Analysis Of The Returns.

Two of the 31 lodges in STAFFORDSHIRE sent Stewards to Wednesday ' s meeting , the sum of their lists being £ 173 ios ., but it took no part in the recent Benevolent Festival . No doubt , however , we shall hear of it next month in connection with the remaining Anniversary of the yearand as its new chief—Bro . the Earl of Darfmouth— becomes more firmly

, sealed , there is every reason to hope that it will resume the activity which characterised it under his predecessors . Last year the total raised was £ 424 7 s . 6 d ., of which £ 355 12 s . was in support of " Our Boys , " while in 1 H 92 it raised £ 762 25 ., inclusive of £ 392 ios . at the Benevolent jubilee , and in 5891 £ 761 15 s . 6 d ., of which the Old People and this Institution shared over £ 300 between them , while £ 452 os . 6 d . went to the Boys' School .

Seven Stewards did duty for SUFFOLK , Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , D . P . G . M ., acting independently , while Bro . C . J . N . Row represented the Province generally and No . 1224 , and the rest hailed from Lodges Nos . 114 , 37 6 , and 1224 . The sum of their lists is £ 300 ios . 6 d ., Bros . C . E . Tempest and F . Ashwin , of British Union Lodge , No . 114 , Ipswich , being to the front with £ 105 ios . 6 d ., Bro . Row , aforementioned , with £ 90 , and

Bros . Long and Thwaites , of the Perfect Friendship Lodge , No . 376 , Ipswich , with £ 73 ios . In February , three lodges and a chapter together subscribed £ 217 17 s . 6 d ., Bro . G . F . Hawkins—who was also a Steward on Wednesdaytaking the lead with £ 95 us . In 18 93 the subscriptions reached £ 533 9 s . 6 d ., but in 1892 , including £ 1291 14 s . for the Benevolent Jubilee , they were as high as £ 1449 4 s ., while in 1 S 91 and 1890 they were £ 675 2 s . 6 d . and £ 619 13 s . 6 d . respectively .

After its highly meritorious display in February in supporting the Chairmanship of Bro . Colonel Money , C . B ., P . G . M ., it is not to be wondered at that SURREV , albeit a strong and influential Province with 38 lodges on its roll , should make a modest show at this Festival . The amount it raised a few months ago was £ 1399 2 s ., and it is therefore the more satisfactory to find that three lodges should

have raised amongst them even the moderate amount of £ 7 6 2 s . 6 d . This is the more creditable because both 1 S 93 and 1892 , but more particularly the latter , were hervy yeirs , the total in 18 93 having reached £ 913 3 s . 6 d ., while in 1892 , it stood as high as £ 2817 19 s . 6 d ., of which the Jubilee of the R . M . B . I . absorbed £ 2148 os . 6 d . Under these circumstances we shall have no grounds for being surprised if for a Festival or two Surrey appears to less advantage than usual .

We confess we were agreeably surprised to find SUSSEX so numerously represented and to such good purpose . It has had three heavy years in succession , and its absence on Wednesday would have been readily excused . In 1893 . it subscribed £ 1259 13 s . 6 d ., of which £ 985 os . 6 i . was allotted lo the Iljys' School Festival held at Brighton under Bro . Lord Brooke ; in 1892 it gave in all £ 2226 4 s ., of which £ 1156 6 s . was in respect of the Benevolent

Jubilee , and £ 1038 7 s . in support of the Duke of Connaught ' s Chairmanship at the Girls' Festival ; and in 1891 , £ 1347 2 s ., of which £ 73 1 17 s . 61 . was in respect of the Boys' School Festival at Brighton under the presidency of the Earl of Lathom . In February nine Stewards compiled the useful total of £ 228 13 s ., and on this occasion there were 17 Stewards , 16 of them doing duty for 12 lodges and a chapter and one being Unattached , while the result ol their labours appeared in the sum of £ 581 16 s ., the chief item being £ 88 4 s ., returned by Bro . W . VVright , representing the Pelham Lodge , No . 1303 , Lewes .

Of the 31 lodges on the roll of WARWICKSHIRE , our werc leprescnted by nine Stewards and one brother was Unattached , the total Ihey obtained being £ 192 is ., of which £ 65 formed the joint list of the live lepresentatives of the Howe Lodge , No . 5 S 7 , Birmingham , and £ 6 4 is ., that of

Bro . H . J . Collins , of the Leigh Lodge , No . 887 , meeting in the same city . In February 22 Stewards , of whom 12 hailed from the Athol Lodge , No . 74 , Birmingham , compiled a total of £ 264 os . 3 L , the year ' s subscriptions thus far leaching £ 45 6 is . 3 d . In 1893 the sum raised was £ 553 ios . 6 d ., but in 1892 it reached £ 2410 4 s ., of which £ 2186 fell to the R . M . B . I . at its Jubilee celebration .

WORCESTERSHIRE figured in thc Returns at the Benevolent Festival in February last for £ 120 03 . 6 d . and this sum has now been increased by £ 10 103 ., the personal donation of Bro . T . R . Arter , as Steward Unattached . Last year ' s total of £ 308 3 s . was made up of £ 245 3 s . to this Institution and £ 63 to the Boys' School , while in 1 S 92 and 1891 the totals were £ 489 5 s . and £ 408 6 i . respectively .

YORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST RIDINGS ) . had three representatives , of whom Bro . Cowper , representing the Province , raised £ 58 16 s ., while Bro . W . Thirsk , Alexandra Lodge , No . 1511 , Hornsea , and Bro . T . B . Brogden , Unattached , increased the total to £ 106 4 s . This , with the £ 42 , raised by Bro . Robert Roach , Humber Lodge , No . 57 , Hullmakes the account

, for the present year £ 148 4 s ., with one Festival still to be held . In 18 93 the contributions figured up to £ 413 14 s ., aid in 1 S 92 to £ 733 4 s ., of which all but a very stn-ill amount was given to the Benevolent Jubilee . In 1 S 91 the sum of £ 463 4 s . was apportioned between thi Old People and Our Boys , in the proportion of about three parts to the former and two to the latter .

As Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., has undertaken lo preside at the Boys' School Festival next month , the Province of

YORKSHIRE ( WEST RIIIINII ) is very naturally reserving its chief strength for that event . Still , 14 brethren , including the Prov . Grand Master and his Deputy , returned amongst them £ 300 while in February , £ 1837 ios . was raised for the Old People , the personal gift by Heaton of £ 1260 towards

B o . purchasing a Perpetual Presentation on the Male Fund of the Benevolent Institution , being therein included . Last year the sum raised by WestYorkshire was £ 2311 3 s ., of which this Institution received £ 1425 , while in 1892 itamounted , including £ 3555 to the Benevolent Jubilee , to £ 3907 iSs . ' and in 1891 to £ 2400 us . '

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS , that is to say , Guernsey a-id Alderney , had Bro . J . B . Cockburn for their represen t-ilive , his list being evidently a personal donation of £ 10 ios ., while Bro . T . II NabHt , as he has done on previous occasions , acted as Steward for the

ISLE OF MAN , and figures for £ 16 5 s ., lhe lo'al wilh Ihc list of Bro . Challender being £ 46 , \< Thcugh we lardly expect contributions from these remote districts , they ; ire 1 . 0 le the less w- Icome when they are forthcoming . The remainder of the list comprises the Returns from Foreign Paris , liro . VV .

Pine , of Lodg- No . 3 on ihe roll of the Grand I . odge of Scotland , be in-.- entered for £ 15 7 s . 6 1 . ; Bro . J . B . Green , Umttached , from South Africa , for £ 10 ios . ; Pros . W . Girling and W . Frank' * , Lodge Temperance and Uenevoh-nce , No . 1160 , Calcutta , for £ 21 ; an 1 Brn . Harvey , acting for the St . Georges l .-. rlgc-, No . - >|< , 2 , Larnaca , Cyprus , and St . Paul ' s Chanter , No . 2277 , Limassol , for £ •< -,.

Analysis Of The Returns.

From MALT-A there appeared Bro . Capt . R . J . Wishart , of the Malta Masonic Charity Association , who returned the excellent list of £ 63 , a sum of £ 67 ijs . 6 d . having been raised by two Stewards from the same island for this Institution in 1893 .

THE PUNJAII , or perhaps we should say the Stewart Lodge , No . 1960 , on the roll of the Grand Lodge of this District , was represented by Bro . Capt . A . E . S indbach , R . E ., who compiled the very commendable list of £ 104 17 s ., Bro . Major Bowles , of thu suns lodge , having returned £ 06 Js . at ( he Girls' S ; hojl Festival in 1 K 93 .

CONCLUDING REMAKKS . After so exhaustive an analysis , there reirnins little els * to do than to offer our congratulations to the lodges in town , country , and abroad , which have subscribed so generously to this Institution , and to thc brethren by whose exertions as Stewards this splendid result has been achieved . May other Festivals in future years be as productive !

Distribution Of Prizes.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES .

The annual distribution of prizes lo the successful pupils of the Girls ' School by the Countess of Lathom took place on Monday Inst . Thc Kail of Lathom , Pro Grand Master , was- also present , accompanied by Lord Skelmersdale , J . G . W ., and Lady Skelmersdale , and the Marl of Huston . A large number of Stewards and visitors W ; re present , the Grand Hall being crowded . A selection of music was gone through by the pupils , and the following is a list of the prize winners :

PRESENTED UV THE INSTITUTION . Gold Meda l for Proficiency ( with . £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn)—Florence Bexfield . Silver Medal for Good Conduct ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn)—Nellie Cooper . Cambridge Local Examinations ( 17 entered , all passed ) . Senior . Class 11 . Honours—Bertha Dean ( Gold Medallist , 1 S 92 ) , distinction in French and Music . Satisfied Examiners—Hester Burt ( Silver Medallist , 1 S 93 ) and Evelyn Conti . Junior .

Class 1 . Honours—Florence Bexfield , distinction in Religious Knowledge , English , and Music . Class II . Honours—Nellie Cooper and Helena Tims , distinction in Religious Knowledge . Class III . Honours—Ethel Sanders , distinction in Religious Knowledge and French ; Mabel Bohli , distinction in Frer . ch . Satisfied Examiners—Kathleen Holman and Mary Baverstock , distinction in Religious Knowledge ; Winifred Chinneck , Nellie Harvey , Dora Ireson , Alice Smith , Olga Tettenborn , Edith Woodbridge , and Myrtle Speed . General Improvement and Industry in Class I . —Ada Turton .

College of Preceptors' Examination ( 41 entered , 40 passed ) . Prize Winners—Margaret Carter and Constance Green . General Proficiency in Lower Classes—3 rd , Annie Wilson ; 4 th , Emily Martin ; sth , Rose Davies ; Gth , Gertrude McLeod . Needlework—Isabella Lane , Mabel Edmeston , Mabel Cookes , and Winifred Belton . Order and Attention ( as proved by Conduct Marks throughout the year)—Jessie Codling and Margaret Griffith .

PRESENTED HY FRIENDS OF THE INSTITUTION . Religious Knowledge ( Bro . Robt . Grey)—Florence Bexfield , Nellie Cooper , Helena Tims , Ethel Sanders , Kathleen Holman , and Mary Baverstock . English Subjects ( Bro . A . C . Spaull)—Florence Bexfield . Arithemetic and Mathematics ( Bro . Thomas Fenn)—Nellie Cooper . Music—First Prize ( Bro . J . H . Matthews)—Bertha Dean ( tlonour Certificate , School Exam , of Associated Board , Higher Division ) . Second Prizes ( The " Wentworth Little)—lCIsi-i Mackey , Nellie Cooper , and Ethel Davis . Tnird Prizes ( An

ExPupil)—Frances Ace and Dorothy Besley . Singing ( Bro . J . H . Matthews)—Helena Tims . French ( Bro . Eugene Monteuuis)—Bertha Dean , Ethel Sanders , and Mabel Bohli . Drawing ( The "John Boyd" )—Winifred Turner , Isabel Pinder , Winifred Chinneck , and Olga Tettenborn . Good Conduct—First Prize ( Tht . Supreme Council , 33 )—Frances Ace . Second Prizes ( Bro . Frank Richardson)—Ethel Michael and Grace Goodchild . The Best Prefect ( Bro . Ralph Glutton ) -Bertha D ^ an .

Cookery—First Prize ( Bro . H . A . Hunt )—Adelaide Harling . Second Priz 2 S ( liro T . VV . Whitmarsh)— Winifred Turner and Margaret Carter . Third Prize ( liro . T Loveridge)—Maude Longshaw . Usefulness in Domestic Duties ( The " Yates , " St . James's Lodge , No . S 42 ) - Isabcl Pinder and Edith Woodbridge .

Calisthenics and Deportment ( Bro . Col . James Peters )—Mab ; l Edmsston and Adelaide Harling . Swimming ( Lady Monckton)—Mary Ii iverstock , Alice Smith , and Ethel Sanders . Amiability ( Bro . John Faulkner ) ( selected by her schoolfellows)—Edith VVood bridge .

J UNIOR SCHOOL . General Proficiency ( Bro . Frank Richardson)— . Mice Wakefield . Arithmetic ( The " Henry Levander" )—Catharine Castle . The proceedings closed with the now famous calisthenics and march / in / and before leaving Lord LATHOM expressed to Bro . Sir John Monckton and the other members of the Committee present the pleasure and satisfaction it had given the Countess and himself to be present .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The following address , referred to 111 our last issue , was delivered by Bro . HENRY SMITH , D . P . G . M . : Brethren , —I desire to thank you lor your cordial salutation . 1 also congratulate our Provincial Grand Master that at this , the first annual meeting alter his installation , he-should be supported by so large a number of brethren as I sc 2 before me . I always rejoice in a good attendance at our Provincial Grand Lodges , as it denotes your sincere interest in Freemasonry , and the general prosperity ol the Craft . Long may this interest be maintained . '

I do not intend to detain you with general rt-nnrks , however , in the few words which 1 propose to address to you , but shall strictly confine myself to details . We commenced the year 18 93 with 3655 im-in ' oers , and no . v that the full returns for lhat year have reached us , we find that our numbers at its close were 3725 , showing an increase of 70 . During 1 S 93 we had new inombers 293 , ' an increase of 37 ; resignations 127 , an increase of three ; deaths 6 . 5 , a decrease of 17 ; exclusions 33 , a decre ise of nine ; brethren in arrears iqt , an increase of II .

Wc have also added one _ new lodge to our roll—the White Rose of York , No . 2491 , Sheffield . And now I trust you will pirdon me , brethren , if 1 call your attention to what you all must admit is a most important matter , a matter which in my estimation is essentia ! ( 0 the . success of the Craft , and adds greatly to tho credit and reputation of the lodges . We area large and powerful organisation , but it is only by loyal co-operation of the VV . M . s , P . M . s Treasurers , and Secretaries , that that orginizalion can be fully and usefully maintained . I specially address myself to thos *;

brethren who aspire come day to occupy the W . M . ' s chair in their lodges . It H not enough that they should qualify themselves , as so many eminently do r-mlify themselves , to carry out the ritual and ceremony of Freemasonry . Beautifully and most reverently as this i . s very frequently done , it is not all—it is inle ^ d to my mind bul a small part of a W . M . ' s duty . Inadditon to this his obligation compels him to make a careful study of the Book of Constitutions , in order that he m'iy realise and understand the position whicli his lodge occupies in relation to the Grand Lodgeof England and to the province ol which it isa component' part . This