Analysis Of The Returns.

large scale , amounting to £ 2106 14 s . In 18 94 , they reached £ 958 6 s . 4 d . ; in 18 95 , ; t ' ii 20 9 s . 6 d . ; and in 1 S 96 , £ 1538 Cs . 6 d ., of which the Benevolent Institution received ^ 744 Ss . 6 d ., this Institution , ^ 295 3 s ., and the Boys' School . £ 498 15 s . Last year the aggregate was about . £ 100 less , the total being . £ 1434 7 s ., of which the Old People received . £ 857 4 s . 6 d . ; this Institution , . £ 399 7 s . ; and the Boys' School , . £ 174 15 s . Such returns as these are eminently satisfactory , and we hope to find the record for the present year at least as considerable as that for any of its predecessors .

As in the case of Essex , so in that of KENT , we cannot call to mind the occasion when a single Unattached Steward with a list of £ 21 , did duty for this important Province and its roll of 63 lodges , nor yet a year in which its contributions amounted to no more than £ 128 us . 6 d . for two out of the three Anniversary Festivals , the amount

raised in February for the Old People , by the representatives of four of its lodges being only , £ 107 us . 6 d . The reason for this is obvious that it is holding itself in reserve for the great event which is timed to come off on the ioth of next month . Last year the Province raised . £ 852 2 s ., and , in 1 S 9 6 , only ^ 798 183 . But , in 1895 , when it purchased the Eastes Perpetual Presentation to the Boys '

School , the year s total amounted to . £ 2399 gs . 6 d . In 1 S 94 , it was £ 1225 ios . 6 d ., and , in 1893 , . C 2103 12 s . 6 d . Bnt , in 1 S 92 , when the Benevolent Institution celebrated its Jubilee , it reached . £ 3003 13 s . 6 d ., and , in 1 S 91 , when Earl Amherst , Prov . G . Master , was Chairman at the Benevolent , it stood as high as . £ 40 * 8 5 s . There are some very tall figures in this record of the last few years . In February , one of the 111 lodges on the roll of ~~

LANCASHIRE ( E . D . ) with two brethren repiesenting it , and Bro . C . D . Cheetham , Unattached , together subscribed £ 215 5 s ., of which Bro . Cheetham was responsible for all but £ 21 . On Wednesday three lodges figured in the Returns , and Bros . C . D . Cheetham , Sir John Maclure , Bart ., M . P ., were Unattached , the total compiled by the five amounting to ^ 104 4 s . In 1 S 97 the Province distributed £ 775 19 s . among the three Institutions , the Old People being favoured to the extent of

, £ 464 gs ., this Institution with . £ 250 15 s ., and the Boys' School with the balance . In 1 S 96 the Returns reached . £ 912 gs ., but in 1 S 95 on ' y £ 26 $ 15 s ., the Province being engaged in a very successful effort in behalf of its own Educational and Benevolent Institution , for which it raised upwards of , £ 4003 . In i 8 g 4 the Returns totalled up to ^ £ 772 7 s . 6 d ., and in 1893 to about half that sum— £ - Jk ) 18-., but in 18 92 it subscribed , £ 2824 15 s ., and in 1 S 91 . £ 1278 . We hope to hear of a successful contribution to the Boys' Centenary next month .

There are 11 S lodges on the roll of LANCASHIRE ( W . D . ) , of which two were represented at the Benevolent Festival , and their representatives , with Bro . Captain Garnett Unattached , together subscribed . £ 36 103 . On Wednesday one lodge was represented , and the same Bro . Captain Garnett was again Unattached , the total of the two lists being , £ 21 . VVe may therefore

assume that the Province is holding itself in readiness to contribute on a very large scale to the Boys'Centenary . In 1 S 91 , when the Earl of Lathom ,. Prov . G . Master , presided at tbe Boys' Festival , it raised the immense total of , £ 6341 14 s . 6 d ., of which . £ 6126 14 s . 6 d . was in loyal support of his lordship ' s Chairmanship . In 1 S 92 it raised ^" 16 79 14 s . 6 d ., and in 1 S 93 , , £ 792 1 S 3 . In 1 S 94

the Earl of Lathom presided—at least his son , Lord Skelmersdale , did for himat the Festival of this Institution , and the year ' s total was . £ 2 7 68 2 s . 6 d ., of which ^ 2500 was in respect of " Our Girls . " In lb ' 95 and 1 S 96 the amounts were on a small scale , reaching only to £ 510 15 s . 6 d . in thc former and to £ 530 13 s . 6 d . in the latter , while last year it was still smaller— , £ 486 12 s .

MIDDLESEX , which now has 42 lodges , began the year well with a subscription of £ " 273 17 s . to the Benevolent Institution , there being eight lodges which helped to raise that sum . On Wednesday seven lodges and a Royal Arch Chapter together compiled £ 506 us ,, the principal items being Bro . Langley ' s list of C 194 5 s . for the Bushey Park Lodge , No . 2381 , and Bro . Wetton ' s ot . £ 11923 . for the Electric Lodge , No . 208 7 . Last year thc total was . £ 1105 18 s ., of which the Old People

received , £ 352 us . ; this Institution , £ 260 8 s . ; and the Boys' School , £ 49 2 19 s . In 18 96 , Bro . Lord George Hamilton , Prov . Grand Master , acted as Chairman at the Benevolent Festival , and the Province supported his lordship b y raising the splendid sum of £ 3765 15 s . 6 d ., the year ' s total amounting to . £ 3967 15 s . 6 d . In 1 S 95 , the Returns reached only , £ 493 Ss . ; in 1 S 94 , they totalled up -61043 17 s . 6 d . ; in 1 S 93 , . £ 630 iSs . ; and in 18 92 , / 1619 15 s . 61 , of which the Benevolent Jubilee absorbed . £ 1315 gs .

Of the 16 lodges in NORTHANTS AND HUNTS three were represented by two Stewards , Bro . H . Manfield being Steward for the Eleanor Cross , No . 1 764 , and the De la Pn ' -, No . 1911 , both of Northampton , and Bro . H . J . Hankin for the St . Ivo Lodge , No . 26 N 4 , St . Ives , their lists amounting together to £ 52 ios . In February the sum of , £ 110 5- ' . was raised for the Benevolent Institution , Hro . A . Cockerill , for the Pomfret Lorl ^ e , No . 360

Northampton , compiling a list of £ 78153 ., and Bro . Manfield , Unattached , one of £ 31 ios . In 1 S 93 , when the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . Master , presided as Chairman at the Festival of this Institution the Province backed up his lordship by subscribing . £ 1050 , the total for the whole year being . £ 1107 10 s . In 1 894 the brethren were content with the smaller sum of . C 328 7 s ., while in 1895 the total was only , £ 105 , but in 1 S 96 there was a re-action , and the sum of £ 18 3 15 s-, was subscribed , while in 18 97 it reached . 1 : 763 12 s ., the Benevolent Institution receiving £ 141 15 s ., this Institution . £ 78 ios ., and the Boys' School £ 543 73 .

An Unattached Steward , in the person of the veteran Bro . C . K . Benson did duty as Unattached Steward for the 20 lodges on the roll of

NORTH WALKS , his list amounting to . £ 10 ios . In February , however , the Province was one of the principal contributors , its two Stewards—Bro . Tuxford , representing two of its lodges , and Bro . J . Porter , Unattached—together raising , £ 294 . In 18

92 the total subscribed was £ 495 12 s . ; in 1 S 93 , , £ 474 iS .- . ; in 1 S 94 , £ 100 17 s . Cd . ; ' ? ' ^ 9 Si £ 3 ° ~ &¦ - > ° - which the Boys' School had the good fortune to secure . £ 186 18 s . ; in 1 S 9 6 , . £ 397 15 s . 6 d ., the Boys' School taking £ 178 12 s . 6 d ., this Institution , £ 8 s , and the Old People , £ 1 $ 3 s . Last year , though the Province was represented at all three Festivals , the total only reached £ 147 .

After the very handsome manner in which the Province of OxfOBUSlllKK supported its Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Jersey , as Chairman at the Benevolent Festival in February , it would be unreasonable to expect a large

contribution on this occasion , but three of its J 2 lodges sent Stewards , who together compiled the sum of £ 6 $ 143 . 6 J . In February the amount subscribed was £ 505 12 s . 6 d ., including the Chairman ' s Donation of 50 guineas , while the three Stewards of the Alfred Lodge , No . 340 , raised £ 106 53 . and the five of Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , . £ 82 . fn 1892 the total , including £ 4 28 7 s . in respect ot the

Analysis Of The Returns.

Benevolent Jubilee , was £ 661 19 s . 6 d ; in i 8 g 3 , £ 440 6 s . 6 d . ; in l 8 g 4 , £ 312 is . ; in lS 95 . £ 382 iSs . 6 d . ; and in iSg 6 , £ 35 1 8 s . 6 d . ; while last year it reached £ 476 is . 6 d \ , made up of £ 240 15 s . 6 d . to the Benevolent fnstitution , / 51 7 ; . Cd . to this Institution , and , £ 183 iSs . 6 d . to the Boys' School . This is a splendid record for a Province of such moderate strength .

SHROPSHIRE and its 12 lodges were represented by an Unattached Steward—Bro . W . Lascelles Southwell , whose name has before now figured in these Returns—the sum standing to his credit being £ 3 6 15 s . In February , the Prov . G . Master , Bro . Sir Oflley Wakeman , Bart ., and his Deputy , Bro . Rowland G . Venables , gave their services as Stewards , the sum of their lists being £ 8 a 5 s . The Province

was represented at all the three Festivals of last year , the total of its contributions being £ 286 13 s ., of which this Institution had the satisfaction of receiving £ 17683 . The preceding year the total was £ 267 us ., and in 18 95 , £ 391 13 s . In 1894 and 1 S 93 the amounts were on a far smaller scale , and not unreasonably so , seeing that in the year of the Benevolent Jubilee its total , including £ 456 is . subscribed on that occasion , was £ 615 16 s . 6 d ., while in 18 91 it raised in all £ 455 gs . 6 d .

Tf ree cf the 32 lodges in . STAFFORDSHIRE had five representatives at Wednesday's gathering and in addition there were two brethren acting independently of lodge or chapter , and of these Lord Burton , the present S . G . W . of England was one . The seven lists amounted together to ij' 3 5 * . In February two lodges sent up Stewards to the Benevolent Festival , their lists—apparently personal donations—amounting to £ 21 . In 1891 , when the Boys' School had so successful a gathering at Brighton , the Province was entered

for totals-mounting together to £ 761 15 s . 6 d ., while in 1892—the Benevolent Jubilee year—it raised £ 7 62 2 s . In 18 93 and 18 94 the yearly totals were almost equally close , that in the former being £ 424 7 s . 6 d ., and that in the latter £ 428 8 s . In 1895 an aggregate was raised of £ 692 13 s . 6 d ., and in 18 9 6 £ 604 Its ., while last year the figure was about midway between the two and reached £ 640 , the Benevolent Institution obtaining £ 115 ios ., this Institution £ 246 5 s ., and the Boys' School £ 278 5 s . We shall hope to see Staffordshire acquitting itself with its accustomed liberality next month .

SUFFOLK had an Unattached Steward at the Benevolent Festival in February , his list amounting to £ 31 ios ., and one of its 22 lodges—No . 1983 , at Southwold —• returned . C 10 ios . 011 Wednesday , Last year it raised in all £ 401 4 s ., of which the Old People secured £ 173 14 s ., this Institution £ 227 ios ., and the Boys ' School the small balance of £ 31 103 . In 1896 , £ 647 is . was raised ; in 18 95 , £ 851 13 s . 6 d . ; in 18 94 , £ 809 5 s . ; in 1893 , £ 533 gs . 6 d . ; and in 1892 , £ 1419 4 s ., of which the Benevolent Jubilee absorbed no less than £ 1291 14 s .

SURREY with its roll of 43 lodges began the year by subscribing £ 308 14 s . to the Benevolent Institution , a body of nine Stewards , of whom two were Unattached , taking part in the work , while the principal list was that of Bro . Tom Cookes of the Lome Lodge , No . 1347 , Sutton , for £ 165 18 s . On Wednesday , three lodges were represented , among them being the same lodge No . 1347 with the same Bro . Cookes in charge of its interests . There were also three brethren Unattached

and the amount raised was £ 163 17 s . 6 d ., Bro . Cookes being responsible for £ 112 17 s . 6 d . In 1 S 92 , including its contributions to the Benevolent Jubilee , Surrey raised in all £ 2817 ios . 6 d ., and , in 18 93 . . C 913 3 s . fid . fn 1894 , the late Bro . Col . Money , C . B ., Prov . G . Master , was Chairman at the Benevolent Festival and the Province raised £ 1399 2 s ., the year ' s total being £ 1673 4 s . 6 d . In 1895 , it reached £ 1043 ios . ; and , in 1896 , £ 1068 4 s . ; while , in [ 8 97 , it stood at £ 1272 18 s . 6 d ., the Benevolent Institution being benefited to the extent of £ 325 1 as ., the Girls' School to that of £ 622 7 s . 6 d ., and the Boys' School £ 325 123 .

SUSSEX was unrepresented at the Benevolent Festival in February , it being the first occasion for many years that it has figured as an absentee ; but on Wednesday two of its 32 lodges sent up three Stewards , and there was a brother Unattached , the amount compiled by the four reaching £ 73 ios . But its record for many years past has been a good one . Thus in 1892 it raised in all £ z 22 J 4 s ., of which £ 1155 6 s . was in respect of the Benevolent Jubilee , and £ 1026 5 s . in support of the

Duke of Connaught ' s Chairmanship at the Festival of this Institution . In 18 93 the total was £ 1234 i 6 \\ ; in 1894 , £ 1277 10 , ' . ; in 1895 , . £ 125 J gs . 6 d . ; and in 1896 , £ 1052 . Last year the sum of C 1498 4 s . 6 d . was subscribed , the Benevolent Institution , at the Festival of which the Duke of Connaught took the chair , obtaining £ 1263 2 s . 6 d . ; this Institution , £ 205 os . 6 d . ; and the Boys' School the small remainder . Doubtless we shall find it in its best form at the Boys' Centenary in June .

One of the 31 lodges in WARWICKSHIRE took part in Wednesday' s proceedings , and will be found entered for . £ 42 , while in February , another lodge , but with three brethren to represent it , subscribed £ 31 ios . In 18 97 the Province raised ^ 493 , ol which £ 235 15 s . was in support ot the Old People , while in 18 9 6 its contribution , reached i , o 8 i 13 s ., of

which thc Boys School had thc satisfaction of securing nearly one-half ; in 18 95 Ihe Returns reached . £ 1155 , including a Life Presentation to the Boys' School ( £ 52 S ) '" ' 894 the total was . £ 637 6 s . 3 d . ; in 18 93 , £ 530 7 s . 6 d . ; and in ' 892 , , £ 2410 4 s ., of which the Benevolent Institution had ^ 2186 for its share . We doubt not the Province will take a prominent part in the Boys' Festival next month .

WILTSHIRE was nut represented at the Benevolent Festival in February , but on Wednesday the Stewards who acted for the Gooch Lodge , No . 1295 , New Swindon—one of the 12 lodges on the roll of the Province—handed in a list of , £ 7 1 is . List year it raised ^ 205 for the Old People ; in 1896 , , £ 310 for this Institution ; and in

' 895 . ^ 279 6 s . for the Boys' School . In 1894 it subscribed . £ 175 143 . 6 d . to the Old People and . £ 126 43 . to the Boys' School . In 18 93 this Institution was the recipient of £ 18 5 17 s . and the Boys' School of . £ 110 53 ., while in 1892 it raised the capital sum of , £ 483 14 s . fjr the Benevolent Jubilee . It has thus distributed its favours with tolerable impartiality among the three Charitiesjand we anticipate that it will do good service next month on behalf of the Boys' Centenary .

Of the 14 lodges in WORCESTERSHIRE , Stability , No . 564 , Stourbridge , was the only one represented at the Benevolent Festival in Feoruary , the sum raised by its Steward being , £ 27 6 s . On Wednesday the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., entered an appearance o . i

behalf of his Province with a list of , £ 68 53 ., of which 50 guineas was his own personal donation . The total raised by the Province in 1892 was . £ 49 8 15 s . ; in 18 93 , A 3 0 . 7 3- ' m ' 894 , £ l 93 os . 6 d . ; in 18 95 , ^ 558 ; in 1 S 96 , , £ 653 23 . ; and in 1 S 97 , £ 753 183 ., of which the Benevolent Institution was fortunate enough to s . curc , £ 504 .