Analysis Of The Returns.

Lodge , No . 1076 , and Bros . C . Kempton and W . J . Rowe , the joint representatives of the Queen's Westminster Lodge , No . 2021 , with £ 115 ios . Bro . VV . H . Bolt , City of Westminster Lodge , No . 1563 , had the satisfaction of compiling , and in a few days , the goodly list of . £ 112 5 s ., and Bro . Alderman G . W . Kidd , VVest Ham Abbey Lodge , No . 2291 . one of , £ 111 , while Bro . R . J . Campbell , Marquess of Ripon Lodge , No . 14 S 9 , and Bro . Benj . C . Carter , Henley Lodge , No . 1472 . were close up , the former with £ no 15 s . 6 d ., and the latter with £ \ 10 5 s . Comp . G . E . B .

Blanchard , Southwark Chapter , No . S 79 . and Bro . W . Morley , Wickham Lodge , No . 1924 , stand bracketed together , with £ 105 to their respective credits , while Bro . A . C . Spaull , as a member of the House Committee and Steward for Mark Lodge No . 3 6 3 , returns a list of ; £ ioi 6 s . Gd . The following five lists realised ; £ ioo each , namely , those of Bro . A . Barrett , Southwark Lodge , No . 879 ; Bros . H . D . Kemp and W . S . Emden , the joint representatives of the Beacontree Lodge , No . 122 S ; Bro . J . N . Hearn , Kennington Lodge , No . 1381 ; Bro . W .

E . Chapman , who did duty for the Eccentric Lodge , No . 24 SS , and the Runnymede Lodge , No . 2439 . Bucks , but whose list is entered in the London section of the Returns ; and Bro . W . G . Kentish , representing the Emulation Lodge of Improvement and the General Committee Dinner Club . Among other lists , which , though falling short of £ 100 , are nevertheless worthy of being specified , will be found those of Bro . Alfred Saunders , St . Luke's Lodge , No . 144 , tor £ 74 ns . ; " Bro . J . A . Farnfield , Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , for £ 85 us . 6 d . ;

Bro . W . Hillier , Highgate Lodge , No . 1366 , for . £ 74 ios . ; Bro . Maj .-Gen . John C . Hay , Friends-in-Council Lodge , No . 13 S 3 , for £ 87 3 s . ; Bros . James Taylor and C . J . R . Tijou , who jointly represented the Coborn Lodge , for ^ 73 10 s . ; Bro . Arthur Dutton , who did duty for Mount Moriah Lodge , No . 34 , and the Avondale Lodji'e , No . 2395 , for ^ 89 5 s . ; Bro . A . J . Hardwick , Woodgrange Lodge , No . 2409 , for £ 78 14 s . 6 d . ; and Bro . Lt .-Col . George Lambert , P . G . S . B ., Unattached , for ^ 73 ios .

THE PROVINCES , represented by 257 Stewards , returned the very handsome sum of £ 9 631 4 s . 6 d ., there being , however , the following 10 which bore no part in the contribution . HEREFORDSHIRE , though it musters only five lodges , might perhaps enter an appearance more frequently , but its Charitable Association is the means by which it seems to prefer sending its contributions . LINCOLNSHIRE

( 24 lodges ) has done nothing of importance since 1 S 92 , when it raised , by the medium of 13 Stewards , the very considerable amount of £ 660 5 s . for the Benevolent Jubilee , having in the preceding June contributed . £ 481 to the funds of the Boys' School . NOKI-OLK ( 17 lodges ) has done nothing since May of last year , when the-Steward of one of its senior lodges raised ^ 78 15 s . for this Institution , but in 1892 it took an active pirt in the Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , the total of its

subscriptions being £ 406 5 s . NORTHUMBERLAND ( 23 I idges ) figured in the Return * of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , bo * . h in 1893 and 1892 , the sum it raised in the former being . £ 94 ios . and in the latter ; £ ios , while , in 1892 , the Boys' School received support to the extent of ^ 1364 4 s . N OTTINGHAM - SHIRE ( 16 lodges ) has also been an absentee ' thus far during the previous year , its last appearance being at the Festival of this Institution in 18 93 . when it raised , £ 131 55 ., and in 1892 , when it contributed £ 157 ios . to the Benevolent Jubilee ,

'ind . £ 34 13 s . to the Boys' School . SOMERSETSHIRE ( 26 lodges ) is , in all probability , reserving itself for next year , when its Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , has undertaken to preside as Chairman at the Old People ' s Anniversary , but it has done excellent work in the past , having raised . £ 338 2 s . in 1893 ; . £ 841 15 s . —of which . £ 613 103 . was in behalf ot the Benevolent Jubileein 1892 ; and ^ , " 762 8 s . ' 6 d . —of which ^ 483 9 s . was contributed to the Boys' School—in 1891 . SOUTH WALES ( E . D . ) , with a muster roll of iq

lodges has done nothing this year , but as it contributes to all three Charities in turn , we shall , perhaps , hear of it at the Boys ' School Festival next month . In 18 93 it raised . £ 315 for this Institution ; in . £ 1892 it gave ; £ iSo to the Benevolent Jubilee , and , £ 321 15 s . 6 J . tj the Boys ' School Festival , or together ^ 501 15 s . (> J . ; and in 189 1 the Old People received £ 3 80 out ot * a total of - £ 479 15 s . The adjoining Province of SOUTH WALES ( W . D . ) , with its smaller array of 10 lodges , was present at the Benevolent

Festival in February , when Bro . the Rev . W . J . L . S . Siradling , D . P . G . M ., handed in a list of . £ 154 12 s . In 18 93 this Institution was favoured to the extent of i * i 77 19 s ., while in 1 S 92 the Boys' School obtained the lion ' s share of support in the shape of ; £ I 6 I is . 6 d ., a supplementary sum of , £ 32 ns . being handed in at the Old People ' s Jubilee . WILTSHIRE ( 11 lodges ) figured in the Benevolent Returns in February last for £ 175 14 s . 6 d . Last year , this Institution was supported to the extent of , £ 185 17 s ., the Boys' School receiving , £ 102 5 s . 6 d .,

while in 1 S 92 the amount raised was £ 530 19-., of which . £ 483 14 s . fell to the lot of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institutional its Jubilee Anniversary . The Province of J I- 'RSEV , with its seven lodges , which did good seivice last year by raising £ 263 for the Boys' School , completes the list of absentee provinces , their lodges , numbering 159 , having had n ' o part in Wednesday ' s proceedings , though it will be seen from the particulars we have been at the pains of compiling , that on other occasions they have done their full share in supporting our several Masonic Charities .

1 he first in order of the represented Provinces is that of BEUI'ORDSIIIKE , which , albeit the number of its lodges is for thc present restricted to six , will be found elsewhere as a contributor of , £ 43 is ., this being the amount raised by Bro . J . H . Keinin , as Steward for the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 803 , Biggleswade . In February the senior lodge , that of Bedfordshire of St . John the BaptistNo . 475

, , Luton , contributed , per Bro . F . | . Coleman , . £ 102 io > . to the Old People . Last year it raised in all , £ 183 17 s . 61 ., of which Bro . Prior , D . P . G . M ., as Steward fcr the R . M . B . I ., was responsible for - £ 47 5 s ., and Bro . Lord Ampthill , as Steward at both the School Festivals , for £ 62 13- * . 6 d . lor "Our Girls , " and £ 73 123 . 6 d . for " Our Boys . " In 1892 it subscribed . £ 152 5 s ., of which £ 126 was in behalf of the Old People's J ubilee , and in 1891 £ 138 12 s . for "Our Boys . "

BERKSHIRE , w . tn * . ' **> roll of 15 lodges is clearly bent on maintaining the reputation it has won for itself during its existence as a separate Province . It started well in 18 91 by distributing £ 385 Is . among the three Institutions . The following year it made a considerable advance by rais ' ng in all . £ 954 is . 6 d ., of which the Benevolent Jubilee absorbed . £ 661 9 s . 6 d ., while last year , without any special inducement t j exert itself , it subscribed , £ 203 5 s . tothe Benevolent Institution ; £ 32 ? Gs . Gd . * o

the Girls' School ; and £ " 214 5 s . 6 d . to the Boys' School , making in all £ - 742 17 s . This year there appears to be every reason to anticipate a repetition of these tall liguie * , the Benevolent Institution having been the recipient of , £ 247 135 . while on Wednesday , the representatives of six lodges and one chapter compiled amongst them the excellent total of £ 196 iNs . 6 ., the princpa ) item being the list of B 10 . K . E . Hodder , representing the Grey Friars' Lodge , No . 1101 , Reading for / * 52 3 s . Gd . The re-appiarance of

BRISTOL , with its nine lodges , which was foreshadowed in our analysis of the Benevolent Returns in February , is very welcome , and we heartily congratulate it upon thc support it has contributed on this occasion . Bro . E . T . Collins , who figures in the

Analysis Of The Returns.

list as the representative of the whole Province , handed in the very satisfactory sum of £ 430 ios ., while Bro . Lieut .-Col . J . R . Bramble , D . P . G . M ., who was an Unattached Steward , gave a donation , which swelled the total to ^ 441 . The most recent Festivals at whigh Bristol has attended are those of the Boys' School in 18 91 and 1 S 92 , the amount it raised at the former being £ 595 , and at the latter i . 316 . It has also been engaged during the last few years in organising a Mas inic Charitable Association of its own , S 3 that its non-appearance at other Festivals during 1 S 9194 is fully ex-plained .

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE , like its old associate , Berkshire , has been a most cons ' stent supporter of all our Charities ever since it was constituted as a separate Province under Bro . Lord Carrington . Thus in 1891 , a short time prior to his lordship's installation , it raised £ 300 in support of his chairmanship at the Festival of this Institution , and j £ i 74 6 s . at that of the Boys' School the month following , its minor contribution

ot ^ " 3 6 15 s . to the Old People , which inaugurated the year ' s work , making the total for the three anniversaries , £ 511 is . In 1892 it raised for the three Institutions / 705 15 s ., and last year , £ 478 4 s . 6 d ., while in February it gave . £ 26 5 s . to the Old People . On Wednesday its four Stewards raised - £ 122 4 s ., of which rather more than ha f was on the list of Bro . J . W . Burgess , Concardia Lodge , No . 2402 , Wendover .

As in February , so on Wednesday , the Province of CAMBRIDGESHIRE at the last moment escaped being included among the absentees by . the act ol Bro . P . H . Young , No . 441 , Cambridge , but witlfethis difference—In February hc figured as a brother , representing the Lodge of the Three Grand Principles , while on Wednesday he appeared as a companion , on behalf of the Chapter of

Fidelity , which is attached to it . On this occasion the sum of ; £ i 5 1 •*•. * . constituted his list . However , if Cambridgeshire was modestly represented at these Festivals , it has done good work in the past , as is shown by the totals it raised for one or more of our Institutions in the years 1893 , 1 S 92 , and 1891 of . £ 290 17 s ., ^ 326 8 s ., and . £ 227 respectively . These are goodly Returns for a Province of only six lodges .

For the Province of CHESHIRE , Bro . the Rev . C Chetwynd Atkinson representing two of its 45 lodges , returned the sum of 10 guineas ; but here likewise , though the Return is a small one , the Province has furnished ample evidence of its goodwill towards our Institutions at

many previous Festivals , but notably in 1891 , when it subscribed . £ 1050 to the Boys' School , and in 1892 , when its contributions to the Benevolent Jubilee were ; £ igSS ios . ; to say nothing of the local Educational Charity it has maintained for the last 30 years and the Benevolent Charity it has just established with a capital of about £ 3000 .

The Province of CORNWALL and its ' . edges stands credited in the Returns elsewhere with the useful list of £ 131 5 s ., and is represented by Bro . William Lake as Steward . In 18 93 , the Province contributed £ 225 15 s ., per Bro . Gilbert B . Pearce , to the Boys' School

Festival , while in 1 S 92 , it supported the Chairmanship of its Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , D . G . M ., at the Benevolent Jubilee , by raising the sum of . £ 776 " 15 s . In 1891 , it subscribed , per Bro . Major J . Ross ; . £ 158 ios . to the Old People , and . £ 131 Ss ., per Bro . G . B . Pearce , to the Boys' School . At the last moment

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND , whose absence from the Benevolent Anniversary in February , miy be accounted for by the then recent death of its respected Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Earl of Bective , was worthily represented on Wednesday by Bro . T . A . Argles , who , taking upon

himself the responsibility of canvassing the whole of the 20 lodges in the Province , had the pleasure of compiling a total of £ 178 ios . Last year it appeared in the Boys' School returns for ^ 63 8 s ., and in 1892 , at the Benevolent Jubilee , when its Steward—Bro . McKay , D . P . G . M ., returned - £ 420 , while in 1891 it raised . £ 265 131 . for the Boys' School , and £ 46 4 s . for the Bsnevolent Institution .

Such excellent work has been done by the DERBYSHIRE lodges in the past , but more particularly since the beginning of 18 91 , that its nonappearance in the February Returns , and its comparatively small contribution on Wednesday , are not to be wondered at . In 1891 it contributed £ 136 IOJ . to this to

Institution , and ^ 843 17 s . the Boys' School , or together ^ 9 80 7 s . ; in 1892 all three Charities were assisted , the Old People to the extent of ^ 1362 . 165 . ; the Girls' School to that of . £ 126 , and the Boys' School with . £ 249 18 s ., the whole amounting to ^ 1738 14 s . ; while last year it raised £ 1043 7 s . gd . for the Boys ' School . On Wednesday Bro . Joseph Cook , as Steward for one of its 25 lodges , handed in a list of £ 47 Ks .

Two out of the 52 lodges in DEVONSHIRE , St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 39 , Exeter , and the Jordan , No . 1402 , Torquay will be found in the Returns at this Festival , Bro . Shorto ' s list for the former being £ 70 , and Bro . Taylor's for the latter ^ 39 7 s ., making in all . £ 109 7 s ., this

being the first appearance of the Province during the present year . In 18 91 , the R . M . B . I . received ^ 63 , and the Boys' School , £ 408 2 s . In 1892 , the Schools received only £ 115 ios . between them , but for the Benevolent Jubilee the highly commendable sum of ^ 807 18 s . 6 d . was raised , while last year the total was , £ 206 6 s ., of which the Boys' School obtained £ 179 us ., and the Old People , £ 26 15 s .

DORSETSHIRE passed from the absentee to the represented Provinces , Bro . Major W . Ross coming forward as Steward for the Lodge of Honour and Friendship , No . 1266 , Blandford , and handing in a list of . £ 35 . In February , Bro . W . D . Dugdale was Steward for the Province , and returned £ 157 ios ., so that whether it takes part in the Boys School Festival next month or not , Dorsetshire will not fall very short of the total it subscribed in 1 893 to the Old People and Boys' School . In 1892 it raised £ 521 6 s ., of which £ 500 6 s . was in respect of the Benevolent Jubilee .

DURHAM may be said to have furnished about its usual quota , Bro . J . R . Battison , as Provincial representative , returning a list of £ 152 , while Bro . Hans B . Olsen , whose name has occurred in more than one Festival list , and who represented the Harbour of Refuge Lodge , No . 7 64 , VVest Hartlepool , has the sum of . £ 63 to his 01

credit , raising the total on Wednesday to £ 215 , and with Bro . W . Barlow s list £ 154 7 s . at the Old People ' s Anniversary in February , the total thus far for 189 . I > £ 3 6 7 7 s . This is in excess of what was subscribed to the three Charities in 18 93 , but in 1892 the amount was ^ 103 6 7 s ., of which , £ 720 5 s . was in respect ol the Benevolent Jubilee . Less than a year has elapsod since

ESSEX , with 34 lodges on its roll , played the chief part at the Boys' School Festival in June , 1893 . On that occasion Lord Brooke—now Earl of Warwick—presided , and . as the " Chairman ' s Province , " Essex nobly supported its respected chief by