St. John The Baptist's Day At Melrose.

History of Melrose , " p 144 , published in 1861 , and was quoted in the work in which our contributor discovered it for the purpose of giving a specimen of the manner in which our brethren North of the Tweed pay honour to the day in question , namely , the 24 th June . Tho passage reads thus : —

" Immediately after the election of office-bearers for tho year ensuing , the brethren walk in procession three times round the Cross , and afterwards dine together , nnder the presidency of the newlyelected Grand Master . About six in the evening , the members again torn ont and form into line two abreast , each bearing a lighted

flambeau , and decorated with their peculiar emblems and insignia . Headed by the heraldic banners of the lodge , the procession follows the same route , three times round the Cross , and then proceeds to the Abbey . On this occasion , the crowded streets present a scene of the most animated description . Tho joyous strains of a

well-conducted band , tho waving torches , and incessant chorus of fireworks , make the scene a carnival . But at this timo the venerable Abbey is the chief point of attraction ancl resort , and as the mystic torchbearers thread their way through its mouldering aisles , and round its massive pillars , tho outlines of its gorgeous ruins become singularly

illuminated , and brought into bold and striking relief . The whole extent of the Abbey is with ' measured step and slow' gone three times round . But when near the finale , the whole Masonic body gathers to the church , and forming one grand semi-circle around it , where the heart of King Eobert Bruce lies deposited near the high

altar , and the band strikes np the patriotic air , ' Scots wha ha ' e wi Wallace bled , ' the effect produced is overpowering . With showers of rockets and the glare of blue lights the scene closes , the wnole reminding ono of some popular satnrnalia held in a market town during the middle ages . "

Freemasonry In India.

FREEMASONRY IN INDIA .

THE May number of the The Masonic Mecord of Western India contains several interesting and highly satisfactory records showing the progress made by the Craft in certain districts or jurisdictions in India . At the last Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , at Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , there was a very

numerous gathering of brethren under the presidency of Bro . the Hon . H . T . Prinsep D . G . M . ; among the visitors being Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel W . H . Mackesy Past Deputy District Grand Master of the Punjab , who was most warmly received and saluted with the honours proper

to his rank . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the previous Communication , the D . Grand Master delivered an elaborate address , in the course of which he dilated on the very strong position occupied by Masonry in the District . At the end of last year there

were , he said , twenty-nine Lodges on the roll of the District Grand Lodge , and one other which had been opened since at Saharunpore , making the present total exactly thirty . Of these Lodge Beauchamp , No . 1422 , had been for some time in abeyance , in consequence of the absence of

nearly all its members on service in Afghanistan , but it has since resumed its labours . Another Lodge , " Star of Orissa , " No . 1106 , at Cuttack , had been in abeyance for upwards of two years , but , thanks to the exertions of one of its members , the D . G . M . was enabled to announce that he

had felt himself perfectly justified in reviving the warrant , though , in doing so , he had committed some slight irregularity , as the Bye-laws of the District Grand Lodge forbade revival after a lapse of two years from the time when any Lodge went into abeyance . However , Bro . Prinsep ' s

action was deemed so acceptable that the District Grand Lodge by a unanimous vote indemnified him from the consequences of his said irregularity . Bro . Prinsep then went at some length into the consideration of certain statistical matters with a view to mark , as clearly as possible ,

the progress which the Craffc had made in the Presidency of Bengal . These statistics showed that in 1869 there were on the roll of District Grand Lodge twenty Lodges ; in 1870 twenty-one Lodges ; in 1871 twenty-two Lodges ; in 1872 twenty-three Lodges ; in 1873 twenty-four Lodges ;

in 1874 twenty-six Lodges ; in 1875 twenty-eight Lodges ; in 1876 twenty-seven Lodges ; in 1877 twenty-six Lodges ; in 1878 and 1879 twenty-five Lodges ; in 1880 twentyseven Lodges ; and in the current year twenty-nine Lodges . At the commencement of 1880 there were 612 subscribinnr

members , at its close / Ol members , the number of Initiations in tbe interval being 199 , the number of Passings 178 , and the nnmber of Raisings 169 . In the course of

tbe year no less than 377 brethren left the District through resignation or other causes , but while under ordinary circumstances this fact would have betokened a very unsatisfactory state of things , the loss was easily capable of

Freemasonry In India.

explanation . Every year the number of departures must in the order of things , be very considerable . Many leave in consequence of sickness , transference to some other part of India , or because they are quitting India for good . As fco tho financial condition of the District , that likewise

was satisfactory , the following being the principal returns from 1 st March 1880 to 28 th February 1881 , namel y : — District Grand Lodge Fund , Receipts over 5 , 852 rupees Disbursements over 4 , 980 rupees ; Freemasons' Hall Sustentation Fund—Receipts over 6 , 970 rupees ,

Disbursements 7 , 678 rupees ; Bengal Masonic Fund of Benevolence—Receipts 4 , 814 rupees , Disbursements 4 , 494 rupees ; while in the same period there was paid into the Bengal Masonic Association for the Education of the Children of Indigent Freemasons , 8 , 801 rupees . The sum of 5 , 923

rupees was expended on the education of fifteen children , and 3 , 994 in the purchase of investments , the total amount of the invested capital of the said Institution being 37 , 300 rupees , or £ 3 , 730 of English money . We are further told that in 1880 the working Masonic Funds realised , in round

figures , 12 , 822 rupees , and the Charity Funds 13 , 615 rupees . On motion duly made and seconded , the Report of the Board of General Purposes was accepted , and the accounts of the District Grand Lodge and the Fund of Benevolence were passed as correct , after which and the transaction of other business a vote of

thanks was cordially and unanimously voted to Bro . Prinsep for his energetic efforts on behalf of Freemasonry . After the customary collection , which realised over 100 rupees , in aid of the Bengal Masonic Fund of Benevolence , D . G . Lodge was closed with the usual ceremonial . We

may add that from a statement of the Executive Sub-Committee of the District Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence , it appears that in the three months ended 28 th February

1881 , the sums voted in relief amounted in the aggregate to 750 rupees , seven applications from as many brethren and widows being entertained , and only one application—from a brother—refused .

About the same time was held at Freemasons' Hall , Lahore , a meeting of the Life Governors of the Punjab Masonic Institution . The accounts for the closing portion of the year 1880 were examined and found correct . Four candidates , in whose behalf sundry recommendations were

submitted , were nominated by Lodges . The Budget Estimate of Ways and Means for the current year was examined and approved , the receipts being reckoned at 9 , 510 rupees , and the expenditure at 6 , 965 rupees , leaving a balance for investment of 2 , 545 rupees . A ' month later—on 9 th April

—an Extraordinary General Meeting of Subscribers to the same Institution was held in the same Hall , when the Honorary Secretary's Report was read , This showed that

during the past year the income from all sources had been 9 , 287 rupees , which , though less by 433 rupees than the total of 1879 , must be deemed satisfactory , especially as the number of new subscribers and donors had increased

by 136 , there being twenty-three and 106 Vice Presidents and Life Governors as against twenty and ninety-one respectively at the close of 1879 . The amount paid for School Fees was 5 , 582 rupees , or less by about 400 rupees than the sum for which provision had been

made , in consequence of two boys not having attended school . There had been eighteen children—namely , eleven boys and seven girls—under education , of whom one boy and two girls had their School Fees contributed by the District Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence . The reports

received in respect of the progress and general conduct of these children were in every way satisfactory . As regards payments on this head from the foundation of the Institution till 3 rd December 1880 , these amounted in all to 20 , 107 rupees , while as regards invested moneys , these , by

the addition during the past year of 2000 rupees to the capital account , amounted to 30 , 300 rupees , of which 18 , 500 rupees were at 4 per cent , interest , 10 , 000 rupees at 4 | per cent ., and 1 , 800 rupees at 5 per cent ., yielding a total per annum of 1 , 280 rupees . As one girl was

removable , owing to age , from the Fund , and four children were nominated for election , in the event of the latter being accepted , there would in 1881 be borne on the Fund fifteen boys and seven girls . . Various propositions , based on the recommendations made in this report , were submitted and agreed to , ancl the meeting then dissolved .

The same number of the Masonic Becorcl has elsewhere in its columns a short reference to the work that is now being done in India in connection with Masonry . There is , it remarks " a healthy spirit of rivalry" among the