The Recent Festival.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL .

IT is gratifying to know that additional amounts are still being received by the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , swelling the total of the recently held ninety-ninth Anniversary Festival . The following additions have been made since our last return :

LONDON . 917 H . E . Sanders ... ... List of £ 40 19 0 1278 Herbert Grant ... ... „ 21 0 0 PEOVINCES .

Kent I . Turfcon ( 615 ) ... ... Addition of 10 0 0 ( making £ 210 Os Od ) Oxfordshire J . A . Bigge ( 1895 ) List now stands at £ 13 14 s 6 d Somersetshire O . W . Wiltshire ( 1833 ) Addition of 1 14 0 ( making £ 56 14 s Od ) Warwickshire W . H . Beynolds P . M . 925 ( unatt . ) New Steward 10 10 0

FOBEIGN STATIONS .

Argentine Bepublic Alfred Eaton ( 2459 ) Addition of 21 0 0 ( making £ 57 15 s Od ) This amount is a special donation' from the District Grand Lodge of the Argentine Bepublic , in commemoration of tho Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty the Queen .

We compliment our Brethren of the Argentine Republic on the course they have adopted to celebrate the long reign of the Queen , and the Boys School on having been selected as the object of their bounty .

Buckinghamshire.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge was held at High Wycombe , on Thursday , Sth inst ., under the preeidency of Lord Addington Provincial Grand Master , who was supported by upwards of a hundred Brethren . Grand Lodge was opened in due form at three o ' clock in the

Masonic Hall , Amersham Hill , when the Provincial Grand Master congratulated the Brethren upon the auspicious circumstances under which they met , and expressed , his satisfaction at the continued prosperity of the Craft in the loyal and historic county of Bucks .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes the report of the Charity Committee was laid before the Lodge . This showed that all the candidates adopted by the Province had been successful in the elections , among them being two children of the late Bro . J . O . Griffits , Q . C , who were both elected .

The Provincial Grand Treasurer's account was passed , and the election of a Provincial Grand Treasurer followed , this office falling upon Bro . Hubbard , of Waddesdon . The Audit Committee was re-elected , and the presentation of charity jewels and bars followed , Bros . Simcox W . M ., and B .

E . Wright J . W . of the Wycombe Lodge , aud Bro . Leaman , Aylesbury , being recipients of jewels ; and Bros . J . Stephens , J . J . Thomas , Sherwin , and Taylor , of bars . After this interesting ceremony , other business relating to the Province was transacted . A sum of 20 guineas was voted from the funds to the Eoyal

Masonic Institution ior Boys . A set of Grand Officer ' s clothing for Bro . Bowen Prov . G . Sec , on his appointment as A . D . C . of Eng ., was voted . The Lodge was then closed in the usual form .

Subsequently a banquet took place at the Town Hall , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Master . There was a numerous company . The catering , in the experienced hands of Bro . James Bowden , White Hart Hotel , was all that could be desired . Bro . Brownrigg gave in suitable terms , the health of the Provincial Grand Master , to which Lord Addington responded .

Buckinghamshire.

The Deputy Prov . G . M . was given from the chair , and replied to by Eev . J . S . Brownrigg . Then came an interpolated toast , the Mayor of Wycombe , Bro . P . J . Rutland , which the Chairman gave in graceful terms , and the Mayor responded .

The Visitors was also given from the chair , and acknowledged by Bro . Jones and Bro . Murdoch , the last-named remarking that he was very pleased to come to Wycombe , a town which had been much in his mind lately as a Director of the Great Western Eailway . He hoped the result of recent efforts would be to give the town the really good service it deserved .

A line programme of music was provided by a quartette composed of Brothers P . Coward , W . Kearton , M . Boyle , andB . Mills . Accompanist Bro . Clapshaw P . M . P . P . G . O . Bucks .

Berkshire.

BERKSHIRE .

FOE the first time in the history of Freemasonry in Berkshire , the annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the town of Wokingham , on Tuesday , 6 th inst ., under the auspices of the Downshire Lodge , founded in 1892 , of which Bro . H . G . Powell is Worshipful Master . The local Brethren had done their utmost to give a cordial and hospitable reception to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and it was gratifying to find an unusually numerous attendance .

After light refreshments , provided by the Downshire Lodge , had been partaken of , the Brethren adjourned to the Town Hall , which had been admirably furnished and decorated . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form by Bro . J . T . Morland Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . Martin called over the roll of the Lodges in the Province , when it appeared that the whole of them were represented , and most of the Provincial Grand Officers , who have held office during the past year , were also present . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Abingdon , were duly confirmed .

The annual report of the Provincial Grand Secretary upon the state of the Lodges in the Province , was of a satisfactory character , indicating steady progress . From the statistics furnished it appeared that the membership of the Lodges in the county numbered 636 , of whom no less than 184 were Past

Masters . During the past twelve months ninety-eight regular Lodges and seven Lodges of emergency had been held , and in the same period twenty-four Brethren had joined the various Lodges , while forty-one had been initiated . The Provincial Grand Secretary announced that he had received apologies for nonattendance from a number of distinguished Masons .

The report as to the financial condition of the Province , including the Charity Fund , showed a substantial balance in hand , and it was unanimously adopted , on the proposal of Bro . J . O . Carter , seconded by Bro . Bonny . Bro . Margrett Secretary to the Prov . Charity Committee

then presented an interesting report , which showed that the labours of the Charity Committee had been attended during the past year with record success , the whole of the candidates nominated for the great Masonic Institutions having been elected . The Committee mentioned that very satisfactory reports had

been received from the Boys aud Girls Schools in reference to the progress being made by the children elected from this Province . They acknowledged with gratitude the generous assistance given by Bro . Keyser , of Aldermaston Park , with votes in each of the cases promoted by the Committee . The report also referred to

the decease of tbe widow of Bro . Deller ( formerly of Newbury ) , who had been in receipt of half her late husband ' s pension . During the past year the Brethren of this Province had subscribed upwards of £ 800 towards the funds of the three

Institutions . In moving the adoption of the report , Canon Garry said that as each successive year passed by he became more and more impressed with the importance and value of the Masonic Order as a great and noble charitable institution . The