Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

to him to see a Hertfordshire man in the chair on that occasion , and to find him so well supported . The brethren had alread y been told by the Chairman of the difficulties with which the promoters of the Festival had had to contend but he was glad to find that they in Hertfordshire knew Bro . Keyser was a host in himself , and if they only happened to have a difficulty they could get him to provide a solution of it as he bad done that evening . They rnnkl not e . voect to reroeat thc performance of last vear , but considering what

the Secretary had bad to contend with , they might well be proud of tbe announcement which had just been made . He was old enough to know that some years ago ^ 5000 or ^ 6000 was an announcement that was considered to be an example for future generations . Now , however , that amount was looked upon as small . The CHAIRMAN , in reply , said hc truly appreciated the kindness with which the brethren had received the toast . He was induced to accept the position of Chairman for three considerations—first and foremost he was

the President of the Board of Stewards this year , and it was probably on that account thai he was brought into closer communication with his good old friend Bro . Terry than otherwise he would have been . He had alread y told the brethren that there had been unjustifiable delays in obtaining a chairman . Bro . Terry wrote to him and said he thought it would be most prejudicial to the Institution if the selection of lhe chairman was longer

delayed , and would he ( Bro . Keyser ) take it . As Bro . Terry would not have further delay he accepted the office . He had the most absolute confidence in Bro . Terry ' s energy , and he felt quite certain that Bro . Terry would use strenuous endeavours to make the Institution give a fair account of itself that day . Secondly he knew he should be backed strongly by Hertfordshire . He was very proud to be connected with lodges in London ,

Cambridgeshire , and Middlesex , but more especially was he proud to be connected with Hertfordshire . Mainly through the exertions of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Lake , they had worked heartily . Bro . Terry was associated with Hertfordshire , a small Province of 21 lodges , and they sent up over . £ 1400 . He sincerel y hoped that this

year , though not equal to years that had preceded it , would yet reflect credit on the Institution , and would overcome all difficulties . Lord AMPTIIII . L proposed "lhe other Masonic Charities . " liro . F . R . W . HEDGES , in responding , made an urgent appeal for support at the coming Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . In response to repeated calls , and by command of the Chairman , Bro .

J . M . MCLEOD also responded to the toast . He said he was rather taken aback by the unexpected call , but expressed his gratitude for the kind manner in which his name had been mentioned . Speaking on behalf of the Boys' Institution , he heartily congratulated the Stewards upon the result of their labours , and the Institution was also to be congratulated on the VVorship ful Brother who had stepped into the breach and taken the chair under circumstances of peculiar difficulty , and who , by his princely

donations to all of the Institutions—as particularly shown on thc present occasion—was proved most worthy of the position he was occupying . On behalf of the Boys' School he had but few words to say on the present

occasion , as he had taken every opportunity in all parts of the country to call attention to the work it was doing , and thc result it had achieved . He claimed that the present Board of Management of that Institution was representative , liberal , and enlightened , and he appealed to thc ladies and brethren present to support them in their work , and b y their presence at the Festival on June 2 SU 1 next .

The toasts of "The Stewards " and "The Ladies" were afterwards given , and thc company then adjourned to Freemasons' Hall , where a grand concert was given , in which the following professionals took part , under the direction of Bro . Arthur Strugnell : Miss P . thel Winn , Miss Emil y Davies , Miss Meredyth Elliott , Miss Emily Foxcroft , Madame Edna Riga , Bro . Arthur Strugnell ; Bro . Herbert Schartau ' s Part Singers , consisting of Bros . Herbert Schartau , P . P . G . O . Middx , Edward Dalzell , P . M ., P . P . G . O . Middx , James Brand , and William Bradford ; Mr . James Saunders ,

solo violin ; and Bro . Herbert Schartau , humorous songs . Bro . Turtle Leewas the conductor . A most gratifying feature of the Festival was the increase in the number of lady Stewards—no less than seven being so qualified on the present occasion . The palm must be accorded to Mrs . James Stephens , who made a third appearance as a Steward , having previously served for this Institution , and for the Boys in 1892 , Special mention of her interest in thc cause of our Charities was made b y the Chairman and the Secretary of the

Institution -as well as by Bro . McLeod- —and deservedl y so , for a list of 340 guineas is a noble result for any brother or lad y to achieve . B y the unanimous consent of its members , Mrs . Stephens took the position as representing the Kilburn I . odge , No . 160 S , the W . M , Bro . James Stephens , quietl y relegating himself thc retiring position of an Unattached Steward . Our readers will remember that Mrs . Stephens brought up a list of over 300 guineas in iS <> 2 for this Festival , which only emphasises the gratif ying announcement of Wednesday last , and establishes for this indefati gable lady a " record " it will be most difficult to beat .

Stewards' Lists.

STEWARDS' LISTS .

Lodge LONDON . £ s . d . 1 Bro . E . VV . Stilwell ... 10 10 o 2 „ John C . Ames ... 15 15 o Chapter 2 Comp . J . H . Davis ... 33 12 o Lodge 4 Bro . Rev . A . VV . Oxford ,

M . A 21 o o 5 „ H . Chester Master ... 42 o o 7 „ PavernerB . Miller ... 32 11 o 8 „ W . J . H . VVhittall ... 14 14 0 10 „ Rev . J . N . Palmer ... 58 19 o 14 „ William Register ... 21 o o 15 T . H . Clapp 58 ifi o

„ 19 , 1 J- H . Whadcoat ... 26 5 o 21 ,, w - J . Lancaster ... 35 3 0 2 G „ VV . A . Saunders ... 17 17 o 29 ,, Thns . VV . L . Emden ... 54 12 o 33 „ . ]< hn M . Wocd ,., 37 15 o 45 „ R . E . Hu it 42 ii II

55 „ William Vogt ... 38 fi c Chapter 58 Comp . IL Robt . Martin 15 15 0 Lodge Go Bro . H . J . Lardner ... no 5 0 73 ,, J . C . Bolton fis 2 u 101 „ Harry VVood ... , jG 15 o

Stewards' Lists.

I Lo < -ge £ s . d . 142 Bro . T . de Courcy Meade 14 3 6 ¦ 47 it John Dixon 52 10 0 171 „ Francis VV . Brown ... 174 „ Walter Phillips ... Go o o 170 „ E . I . D . Bromley ...

183 „ Stephen Richardson 2 fi 5 o 197 „ Stephen R . Clarke ... 38 17 o 198 „ Lt .-Col . Geo . Lambert 21 o o 198 ,, Charles Lambert ... 15 15 o 22 S „ John Holland ... 100 o o 25 O „ Geo . Booth Heming 40 19 0 511 „ MacAndrewKrellwite 54 10 o

554 „ John G . Stevens ... 109 9 o G 57 „ II . S . Trehearne ... So 14 o 704 „ Edwin Styles ... 55 2 o 7 . S 1 „ K . H . Gooch ... 122 0 o S 22 ,, Edward E . Greenwell 2 G 5 o S 71 „ Alfred C . Dandridge 32 o o 907 ,, Henry Ensoll ... 90 iG G

1278 ,, I . R . Arter 25 o 0 1306 „ A . W . Flack ... 100 0 o Chapter 134 S Comp . Peter Parsons ... 12 12 o Lodgeof Instruction 13 O 5 liro . J . II . Gaskin ... 59 fi fi I . odge 13 GG Bro . E . Wareham ... 55 o o

Stewards' Lists.

Lodge £ s . d . 13 S 3 liro . Major-Gen . J . C . Hay , C . B . ... S 4 o 0 1 4 21 ,, Cornelius Mansfield 41 17 0 1425 „ Charles Coleman ... 63 o 0 Chapter 1471 Comp . W . D . Church ... 105 14 6 Lodere

1489 Bro . H . Clare 1506 „ T . Hamilton Fox ... 48 6 0 1 540 „ Leopold Weil ... 50 o o 1572 „ M . Goldstein ... CS 15 6 * . 6 oS Mrs . James Stephens ( see also Ladies ) ... 330 o 0 1 O 15 Bro . E . Blakeway I'Anson 31 10 o 1 G 35 „ T . M . Prichard ... 10 10 0 16 35 „ W . H . Piatt ... 25 4 0 1671 „ W . H . Cole 200 o 0

Lodge of Instruction 16 95 Bro . R . P . Walkden ... 10 10 0 Lodge 1 704 Bro . J . B . Scriven ... 21 0 0 1716 „ C . W . Raymond ... 73 15 c 1719 „ Thomas ash ... 47 5 c 1732 „ W . M . Stiles ... 10 10 0

1816 „ VV . B . Abrahams ... 41 14 G iqoo „ Oscar Philippe ... 10 10 o 1910 „ John Kenyon ... 10 10 o ' 949 » John Bott S 5 o o 1 964 „ Capt . VV . Lincott ... 91 7 0 216 S „ Walter F . Lord ... 100 o o 21 9 „ John Barnett ( seealso

2205 ) 70 15 0 2202 „ Charles Sheppard ... 47 5 o 2205 „ John Barnett ( see also 2192 ) 22 9 „ Alfred Read 53 10 fi 22 9 „ G . Waison Kidd ... 31 10 0

UNATTACHED . Bro . Stanley S . Attenborough 10 10 0 „ Asher Barfield 10 10 o „ Sydney G . Brealey ... 10 10 0 „ T . G . Bullen 12 12 o „ Major C . VV . Carrell ... 10 10 o „ Samuel Cochrane ... 10 10 o

„ Charles Corby 27 G o „ Thomas B . Daniell ... 10 10 o Bro . John A . Farnfield ... 65 15 o „ John Glass 10 10 o „ * Dr . H . W . Kiallmark ... 10 10 o „ E . Letchworth 10 10 o „ T . W . Lightfoot 770 „ G . S . Manuelle

—„ Horace B . Marshall , J . P . 10 10 0 „ Horace B . Marshall , jun , M . A 10 10 o Master Horace B . Marshall ... 10 10 0

Bro . VV . J . Nicholls „ G . K . Oaks 5 5 0 „ G . H . Scrutton 10 10 0 „ John Skinner 10 10 0 „ Spurling 5 5 0 „ James Stephens ,, William Webber 2100

LADIES . Mrs . C . E . Keyser 21 o 0 „ Clara Bulley j 5 0 „ C . Lambert 5 5 0 Miss F . Lambert 5 5 o Mrs . Masters 5 5 0 „ VV . P . Smitheon 5 5 o „ James Stephens ( see also No . 160 S ) ...

—PROVINCES . BEDFORDSHIRE . The Province Bro . C . K . Prior , D . P . G . M . 47 5 0 BERKSHIRE . Lodge 209 Bro . Edward Prince ... 90 C o 414 „ Rev . Canon N . T . 51

Garry 4 0 574 » F . J . Harrold ... 21 o o 795 » Charles Dearing ... 25 o o 1101 „ C . Slaughter ... 15 15 o BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . i ??* H-- S . Osborn , F . R . G . S . 18 iS o ¦ " -to ) 2421 „ J . C . F . Towers ... 63 o o CAMBRIDGESHIRE . 859 Bro . F , Osmond Carr , M . A . 26 5 o DEVONSHIRE . 328 Bro . John Chapman ... 21 o o

DURHAM . The Province Bro . Fred . H . Bennett ... 115 10 o ESSEX . Lodge 1799 Bro . W . E . Sutton ... 1 5 15 0 200 5 „ B . Hoddinott ... 44 1 fi „ Lennox Browne ... 2100 wniiam

„ " onurmur ... — GLOUCESTERSHIRE . 100 5 ,, Edwin Lea 550 10 G 7 Bro . Russell James Kerr 52 18 6 HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT . 130 Uro . Geo . J . Tilling ... 5 O 8 6

723 „ * C . F . Roelich — 2203 „ Lewis Moutrie ... 15 15 o HEREFORDSHIRE . Lodge 2240 Bro . Rev . E . Williams ... 22 1 o HERTFORDSHIRE . Bro . Charles E . Kevser

( Chairman ) ... 5 C 1 S ifi 0 The Province Bro . George E . Lake , D . P . G . M . ... 2 C 5 o Lodge 493 Bro . J . R . Cocks 28 4 o Chapter 403 Comp . T . S . Carter ... 24 3 o

Stewards' Lists.

Lodge £ s . d . 404 Bro . F . S . Knyvett ... 21 o 0 404 „ Charles A . Moreing 5 G 3 fi 409 ,, H . Wigan ... ... 21 0 0 449 ,, James Shilcock ... 20 9 6 504 ,, Charles Bullock ... 26 5 0 § 6 9 and Chap . 13 S 5 Bro . S . M . Banker ... ... 42 o 0

„ * W . J . Crutch ... — S 6 9 Bro . VV . Haynes Dunn ... 15 15 0 ' 3 S 5 „ J- H . Baxter ... O 5 12 fi 1479 ,, H . H . Debenham ... 45 0 0 1580 „ G . Ward Verry ... *) , „ „ 1580 ,, G . B . Wood ... ... ) * + ° ° ° ¦ 757 „ H . Balderson ... 10 5 o 19 S 4 „ F . Fisher 25 0 0

20 S 6 „ Rev . H . F . Oliver ... 26 5 fi 227 S „ H . T . Nell 50 0 o 2323 ., C . E . Birch 39 o 0 2323 „ C . D . Christmas , M . D . 10 10 o 2353 „ E . C . Mulvey ... 2 C 5 0 2372 ,, W . Metcalfe 58 16 0 3 37 2 „ James Terry 1 S 6 5 0 KENT . JL , s . d . 77 Bro . Rfv . A . Jackson ... 28 <* fi

12 5 ,, S . H . Greenstreet ... 42 15 0 12 7 „ Fred . Stanley ... 115 10 o 913 „ Henry Mason ... Go o 0 972 „ Albert H . Pitcher ... S 3 9 6 2147 „ Oliver Cromwell ... 38 17 o 2205 „ John Barnett (" seealso London , No . 2102 ) 3 1 10 0 Unattached Bro . F . Hughes Hallett ... 17 17 0

LANCASHIRE ( EAST DIVISION ) . Lodge 2 S 3 Bro . J . Franklin Hindle ... 26 5 o 145 S „ Leopold Hirsch ... 550 Unattached . Bro . C . D . Cheetham ... ro 10 o

LANCASHIRE ( WEST DIVISION ) . Lodge 155 Bro . Bro . T . Banner Newton 10 10 o 613 ,, Maxwell H . Boyd ... 2100 Z 31 G } " J-de Bels Adam ... 10 10 0 1313 „ Fred . Wood

1313 II J . G . Emmison 1313 „ I * . E . Chambers ... 10 10 o 1335 » W . Johnson ... 52 10 0 ' 73 ° <> J- Hardwicke Marsh 10 10 o 2295 „ Herbert Kidson ... 22 5 0 2295 ,, VV . E . Bland ... 15 15 0 2324 „ Edward Hindley ... 2100 2360 „ J . McKinnell ... 21 o 0

MIDDLESEX . Lodge 1309 Bro . Richard C . Read ... 10 10 o 1793 , 1 W . Middlewick ... 14 * : fi

MONMOUTHSHIRE . Lodge 457 Bro . Capt . C . C . Powell ... 21 o o 471 „ J . E . Ward 26 5 o CS 3 „ R . A . Forsyth ... 68 5 0 SiS „ Thos . Hardy ... 26 19 o 1429 „ W . J . Dix ( 15 18 0 ,, William VVatkins ... 64 1 o

NORTHANTS AND HUNTS . Lodge 737 Bro . John T . Reid ... 13 13 o NORTHUMBERLAND . 1712 Bro . Axel F . Ericssen ... 94 10 0

OXFORDSHIRE . 357 Bro . Lord Ampthill ( Prov . G . M . Beds ) ... 2 S 12 0 357 „ R . A . S . Paget ... 3 S 5 o 47 S „ M . VV . Weyland ... \ ° A . \<> W . N . Rowell ... 17 o C 1515 „ James Hastings ... 27 0 o 1895 „ G . Ivors Bland ... 21 o 0

SOMERSETSHIRE . The Province Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , P . G . M to 10 0 SUFFOLK . 1224 Bro . Joseph George ... 6 4 1 0 SURREV .

S 89 Bro . VV . Chapman ... 37 10 o 1347 „ G . C . Barry ... 39 7 0 2095 „ Percy VV . Hall ... 42 5 0 224 G „ Charles A . Itter ... 10 10 »

SUSSEX . 40 Bro . VV . A . Allen 41 2 « mo „ James Creighton ... 21 o 0 1184 „ John Belcher Foster 27 o 0 1821 „ Thomas Bullock ... 15 o 0 ' 947 ¦> John Jackson Clark 31 10 <> 2 434 . 1 John Easter 31 15 0 Unattached . Bro . Richard Clowes ... ' 10 10

WARWICKSHIRE . 887 Bro . Walter H . Rollason 10 10 <> 925 „ T . R . Arter 10 10 » 155 ' » J . A . Dexter ... ~ ) 1551 „ G . Mallard f 0 1551 „ H . Penn f 1551 „ A . G . Boys J WEST YORKSHIRE .

Bro . H . G . E . Green ~ ) „ VV . F . Smithson „ T . VV . Embleton 154 George H . Patke 287 „ Elias Heaton

306 „ VV . Meyer Tate J- 420 0 ° 810 „ Arthur Harrison 904 ., F . Cleeves 1042 „ IL Cowburough 1102 „ William Wilson 12 3 1 „ Thos . G . Howell J

GUERNSEY . 84 Bra . J . Balfour Cockburn 57 ' 5 ° CYPRUS . 2277 Bro . Surgeon-Captain W . Kiddle 10 "" °