Correspondence.

I have no facts before me with which to support my argument . Let that be admitted—and I will not therefore rely upon it ; but I believe I can show almost to demonstration that no loss , if not a large positive gain , would ensue . In the first place we now receive from our tenants , on an average , £ 800 a year , and I suppose I shall not be far out , if I take the rates and taxes at £ 200 a year moremaking a total of £ 1000 per annumwhich we have to

, , make good . To do this I have to look to various sources , for I would have a well appointed library , museum , and light refreshment room , open to all Freemasons without any charge whatever ; a subscription coffee and readingroom for those who choose to avail themselves of it ; and . handsomely furnished Jlodge and banqueting rooms , for the use of which a small rent should be charged to the Lodges availing themselves of them .

These charges should be regulated at from 10 s . M . to £ 1 11 , 9 , 6 « f . pelevening , according to the accommodation required ; and if I strike the average at £ 1 Is ., which I am sure no Lodge will object to pay , and presuming that only the same number of Lodges and Chapters continue to hold their meetings in our own buildings as at present meet at the Tavern , I shall find the following result : — Thirty-eight Lodges six times a-year . . . £ 239 S 0 Eight Chapters S 3 12 0 £ 273 0 0

Here , Sir , I have a sum of £ 273 per annum to begin with , and I am sure that no Lodge will grudge to pay from £ 5 3 . ? . to £ 20 10 s . a-year tor the greater care which can be taken of their furniture and property than can be the case in a tavern where other business is conducted , or for the use of furniture which they do not possess ; whilst they will be relieved from the implied obligation of having refreshments , even when they do not reit

quire , which too many of them at present feel . Then again we have a Masonic expenditure at thcjjresent moment for refreshments of £ 5000 a year . Now , I imagine I shall not he considered as exaggerating the likelihood of its productiveness if I presume £ 20 a week , or £ 1000 a year , more would be expended in a properly appointed coffee room—the want of which has long been felt and acknowledged by all who have attended the various committees or elections of the Orderthe boards

, of Stewards , or Grand Lodge . This gives us £ 6000 a year which might be let by tender to a Brother in the Craft ( giving the present tenants the option , if they should desire , of taking it ) , and which I consider I am taking a very low estimate when I place it at 5 per cent ., or £ 300 a year , making " with the sums above mentioned , £ 573 , leaving me still about £ 130 to provide , and which , I believe , will be more than repaid from the subscriptions to the coffee room , which I propose to place at £ 1 It . per annum for London

Masons , and 10 s . U . for those in the country . Now , I find from your pages , that there are rather more than 130 Lodges in the Metropolitan districts , out of which I believe at least , three members in each ( the principal officers merely , who have business at Grand Lodge and in the committees , to say nothing of the Past Masters ) would be found to subscribe their £ 1 Is ,, which , in round , numbers , would produce rather more than £ 500 a year . Then there are upwards of 500 Provincial Lodges , and allowing we only get one member from each , we should obtain a further sum of upwards of £ 250 making the general result as follows ;— '