The Province Of Derbyshire.

it is very largely due to his efforts that every candidate sent up from Derbyshire has so far been elected . The following statement showing the amounts sent up from the province to the three Masonic Institutions during the last eleven years speaks for itself : —

1891 , £ 9 68 ... 18 92 , . ^ 1719 ... 18 93 , . £ 1014 18 94 , £ 637 ... i 8 ;; 5 , £ 553 ... 18 9 6 , ^ 16 42 18 97 , X 478 ... 18 9 8 , £ 2440 ... 18 99 , , £ 642 1 9 , £ 349 ... 1901 , - £ " 877 .

HIS MA . IKSTY THE KIXG AT COMPTOX HOUSK , EASTHOURXK .

1 his works out to a total of _ £ i 1 , 521 , giving an average slightly in excess of £ 1000 per annum . Concerning the future of Freemasonry in Derbyshire , there is no ground for apprehension . The foundation upon Avhich its prosperity has been built up in late years

is too solid to lead one to suppose that it will readily crumble away . The only danger that threatens it , indeed , is that its abounding prosperity may ultimately lead to reaction and stagnation—a fate that has before now overtaken many institutions equally powerful and equally

nourishing . So far we have observed no perceptible lowering of the standard . Let us hope that the influence of the gentleman at the head of affairs may always be sufficient to arrest any such dangerous tendency . The province is fortunate in possessing a Secretary peculiarly well qualified

for that important position . Bro . Naylor has now been in ( his office for twenty-eight years , and it is not too much to say that to his linn hand and sagacious counsel Derbyshire Freemasonry has been preserved from manv a pitfall

and many a danger . That he may long be spared to guide the destinies of the province is the earnest hope of every Derbyshire Mason . Our portraits also include that of a veteran Derbyshire Mason , Bro . Cox , who has been connected with the Craft

for nearly fifty years , and who has locally shared in its labours and its honours . For twenty-live years he held the position of Provincial Grand Treasurer , and on his retirement was presented with an address and a purse containing 150 sovereigns .

Imperial Masonic Federation.

Imperial Masonic Federation .

( COMMUNICATED . )

TT 7 E use the term Imperial in this article 111 a sense yy similar to that in which the term Sovereign is used when describing an independent Masonic jurisdiction . We are therefore proposing to discuss the possibility , or the advisability , of a union or federation under some authority , to be defined hereafter , of all those Sovereign Grand Lodges

which have at various times emanated from , or—more correctly ¦— severed themselves from , the mother Grand Lodge of England .

There are ninety-six Grand Lodges , or Masonic bodies , with recognised independent territorial rights and jurisdictions . Twenty-nine of these are in the Eastern Hemisphere and sixty-seven in the Western . Of the large number of fifty in the United States , however , very many are of small dimensions and membership , in one case less than a dozen

lodges owing allegiance . All these can be conveniently classified as follows : — There are sixty-seven which work in the English language .