The Boys School Festival.

THE BOYS SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

A NOTHER Festival in connection with the great **•Charities of English Freemasonry has been held , and another success has to be recorded—the 102 nd Anniversary celebration on behalf of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys , held on Tuesday , having realised a total exceeding ^" 16 , 800 , and that , too , after exceptionally large amounts had been collected for the two other Institutions of the Craft during the current year .

It is true the amount contributed this week on behalf of our Boys is less than the totals announced at the respective Festivals on behalf of the other two Funds , ^ 20 , 220 16 s having been subscribed for the

Benevolent Institution in February last , and . £ 23 , 217 for the Girls in May , but the position secured by the Boys—lowest of the trio—is nothing to be ashamed

of , following so closely as it does upon the Centenary of the Institution when , it will be remembered , a record total of ^" 141 , 000 was announced ; in fact the marvel is that so much has been collected under the

circumstances , also considering the many special appeals which have been made throughout the country during the last few months , to relieve distress occasioned by the war , the Indian famine , and other special calamities .

The Boys School had the advantage this year of enlisting the support of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as its President , but unfortunately the military duties of our distinguished Brother prevented his attendance

on the night of the Festival , his place being then taken by the Pro Grand Master of England Earl Amherst Provincial Grand Master of Kent . But as Earl Amherst himself explained , on the occasion of the

meeting of his Provincial Grand Lodge a few weeks back , he acted only as locum tenens for the Duke of Connaught . No attempt was made by the Brethren of the Chairman ' s Province to specially rally in his

support on the occasion ; indeed it would have been unfair for them to do so , in face of the fact that Earl Amherst has graciously consented to preside over the destinies of the Girls School Festival next year ; besides

Sussex was—in point of fact—the Chairman ' s Province , and the Brethren thereof did fairly well in contributing £ 1 , 365 at the hands of forty-eight Stewards . We say " fairly well " advisedly , because greater things have

often been accomplished by the Chairman ' s Province in past years , although it is but fair to state , per contra , that Sussex is one of the most regular and consistent supporters of the Boys School .

We have expressed surprise on so many occasions as to where all the money comes from that is sent up year after year to the three great Institutions that we

are afraid anything in that direction will be regarded as an old cry to-day , but the fact ; remains that the cause for surprise continues , and not only so but

continues to increase ; for whereas a few years back the

The Boys School Festival.

three great Charities of the Order virtually had the field to themselves , they now have many competitors , in the form of local funds and local Institutions , the subscriptions to some of which are fast approaching

the totals which , a comparatively few years back , were regarded as satisfactory for the older Funds themselves ; as witness the total of ^ 3 , 500 which it is expected a recent Festival on behalf of the

Warwickshire local Fund will realise ; but in spite of all this we are in the position to record the most gratifying success that attended the efforts of this year ' s Stewards on behalf of the younger of the two great Educational

Institutions of English Freemasonry . We trust future Festivals may prove equally satisfactory ; and that , as was urged by one of the principal speakers at

Tuesday's Festival , there need be no fear as to the willingness or the possibility of the Craft continuing the good work now being carried on by the three Institutions .

Buckinghamshire.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

ON Thursday , 5 thinst ., the annual meeting of this Province was held under the banner of the Concordia Lodge , in the National School Room at Wendover , which had been tastefully arranged , for the ceremony . The Prov . Grand Master Lord Addington was ably supported by a large number of Prov . Grand Officers present and past , with other members of the various Lodges in the Province assembled under their respective banners .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was duly opened , and the usual business transacted . The report of the Charity Committee was presented by Bro . J . Stephens , and passed , as also was that of the Prov . G . Treasurer . Bro . H . W . Clemow P . M . 2262 was elected Treasurer for the year . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the following Officers :

Bro . J . E . Bowen 1894 .... Deputy E . H . Wagstaff 948 - - - - Senior Warden Dr . E . Gr . Woolerton 2492 - - - Junior Warden Rev . C . E . Roberts 2492 - - - I 0 haD 2 ains Sir Barrodale Savory , Bart ., 631 - J . R . H , Hill 1894 .... Registrar

H . W . Clemow 2262 - - . .. Treasurer W . Woollett 1894 .... Secretary W . H . Bridgman 591 - - - Senior Deacon P . J . Harding 2421 .... Junior Deacon W . Birch 1501 .... Superintendent of Works J . O'Dea 2683 .... Director of Ceremonies

G . 0 . Pricker 2430 .... Assistant Dir . of Cera . S . E . Hipwell 2244 .... Sword Bearer W . ^ artefim ..' . ' . } Standard Bearer G . Jameson 2683 .. .. Organist

A . Rose 840 ¦ •Assistant Secretary 0 . Colgrove 2435 .... Pursuivant P . Jenkins 2458 . ... •Assistant Pursuivant A . Simpson 1410 > - - \ S . Gale 2262 ..... EDEverard 2309

. . •. - - „ ,..., H . Turnham 2425 - - - ' - V Stewards W . Yeo 2421 -... ¦ - A . A . Walford 1787 - , P . Payne 591 - ' Tyler S . G . Gallop 1894 .... Assistant Tyler .

Chanty jewels and bars were presented to a large number of Brethren who had acted as Stewards to the respective Charities , and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Bro . J . Stephens for his energetic and successful work as Charity Secretary . After the Prov . Grand Lodge had been closed according