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our contemporary considers that these should be supplied gratuitously , let it say so boldly and we shall know how the land lies . But our colonial brethren are not all of the same mind , as we clearly showed a fortnight since in an article relating to this subject , and , in lieu of further argument , we

prefer resting our case on the statement , then referred to , by the District Grand Treasurer of Queensland , in order to correct " the general impression that very large sums of money were ' sent home' as it was termed . " Said that officer : "The fact is , the only fees remitted to Grand Lodge are

7 s . 6 i . for each initiate , and for this the brother is registered in the Grand Lodge of England , and is entitled to the parchment Grand Lodge certificate , and that is the only fee paid from the colonies for the whole lifetime of the brother , unless he joins another lodge , when a single fee of

2 s . od . is paid for registration . There are no annual fees whatever , either from lodges or individual Masons , and yet the brethren in the colonies are entitled to participate in all the Benevolent Institutions of the Grand Lodge of England . " This statement is quoted from the

printed proceedings of a regular communication held by the Dist . Grand Lodge of Queensland , on the Cth June last . We have said already that this testimony was made the subject of an article which appeared in these

columns a fortnight since , and we have reproduced it in full now in order that our New Zealand contemporary may know whither to resort when it is in search of information about colonial lodges and their " remittances home . "

* IN our brief notice last week of the address delivered by Grand reemasonry ] y [ aster ___) E ]^ ai th annual communication in February last

ississippi . 0 r ^ g Grancj Lodge of Mississippi we expressed our belief , based on sundry of his remarks , that there had been latterly a very considerable diminution of prosperity in this jurisdiction ; that is to say , if a large reduction in the number of subscribing members is to be taken as a

criterion of prosperity . Bro . DELAP goes so far as to put this reduction in numbers at quite 5000 in the course of 10 years , the diminution in that time , according to his statement , having been from 12 , 000 to 7000 . We are not prepared to offer any opinion on this reduction

that is , as to whether it does or does not imply a real loss of prosperity , but we question very much whether the principal step recommended by Bro . DELAP , and to a certain extent adopted by Grand Lodge , will have the desired effect of restoring to the Grand Lodgeof Mississippi that fulness of

membership on which it is pleased to lay so much stress . We note with considerable disgust that Bro . DELAP appears to look upon Freemasonry as a kind of benefit society . We judge so from the fact that in commenting on this loss of membership sustained by the Grand Lodge of Mississippi , he

says , " Ten years ago the Knights of Honour and kindred Societies were unknown here . In the meantime , these orders have entered the field , and have offered not only the social , and to some extent the benevolent features of ours , but have , in addition , an insurance feature

which appeals directly to that in our nature that looks after the welfare and happiness of our loved ones , whom we must , soon or late , leave behind us , and all this for a modicum of what our Institutions demands for membership in it . " We are not sufficiently well informed as to what kind

of Society the " Knights of Order" may be , but we judge that it is what we have already referred to—a kind of benefit Society , which cannot exist prosperously without appealing for support to the outer world . Now " Masonry , venerable in age , grand in its teachings , and noble in its

purposes , maybe , as Bro . DELAP expresses it , " worth no more in the market than it will bring , " but to us it is altogether a novel view of our Society to make its success or failure dependent on the goodwill and support of outsiders . We may have formed an exaggerated view of the nature

of Freemasonry , but , rightly or wrongly , we have always regarded , as the great characteristic of the Craft , its absolute independence , for good or evil , of the world outside it in the matter of membership . Other societies look for support from the public , and lay themselves out to

obtain it , but Freemasonry does not ; and if Bro . DELAP and other leading Mississippian brethren are desirous of seeing Freemasonry in their jurisdiction as prosperous as it was 10 years ago , they will avoid appealing to the public for new members . It may suit them for the moment to cast ridicule

on the opinion , advanced by many , " that it is unwise to cheapen Masonry , and all such stuff as that , " but unless they wish to degrade Freemasonry they had better keep up their fees for initiation than lower them . It may

happen that they will be fewer in number , but they will be a better class of men . It is not numbers , but character , that Freemasonry must look to if it would continue prosperous .

v The Anglo-Danish Exhibition , which has been held at South Kensington , under the pitronage of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark , in aid cf the British Home for Incurables , will be closed to-morrow ( Saturday ) . The street collection this year for the Hospital Saturday Fund has now ken ascertained to amount to £ 5000 , or some £ 500 more than in 1 S 87 , and the Workshop collection , which is due and payable on and after the ist prox ., is expected to realise about £ 10 , 000 ;

The "Red Book."

THE " RED BOOK . "

The " Ancient and Accepted Rite for England , Wales , and the Depen dencies of the British Crown" is in a most prosperous condition , and never in fact , was in such a flourishing state as now . No society could be better

managed , and I venture to say that no branch of the Masonic bod y " England has , during the last quarter of a century , done so much to foster the study of the history and antiquities , and promote the formation of libraries relating to the Free and Accepted Masons , as it has .

Every year witnesses an accession of members and chapters , and an examination of the roll of the former proves that amongst the many who subscribe to the subordinate branches of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite ' * not a few are taken from the most distinguished , zealous , and expert Craftsmen connected with the Grand Lodge of England .

Our Royal Grand Master is the Grand Patron of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and H . R . H . Duke of Connaught , Prov . G . M . for Sussex Sec , is an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council . The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . M . and Prov . G . M . of Somerset , is a Past S . G . C . of the 33 , and is a member of the Studholme Chapter , 18 , London . The

Earl of Lathom , Dep . G . M . and Prov . G . M . of West Lancashire , is the present official head of the Rite , the next in rank being Captain Phili ps , Past S . G . D . The Grand Treasurer General is Major General Clerk , Past ' S . G . D . ; the Grand Chancellor is Bro . J . Montagu P . Montagu , Past G . D . and P . D . Prov . G . M . of Dorset ; and R . W . Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , Past

District G . M . of Bengal , is the ever courteous Grand Secretary General , The remaining members of the " Supreme Council " are General Brownri gg , C . B ., Prov . G . M . Surrey ; Colonel W . A . Adair , Past Prov . G . M . of Somerset ; Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Sec ; and the Earl of Limerick , Prov . G . M . of Bristol ; two of the retired members being Past Prov . G . Masters of English provinces *

Of the officials mention should be made of Bros . Lieut .-Col . Burney , Past G . D ., the D . C . ; Frank Richardson , Past G . D ., the A . D . C ; George Lambert , Past G . S . B ., the W . of R . ; C . E . Willing , Past G . Org ., Organist ; and Professor Lott , Past G . Org ., the Deputy Organist .

There are eight Inspectors General 33 for England , who are the representatives of the Supreme Council in their several districts . For the North Eastern is Bro . C . J . Banister , Past G . S . B ., who has seven chapters under his charge , viz ., 8 , Newcastle-on-Tyne ; 16 , Sheffield ; 23 , York ; 68 , Hull ; 6 q , Huddersfield ; 77 , Leeds ; and 9 6 , Darlington .

Over the North Western presides Bro . Capt . C . R . N . B . Royds , Past G . D ., who has to look after six chapters , viz ., 7 , Manchester ; 19 , Liverpool ; 31 , Bolton ; 52 , Lancaster ; 75 , Chester ; and 102 , held at times at Whitehaven , Keswick , and Kendal . The South Western has Bro . J . C . Parkinson , Past G . D ., P . D . P . G . M .

Middlesex , as the local Ruler , and having eleven chapters to supervise our indefatigable brother cannot have a very easy position to fill , as they extend from Swansea to Truro , viz ., 2 , Exeter ; 6 and 95 , Bath ; 13 , Taunton ; 20 , Devonport ; 28 , Weston-Super-Mare ; 34 , Newport ( Monmouth ); 38 , Plymouth ; 61 , Truro ; 70 , Swansea ; and 104 , Cardiff .

Colonel Burney , Past G . D ., attends to the South Eastern , having 43 ; Brighton ; 54 , St . Leonards ; 82 , Canterbury ; and 103 , Dover , to see after , being a compact district . The West Central embraces seven chapters as follows : 5 , Birmingham ;

12 , Worcester ; 15 , Warwick ; 17 , Nottingham ; 49 , Gloucester ; 6 j-Derby ; and 92 , Leicester ; the last mentioned being one of the youngest and yet most active on the roll . These are all well attended to by Bro . Charles Fendelow , Past G . Std . Br .

Bro . Hamon-le-Strange presides over four chapters ( 22 , Ipswich ; 3 ° i Cambridge ; 40 , Oxford ; and 87 , King ' s Lynn ); and R . W . Bro . Montague J . Guest , Prov . G . M . Dorset , takes charge of seven chapters : 4 >

Weymouth ; 9 , Portsmouth ; 25 , Bournemouth ; 39 , Blandford ; 4 > Southampton ; 89 , Aldershot ; and 99 , Ryde ; and for the Baldwyn Chapter , Bristol , Bro . W . A . F . Powell , P . G . D ., officiates , that old chapter having * an Inspector all to itself .

For abroad , there are Bro . Andrew Hay and R . W . Bro . the Hon . H . T . Prinsep , Dist . G . M . Bengal , who , together , have to supervise 12 chapters , viz ., 18 , Bombay ; 21 , Rangoon ; 26 , Lahore ; 27 , Madras ; 32 , Calcutta ; 33 , Punjab ; 47 , Singapore ; 74 , Allahabad ; 7 6 , Rawulp indee and Muree ; 80 , Simla and Umballa ; 90 , Kurrachee ; and 100 , Meerut

and Mussoorie . Under New Zealand , three Inspectors are noted—R . W . Bro . G . a-Graham , Dist . G . M . Auckland , Bro . Malcolm Niccol , and Dr . Deamer , Past A . G . D . C , the D . Prov . G . M . for Canterbury . These brethren preside over four chapters * . 78 , Christchurch ; 88 , Auckland ; 91 ,

Wellington ; and 93 , Wanganui . For South Africa , R . W . Bro . S . Giddy is in charge of five chapters , situated at Kimberley ( 50 ); King William ' s Town ( 58 ); Port Elizabeth ( 81 ); Cape Town ( 60 ); and Barclay ( 83 ) . For Natal , Bro . R . I . F ' ' more acts , and looks after 62 , Pietermaritzburg , and 85 , Durban .

There are many other chapters abroad , viz ., 11 , Melbourne ; I 4 > _ raltar ; 35 , Malta ; 48 and 86 , Jamaica ; 55 , George Town , B . Guiana , 73 , Hong Kong ; 84 , St . John ' s , Antigua ; , and 106 , East Gr l' i f n 0 Then there is 108 , Jersey , to be fairly classed under those at home , wi - . ...... l .,. V .. ^ .-. -W , J ^ .- "J | >~ ~ - ' — . 'J rn . rn . mmmm . m ..-mm . ... m -

^ g less than 16 chapters which meet in London , No . 1 assembling a Criterion , Nos . 101 , 10 5 , and 107 at the Mark Masonic Hall , 8 A , Red square , and the remaining 12 are domiciled at the Masonic Hal , - Golden-square , the head-quarters of the Rite , their numbers being 3 <

29 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 53 , 67 , 71 , 72 , 79 , and 97 . }> ^ The total chapters on the roll , active and making " returns ^ number 97 , and with three " in abeyance " raise the grand total to