Analysis Of The Returns.

Institution and the Boys' School , subscribing £ 43 to the former and . £ 105 to the latter . In 1896 , this Institution and the Girls' School were the recipients of its favours , while in 18 97 , the Old People had the field all to themselves to the extent of £ 66 3 s . Its most successful year was 18 9 8 , when it raised in all ^ 321 16 s . 6 d ., of which £ 33 12 s . fell to the lot of this Institution , and £ 288 4 s . 6 d . was subscribed to the Boys' Centenary .

BERKSMIRF , with a roll of 17 lodges has done great things since it was separated from Buckinghamshire and became a Province by itself . It had the honour of starting on its career under the auspices of the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., as Prov . Grand Master , and in 1891 , it began its work by distributing , £ 385 105 . among the three Charities , ln 1892 , when it had the misfortune to lose its chief ,

it raised inclusive of the , £ 661 9 s . 6 d . subscribed at the Jubilee of this Institution , no less a sum during the year than £ 945 us . 6 d . In 1893 and 18 94 , it compiled totals of ^ 724 7 s . and - £ 58 3 13 s . 6 d . respectively , but the year following it returned to the higher figures and subscribed in all £ 935 6 s . 6 d . In 1896 , it went nearly £ 100 still better and totalled up £ 1019 19 s . 6 d ., while in 18 97 , there was a slight reaction and the Returns amounted to £ 825 16 s . 6 d . Its record year as in

the case of many another Province , was 1898 , when after subscribing . £ 16 3 16 s . to this Institution , and , £ 9 6 12 s . to the Girls' School , it finished up with a subscription of £ 1436 17 s . to the Boys' Centenary ; the aggregate of the three Returns being £ 1607 5 s . Last year it subscribed £ 242 os . 6 d . to this Institution in February ; £ 431 9 s . gd . tc the Girls' School in May ; and . £ 552 iSs . 6 d ., as

announced , to the Boys' School , at whose Festival Bro . C . E . Keyser , who is a Berkshire as well as a Hertfordshire and London Mason , was the Chairman . On Tuesday seven of its 17 lodges sent up Stewards , and there was also a brother Unattached , the total from the eight brethren , including , £ 1 * 5 ios . per Bro . Keyser as W . M . of the Aldermaston Lodge , "No . 2760 , being £ 258 12 s . We now come to the " Chairman ' s Province " of

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . This is the second occasion during the period that has elapsed since it was separated from Berks that the Province has furnished a Chairman for one of our Festivals , the first having been in 1891 , when Lord Carrington—now Earl Carrington , Past Prov . Grand Master—presided at the 103 rd Festival in behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and Bucks supported his lordship with

donations amounting to £ 300 , the amount raised during the year being £ 511 is . In 1892 , it raised in all ^ 705 15 s ., of which . £ 290 18 s . was given to this Institution on the occasion of its Jubilee . In the five following years its totals were still creditable , but on a smaller scale , amounting , in 18 93 , to , £ 479 16 s ; ' ° £ 590 in 18 94 ; to £ 43 8 14 s . 6 d . in 18 95 j to £ 429 us . in 1896 ; and in 18 9710 ^ 489 17 s . 6 d . In 1898 , however , the ever memorable year of the Boys' Centenary ,

it came out bravely , its total , inclusive of , £ 1143 18 s . 6 d . to the said Centenary , being , £ 1323 gs . 6 d . Last year the efforts of the Provinces were necessarily of a less ambitious character and the sum apportioned among the three Charities was £ 425 15 s . 6 d . On Tuesday it acquitted itself splendidly , the total , including a personal donation of £ 105 from the Chairman , amounting to £ 1321 15 s . In raising this large sum—exclusive of thc Chairman's £ 105—the number of

brethren who gave their services as Stewards was 56 , as many as 17 out of the 20 lodges sent up Stewards , while five of the nine chapters were also represented , there being , in addition , six brethren who did duty as Unattached . The Wycombe Lodge , No . 1501 , High Wycombe ( three Stewards ) , £ 52 ios . ; the Grenville Lodge , No . 17 8 7 ( two Stewards ) , £ 31 ios . ; the Herschel Lodge , No . 18 94 , Slough ( four Stewards ) £ 65 ios . 6 d . ; the Dagmar Lodge , No . 2262 ,

Wraysbury ( two Stewards ) , £ 68 5 s . ; the Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge , No . 2420 , Aylesbury ( seven Stewards ) , £ 178 ios ., including . £ 137 us . on the list of Bro . H . Turnham ; the Carrington Lodge , No . 2421 , Amersham ( 12 Stewards ) , . £ 343 ' 7 - 6 d ., of which £ 216 16 s . 6 d . was obtained by Bro . William Yeo , while the Studholme Brownrigg Chapter , attached to the lodge , subscribed per Comp . W . A , Stratton , , £ 43 ns . 6 d . The Concordia Lodge , No . 2592 , Wendover , with

two Stewards , contributed £ 53 11 s ., and the Addington Lodge , No , 268 J , Etonso named after the present Prov . G . Master , and consecrated as recently as 18 9 8—which had three of its members representing it , £ 103 ios . Thus , whether we have regard to the number of lodges and chapters that were represented , the number ot brethren and companions who gave their services as Stewards , or the aggregate

of the several lists , we find that the Province of Buckinghamshire has , as we have said , acquitted itself most creditably , and we gladly take the opportunity of congratulating his lordship , the Chairman , the lodges which supported him , and thc Stewards who laboured so arduously and so successfully , on the result which has attended their efforts .

For ^ several years past—indeed ever since it established its Charity

Association—C AMBRIDGESHIRE , has been doing good work in behalf of our Institutions . It is a small Province , with only seven lodges on its roll , yet , according to the latest Report of its Association , it raised during the period 1883-18 9 8 , both years inclusive , no less than £ 5737 . In 1896 its contributions amounted to £ 364 5 s . ; in 18 97 to £ 323

103 . 3 d . ; and in 1898 , inclusive of £ 707 3 s . 6 d . to the Boy 1 Centenary , £ 759 13 s . 6 d ., or between £ 108 and £ 109 per lodge . After such an effort it is not surprising there should have been last year a reduction to , £ 222 12 s . On Tuesday , however , a fair beginning was made with a total of £ 95 15 s ., raised by the representatives of two of its lodges , of which . £ 80 formed the list of Bro . F . H . Potts , of the Etheldreda Lodge , No . 2107 , Newmarket .

CHESHIRE , which has latterly had several additions to its lodges , and including the recently consecrated John Brunner Lodge , No . 2799 , has as many as 54 on its roll , was represented on this occasion by five brethren acting as Stewards for three lodges the total of their lists being £ 63 . •This is not much for so strong a Province , nor ' were its performances last year , when it distributed no more than £ 126 among the Central Charities , on a scale proportionate to its strength . But , in 1898 it

, raised £ 2779 17 s ., of which £ 2753 12 s . was in respect of the Boys' Centenary , while in 18 91 , it gave £ 1050 to the same School ; in 1892 , £ 1988 to the Benevolent Jubilee ; and , in 18 95 , when its Prov . Grand Master , Earl Egerton of Tatton , took the chair at the Boys' Festival , £ 2000 to that Institution . Moreover , as we have often pointed out , Cheshire has an Educational Charity of over 35 years ' standing and a Benevolent Institution , which , naturally , have a prior claimiupon the members of the Province .

Thanks to the Stewardship of Bro . Sholto H . Hare , of the Molesworth Lodge , No . 1954 , Wadebridge ,

CORNWALL , with its array of 31 lodges , escapes being in the absentee list , Bro . Hare ' s donation being one of , £ 10 ios . ; but the Province , nevertheless , has been doing capital work for years , and we shall no doubt hear of it to advantage before the year is out . In 1 899 , including £ 238 is . subscribed to this Institution , the total reached £ 516 6 s . In 1898 it amounted to £ 924 53 ., of which £ 854 19 s . was raised for the Boys' Centenary . In 1895 , when the Earl of Mount Edcumbe , Prov . G . M ., was in the chair at the Girls' Festival , the Province raised £ 750 for that

Analysis Of The Returns.

Institution , and during the year £ 789 18 s ., while in 1 S 92 , when his lordship presided at the Old People ' s Jubilee , it subscribed £ 776 15 s . In 1 S 96 its total for the year was £ 305 us ., and in 18 97 £ 341 19 s ., so that its support , if small on occasions , is given consistently .

DERBYSHIRE has an Unattached representative in the person of Bro . I . N . Woodiwiss , with a personal donation of £ * iO ios ., but hardly a year passes in which it does not acquit itself with honour . Last year it subscribed £ 390 8 s . to the Girls' School , and £ 251 4 s . to the Boys' School . In 1 S 9 S it made a brave show , the total amounting to £ 2784 ios . 6 d ., of which £ 2419 2 s . was raised for the Boys' Centenary , £ 335 for the Girls' School , and only £ 30 8 s . 6 d . for this Institution . In

1896 the Duke of Devonshire presided as Chairman at the Boys' School , and was supported by the Province to the extent of £ 1642 2 s . In 18 93 its Returns reached £ 1025 8 s . 6 d . ; in 1892 £ 1738 14 s ., of which £ 1362 went to the Jubilee of this Institution ; and in 18 91 £ 980 7 s ., the roll of lodges being then 24 , but since increased to 27 . We are glad to find that

DEVONSHIRE with its strong array of 59 lodges , notwithstanding it has its own Educational and Annuity Funds , is continuing its efforts in support ofjthe Central Institutions . In 1888 , when Viscount Ebrington , then Prov . Grand Master , took the chair for the Boys' Institution it subscribed £ 840 in support of his lordship ' s Chairmanship , and during the year ^ 1013 5 s . In 1892 , it raised for the Benevolent Jubilee £ 807 8 s . 6 d ., out of a total for the year of £ 923 8 s . 6 d . In 18 9 S , including

. £ 1875 2 s . iod . to the Boys' Centenary , its contributions reached £ 1961 4 s . iod . Last year the result was small and amounted to onl y £ 274 1 is ., but on Tuesday a good start was made for the current year with a total of £ 173 Ss . from the representatives of two lodges and an Unattached brother , the list of Bro . J . R . Wilson , St . Aubyn Lodge , No . 954 , Devonport , being for £ 141 15 s ., and that of Bro . F . B . Westlake , St . John's Lodge , No . 70 , Plymouth—who is one of the mainstays of our Central Charities in this Province—for £ 31 ios .

The Province of DORSETSHIRE , with its 15 lodges , had a worthy representative in the person of Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , J . P ., whose name must be familiar enough to those who look well into our Festival Returns , and who , on Tuesday , handed in a list of £ 105 . Last year there was subscribed £ 157 ios . to this Institution , £ 268 6 s . to the Girls' School , and

a something not included in the announcement sheet , which subsequently proved to be £ 15 15 s . to the Boys' Festival , Bro . Whadcoat doing duty at all three Festivals ; while , in 18 9 8 , the year ' s total reached £ 2127 ios . 6 d ., and of this £ 2054 os . 6 d ., including the 1000 guineas , as announced from the chair in the Royal Albert Hall , from Bro . Whadcoit , then Mayor of Poole , was subscribed towards the Boys' Centenary . Why

DURHAM should so often elect to be Stewardless we are unable to explain , nor , as it is a regular subscriber to all three Institutions , is the point a material one . On Tuesday its donation of 100 guineas was included in the Returns , and we shall no doubt have occasion to report other donations when we furnish particulars of the School Festivals . Last year each of our three Institutions received 50

guineas , making a total for the year of £ 157 ios ., while the Province held high festival in behalf of its Educational and Hudson Benevolent Charities , when the proceeds obtained amounted to some £ 2500 . In 1 S 98 , including £ 533 2 s . raised for the Boys' Centenary , the total Returns amounted to £ 643 7 ' s . ; in 1897 to £ 305 ns . ; in 18 96 to , £ 566 ios . ; in 1892 to £ 1034 5 s ., of which £ 720 Ss . was subscribed to the Benevolent Jubilee . The Province contains 37 lodges .

There are 45 lodges on the roll of ESSEX , and of these 11 took part in Tuesday ' s proceedings , the number of brethren who gave their services as Stewards being 39 . The largeness of the number is to be accounted for by the fact that two of the lodges , which were only warranted last year—the Seven Kings Lodge , No . 2749 , Romford , and the Charles Dickens

Lodge , No . 2757 , Chigwell—furnishing , the former 11 and the latter 22 Stewards . The total amounted to . £ 1270 7 s ., among the principal lists being one for £ 152 Ss . per Bro . Fred England , of tho Albert Lucking Lodge , No , 2717 , Southend-on-Sea ; . £ 346 ios . from Bro . Frank Evans and 10 others of No ! 2749 ; and ^ 405 from Bro . J . T . Dormer and 22 others of Lodge No . 2757 . Last year the Returns totalled up £ 1225 13 s . 6 d ., of which the Girls' School had

the good fortune to receive £ 726 1 is . In 18 9 S , it subscribed the very large sum of £ 4122 12 s . 6 d . to the Boys' Centenary , the year ' s total including the contributions to the other Institutions , being £ 4282 16 s . In 1893 , when its Prov . Grand Master—then Lord Brooke—presided at the Boys' School Festival it Was £ 22 5 833 ., of which "Our Boys" received £ 2155 6 s ., while in 18 92 , when this

Institution celebrated its Jubilee , the product of the year , including £ 2218 2 s . Gd . to the Old People , was / 2608 53 . In 1 SS 8 , the Returns were £ 1297 3 s . 6 d ., of which £ 8 74 6 s . was raised for the Girls' Centenary . The intermediate years have also been very productive showing that Essex is as regular in its contributions to all three Institutions as it is generous .

Among the most regular and liberal—even beyond its strength—of the sup . porters of our three Institutions is the Province of

GLOUCESTERSHIRE , which , though it musters but 17 lodges , is almost invariably and on occasions very prominently , represented in our Festival Returns . In 18 92 , when Sir Michae 1 Hicks-Beach , Bart ., Prov , Grand Master , presided at the Buys' School Festival , it subscribed £ 1645 us . to that Institution out of a total for the whole year of * £ 1729 us . In 18 93 and 18 94 , the totals were £ 304 iSs . and £ 428 6 s . 6 d .,

respectively ; in 1895 it rose to £ 598 19 s . ; while in 1896 , there was a slight fluctuation in the opposite direction to . £ 544 195 . In 18 97 , the Returns reached £ 675 18 s ., and in 1898 , the record sum of , £ 2860 2 s ., of which £ 2723 12 s . was subscribed-to the Boys' Centenary . Last year , the total was £ 524 I 9 * . 6 d ., of which £ 331 16 s . fell to the share of this Institution , while on Tuesday , two Stewards , hailing from the Royal Gloucestershire Lodgo , No . H 39 , Gloucester , handed in lists together amounting to £ 31 ios .

HAMPSHIRE AXD THE Isi . i : OF Wic . in * with a roll o 4 8 lodges , is one of our strong Provinces , but as it has an Educational Fund of its own , in which it takes a great interest and for which , therefore , it works hard and successfully , it is not always as prominent at these Centra l Festivals as other Provinces which are in a position to give their support to

the Central Chanties . On Tuesday three lodges and the chapter attached to one of them sent up three brethren , and the lists they compiled , with the donation of an Unattached brother , reached a total of £ 112 6 s . Last year the record was a good one , amounting to £ 983 19 s ., of which this Institution received £ 432 7 s . the Girls' School £ 377 , and the Boys' School the remainder . In 18 98 the ' aggregate reached the splendid sum of £ 3343 * 3 ** - 6 d ., of which all but , £ 105 was