Analysis Of The Returns.

Having completed our survey of the Metropolitan contributions we turn our attention to THE PROVINCES , Which have furnished the larger contingent of Stewards , though rather more than one-fourth of their number is unrepresented on the Board . This , however , is about the usual proportion of absentees , so that , as regards the distribution of their representatives , the provinces figure at least as conspicuously on this occasion as they have done previously . In point of numerical strength the provincial contingent was stronger than in 18 S 5 , when the largest Return

ever known in connection with the Festivals of this Institution was realised , the brethren in this section of the Board having been iSS on that occasion , and on Tuesday 200 . In 18 S 1 , when the late R . W . Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., P . G . M . West Yorkshire , presided at the Benevolent Festival , the Provincial Stewards were 271 in number , of whom 176 hailed from West Yorkshire , but the product of the Festival was considerably less than on

Tuesday ; while in 1883 , when Bro . Binckes achieved his greatest success for the Boys' School , and the total raised was in excess of £ 23 , , there were 256 Provincial Stewards , the aggregate of whose contributions was about £ 15 , 770 . In this case , however , the Returns included some £ 8000 for the special purposes of the Preparatory School , which it was then in contemplation to establish . On Tuesday the 200 brethren from the 33

represented provinces amongst them made up a sum total of £ 9281 93 . the heaviest amounts being from Hants and the Isle of Wight ( the Chairman ' s province ) , Kent , West Yorkshire , Essex , Middlesex , & c , & c . But before proceeding further in our task we may as well enumerate the provinces which had no part in the celebration . They were 12 in number , the list in the order in which it is arranged in the Calendar being headed

by BEDFORDSHIRE ( five lodges ) , which , however , was represented at the Benevolent and Girls' School Festivals last year , and having been constituted as a province as recently as the close of 1885 , is fairly eniitled to a respite from this class of duty , if it considers one is necessary . HEREFORD ( four lodges ) , though it has—or till lately had—a Charitable Organisation of its own , does not often put in an appearance on

these occasions ; but , as we think we remarked in a previous Analysis , it need have no misgivings as to any contributions it may make being received with fraternal thanks . The I SLE OF MAN ( six lodges ) was only constituted a Province last summer , while three of lis contingent of lodges are of recent creation , so that its absence must not be regarded unfavourably . When it has settled down and feels

more at home under its new organisation , it will doubiless be found at its post , though much is not lo be expected from a district so remote from the seat of government . As to LINCOLNSHIRE , with its 22 lodges , we almost despair of ever again seeing it worthily represented in these lists , though why it should have resolved on isolating itself from its sister provinces and studiously avoid participation in our anniversary celebrations passes all

comprehension . We can only accountfor it by imagining there must bea screw loose somewhere . MONMOUTHSHIRE , though it has only eight lodges , was represented last year at the two School Festivals , its total at that of the Girls' School being in round figures £ 200 , while in 1885 it raised exactly £ 200 for the Benevolent , and in 1 S 84 upwards of £ 300 for the Boys' School . In fact , it supports our Institutions turn and turn about , and the chances

are that its absence from ihe list on Tuesday can be accounted for by its having engaged iiself to assist at one of the School Anniversaries . NORTHANTS AND HUNTS ( io lodges ) has had no part in any Festival since that of the Boys' School in 1 S 84 , when it raised over £ 215 . As a rule , it may be looked upon to give ils services at one of the three Anniversaries , and we assume that it has not done so latterly owing to its being , as it were ,

in a state of transition , Bro . the Duke ol Manchester having resigned the P . G . Mastership , and no one having as yet been appointed in his stead . NORTHUMBERLAND ( 21 lodges ) only occasionaly puts in an appearance , and then it does so very effectually , as was shown at the Girls' School Anniversary last year when its contributions exceeded £ 906 , and at that of the Boys' School in 1883 , when it was still more prominent , the total of its

subscriptions being £ 1222 and a fraction . It also raised over £ 160 for the Boys in 1 SS 5 , but curious to say , the Benevolent Institution appears to find but little iavour with our Northumbrian brethren , though if they were pressed to explain this , they would probably be at a loss for any reason . The absence of SHROPSHIRE ( IO lodges ) may easily be accounted for . Its Prov , G . Master , Bro . Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart ., has undertaken to preside

at ihe Girl ' s School Festival in May , and it stands to reason that the brethren are reserving their strength for that occasion . SOUTH WALES , WEST ( IO lodges ) , was represented at the Boys' School Festival in 1883 , at that of the Girls' in 18 S 4 , at the Benevolent in 1885 , and at that of the Boys' last year . WILTSHIRE ( IO lodges ) though it is but a small Province , is a frequent attendant on these occasions . Last year it raised close on £ 270 fo r

the Schools . In 1 S 85 , it gave its services to the Benevolent , and in 1884 , all three were assisted , the contribution to the Boys' School being , however , of modest amount . J ERSEY ( seven lodges ) figured among Bro . Binckes ' s supporters in 1883 , and among Bro , Terry ' s in 1885 , while the CHANNEL ISLANDS ( five lodges ) though having no Provincial G . Lodge , gave substantial help to the Benevolent in 18 S 4 and 1 S 85 , and to the two Schools last

year . 1 hus it will be seen that the absentee provinces on Tuesday have , with one or two exceptions , given valuable and substantial help at other Anniversaries during the past three years , nor were their services less conspicuous in previous years . For sufficient reasons of their own—reasons which it would be impertinent for anyone to be over-curious about—they

have stood aside from any participation in the work which has just been so successiuny achieved . But their turn , or the turn of most of them , will come again either at the May Festival or at that immediately following ; or if not then , on some future occasion , and when they do appear , we may be -ure they will discharge their duty as loyally and as generously as they have done in the past .

Having thus paid due respect to our absentee friends , we pass on to the still more welcome task of describing briefly the extent and character of the services rendered by the represented Provinces , that of

BERKS AND BUCKS , with its 21 lodges , taking the lead as usual . From this district there come six Stewards representing five lodges and a chapter , the chapter and one of the lodges belonging to Bucks , and the other four lodges to Berks . Five of these Stewards together furnish a total of £ 194 83 . 6 d ., which is a fair

average considering that this is one of the Provinces which make a point of being represented at all our Festivals . In 18 S 4 it distributed £ 464 16 s . 6 d . among the three Institutions ; in 1885 , £ 59835 . ; and in 1886 , £ 587 6 s . 6 d ., making a total for the last three years of £ 165065 ., and an average per year of slightly over £ 550 . This it will be allowed is an excellent record for a not over rich Province .

Analysis Of The Returns.

In the compact Province of BRISTOL There are eight lodges , which being within easy access of each other are able to consolidate their labours , and as a result are frequently in a position to make a better show than if the same number of lodges were scattered over a wider area . For reasons which it comes not within our Province to inquire into our brethren here appear to have a preference for supporting

the Old People . In i 8 S 4 they raised for them £ 293 us . ; in 1 S 85 , £ 59 ns * and last year , £ 318 ios ., while the Girls' School received £ 145193 . 10 1 SS 6 ; and the Boys' School £ 115 ios . in 1885 , and a modest £ 26 53 . j n June last ; the sum total for the three years amongst the three Institutions being £ 959 6 s . On Tuesday , Bro . Pierpont Harris , who is no novice at the work , gave in a list of £ 115 ios ., and well merits the thanks which Bro , Terry is certain to have tendered him for his valuable support . As regards

CAMBRIDGESHIRE , Which has been exerting itself admirably of late , the honour of its six lodges could not have been entrusted to better hands than those of its new Dep . P . G . M ., Bro . Andrew H . Moyes , who appears to have signalised his appointment to that laborious office by repeating his Stewardship of June last at the first Festival during the Jubilee year and compiling the goodly sum of £ 200 . In June he raised £ 131 5 s . ; the province having

contributed £ 143 to the preceding Benevolent Festival , and £ 273 to that of the Girls' School ; or for the whole year £ 547 5 s . In 188 5 this Institution was supported to the extent of £ 106 us . 6 d ., and in 188 4 the Boys' received £ 174 6 s . ; the total for the triennial period being £ 828 2 s . 6 d . For a province with so small an array of lodges nothing could well be better , and as there is an excellent Charitable organisation in Cambridgeshire , we have every confidence that her lodges will continue in the path they have latterly traced out .

CHESHIRE , With its roll of 40 lodges , more or less , offers a somewhat unfavourable contrast . Only two lodges—Nos . 537 and 758—have sent up Stewards , and the sum of their contributions is £ 30 . 5 s . Of course , we bear in mind that it has an excellent Educational Institute of its own , which is liberally supported and does good work ; and we are also aware that at present it is

in what may be called a transition state , having lost through resignation its respected chief , Bro . Lord de Tabley , while it will be some few weeks ere his successor , Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , is inducted into office . Yet having made these allowances , we must still confess to being somewhat disappointed that so strong a province should have made so modest a display . Possibly a heavy Return is in store for one or both of our Schools at the Festivals now rapidly approaching .

CORNWALL , Which can boast of some 29 lodges on its roll , has been most diligent latterly in sending up Stewards , having missed only one of the nine Festivals held during the last three years . In 1884 its contributions were on a somewhat modest scale , but the following year il raised over £ 400 in about equal parts for the Benevolent and Girls' School , while in 1886 it gave , per Bro .

Controller Bake , £ 152 5 s . to the Old People , £ 31 ios ., per the same brother , to the Girls ' , and £ 254 2 s ., per Bro . Truscott , to the Institution at Wood Green , making a total ior the year of £ 437 17 s . Bro . Gilbert B . Pearce , who acted as Steward for the Cornubian Lodge , No . 450 , Hayle , on Tuesday , was successful in making up a most acceptable list of /^ 68 us ., such

as we have not seen from this Province for some time , and which reflects the greatest credit boih on it and Bro . Pearce . In our analysis of the Boys' School Returns in June last , we expressed the pleasure it gave us on finding that

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND , With its 20 lodges , had resumed its place in these lists , and our readers will probably call to mind that it signalised its re-appearance by subscribing , per its esteemed Grand Secretary , Bro . G . J . McKay , and another Steward , Bro . J . H . Hogg , acting on behalf of the Union Lodge , No . 129 , Kendal , the very handsome sum of £ 500 , Bro . McKay ' s list being a fraction over

£ 425 . On Tuesday Bro . Dr . Charles E . Paget , of the same Union Lodge , handed in a list of £ 55 13 s . and if all goes well , we may hope to hear of further and equally good news from the same quarter when the remaining Festivals are being held . There is nothing like action for creating action , and Cumberland and Westmoreland having so conspicuously revived its former achievements in June last , will not improbably keep the ball rolling to good purpose for some time to come .

DERBYSHIRE , Like its immediate predecessor in the list of Provinces has some 21 lodges and on Tuesday sent up a contingent of eight Stewards , of whom Bro . Percy Wallis appears to have been unattached , while the other seven represented the Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , Derby ; the Arboretum , No . 73 ' Derby ( three Stewards ); the St . Oswald , No . 850 , Ashbourne ; the

Rutland , No . 1179 , Illusion ; and the Phcenix Lodge of St . Ann , No . 1235 , Buxton . The aggregate of the eight lists was £ 429 14 s . Last year it distributed £ 176 15 s . among the three Charities . In 1885 , when its chief , Bro . the Marquis of Hartington , presided at the Boys' Festival , it very naturally limited its efforts to supporting his lordship , nor can it be

doubted that it did so to very good purpose by raising the large sum of £ 1541 12 s . In 1884 , it assisted the Schools to the extent of £ 450 14 s ., t " Girls receiving the lion ' s share in the shape of £ 356 4 s . The total for tne last three years is £ 2169 ios ., which has been further increased to £ 2599 4 - by the contributions on this occasion . There is no doubt that

DEVONSHIRE , With its half-a-century of lodge * has been working hard of late on behalf of its newly-organised Educational Association , and that its efforts to th | S end have met with a large amount of success . This will probably account for Bro . J . Lane , the learned compiler of the recently published " Masonic Records , " representing the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , Torquay , being tlie only Steward hailing from this popular Province . Otherwise we should t > e

inclined to suggest that a single list of £ 50 , however acceptable in itself ) was hardly sufficient . However , it is on record that it gave substantia ' support to this Institution to the extent of £ 157 ios ., and to the Girls to that of £ 136 19 s . last year ; while in 18 S 5 its figures were—Benevolent £ ' 3 J and Boys £ 289 ; and in 1884 they amounted , for the three Institutiontogether , to £ 102 18 s . At the great Boys' School Festival in 1883 lls Returns were £ 317 and a fraction .