Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

BERKS AND OXON , compiled a total of £ 47 4 s . 6 d ., the principal list being that of Bro . W . Bonny , W . M ., of the Leopold Lodge , No . 235 , Reading , for £ 19 iSs . 6 d . Last year the sum raised from the same number of lodges , with the Deputy P . G . M . ' s assistance , was £ 72 15 s ., the largest list being that of the Stewird fro n the sams Leopold Lodge for £ 3 6 i ^ s ., while in iSg 4 , " five Stewards compiled a total of £ 46 5 s . 6 d .

Two Stewards from the CIIANN EL ISLANDS together compiled £ 31 10 s ., out of which Bro . C . E . . Malet de Carteret , of Lodge Cesarean , No . 74 , St . Heliers , jersey , was responsible for £ 26 5 s . There were also representatives from two of the eight lodges in CHESHIRE , whose Returns amounted to £ 16 16 s ., while the sum raised by Bro . Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck , Prov . G . Master of CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND , and a Steward from one of 10 lodges—the Inglewood , No . 462 , Penrith , reached £ 3 6 5 s ., his lordship ' s list being for £ 31 .

DERBYSHIRE , which musters six lodges , returned the highly satisfactory total of £ 112 4 s ., three of the lodges being directly represented , while the brethren Unattached were nine in number , including Bro . A . Woodiwiss , J . P ., Prov . G . Master ; Bro . Victor Cavendish , M . P ., Past G . Warden ; Bro . Percy Wallis , Past G . Treasurer ; and Bro . Sir Thomas Roe . The chief lists were those of Bro . J . Howell , Dove Valley Lodge , No . 353 , Ashbourne , for £ 21 , and Bro . T . E . Yeomans , W . M . Derby

Lodge , No . 302 , for , £ 18 4 s . Last year Derbyshire inaugurated its existence as a separate Province , by contributing £ 140 is , 6 d ., the number of Stewards being 10 , of whom seven , including the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Victor Cavendish , M . P ., and Bro . P . Wallis , who were Unattached , and the representatives of the same three lodges as are represented in these Returns . DEVONSHIRE , with Bros . John Taylor and F . B . Westlake as Provincial Stewards , handed in between them £ 49 2 s , of which the former was responsible £ 33 7 s ., as compared with a total of £ ^ S 2 s . raised by the

same Bro . Taylor in 1 895 ; while DORSETSHIRE , which contributed £ 52 10 s ., per Bro . Atkins , last year , figures for £ 5 5 s ., per Bro . the Earl of Portarlingtdn . Three of the 13 lodges in EAST ANGLIA together raised £ 28 7 s ., as compared with the £ 25 4 s . from two lodges at last year ' s Festival ; while G LOUCESTERSHIRE and HEREFORDSHIRE , which in 18 95 sent up £ 10 10 s . by the hands of its Past and Present Provincial Grand Masters , is entered on this occasion for £ 5 5 s ., the contribution of Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , Prov . Grand Master . There were three

Stewards hailing from HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT , of whom Bros . R . Eve , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and R . Loveland Loveland , Past Deputy Prov . Grand Master , were Unattached , while Bro . G . A . Mursell represented the Albany ( T . l . ) Lodge and the Medina , No . 140 . The total reached £$ 2 10 s ., of which Bro . Mursell raised £ 26 5 s . Last year the total from four Stewards , amongst whom were the three just mentioned , was only £ 21 . Last year . HERTFORDSHIRE sent up

three Stewards , two of thi-m being lodge representatives , with Bro . Keyser Unattached , the total being £ 10 10 s ., but the return from one of the lodge Stewards was placed in the Middlesex lists . On Wednesday , the amount was £ 7 7 s . from Bro E . Apelt , Gladsmuir Lodge , No . 3 6 7 , the Rose and Lily Lodge , No . 354 , being represented by Bro . A . Stewart Brcwn , whose list will be found under Middlesex .

Five out of the 20 lodges on the roll of KENT , with Bros . F . Hughes-Hallett and the Rev . Hayman Cummings , D . P . G . M ., as Provincial Stewards , are entered for £ 55 13 s ., the principal items being the £ 21 compiled by Bro . W . J . D . Best , W . M . of the Dover and Cinque Ports Lodge , No . 152 , and the £ 21 of Bro . Edwin Ctosoer , W . M . Holmesdale

Lodge , No . 129 , Ramsgate . In 18 95 , the total was £ 125 12 s ., the number of Stewards , including the D . P . G . M , being six , while in 18 94 the Stewards from six lodges together raised £ 127 14 s . In 1891 , nine Stewards raised £ 17833 ., and in 1 S 90 , the total obtained by 11 Stewards was £ 117 is . Itshould be noted , however , that the list of Bro . Orwin , M . D ., of the Florence Nightingale Lodge , No . 44 , is placed to the credit of the Knights Templar . Last year

LANCASHIRE may be said to have occupied the place of the " Chairman's Province , " and contributed the handsome total of , £ 262 10 s ., the list of Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , the son of the Prov . G . Master , who presided as Chairman , being £ 115 ios . This year , live of the long array of 36 lodges took part in the proceedings , and together raised £ 47 5 s ., the three brethren who did duty as Stewards for the County Palatine Lodge , No . 156 , handing in a joint list of £ 31 10 s ., while Bro . George H . Parke , Furness Lodge , No . 36 has placed his return under West Yorkshire .

There were two Stewards from LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND , among them being Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . M ., whose list appears under Northants , Hunts , and Beds , of which he is also Prov . G . Master , the total being £ s 5 s ., as compared with £ 45 5 s . in 1 S 95 . LINCOLNSHIRE , per Bro . the Rev . E . M . Weigall , is entered for £ 5 5 s ., as compared with the £ 21 raised last year by the Stewards , of whom Bro . Weigall was one . In 18 94 , as the Chairman ' s Province , it supported the Earl of Yarborough , its P . G . Master , to the extent of £ 214 5 s . 6 d ., of which his lordship ' s own list of £ 7 8 15 s . was the principal item .

MIDDLESEX with only three Stewards did well in returning £ 51 9 s . Bro . Lane ' s list , as representative ot the Hampton Court Lodge , No . 448 , being for £ 24 3 s ., and Bro . George Everett ' s for the Francis Burdett Lodge , No . 181 , for £ 21 . Last year the total was £ 42 ; in 18 91 , £ 27 6 s . ; and in 18 93 , £ 83 3 s . 6 d . One of the three lodges in MONMOUTHSHIRE figures for £ 5 5 s ., and one of the 12 lodges in NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM for £ 36 15 s ., while as regards ,

NORTHANTS , HUNTS , AND BEDS , the total returned was £ 54 12 s ., Lord Euston ' s list being for £ 12 ] 2 > ., and Bro . Dorman ' s , also Unattached , for £ 10 10 s . Bro . the Rev . V . P . Wyatt , one of two Stewards , hailing from the Stuart Lodge , No . 434 , also returned £ to ios ., and so did Bro . G . C . W . Fitzwilliam , Dep . P . G . M ., as Steward for the Lodge , No . 477 , which bears his name . Last year , the total was £ 44 2 s ., the five Stewards who raised that sum being included in the six who acted on Wednesday .

The Province of NORTH WALES , per Bro . Maj . G . Gordon Warren , is entered for £ 16 16 s . ; from that of SHROPSHIRE , per Bro . W . Lascelles , Southwell , of the Shropshire Lodge , No . 44 , no list has come in ; and STAFFORDSHIRE , which sent up two Stewards , Bro . j . F . Pepper , Deputy P . G . M ., representing the Province , and Bro . VV . Davis , the Wulfruna Lodge , No . 186 , for £ 4 6 4 s ., Bro . Pepper ' s list amounting to £ 31 ios ., and that of Bro . Davis to £ 14 14 s . NORTH WALES , which

was not included in last year ' s Returns , had an excellent representative in Bro . W H . Williams , whose list for the whole Province amounted to the handsome total of £ 80 as . 66 ., while SOMERSETSHIRE , which last year contributed per Bro . S . R . Baskett , £ 26 6 s ., was represented by Bro . Col . A . Thrale Perkins , whose list amounted to £ 32 us . There were six Stewards hailing from

SURREY , of whom Bro . F . West , D . P . G . Master , was Unattached , while the other five did duty for three out of the eight lodges on the roll . The total was £ 53 15 s . 6 d ., the three representatives of Kintore Lodge , No . 333 , handing in lists which reached together £ 33 16 s . 6 d ., while Bro . H . S . Wellcome , of Hiram Lodge , No . 13 , figures for £ 11 ns . The total from eight lodges in 1895 was £ 43 us . Gd ., and in 18 94 it was £ 49 16 s , < 5 d . from five Stewards . In 18 93 , when the late Bro . Co ) .

Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

Money , C . B ., Prov . G . M ., presided as Chairman , his Province supported him handsomely to the extent of . £ 247 8 s . 6 d . There were two Unattached Stewards and two acting for lodges froai the Province of SUSSEX , the sum raised by one of them being £ 6 16 $ . 6 d ., as against £ 6 7 15 s . 6 d . in 1895 . WARWICKSHIRE returned £ 3 ; ios ., of which £ 21 figured in the list of Bro . T . R . Arter , Unattached , and the rest in that of Bro . H . J . Collins , of

the Howe ( T . I . ) Lodge . The Godson Lodge , No . 330 , in WORCESTERSHIRE , returned per Bro . Joseph S . Morris , £ 35 5 s . 6 d . ; and YORKSHIRE ( N . and E . ) , per Bro . T . B . Whytehead , £ 16 16 s . Comp . W . Briant , of the Matier Council , No . 3 , of Royal and Select Masters , is entered for £ 24 3 s ., and Sir Knight A . W . Orwin , M . D ., P . E . P . St . George's Preceptory of Knights Templar , for £ 26 5 s . As for the Chairman ' s Province of

WEST YORKSHIRE , which we have reserved to the last , the result it has achieved is greatly in excess of what was generally expected , though , under any circumstances a large Return was anticipated . The Stewards , including 14 ladies , numbered in all 52 , Provincial Grand Lodge and every one of the private lodges taking part in the good cause . Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , with seven Stewards , raised £ 104 14 s . ; Fearnley Lodge , No . s 8 , with 11 Stewards , £ 95 11 s . ; Integrity Lodge , No . 110 , with seven

Stewards , £ 119 14 s . ; Copley Lodge , No . in , represented by Bro . Mason , Prov . G . M ., and Mrs . and Miss Mason , £ 100 16 s . ; the Portal Lodge , No . 127 , with six Stewards , £ 112 2 s . 6 d . ; and the Lodge of Truth , No . 137 , with seven Stewards , including Bro . Barker , D . P . G . M ., and Mrs . Barker , £ 91 ios . 6 d . These are the principal amounts , while the total from all sources reached £ 751 5 s . This is the highest Return from any single province since these Festivals have been held . Well done , West Yorkshire , its Prov . G . Master , and its lodges , severally and collectively !

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Mariners' Lodge , No . 249 . The annual installation meeting of the members of the above lodge was held on Thursday , the 2 ndinst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , when there was an attendance of about 150 brethren , including numerous representatives of Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . Thomas D . Amos was effectively installed W . M . by Bro . E . Routledge , who retired from the chair , assisted by Bro . R . G . Bradley , P . P . G . D . C . The following officers were invested : Bros . Edmund Routledge , I . P . M . ; John S . Halliwell , S . W . ; Thomas Dickson , J . W . ; J . Hayes , P . P . G . S . B ., Treas .

Edward T . Gee , Sec ; J . O . Moulsdale-Wilhams , S . D . ; Thomas Liwton , J . D . ; H . Brown , D . C . ; A . B . Ewart , P . P . G . Org ., Org . ; James Jones , I . G . ; G . Jones Robeits , Robert A . Busby , George W . L . White , Alfred Draper , Alfred Rowlands , and C , Bridson , Stewards ; and Robert Shacklady , Charity Representative . In the course of the evening , the I . P . M . was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel and a gold watch as a mark of the esteem in which he is held . An excellent banquet was supplied by Bro . J . Casey , and the after-dinner musical programme was given by Bros . David , Beard , Wright , Busfield , Brown , Ramage , and A . B . Ewart , Organist .

Pattison Lodge , No . 913 . Bro . R . J . Cook , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., who has just concluded his second year of office as W . M . of the above lodge , he having first presided over its fortunes in the year 1 SS 1 , must be congratulated upon the eclat with which his second year's ruling was crowned , not so much for the number of initiates added to the roll of the lodge as for

his untiring efforts , and the success of those efforts , to please and gratify the brethren under him . Every meeting night some of the best of both locil and London talent was engaged by him , at his own cost , to entertain the brethren , and every mee ' . ing night , after labour and refreshment , music , both vocal and instrumental , and of the highest order , delighted the brethren of the lodge and its visitors and gave unlimited plcisure to all who had the privilege to attend .

The installation meeting took place on Thursday , the 2 nd instant , at Freemasons ' Hall , Plumstead , and was attended by brethren from far and neu . Bro . Cook opened the lodge , and after the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed , vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Dr . E . Bryceson , P . M ., who assumed it as Installing Odicer , by request . The W . M . elect , Bro . Daniel K . Summers , S . W ., was presented to the doctor to receive at his hands the benefits of installation , and in due course Bro . Summers was installed , proclaimed , and saluted . He appointed and invested his

officers as follows : Bro . Robert J . Cook , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., I . P . M . ; John Oliver Cook , S . W . ; John James Murphv , I . W . ; Augustus Jackson , P . M ., P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; Chas . Coupland , P . M , P . J . G . W ., Treas . j VV . Campbell Taylor , P . M ., Sec ; William Sanders , P . M ., Asst . Sec . ; Edward Moseley Taylor , S . D . ; Arthur Moore , J . D . ; James Graham Tucker , D . C . ; John Henry Bull , A . D . C . 5 Frederick Hoar , A . D . C . ; Sidney Morton , P . M ., Org . ; Robert E . B . Saunders , I . G . ; Henry J . ButterP . M . P . P . G . R ., William Henry Chaney , Bertram Hammond , Gorge Roberts ,

, , and John J . Messent , Stwds . ; and Charles Warren , Tyler . Bro . Bryceson then furnished a splendid bit of working by giving the beautiful and impressive addresses , for which he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks , the same to be inscribid on the minutes of the lodge , and for which he returned thanks . Bro . Cook , I . P . M ., was presented with avoteof thanks , engrossed and illuminated on vellum and splendidly mounted

and framed , a ' so with a solid gold bar , with date of second Mastership , attached to his original Past Master ' s jewel , as a mark of the esteem and affection of the brethren , and for valuable services rendered the lodge during his year of office , for which Bro . Cook returned his heartfelt thanks . Bro . Coupland was re-elected to represent the lodge on the Provincial Charity Committee . Various donations were voted to the local charities , and then the lodge was closed .

The brethren then journeyed to Charing Cross by special carnages , and banqueted at the Holborn Restaurant . Among the other brethren present , whose names could be deciphered from the attendance book , were Bros . A . Penfold , J . P ., L . C . C ., P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., H . Mason , P . M ., P . P . G . K ., W . Busbridge , P . M .. C . J . Clapham , P . M ., Col . W . H . Graham , V . D ., P . M ., P . M . 700 , E . Morris , P . M ., P . M . 17 S 9 , G . H . Letton , P . M ., P . M . 615 , C . Jolly , P . M . and Sec . 1472 , W . M . 2184 , H . Tomms , W . Folkhard , R . Bartral , L . Mills ,

F . Curling , F . Kirkman , T . Turton , T . Griffiths , A . D . Capon , R . lurrell , J . Taylor , J . Stratton , G . Fiost , G . Lockwood , M . A . Bliss , W . J . Squires , B . Littlevvcod , G . Laurence , Dr . J . Clarke , T . Arnold , A . Hiscock , W , Sallenger , J . Rose , C . Stone , Dr . R . Williams , W . H . Pryce , T . J . Nell , T . Hardy , P . Gonman , A . Eton , F . Mitchell , W . Richardson , and others , all ot the lodge ; Capt . G . JSpinks , P . M . 1536 , P . P . J . G . W . ; R . j . Pugh , W . M . 2147 ; O . O . Dale , W . M . 21 ) 9 ; F . Hulley , W . M . 2399 ; H . S . Syer , P . M ., Treas . 13 , P . M . S 29 ; J . A . Whitfield , W . M . 77 ; G . Ingle , W . M . 153 G ;

H . Tufnell , P . M ., 700 ; G . lerry , P . M . 991 ; G . K . Nichols , W . M . 700 ; J . H , Roberts , P . M ., Treas . 700 ; J . Macgregor , P . M . 545 ; J . Fiullade , W . M . 2041 ; A . H . Russell , S . W . 13 ; A . McQueen , J . W . 13 ; A . J . Warry , S . W . 742 ; R . C . Flynn , S . W . 2260 ; G . H . Porter , S . W . 700 ; R . Fowler , S . W . 1536 ; F . Reed , J . W . 1536 ; F . Kitter , J . D . 173 ; H . Crowuy , S . W . 2399 ; L . F . Webber , 706 ; F . S . Thomas , J . W . 70 G ; F . B . Benson , I . G . 1158 ; F . Nutall , 534 ; A , Wadsworth , 155 S ; Ford , 2005 ; Cooke , 987 ; C . Churcnill , 548 ; F . B . Limb , 17 S 9 ; J . H-

VVoodley , 13 ; J . P . O'Connell , 1715 ; W . C . Skully , and others . The toasts of "The Oueen and the Craft" and that of " H . R . H . the Piinceof Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having b , e ^ n honoured , the toast of "The Pro G . M , the Earl of Lathom ; the D . P . G . M ., Earl Amherst ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was drunk with much enthusiasm , the name of Earl Amherst , who is also P . G . M . of the Province of Kent , of which province the Pattison Lodge is on the roll of lodges , being received with long and continued cheering , his lordsnip biing deeply seated in the affection of the brethren of the Pattison Lodge .

Bro . Busbridge , P . M ., in whose hands the toast of "The Provincial Gran " Officers " was placed , said they had an excellent W . M ., but he had made a mistake in placing the toast in his ( Bro . Busbridge ' s ) hands . They had already heard a brilliant