Again, we have done well under the circumstances, in contributions that have come to us, in aid of sufferers of Japan, Italy and San Francisco. Our purpose was, not to go around begging alms, but to trust to the generosity of our fellow citizens, and thereby to test their confidence in us, as representatives of this great International body. The success of this plan has been shown in the reports that have been made by us to the National Headquarters. Every penny we have accounted for has been a voluntary gift, that has come to us, not been run after. This dignified course has produced a marked effect upon the people of the State who have witnessed this well ordered procedure. This plan may have diminished somewhat the amount of our receipts, but it has raised the organization very high in the estimation and respect of the entire citizenship of our State. The Branch is now in a most healthy and flourishing condition and we feel proud of the position it occupies in the brilliant galaxy of Red Cross Branches. * * * * * The Secretary of the Michigan Branch, Mr. R. M. Dyar, writes under date of June 6: We have adopted a method for increasing our membership of getting in communication with men in small towns, who acted as Treasurer or Chairman of local relief committees for the San Francisco Fund, our idea being to appoint such men as Vice-Presidents and to have them decide on becoming members themselves, and endeavor to secure additional members in their cities or towns. * * * * * The following is a list of the Sub-divisions of the Massachusetts Branch, with the officers of each: Worcester County.—Chairman, Charles G. Washburn; Treasurer, Dr. Homer Gage; Secretary, Mrs. Lincoln W. Kinnicutt. Berkshire County.—President, Judge John C. Crosby; Vice-President, Rev. J. C. Smoots; Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. Alfreda B. Withington; Executive Committee: Dr. J. F. A. Adams, Mrs. H. A. Brewster, Miss Julia W. Redfield, Rev. James Boyle, Pittsfield; Mrs. W. Murray Crane, Jr., Dalton; Miss Cornelia Barnes, Lenox; Miss Caroline T. Lawrence, Stockbridge; Mrs. William Stanley, Great Barrington. Hampden County.—President, Mr. George Dwight Pratt; Treasurer, Mr. Ralph P. Alden; Secretary, Miss Amy B. Alexander. A Division is being organized in Essex County, of which Gen. Francis H. Appleton will be Chairman and Mr. W. O. Chapman, of the Asiatic Bank, Salem, Treasurer. The Secretary of the Massachusetts Branch, Miss Katherine P. Loring, reports that, “A man has been representing himself as an agent of the Red Cross and has been begging for subscriptions for our purposes. We have put notices in the newspapers and have notified the police that we never employ agents.” * * * * *