Correspondence.

I must first premise my remarks by stating that Bro . Barker ' s letter cannot be considered as an answer to my letter to you on the 20 th of November , which contained a statement of the facts of the case . With regard to the first paragraph iu Bro . Barker ' s letter we must take it for what it is worth . In answer to the second paragraph I beg most

emphatically to state that neither the letter nor the spirit of the resolution of Prov . Grand Lodge was carried out . In the third paragraph , Bro . Barker says , " the different lodges took the scheme into consideration , and some decided on requesting my attendance for explanation , which I cheerfully gave , and explained what they wished lained . But lodge No . 624 neither requested my

exp presence nor asked for explanations , nor tried to understand my scheme ; but passed resolutions expressed in anything but courteous terms , requesting their representatives in Provincial Grand Lodge to oppose my proposal . In proof of 624 not understanding the scheme , a P . M . of that lodge , perhaps your correspondent , actually did not know the fund from which I proposed to raise

the inouey , and had some foggy idea that it was the Fund of Benevolence of the Province . " How Bro . Barker could presume to write such a- paragraph I cannot understand . He certainly seems to have put himself to some trouble to explain himself to those lodges that requested his attendance ; but what was the . result of the explanations ? he did not receive the support of these

lodges in carrying out his object ! As to lodge 624 neither requesting Bro . Barker's attendance to explain his scheme , nor the brethren of that lodge not trying to understand it , I have to state that Bro . Barker was invited by circular to attend the regular meeting of St . George ' s Lodge ( No . 624 ) on the 6 th May last , when the scheme was to be considered . Bro . Barker ctid not attend , and the brethren took the scheme into their own consideration , as it stood upon the notice paper thus : —Bro . Barker , Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s motion in Prov . Grand Lodge . First— "That

one perpetual Governorship in one of the four Masonic Charities be annually or biennially purchased from the Fund of General Purposes , and the privileges of it given to the W . M . ( for the time being ) of one of the lodges of the province , taken in rotation , not by roll , but from those making the largest and most regular returns of contributions to the two funds of the province ; those lodges

not contributing regularly to be excluded . Second—The lodges contributing in the same year an equal amount to that granted by Provincial Grand Lodge , to have the preference in the selection . Third—No second governorship to be allotted to the same lodge till all in their turn have received one governorship , unless such lodge has received the previous governorshifrom having

contrip buted an equal amount from its funds . " After duly considering the scheme in all its details , and I have no hesitation in saying that it was better understood by some of the members of lodge 624 than by Bro . Barker himself , the following resolution was unanimously agreed to : — " The brethren of this lodge ( 624 ) , while anxious to lend their aid in support of the Masonic Charities , are of

opinion that the terms of Bro . Barker ' s propositions are vague and unsatisfactory . That the Prov . Grand Lodge of Northumberland has powers to enforce regular payments of the proper fees . Thatthesecondand third clauses are totally unnecessary ; and that the W . M ., Wardens , and other members of this lodge who are members of the Provincial Grand Lodge be requested to use every

effort to get the first clause amended , and the second and third clauses struck out . " Now I ask , is there anything uncourteous or unreasonable in the resolution come to ? Does it not show an anxiety to support a resolution in Provincial Grand Lodge by which the funds of the Masonic Charities may be augmented P though requiring such resolution should be based on the principles of Freelnasomy , the constitutions of the Fraternit j ' , and common sense . Does Bro . Barker not know that the Provincial Grand Lodge has powers to enforce regularity

of payments of all fees due from every lodge m the province , and that in default any lodge can be placed in the same position as All Saints Lodge ( No . 161 ) , Wooler , which is at present suspended by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland for refusing to make returns and payment of the fees due ? And why trammel the first of the three propositions by such unconstitutional

conditions ? The second and third propositions are mere loopholes to creep out of in case of any of the smaller lodges in the province , such as Nos . 161 , 554 , 919 , or 957 , ever becoming entitled to a presentation , when it would be found that some of the wealthier lodges had purchased a life governorship out of their own funds , and thus ' were entitled to a preference over such lodges as had

not the funds to do so . There is a want of charity in these two propositions . I cannot better explain the position of the smaller lodges than by submitting the following illustration : — St . George's Lodge ( No . 624 ) , in addition to contributing twice as much as any other lodge to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland , annually votes to the

various Charities ten guineas ; now , instead of dividing that amount , were they to expend that sum annually in purchasing a ten guinea Governorship in . one of the Charities , " they would come before the Provincial Grand Lod ^ e every year with a claim to the presentations , which would render it impossible for some of the lodges ever to get a Governorship from the Provincial funds . I

think this will sufficiently show that 624 did understand Bro . Barker's scheme , and were anxious that every lodge in the province should be put on equal terms . To revert to Bro . Barker's third paragraph , I cannot help expressing my indignation at the following sentences : "In proof of 624 not understanding the scheme , a P . M . of that lodge , perhaps your correspondent , actually did not know the fund from which I proposed to raise the money , and had some foggy idea it was the Fund of Benevolence of the province . " I fully expect my

explanation thus far \ vill have shown that 624 did understand the scheme , and am surprised that Bro . Barker should be so ignorant as not to know that a P . M . does not constitute St . George ' s Lodge , no more than Bro . Barker constitutes the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland ; and I cannot help saying that the brother hinted at by Bro . Barker has worked all the offices in Craft and

Royal Arch Masonry from the I . G . to W . M ., and all the offices in the Chapter up to First Principal ; not as some of our provincial great guns have done in the butterfly style , but has done all the work appertaining to the offices . As to his not knowing the difference of the two funds , the said brother intended to give notice of motion at last provincial meeting for the total abolition of fees

of honour in the province , and was requested to adjourn the matter till next meeting , when the matter will be brought forward , and the working expenses of the Provincial Grand Lodge provided for out of its large annual revenue without requiring payment of fees for appointments to the offices in the province , which should be conferred upon those brethren only who have really worked

for them . I hope I have sufficiently shown that Bro . B . has mistaken his man in this instance . The fourth paragraph of Bro . Barker's motion is mere claptrap . The resolution of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Emergency , held on the 5 th of March last , was not carried out , and the matter could not be brought forward at the meeting on the 8 th November , and theD . P . G . M .

was only doing his duty in calling Bro . Barker to order . In conclusion , while expressing my sincere regret at taking up so much of your valuable space , I would fraternally urge upon Bro . Barker to take a more candid part in the matter , and if anxious to aid the funds of the Charities , that he should express his propositions in language to be understood , and not , as before , cause confusion by which , in the end ,, the Charities suffer . I am . clear Sir and Brother , yours Fraternally , North Shields . Dec . 1861 . P . M . No . 624 .