institutions , " I

am informed that the whole accumulated capital of the lodge is divided by the Treasurer , according to a system peculiarly his own , and p laced as in No . 1 Table ; but that there is nothing beyond this to add to the existence of separate funds , ancl that the whole could at any time be appropriated to any purpose , and

the so-named " funds" scattered to the winds . The " institutions , " I am also assured are only a part of the same mysterious system , aud the sums apparently so voted are not disbursed , or even taken from the general lodge fund , except in the case

of a few pence Aveekly having been paid for the schooling of the Tyler ' s child , ancl an occasional shilling to a distressed brother . Further , that there is no by-law for the protection of this or any other part of the tables , nor have these so-called "institutions" and " funds" auy existence , in fact .

In reply to my inquiry as to the increase of members , I was informed that many of them were foreigners , and were merely initiated and continued subscribers , but that out of ninety-two members as returned in the tables , it Avas seldom that more than from a dozen to a score attended lodge meetings ,

Avhile the chapter had died a natural death . With regard to the Treasurer's remarks in his circular , as to the furnishing of the Masonic ward in the Bradford Infirmary , I am informed that Lodge No . 600 Avas not in existence Avhen the ward Avas originally famished , and also that the members of

another lodge in the town have been principally instrumental in its addition . Many other particulars haA e come to my knowledge , but the above may tend to unravel the mystery hanging over this lodge ' s tables , as well as answer some of the caustic queries of " Investigator . " Iu

conclusion , I will only add that I have reported nothing but what from careful inquiry from reliable sources I believe to be substantially correct . In guarantee of which I enclose my card , and am Yours , very truly and fraternally , YERITAS .

Our Masonic Charities.

OUR MASONIC CHARITIES .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —My attention has been again called to the subject of subscriptions to the Charities hy a remark in the report of the Boys ' School , stating that out of 25 , 000 members of our Order , not more than 2 , 000 subscribed to that Institution . NOAV supposing the Avhole number subscribed