Analysis Of The Returns.

it raised £ 385 is . Thus its average for the last four years is £ 662 and upwards , and we trust that , having attained this high standard , it will during the present and future years be found equall y generous in its contributions .

BRISTOL , which numbers nine lodges , had an Unattached Steward in the person of Bro . Lieur .-Col . J . R . Bramble , P . A . G . D . C ., its Deputy P . G . M ., to whose credit there appears a donation of £ 10 ios . Last year it raised £ 44 1 for the Girls' School , of which Bro . E . T . Collins , as the Provincial Representative , was responsible for £ 430 ios ., and the Deputy P . G . M . for the other 10 guineaswhile at the Boys '

, Festival the latter returned £ 16 i < 5 s . In 1893 the Province was included among the absentees , but in 18 91 , and again in 1892 , it generously supported the Boys ' School , the amount of its subscriptions in the former year being £ 595 , and in the latter , £ 316 . What makes these Returns still more creditable , is the fact that for some time past it has been organising a Benevolent Fund of its own for the relief of its necessitous members .

Out of the 18 lodges on the roll of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE there were three which sent up Stewards on Wednesday , the Dagmar Lodge , No . 2262 , Wraysbury , being represented by Bros . James and George E . Cannon , while Bro . James Stephens did duty on his own account . The sum raised by three of these five brethren was £ 52 ios . Last year it raised altogether £ 590 16 s ., of which

£ 26 5 s . per Bro . Stephens , went into the coffers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and £ 134 16 s ., was in aid of the Girls' School , the large balance of £ 429 15 s . being subscribed to " Our Boys " at the Festival held at Brighton in June last , a very prominent feature in the Returns being the appearance of no less than 13 Cannons , major and minor , who compiled the handsome total of £ 115 ios .

On this occasion the family is in even greater force , but their contributions will be found in the London section . In 1891 , when Bro . Lord Carrington , P . G . M ., was Chairman at the Girls' Festival , it raised £ 511 is ., of which £ 300 was in support of his lordship ' s presidency ; in 1892 , £ 705 15 s . ; and in 1893 , £ 479 16 s ., so that as a separate Province it has done its duty admirably .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND , with a muster roll of 21 lodges , was represented by Bro . W . F . Lamonby , who , as Provincial Steward , took up a list of £ 102 18 s ., this being its first appearance since May of last year , when Bro . T . A . Argles , doing duty for the whole Province , returned the handsome list of £ 178 ios . at the Girls' School Festival . In 18 93 it raised £ 63 8 s . for the Boys' Institution , and in 18 92 , by its then D . P . G . M . — Bro . McKay—as the representative of the Province , £ 420 for the Jubilee of this Institution .

For the Province of DERBYSHIRE , which has 25 lodges , there was , firstly , Bro . W . H . Marsden , J . P ., representing the Province generally , whose list amounted to £ 105 ., and then the representatives of five lodges , among whom will be found Bro . J . M . McLeod , the Secretary of the Boys' School , whose name is likewise entered in the London section as Steward for the Barnet Lodge , No . 2509 . The total from the six brethren

reached £ 297 5 s ., which is a high figure , considering that as recently as June of last year it raised £ 600 ios . 6 d . for " Our Boys , " while in 1 893 it rendered still greater service to the same Charity by raising for its requirements upwards of £ 1000 . In 18 92 it contributed , by the hands of 47 Stewards , £ 1362 16 s . to the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 126 to the Girls' School , and £ 249 18 s . to the Boys' School , making in all £ 1738 14 s . In 1891 , it subscribed £ 980 7 s ., of which all but £ 136 ios . was in respect of the Boys' School .

There are 13 lodges in the Provinces of DORSETSHIRE , and Bro . S . B . Baskett , as Steward for the Prov . G . Lodge and Prov . G . Chapter , handed in a list of £ 105 . In 1894 , Bro . Dugdale , as Provincial Steward , compiled a total of £ 157 ios . for this Institution , while Bro . Major Watts , Lodge No . 1266 , raised £ 35 for the Girls' School . In 1893 , the Schools were the favoured Charities , the Girls' receiving £ 82 5 s . and the Boys' £ 150 15 s ., while in 18 92 this Institution , at its Jubilee Festival , was benefited to the extent of £ 521 6 s .

The 36 lodges in DURHAM had Bro . G . Lea Woolley to represent them generall y , and Bro . E . S . Cockell acted as Steward for the Stranton Lodge , No . 1862 , West Hartlepool , the former ' s list amounting to £ 315 , and the latter ' s to £ 15 15 s ., the two together amounting to in

* s . 1094 , as , inoeeo , nas been the usual custom for some years past , it figured in the Returns of all three Festivals , the total of the sum raised being £ 509 2 s ., while in 18 93 it reached only the smaller sum of £ 338 2 s . However , in 1892 it subscribed £ 720 5 s . to the Jubilee Festival of the Old People , £ 105 to the Girls' School , and £ 209 to the Boys' School , the total for this very successful year being £ 1034 as .

Nine brethren acted as Stewards for the Province of ESSEX , eight out of its 37 lodges being represented by as many brethren , and the remaining one being unattached . The total obtained b y these amounted to £ 324 7 s ., the principal item being £ 78 15 s . standing to the credit ol Bro . Thomas Hood , ol the Priory Lodge , No . 1000 , Southend . During the past four yearshowever

, , the contributions from this Province to the three Charities have been very heavy . In 1891 , they reached a total of £ 1648 , of which £ 1265 15 s . 6 d . fell to the share ot the Boys' School . In 18 92 , they amounted to £ 2608 5 s ., of which £ 2318 2 s . 6 d . was subscribed to the Benevolent Jubilee ; while in 1893 , when Bro . the Earl of Warwick—then Lord Brook—Prov . G . Master , took the chair at the Boys' School festival , the total was £ 2258 3 s . 6 d ., of which all but £ 102 17 s . 6 d . was raised in

support of his lordship ' s chairmanship . In 18 94 , the sum distributed among the three Charities , t , though much smaller , was still considerable , and amounted to . 41123 , out of which this Institution received £ 158 2 s . ; the Girls' School , * ° 23 13 s . ; and the Boys' School , £ 142 7 s . Thus , if Essex elects to contribute onl y on a small scale during the present year , there will be none bold enough to reproach it with indifference to the requirements of our Charities .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE has 15 lodges on its roll , and of these , two , with the chapter attached to one of nem , subscribed together £ 44 is . Last year the sum of £ 428 6 s . 6 d . was devoted to the Institutions , this Institution receiving £ 73 ios ., the Girls ' school £ 249 16 s . 6 d . and the Boys' School £ 105 . In . 893 the amount was * m II t . / - \ i r » t 1 •* *« - ¦—j * *« " -yj niis ciuiuuML was mailer the Old le

- , Peopbeing supported to the extent of £ 58 3 s . 6 d ., the Girls ' school with i , i 47 , and the Boys' with £ 99 15 s ., or together £ 304 18 s . 6 d . But "iesc moderate figures were the natural result of the great efforts made in support of the chairmanship of Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks Bear . b , Bart ., M . P ., at the Boys ' school Festival in 18 92 , when the Province handsomel y supported its chief with aonations and subscriptions amounting in all to £ 1645 1 is ., the contributions lo mc other two institutions raising the year ' s total to £ 1729 us .

Analysis Of The Returns.

Out of the 48 lodges on the roll of HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT , only three , with the chapter attached to a fourth , sent up Stewards , one of whom did duty for the United Service and Portsmouth Lodges , No . 1428 and 206 S respectively . The amount raised by the three representatives was £ 142 5 s . 6 ., the most noteworthy item being £ 77 which appears to the credit of Bro . E . W .

, Ward , Economy , No . 76 . In 1894 , the total sum raised for the three Charities was £ 95 1 gs . 6 d ., of which the Girls' School had the pleasure of receiving £ 477 19 s ., or slightly more than one-half , while the Old People obtained £ 208 f 8 s . fid ., nnd the Boys School £ 264 12 s . The total for i 8 g 3 was £ 680 41 ., of which " Our Boys" had the lion ' s share , while in i 8 g 2 , it reached £ 1650 17 s . 6 d ., the total

compiled for the Benevolent Jubilee being £ 1345 19 s . 7 d . In 18 91 , the Returns were altogether £ 695 1 is . 6 d ., so that the Province has done well for the Central Charities , and at the same time has been doing good service at home by liberally maintaining an Educational and Benevolent Fund of its own . There is no question that

HERTFORD RHI RE has begun the year well . By the consecration of the Charles Edward Keyser Lodge , No . 2518 , the number of lodges on its roll has been augmented to 22 , and of these seven were represented by as many Stewards , while Bro . W . J . Crutch was Unattached . The total compiled by these eight brethren was £ 450 , the principal lists being those of Bro . C . E . Keyser—who also figures well among

the Berkshire Stewards—as representative of the lodge which bears his name for £ 131 5 s . ; Bro . F . W . Robinson , Cranbourne Lodge , No . 1580 , for £ 105 5 s . ; Bro . Dr . W . P . Warren , of the James Terry Lodge , No . 2372 , for £ 6 g fis . ; and of Bro . Col . H . Daniell , of the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , for £ 65 16 s . Last year the three Charities obtained amongst them donations and subscriptions amounting to £ gs 8 6 s . 4 d . ; the share that fell to this Institution being £ 464 gs . 6 d ., while our Girls' received £ 227 6 s . 6 d ., and our Boys' £ 266 8 s . 6 d . In i 8 g 3 the total

stood at £ 2106 14 s ., out of which £ 1444 13 s . 6 d . was in support of Bro . C . E . Keyser's chairmanship at the Festival of this Institution , while the preceding year , when the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution celebrated its Jubilee , the figure was still higher— £ 2135 6 s . 6 d ., of which the favoured Charity received £ 1883 6 s . 6 d . These are tall figures for a Province which even now has only 22 lodges , and which a few years since was playfully described as " Little Herts . " Only five out of the 61 lodges in

KENT took part in the proceedings of Wednesday , the number of Stewards being eight , of whom three hailed from the Emulation Lodge , No . 299 , Dartford , while Bro . F . H . Hallet was Unattached . The total reached £ 252 ios . 6 d ., and included £ 120 15 s . handed in by Bro . Crosoer , representing the Union Lodge , No . . 12 7 , Margate . Last year the total which was below the average , was £ 1225 ios . 6 d ., this Institution being enriched with £ 582 17 s ., the Girls' School with £ 239 5 s . 6 d .,

and the Boys' School with £ 403 fis . In 18 93 , it was more in the true Kentish style , and figured up to £ 2103 12 s . fid . ; in 1892 , when this Institution held its Jubilee , it reached £ 3003 13 s . 6 d . ; and in 1891 , when Bro . Earl Amherst acted as Chairman for the Old People's Anniversary , it exceeded the still higher total of £ 4000 , the actual sum being £ 4018 fis . of which £ 3483 14 s . fid . fell to the lot of this Charity . We wonder if the brethren of

EAST LANCASHIRE ever give a thought to the sorry figure which their Province presents at so many of our Anniversary Festivals . As regards the number of its lodges , it is surpassed only by West Lancashire , while the very fact of its every now and then exerting itself with marked success in behalf of one or other of our Institutions , is proof direct that it numbers good men and true , who are prepared to put their shoulders

to the wheel when called upon , and others equally good and true , who fail not to respond most loyally to the call that is made upon them . It has also an Institution of its own with a capital of some £ 12 , 000 , which does annually a large amount of good to the poorer brethren and their widows and children . Yet Festival after Festival passes and it makes no sign , that is to say , no sign that is at all commensurate with its strength and importance . Its donations and subscriptions

at the six Festivals which were held during the years 18 93 and 1894 amounted to only £ 1162 5 s . 4 d ., the total for the former being as low as £ 389 18 s ., and that fof the latter £ 772 7 s . 4 d . In 1892 it put forth its strength to good purpose , and subscribed £ 266 7 5 s . in support of the Old People ' s Jubilee , while the total for the year was £ 282415 s . In 1891 thethreeCharities ^ received amongst them £ i 278 os . fid ., of which the Boys' School received upwards of three-fourths , while in 1888 it raised altogether £ 4223 16 s . fid ., of which this Institution received £ 2873 , and the Girls '

School at its Centenary £ 1350 16 s . 6 d . On Wednesday , one lodge—St . John ' s , No . 348 , Bolton—was represented by Bro . John E . Kenyon , and Bros . Heelis and C . D . Cheetham , Unattached , whose lists are apparently confined to their personal donations of £ 10 ios ., the total being only £ 21 . We trust that some compensation will be found for the smallness of these figures at the School Festivals in May and July . According to Grand Lodge Calendar there are 111 lodges on the roll of

WEST LANCASHIRE , of which only two—the Rowley Lodge , No . 1051 , Lancaster , and the Prince Edward , No . 2109 , Heaton Moor—were represented , the latter having as many as three Stewards , while Comp . C . Watson acted in behalf of the Bridson Chapter , No . 613 , Southport . The sum raised by these five reached in the aggregate £ l 3 t 5 -i and of this £ 105 was compiled by the Prince Edwatd Stewards .

Last year , however , the year's total reached £ 2768 as . fid ., of which £ 2500 was subscribed in support of Lord Latbom ' s chairmanship at the Girls' Scbo 1 Festival . In 1893 , the total was as low as £ 792 i 8 s ., while in 18 92 , including what it subscribed to the Jubilee of this Institution , it raised in all £ 1697 14 s . 6 d . In 1891 , when Lord Lathom occupied the chair at tha Boys '

School Festival at Brighton the year ' s total was £ 6341 19 s . 4 d .. of which £ 6126 14 s . 4 d . was in respect of his lordship ' s chairmanship . Add to these facts that the Province has three Institutions of its own , whose united capitals amounts to some £ 50 , 000 , and it will be seen that West Lancashire is doing its duty both regularly and well . We pass next to the small Province of

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND , which has but 14 lodges , and therefore to make its support effective , generally confines its attention to one Institution a year . Thus , in 1892 , it raised £ 388 ios , for the Benevolent Jubilee ; in 18 93 , the Boys' School was the favoured Charity , and received £ 267 ios ., while last year the principal support was given to the

Girls' School , for which £ 330 ios ., two smaller sums to the other Institutions , augumenting the year ' s total to £ 393 ios . This year it was the turn of the Old People , and on Wednesday Bro . Harry Howe , as Steward for the whole Province handed in the very excellent list of £ 289 16 s . Only four out of the 41 lodges in

MIDDLESEX were represented on this occasion , but the number of Stewards was seven , Bro , W . H . Gardener and two other members doing duty for the Staines Lodge , No . 2536 , which waa oniy consecrated the other day . The lists sent in by these )