Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

School . Though it can point to a fair muster of lodges on its roll , it is not a conspicuously rich province , and as il raised £ 305 ios . for the R . M . B . I , in February , and emphasised this demonstration of its vitality by contributing £ 126 ios . 6 d . to the Girls School in Maj ' , there would have been nothing unreasonable had it elected to stand aside for others on this occasion . However , instead of doing this , it has very nearly repeated its

second contribution of the year , its two Stewards—Bros . Ardley and VV . J . Nunn—having contrived to make up lists of £ " 100 and £ 21 respectivel j ' , or together £ 121 . This raises the year ' s total to £ 553 os . 6 d . Last year its total for the three Festivals was £ 690 , and in 188 4 it was £ 627 , making for the triennial period £ 1870 , or an average per Festival of £ 207 . Moving southwards we come to

SURREY , Which , as the Chairman ' s Province , so highly distinguished itself at the Girls' School Festival in May , when it compiled the exceedingly handsome total of £ 1345 155 . 6 d . It had previously assisted at the Benevolent Festival , and subscribed , by the hands of four Stewards , £ 14 8 us . Yet in spite of the sum of close on £ 1500 thus disbursed , five of its brethren

took upon themselves the office of Stewards , at Bro . Binckes ' s instigation , and the result of their efforts appears elsewhere in the shape of £ 325 5 s ., of which Bro . H . M . Hobbs , as the Steward ofthe George Price Lodge , No . 2096 , is responsible for £ 257 5 s . This makes the total for the year £ 1819 us . < 5 d ., the portion subscribed by the aforesaid George Price is

Lodge being £ ^ 665 3 s . fid . This a splendid record even for a Province consisting of 30 lodges , while as regards the achievement of the George Price , there are not many of our lodges , be thej' old or young , that are able to point to so successful a share of Festival work as this . As to the past performances of this Province , they have been uniformily worthy of its recognised position in the Craft .

SUSSEX , For very sufficient reasons , has taken but little part in our anniversary proceedings' during the current year , its sole contribution being £ ^ 122 ios . raised by two of its 25 lodges in February for the BeneA'olent Institution . But it bore the chief part in the Girls' Festival of last year , when its late respected Prov . G . M ., Sir VV . VV . Burrell , Bart ., was in the chair , the sum

of contributions on that occasion being ^ iS ^ o . In Ihe June following , one of its lodges raised £ 73 ios . for the Beys' School , making the total for 1885 £ 1923 ios . After such an amount of help as this , it is not surprising the brethren of Sussex should have rested somewhat from their benevolent pursuits . However , the recent installation of their new chief , H . R . H . the

Duke of Connaught , appears to have given them an accession of zeal , and on Wednesday , the seven brethren who did duty as Stewards compounded a total of £ 420 , making the sum of the current year ' s contributions £ 542 ios ., which is most satisfactory after the heavy and exhausting labours of 1885 .

WARWICKSHIRE , And the Athol Lodge , No . 74 , in particular , shows to considerable advantage in these Returns , No less than 18 of the Athol brethren gave in their names as Stewards , and the tune of their efforts is represented by the effective total of £ 231 . Besides these , two other brethren acted in the same capacity for Nos . 5 67 and 5 S 7 respectively , the general result , as

regards the whole province being £ 283 10 s ., which superadded to the £ 230 2 s . raised in support of the Marquess ot Hertford's Chairmanship for the Benevolent Institution in February , and the . £ 102 18 s . given to the Girls' School in May , makes a total for the year of . £ 616 ios . We are g lad to see these figures , and shall be still more glad when they represent

a still higher amount . No doubt , had Lord Leigh been able to take the chair we should have seen Warwickshire bestirring itself , much as they did in 1876 , when they helped their chief as President al the Boys' Festival to the extent of £ 2000 . However ) they have helped Lord Suffield substantially , and we trust other Chairmen will obtain an even greater measure of support . Bro . McLean , as the representative of

WILTSHIRE At the Girls' School Festival in May , was so fortunate as to hand in a list of £ 200 us ., and as this is only a small Province of 10 lodges , we could hardly expect that his second effort , made for the Boys' School , should prove as productive . But he seems to have worked steadily , his list of £ ' 61 13 s .

being well up to the mark , considering his previous efforts . This places the total for the year— £ 262 4 s . —above the average of the last four j'ears , though in 1882 it figured for upwards of £ 300 . There is , as we have said before , a praiseworthy regularity as well as liberality in these particulars , which reflect great credit on so limited a Province . It is hardly possible to judge fairly of

WORCESTERSHIRE , As only one out of its three Stewards—Bro . E . J . Chambers , of Lodge No . 252—had sent in his list up to the time of going to press . But the Province , though moderate in size , is a \ 'ery energetic one , and moreover raised

£ 28 7 8 s . for the Benevolent Festival in February , with a . subsidiary amount of £ 63 in May for the Girls . The £ ' 52 ios . of Bro . Chambers raises the Worcestershire total to £ 402 18 s . for the j'ear . Thus without the lists of Bros . Godson and Consterdine-Chadwick ' s contributions , this year ' s total is slightly in excess of that for 1885 .

YORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND LAST ) , Has been dealing with comparatively small figures this year . It gave £ 42 to the Roj'al Masonic Benevolent Institution in February and followed this up with £ 82 in May to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . On Wednesday one of its lodges gave £ 41 14 s . 6 d ., making the result for all three Festivals . £ 165 14 s . 6 d ., which is very much below the average of the previous years , its contributions having been £ 920 in 1883 , £ 559 in 1884 ,

and £ 535 '" 1885 . It would , however , be unreasonable to look to large amounts always . There are sure to be some passing circumstances , which will have the effect of lowering our returns every now and then , but the effect is neutralised in the long run by more vigorous efforts at other times , and we have no doubt our North and East Yorkshire brethren , finding their help to our Charitable Institutions has fallen somewhat into arrear during 1886 will do all in their power to revive the heavier contributions of last year and its predecessors . Such help will most assuredly be welcome .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) , Uur third largest Province has acquitted itself worthily , as usual . Its total is the largest of all the Provincial Returns , namely , £ 760 19 s ., and 41 brethren as Stewards had a hand in raising it . If we add this to the £ 735 contributed to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in February aiid the £ 500 raised for the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls in May , we have agrandtotalfortheyearof close on £ 2000—the actual figurebeing £ i 99 S 19 s .,

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

or an average per Festival in round figures of £ 665 . Last year the amount , including the Sir Henry Edwards Presentation to the Girls ' , was £ 2107 , while in 1884 , 1 SS 3 , and 1 SS 2 it was £ ' 1841 , £ 2350 , and £ 1635 respectively . The aggregate for the last 12 years is £ 24 , 566 , which gives an average for Ihe 36 Festivals held during that period of £ 682 per Festival . As we have said in former analytical articles , such Returns as these need no dressing up in order to make them presentable .

GUERNSEY . Every now and then we have thc satisfaction of welcoming a Steward from what is described in Grand Lod ge Calendar as the " Channel Islands . " On Wednesday , Bro . Parsons as representative of the Loyalty Lodge , No . 243 , Guernsey , gave in a list of £ 110 5 s ., and we take leave to congratulate him heartily on his success . A few more brethre n as energetic as Bro . Parsons would have helped to swell the total very appreciably .

OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTING BODIES . There are generally on these occasions a few lists handed in b y members representing extra-constitutional branches of Masonry or lodges in foreign parts , and Wednesday was no exception . Bro . Norrington , as Steward for the Kintore Mark Lodge No . 333 , compiled a list of ' £ 63 , and Lieut .-Col . Haldane for the St . John and St . Paul Lodge , No . 349 Valetta , Malta

, figures under " Foreign Stations " as the contributor of £ 52 ; Bro , the Rev . A . H . Hildesley being also entered ss a Steward for the Triune Brotherhood , No . 684 , under the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab . Of course , such returns are heartil y welcomed , especially in the case of lodges abroad , which , as they mostly have local Charitable Associations of their own , arc not expected to render much hel p towards our home Central Charities .

The Annual Fete And Stewards' Visit.

THE ANNUAL FETE AND STEWARDS' VISIT .

The annual fete , visit of the Festival Stewards , and distribution of prizes amongst the successful pupils at the Boys' School , took place on Saturday last , in the presence of an unusuall y numerous company of the friends of the Institution , at Wood Green . As usual , an attractive programme had been arranged for the enjoyment of the visitors , a large proportion of whom Avere ladies , and throughout the afternoon there was an uninterrupted succession of interesting "events , " which kept the company

in excellent humour . No doubt additional inducement to pay the Boys ' School a visit arose from the fact that the Right Hon . Lord SuHield . R . W . Prov . Grand Master of Norfolk , and Chairman of the Anniversary Festival , had kindly consented to preside ahd distribute the prizes , a compliment that was highly appreciated by the executive and all interested in the welfare of the Institution . The sun blazed fiercely down from what would form Tennyson ' s ideal of "the blue unclouded , " but a fresh breeze served to

moderate into a refreshing temperature one of the hottest days yet experienced this summer . Soon alter noon visitors began to arrive , and for a couple of hours after the trains from town brought fresh contingents of friends , so that by the time appointed ( or opening the festivities of ihe day , the school buildings and the neatl y laid-out grounds in which they are situated , presented a populous and animated appearance , the pretty toilettes of the ladies and children adding much to the picturesque aspect of the scene .

During the assemblage of the guests , the Band of the Institution—little fellows , some of whom were scarcel y bigger than the instruments they played—gave selections of music in a manner which spoke volumes for the efficient training imparted by their leader , Bro . VV . Whare . By two o ' clock , the handsome new schoolroom , in which the distribution of prizes was to take place , was completely filled , seats having been conveniently arranged for the guests , whilst the boys forming the choir occupied a gallery

at the extreme end of the room . Lord Suffield had arrived some time earlier , and was received by the House Committee , Stewards , and Secretary ( Bro . F . Binckes ) , by whom his lordship was conducted over the establishment , with the interior economy of which he expressed himself hi g hly delighted . On entering the schoolroom , his lordship AV , * IS greeted with

hearty cheering , and he was accompanied by Bros . Dr . R . Morris , Head Master and Chaplain of the Institution ; Edgar Bowyer , Horace Brooks Marshall , CC , J . Terry , C . F . Matier , Raymond Stewart , C F . Hogard , and many other prominent members of the Craft . The noble Chairman having been formally introduced by Bro . Edgar Bowyer ,

The HEAD MASTER observed that on a warm day like the present the company Avould not desire to listen to lengthy speeches ; but they would all welcome most cordially the noble lord who had kindly consented lo occupy the chair . ( Applause . ) Some years ago he did them a similar kindness ; but they were glad lo see him again , and they hoped he would be able to remain with them during the greater portion of the afternoon . ( Cheers . ) The programme then opened with Eaton Faning ' s part song , "The

Vikings , which was admirably rendered by the choir , Bro . H . J . Dutton officiating as conductor , and Mr . E . Hann as accompanist . Then followed the well-known burlesque recitation on "The Advantages of the English Law , " capitally spoken by P . O'Doherly , whose make-up of wig , gown , brief , & c , was very good , and the "special pleader" acquitted himself most creditably . A pianoforte solo , " lole " ( Dufaure ) , was then given by VV Conway , followed by MuIIer ' s part song , " May Daj ' , " both of which items were well received .

The prizes presented by the Institution were then distributed , the recipients , as hereafter enumerated , being each addressed in a few kindly , encouraging words by the noble lord in the chai * . FIRST CLASS . —Scripture , 1 , A . T . Haworth . Latin , 1 , P . O'Doherty . French , 1 , C . J . Johnstone . English , 1 , S . W . Richardson . Mathematics , 1 , A . J . Kennedy . General Improvement , 1 , F . Herring ; 2 , H . A . Ecclestone ; 3 , II . Knott . SECOND CLASS . —Latin , 1 , F . Lewis . French , 1 , C . C . B . Jones . Mathematics , 1 , T . W . Crabb . General Improvement , 1 , A . Blunt .

THIRD CLASS . —Latin , French , and English , J- Bloomfield . Mathematics , 1 , H . P . Richardson ; 2 , R , A . Sykes . Geneial Improvement , 1 , G . C Wi / lett . FOURTH CLASS . —Latin , English , and Mathematics , J . P . Seagrave . French , 1 , H . R . Grave ? . General Improvement , 1 , A . Williams . FIFTH CLASS . —Latin , 1 , D . F . McGill . French and Arithmetic , 1 , F . Coleman , General Improvement , 1 , A . Moore ; 2 , J . E . Walters . SIXTH CLASS . —General Proficiency , 1 , T . R . Foord . General Improvement , 1 , C I . G . Koddam .

SBVENTH CLASS . —General Proficiency , 1 , A . R . Warner ; 2 , A . E . Astington ; 3 , G . C . Huggett . PREPARATORY SCHOOL . FIRST CLASS . —General Improvement , 1 , R . L . Churchill ; 2 , F . VV . Iliggison ; 3 , L . Shorrock . SECOND CLASS . —General Improvement , 1 . P . Neville .