Analysis Of The Returns.

view of the Prov . G . M . ' s engagement t J preside at this meeting , only one of the 34 lodges now under his lordship's charge , was included in the Benevolent Returns , his list being £ 21 ¦ but on Wednesday there was a small army of Stewards , headed by the Prov . G . JI . in person , and all with the exception of three , who were Unattached , doing duty as lodge representatives . The amount raised by these ladies and brethren was £ 4034 ios ., or more by nearly £ 200 than it subscribed to

the Boys' Centenary . There is nothing to show of what items this total consists but in raisingit 32 lodges and two chapters , represented by 220 Stewards , of whom six were lajjes , took part , the lodges , & c , the most strongly represented being Noah ' s ArK- jjo . 347 , with seven Stewards ; Menturia , No . 418 , and St . Peter ' s , No . 419 , with fi ve each ; Sutherland , No . 451 , with seven ; Sutherland of Unity , No . 460 , with four ; Lodge and Chapter of St . James , No . 482 , each with nine Stewards . Hon our , No . 526 , with 16 ; St . Matthew , No . 339 , with 16 ; Etruscan ,

No . 546 , with seven ; Abbey , No . 624 , with 13 , one being a lady , and one representing both lodge and chapter ; Portland , No . 637 , with eight ; Dartmouth , No . 662 , with 25 ; St . Bartholomew , No . 6 9 6 , with five ; Staffordshire Knot , No . 726 , with seven ; St . John ' s , No . 1039 , with three ; Tudor , No . 1792 , with 10 ; Tudor Lodge of Rifi e V ' olunteers , No . 1838 , with nine ; Gordon , No . 2149 , with 18 ; Josiah Wedgwood , No . 2214 , with eight ; and Lewisham , No . 25 S 2 , with seven Stewards . Be it added that the Chairman ' s personal donation of £ 105 , and that of £ 210 from Prov . G . Lodge , are included in the total we have mentioned .

Four of the 22 lodges in SUFFOLK were represented at Wednesday ' s meeting , the sum total of their lists being £ 100 . This is a substantial addition to the sum of £ 513 10 s . raised in February for the Benevolent , and places the year ' s product to the present time at £ 613 ios . Last year the donations of the Province were on a more limited scale , and reached only . C 238 7 s . ; but in 1 S 9 8 Suffolk made a great effort in aid

of the Boys' Centenary , to which it contributed . € 1510 17 s . 6 d . out of a total for the whole year of -C 1563 7 s . 6 d . In 1892 , including £ 1291 14 s . to the Benevolent Jubilee , the total was . ^ 1449 4 s . ; in 1889 , when Lord Henniker , Prov . G . M ., was Chairman at the Girls' Festival , . C 1048 17 s . 6 d . was raised , of which •1 * 577 ] 9 S- fid . was in support of the P . G-M . ' s chairmanship . In 1888 , the Province subscribed i . * 45 i ios . to the Old People ; C 517 12 s . to the Girls' Centenary ; and . 1 * 136 10 s . to the Boys' School ; or in all C 1105 12 s . The record is a good one , and there appears to be every reason to hope that it will be maintained .

SURREY is a fortunate Province , fortunate in having been for many years presided over by a succession of able and energetic rulers , in the excellence of its work , and in the generous instincts which lead it to support our Central Charitios so loyally . It has made rapid increase of late , and can now boast of a muster-roll of 45 lodges . In 1888 it raised £ 1147 18 s . for the Girls' Centenary out of a total for the year

amounting to £ 1298 14 s . In 1 S 92 , including £ 2148 os . 6 d . subscribed to the Benevolent Jubilee , its Returns reached £ 2817 19 s . 6 d . In 1894 , the year produced £ 1673 4 s . 6 d ., of which £ 1399 2 s . was raised for the Old People in honour of the Chairmanship of the late Bro . Col . G . Noel Money , C . B ., P . G . M . In 1898 it contributed £ 3499 16 s . to the Boys' Centenary , the product ol * the year ' s efiorts for the three Institutions being £ 39 68 2 s . Last year , notwithstanding

this big success , the Province raised £ 128855 . 6 d ., of which £ 649 4 s . was subscribed to the Old People , £ 53 1 Gs . 6 d . to the Girls' School , and the balance to the Boys' School . In February live lodges , represented each by a single Steward , compiled a total of £ 19 6 14 s ., and on Wednesday 15 Stewards , of whom ten represented as many lodges and five acted independently , succeeded in raising

f . mongst them £ C 66 2 s „ the most important lists being those of Bro . Griffiths , Nc . 1920 , lor £ 105 ios . 6 d . ; Bro . John T . Fielder , No . 2096 , for £ 115 ios . ; Bro . A . Stanley , " No . 2222 , for £ 15 8 ; and Bro . H . J . Keen , No . 2473 , For £ 111 Gs . SUSSEX ,

like its near neighbour of whom wc have just been speaking , has a capital n rord . It has 33 lodges on it roll , and notwithstanding that its Prov . Grand Mailer—H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , K . G . —has graciously consented to take the chair at the Boys' School Festival on the ioth July , it has done good Work in respect of the two Festivals that have been held during the present year . This is not to be wondered at . In 1892 , out of a total for the whole year of

£ 2214 2 s . it Mibscribed £ 1155 6 s . to the Benevolent Jubilee , and . C 1026 5 s . to the Girls' School , in support of his Royal Higbness ' s Chairmanship . In 1 S 97 , it raised in all £ 1497 5 s . 6 d ., of which £ 1263 2 s . 6 * 5 . passed into the coffers of the Benevolent Institution , of whose Festival the Duke of Connaught was president , ln 1898 , it subscribed £ 286 9 15 s . to the Boys' Centenary out of a total for the year of £ 2932 15 s ., while last year , it gave £ 442 8 s . to the Old People , £ 391 7 s . to this Institution , and £ ii < i 19 s . 6 d . to "Our Boys , " or altogether £ 060 1 « .

During the present it has , as we have said , done well so far . In February , 12 Stewards , oi wl-om one represented the Province and 11 did duty for seven lodges , together compiled a total of £ 3 88 ios ., while on Wednesday , seven brethren acung lor live lodges with a Steward Unattached , returned £ 165 7 s . 6 d ., the chief items being the £ 73 ios . of Bro . John M . Reed , Prov . G . Treas ., as Steward for Lodge , No . 732—the total from the lodge being £ 94 ios . —and the £ 70 14 s . Gd . per Bro . J . VV . Palmer , of Lodge , No . 1149 .

At the very last moment , thanks to the intervention of Bro . J . B . Nickolls , Prov . G . Secretary , the Province of

GUERNSEY AND ALDERNEV . with its half dozen lodges , was transferred from the Absentee to the Represented List , and was entered lor £ 21 . Like its neighbour Jersey . it is remote from headquarters , and its absence is not felt , but when it does attend , it is always most welcome .

Though there are only 15 lodges in WOKCgSTKRSIUUl- ' , the Province does good work , and has given largely on special occasions . In 1888 it raised in all £ 848 3 s ., of which £ figs iSs . was subscribed to the Girls ' Centenary ; in 1892 , including £ 243 12 s . for the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 489 5 s . ; in 18 99 £ 653 2 S . ; in 1897 £ 753 18 s ., of which £ 504 was in aid of the Benevolent

, , Institution ; and in 1 S 9 8 , including £ 1136 2 s . to the Boys' Centenary , £ 1231 13 s . In 1899 it contributed £ 379 is . to the Old People , and £ 3 6 15 s . to the Boys ' School , making the total for the year £ 415 16 s . ; while , having in February helped the Benevolent Institution to the extent of £ 162 15 s ., it now has done bravely for "Our Girls" by compiling the excellent sum of £ 8 7 6 Ss . In

accomplishing this 30 brethren gave their services as Stewards , Bro . VV . T . Page , Dep . Prov . G . M ., doing duty for the Province as a whole , and one biother b ing Unattached , while the rest represented nine of the 15 lodges , the God-ion Lodge , No . 23 * 5 , Oldbury , furnishing as many as 13 ol the 26 . VVe congratulate the Province and Bro . Page on a result which lie has been mainly instrumental in bringing about .

YonKsiiiRi ; ( N . AND E . RIUINUS ) took no part in the Benevolent Festival in February ; but on VVednesday Bro . T . B . VVh ytehead did duty as Steward for the Province , and Bro . E . V . Taylor for one of its 34 lodges , the result being a total of £ 53 lis . Last year the Province assisted at the Benevolent and Girls' Festivals , subscribing . 1 * 137 gs . to

Analysis Of The Returns.

the former and £ 66 3 s . to the latter . In 189 S , it raised in all - £ 642 8 s . 61 ., the Boys' School obtaining . L ' 563 13 s . 6 d . at its Centenary , and this Institution the balance of £ 78 15 s . ' in iSSS , including 1 * 7 62 15 s . to the Girls' Centenary , it subscribed in all . C 832 is . ; in 1892 the total stood at £ 733 4 s ., of which £ 707 9 s . was for the Benevolent Jubilee ; and in 1 S 96 , which has proved thus far its record year , the total , including C 900 to the Old People , reached £ 1022 103 . There is no need for us to do more than record the fact that

YORKSHIRE ( W . RIDING ) , after subscribing . C 1 S 00 to the Benevolent . Jubilee , is entered in Wednesday ' s Returns for £ 575 , the number of brethren who gave their services as Stewards being 33 , and the number of lodges represented 16 . Last year the amount distributed among the three Institutions was only £ 1413 ios ., but in 1898 , it was not far short of £ 8000—the exact sum being £ 7956 3 s . —and of this £ 6136 3 s . 6 d ., the highest sum ever raised by one Province at a single Festival , was contributed to the Boys' Centenary .

FOREIGN STATIONS . There are five Stewards from as many Stations under this head , the total of some of their lists being £ 21 , and our only regret , which we have no doubt is shared by Bro . Hedges , is , that there were not more of them to enter in the Returns .

CONCLUDING REMARKS . We have now gone through the lists , and in doing so have striven to ensure that our remarks should be void of offence to every one . In this , we trust we shall b « found to have succeeded .

Distribution Of Prizes At The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

On Monday last , the Countess of Dartmouth distributed the prizes at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Clapham Junction . Her Ladyship was accompanied by the Earl of Dartmouth , Prov . Grand Master for Staffordshire , the chairman of the Festival of the following VVednesday evening . On arriving at the School the distinguished visitors were received

by Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . ( Chairman for the month of the House Committee ) , and Bros . Frank Richardson , J . H . Matthews , Ralph Glutton , R . Loveland Loveland , Q . C , E . Letchworth ( Grand Secretary ) , Edward Terry , Charles Hammerton , and A . C . Spaull ( members of the House Committee ) .

A . company of nearly 700 ladies and brethren attended to witness the ceremonies , and among them were the Bishop of Southwark and Mrs . Yeatman-Biggs , Bro . James Stephens and Mrs . Stephens , Bros . E . M . Money , W . Vincent , T . H . Gardiner , Under Sheriff J . D . Langton , Col . Hugh Gordon , Col . Walker , Dep , Prov . G . M . Staffs . ; Col . Bindley , late Dep . Prov . G . M . Staffs . ; Thomas Taylor , P . Prov . G . W . Staffs . ; Thomas Edwards , P . Prov . G . S . B . Staffs . ; F . R . W . HedgesSec . R . M . I . G . ;

, James Boulton , W . M . Bywater . The proceedings commenced with the singing of the National Anthem , Mrs . Roworth leading , using the baton presented to her by Bro . Dan Godfrey when she led tne Grenadiers Band which played at the Centenary Festival of this Institution . The girls then went through their famous calisthenic exercises , which were greeted with immense applause . These

exercises concluded with the formation of the double triangle of the Royal Arch , which was most skilfully executed . This ended , the following music was performed : Part Song , "Pluck ye Roses , " Schumann ; Pianoforte Trio , " Husarenmarsch , " C . Gurlitt ; Part Song , "Sweet and Low , " Bjrnby ; and Pianoforte Solo , " Morceau de Salon , " Mayer . The Countess of Dartmouth here distributed the prizes as follows :

PRIZES PRESENTED IIV THE INSTITUTION . Gold Medal for Proficiency ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn)—Agnes Robinson . Silver Medal for Good Conduct ( with £ 5 by the late Bro . William Winn)—Catherine Castle . Cambridge Local Examination ( 45 entered , 42 passed ) .

Senior—Ethel Issard . Class II . Honours . Distinguished in English . Emma Hardy . Junior—Agnes Robinson , Catherine Castle . Doris Eagle ( with £ 3 ios . by Bro . D , P . Cama ) , Distinguished in Religious Knowledge . Class II . Honours . Ella Thompson ( Distinguished in English ) , Clare Whettam . Class III . Honours . Preliminary—Doteen Cox , Class 11 . Honours . Distinguished in Religious

Knowledge , History , and English . Ida Davey , Mabel Abbott-Smith , Class III . Honours . Both distinguished in History . College of Preceptors' Examination ( 5 G entered , 4 G passed)—Christina Day , Katherine Powell , and Ethel Bassett ( all distinguished in Arithmetic and Drawing ) . German—Agnes Robinson and Esther Vigor . Proficiency in Lower Classes—4 th , Maggie Eastwood ; 5 th , Marie Hanan - , and 6 th , May Downes .

Needlework—Violet Jarvis , Emiline Fawcett , Harriot VVhite , and Jessie Fisher . PRESENTED UV ^ F KIENDS OF THE I NSTITUTION . Religious Knowledge ( Bro . Robert Grey)—Doris Eagle and Djreen Cox ( bath distinguished in Cambridge Examination ) . English Subjects ( Bro . A . C . Spaull)—Ethel Issard , Ella Thompson , and Marjorie Pavey ( all distinguished in Cambridge Examination ) . Mathematics and Aiithmetic ( Bro . T . G . Bullen)—Catherine Castle and Pattie Caron .

Mental Arithmetic ( Bro . G . W . KenlLh ) -Constance Medcalf and Lilian Armitage . Music , First Priz j ( Bro . J . H . Matthews)— Jesiie Richards ( Distinguished in Higher Division of Associated hoard of Music ) . Music , Second Prises ( The " Wentwoitn Little" )—Lilian Grylls and Rosalie Sherman . Music , Third Prizes—Lilian Major and Gwendoline Thomas .

Singing ( Mrs . Robert Brown)— Daisy Potter . French , First Peine ( Bro . Thomas Fenn )—Agnes Robinson . French , Second Prize ( Bro . Oscar Philippe )—Doris liable . French , Third Prize ( Mrs . Henry A . Hunt)—Christina Day . Drawing , First Prizes ( The "John Uuyd " )—Jessie Richards and Muriel Cranfield Drawing , Second Prizes—Catherine Castle and Clare Whettam .

Shorthand and Typewriting ( Bro . R . Loveland-Loveland)—May Vockinsand Nora Floyd . Writing ( the Misses Tobias)—Esther Archer and Victoria Stephenson . Good Conduct , First Prize ( The Supreme Council 33 )—Clare Whettam . Good Conduct , Second Prizes ( Bro . Frank Richardson)—Emilie Nichols , Mary Maslen , and Ida Lampen . The Best Prefect ( Bro . E . Letchworth)—Marjorie Pavey . Order and Attention ( Bro . Ralph Glutton)—Margaret Sims and Jessie Harding . Cookery , First Prize ( Bro . Henry A . Hunt)—Winifred Coffey and Mary Maslen .