Analysis Of The Returns.

chapters , and the Girls' School Committee Dinner Club . There were in addition 3 8 Unattached brethren and 10 ladies , many of whom seemed to have compiled li-ts as though they represented some lodge or chapter . The honour of leading the array of big lists was secured by Bro . John Scviven , of the Friendsin-Counc . il Lodge , No , 13 S 3 , who handed in a list of £ 254 2 s ., while the second p lacp fell to Bro . Lewis Lazarus , of the ] opp , i Lodge , No . iSS , with , £ 231 . Bro . Jas . Terry , the indefatigable Secretary , who was Unattached , stood third with £ 215 ,

Bro . John H . Usmnr , of St . John's Lodge , No . 90 , being next with £ 210 . Bro . Chas . Garton , of the Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 , compiled a total of £ 192 13 s . 6 d ., which included £ 10 10 s . from Bro . Frank R . Kenning , in addition to the £ 10 10 s . which appears as his list among the Unattached , and thus secured fifth honours , while Bro . Griffiths , Sincerity Lodge , No . 174 , raised jf 1 S 2 13 s . Bro . Harper , Southwark Lodge , No . S 79 , is returned for £ 115 105 ., and then we have bracketed together Bro . Myers , of the Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge ,

No . 2362 , and Bro . Hooper , of the Eccentric Lodge , No- 24 S 8 , each being responsible for a list of £ 110 5 s . Bro . Rosenberger , of the Queen ' s Westminster Lodge , Nu . 2021 , and Bro . Aid . W . Vaughan Morgan , Grand Treasurer , Unattached , stand next with £ 105 each , the remaining three-figure lists being those of Bro . Bodeker , representing the Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , for £ 100 16 s . ; Mrs . Trew , wife of the worthy P . M . of che same name , of the Woodgrange Lodge , No . 2409 , for £ 00 5 s . 6 d ; and Bro . Stocker , High Cross Lodge , No . 754 , for £ 100 .

Other considerable lists that merit recognition here include those of Bro . U . W . Bower , Kent Lodge , No . 15 , for £ 92 8 * . ; Bro . S . C . Kaufman , St . Leonard Lodge , No . 1766 , for £ 91 7 s . ; Bro . Fred . Varley , of the JloIIoway Lodge , No . 2601—out of respect to Bro . Terry , who was its first W . Master— £ 75 is . ; and Bro . Lieut .-Col . Clifford Probyn , G . Treas . nominate , for £ 84 . On the whole , London has furnished an excellent array of " tall " lists , and has , at the same time , acquitted itself in all respects , exceedingly well .

THE PROVINCES next claim our attention , and on scrutinising the Returns from this section we remark that of the 46 Provinces into which the Country is parcelled out , only 32 have furnished representatives , and in the case of not a few of them the brethren acting as Stewards would appear to have contented themselves with sending up only their own personal donations . We must go back several years in order to

find a similarly small representation of English Provincial Masonry at any of our Festivals , and though we were quite prepared for a substantial falling off in this portion of the Returns , we must confess to being grievously disappointed at finding it so restricted both as regards the number of Stewards and the aggregate of the Amounts they were able to collect . The Stewards mustered 147 , and the sum they raised amongst them £ 3 6 79 4 s ., as compared with the £ S 6 oS obtained by 234 Stewards in 18 97 , and the £ 10 , 196 by 237 Stewards in 1896 .

The number of absentee Provinces is 14 , of which the first in alphabetical order is BKISTOI . ( nine lodges ) . This—and we state the fact with regret—has been unrepresented at all our Festivals during the last two years ; but in 1 S 95 '' gave £ 10 10 s . to this Institution , and £ 107 8 s . to the Boys' School , in 18 94 , . £ 441 to the Girls' School , and . £ 16 16 s . to the Boys' School . In 1 S 93 it was an absentee , but in the two preceding years it did some splendid work for the Boys ' Institution , for which it raised at the iwo Festivals held in its behalf no

less than £ 911 , or rather more than £ 50 per lodge per Festival . DERBYSHIRE ( 27 lodges ) , was represented at all three Festivals last year , and raised . £ 513 os . 6 d ., of which the Girls' School was fortunate enough to secure the lion's share in the shape of £ 372 7 s ., and this , notwithstanding that his Grace the Duke of Devonshire , P . G . M ., presided at the Boys' School Festival in 1896 , and was loyally supported to the extent of £ 1642 2 s „ while in 1895 it subscribed in all £ 550 6 s . ; in 1894 , £ 647 15 s . 6 d . ; in 18 93 , £ 1025 8 s . 6 d j and in 18 92 ,

£ 1738 14 s ., of which £ 1362 was raised at the Benevolent Jubilee . HEREFORDSHIRE ( five lodges ) is , as usual , comprised in this part of our Analysis ; but we have reason to believe that it will be represented at the Boys' Festival , and we must hope that it will then be worthily represented . LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND ( 14 lodges ) gave its accustomed support last year to the Girls' School , to which it subscribed £ 320 5 s . ; in 18 9 6 to the Boys' School , which obtained £ 231 ; and in 1 S 0-, to this Institution , to which it gave £ 300 6 ; .. In 189 4 the Girls' School

received £ 330 10 s . ; in 1 S 93 the Boys' School £ 267 10 s . ; and in 18 92 the Old People £ 3 ^ 8 1 os ., there being also sundry minor contributions during these years . Clearly , therefore , it was the turn of the Benevolent Institution this year , but we must not grumble if a Province which makes it a practice to support each Institution in turn goes out of its way in order that it may be worthily represented at the Boys' Centenary . We have no doubt the Province will not be unmindful of the claims of this Charity , either next year or in igoo , so that each Institution in

turn shall receive its due measure of support . LINCOLNSHIRE ( 24 lodges ) was not wliully unrepresented at last year ' s Festivals , this Institution and the Boys ' School being supported on a small scale . But more could not in reason have been expected from it , seeing that when the Earl of V . irborough , Prov . G . Master , presided as Chairman at the Girls'Festival in 18 9 6 . it raised , £ 1500 for that Institution . At the Benevolent Jubilee in 1 X 92 it raised £ 660 5 s . ; at the Boys ' Festival at Brighton in 1891 it returned £ 418 us . 2 d . ; and at the Girls '

Centenary in 1888 , £ 202 2 s . 6 d , MONMOUTHSHIRE ( II lodges ) supported the Girls' School last year to the extent of £ 34 6 10 s ., and this Institution in 189 Q to that of £ 24 6 3 s . In 1 S 95 the Boys' School received £ 148 lis . ( id . ; in 1 S 94 the Girls' School £ 297 us . Od . ; and in 18 93 the Old People £ 272 Ss . 6 d . It is , therefore , the regular turn of the Boys' School to have the support of this small Province . NORFOLK ( IS lodges ) figured in the Girls' School Returns of last year , when it subbcribed , by the hands of Bro . Capt . Mills , £ 110 5 s . to that

Institution , and in those of the Benevolent and Girls' Institutions for 1 S 9 6 , when it raised £ 35 14 s . for the former and £ 105 for the latter . In 1895 the Girls ' School was supported to the extent of £ , ' 205 5 s ., and in 18 94 , the Boys' School to that of ^ 134 13 s . In 1893 , £ 7 8 15 s . was subscribed to the Girls' School , and in 1892 , the Benevolent Institution was the recipient of £ 426 5 s . on the occasion of its Jubilee . NORTHL ' . UIIERLA . ND ( 30 lodges ) did but little " in 1 S 97 , contributing only . £ 36 15 s . to the Festival of this Institution , and the year previous , two

brethren from one of its lodges together raised £ 52 10 s ., but in 1 S 95 , it figured largely in the Returns of the Girls' School Festival , subscribing by the medium of Bro . Richard Holmes , P . G . D ., D . Prov . G . M ., no less than . £ 2315 5 s . out of a total from the Provinces of £ ^ 785 4 s . 6 d . A few weeks later it gave . £ 186 18 s . to the Boys' Schoul , so that the year ' s total reached the sum of £ 2502 3 s . In iS y 4 , it helped the Boys' School on a modest scale , and in 18 93 and 1892 , this Institution was benefited , while in 1891 , it raised £ 1364 4 s ., including £ ' 1050 paid

for a Perpecual Presentation , to the Boys' School . Last year NoTi'iNiiiiA . MsiiiKK ( 18 lodges ) raised £ 309 4 s ., of which . £ 7893 . was received by this Institution , and / . 230 15 s . by the Boys' Schoul . In 18 9 6 , the Schools shared between them the support of the Province , " Our Girls " being benefited to the extent of £ 23245 . and" Our Boys" tuthalof £ 16 3 23 . In i 8 y . s , this Institution and the Boys' School were benefited , the former by subscriptions amounting to £ 107 12 s . Gil .

and the latter with J _ . \ 06 19 s . In 18 94 , the Province did nothing , but in IN < 3 , it gave the Girls' School L ' 131 Js ., and in 1892 , the Schools were supported to the extent of £ 241 5 s . ( id ., of which all but , £ 37 l 6 i . 6 d . fell to the Boys ' School share . S OUTH WALKS , EASTERN DIVISION , is a medium Province with 22 lodges on . ts roll , and every now and then it shows to considerable advantage . Thus , lastyear , when Bro . Lord Llangattock , its Prov . G . M ., presided

Analysis Of The Returns.

as Chairman at the Girls' School Festival , it subscribed the large sum of £ 1050

in support of his lordship's Chairmanship , while in 1896 it gave £ 285 to the Old People . In 1895 and 1894 it was represented by Bro . W . G . Davies , who acted as sole Steward , and in the former year handed in a list of £ 300 to the Girls ' School , and in the latter one of £ 350 to the Boys' School . In 1 S 93 " Our Girls" received £ 325 ios ., and in 1892 , the Benevolent , at its Jubilee , and the Boys' School , £ 501 16 s . 6 d . between them , of which the former had £ 180 and the

latter £ 321 15 s . 6 d . We cannot call to mind the Festival at which SUSSEX , with its roll of 32 lodges , was unrepresented , but this we do know , that it has been uniformly one of the most generous supporters of all our Charities . Last year , when the Duke of Connaught presided at the Festival of this Institution , the Province was returned for . £ 1263 2 s . 6 d ., while in May it gave £ 205 os . 6 d . to the Girls , School , and in June , £ 29 2 s . 6 d . to the Boys' School , the total for the year

being £ 1498 4 s . 6 d . In 1896 its subscriptions and donations totalled up to £ 1052 ; in 1895 , to £ 1254 9 s . 6 d . ; in 18 94 . to £ 1277 ios . ; in 1893 , to £ ' 1234 16 s . ; and in 1 S 92 , to £ 2227 4 s ., of which . £ 1155 6 s . was in behalf of the Benovelent Jubilee , and £ 1026 5 s . in that of the Girls' School , at whose Festival the Duke of Connaught presided as Chairman . WILTSHIRK ( 12 lodges ) , subscribed £ 205 to the Benevolent Institution last year , and £ 310 to that of the Girls' School in 1895 ,

while in 18 95 " Our Boys " obtained £ 279 6 s . In 1 S 94 the Province divided its attention between the " Old People " and the Boys' School , raising £ 175 14 s . 6 d . for the former , and £ 126 4 s . for the latter . In 1893 the Schools were the favoured Institutions , the Girls' School receiving . £ 185 17 s ., and the Boys' School , £ 110 5 s ., while in 1892 the Benevolent absorbed its attention and had the satisfaction of receiving £ 4 8 3 14 s . NORTH to

AND EAST YORKSHIRE ( 34 lodges ) subscribed ^ 127 15 s . last year Girls ' School Festival , and in 1896 raised in all C 1022 193 ., of which this Institution received £ 900 , and the Schools the balance between them . In 1 S 95 , the contributions were on a modest scale , but in 1894 they amounted to £ 44 1 15 s ., and in 1 S 93 to £ 424 4 s ., while in 1892 , including , £ 711 9 s . raised for the Benevolent

Jubilee , they amounted to £ 733 4 s . The remaining absentee is the ISLE OF MAN ( nine lodges ) , which , however , though distant from the centre of English Masonry , is an occasional , and for its size , a liberal supporter of our Charities , The lodges in these 14 Provinces number in all 265 , which must be omitted from the account in estimating the merits of the Returns by the Provincial section of the Board of Stewards .

As regards the 32 represented Provinces , we find , with one or two exceptions , the amounts subscribed by them , both severally and collectively , far below the average , but as this was to be expected from the special circumstances attending the celebration in June of the Boys' School Centenary we refrain from offering any remark .

The Province of BEDFORDSHIRE , with its modest contingent of seven lodges was represented by Bro . S . L . Kelpin , whose list amounted to £ 33 13 s . Last year two of the lodges were represented by Bros , the Rev . V . P . Wyatt and John Smith respectively the total of their two lists being - £ 66 3 s . In 1896 it apportioned £ 42 between this Institution and

the Girls' School , and in 1895 the total was £ 148 is ., of which the Boys' School received £ 105 and the Old People £ 43 is . In 1894 the Province figured in the Returns at all three Festivals , the total of its contributions being £ 238 gs . ; while in 1893 the amount was £ 18 3 17 s . 6 d . ; and in 1892 , £ 152 5 s ., all three sharing in the former , while the latter was distributed between this and the Girls ' Institution .

BERKSHIRE , which now has 16 lodges on its roll , is for its size one of the most valued contributors to our Charities , nor is there a Festival celebrated at which it does not figure for a greater or less—generally a greater rather thin a less—amount . Last year it raised £ 825 16 s . 6 d ., of which this Institution was so fortunate as to secure £ 4 'i 5 3 s . 6 "d . : in 1896 , £ 1010 19 s . 6 d ., of which the Boys' School received the

lion ' s share ; in 1 S 95 , £ 939 6 s . 6 d . ; in 1894 , £ 583 13 s . 6 d . ; and in 1893 , . £ 724 7 s . In 1 S 92 its total , inclusive of £ 661 gs . 6 d . subscribed to the Jubilee of this Institution , was £ 954 Us . 6 d . ; while in iSgi , when for the first time it figured as a separate Province it raised in all £ 385 is . On Tuesday it subscribe £ 162 15 s ., of which Bro . Keyser's list , as Steward for the Union Lodge , No . 414 , Reading , for £ 120 15 s ., was the principal item .

Its neighbour and old associate under the late Bro . Sir Da . iiel Gooch , Bart . —the Province of BUCKINGHAMSHIREhad four of its 19 lodges represented by five Stewards , there being , in addition , Bros . Copsey and James Stephens and Mrs . Stephens and Mrs . Sherwin , Unattached . The total for these nine amounted to . £ 145 ios-, the largest list being

that of Bro . Edward Gibbs , of the Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge , No . 2420 , for £ 63 . Last year it subscribed altogether . £ 489 17 s . 6 d ., of which this Institution secured , £ 250 8 s . 6 d ., the balance being unequally divided between the Schools . In 1 S 96 the total was . £ 429 us ., of which the Old People received only , £ 61 17 s . 6 d ., the Girls School being favoured to the extent of £ 186 lis ., and the

Buys' School with £ 181 2 S . Gd . In 18 95 all three shared in the £ 438 14 s . 6 d ., while in the preceding year the total , including £ 429 15 s . to the Boys' School , was £ 590 . In 18 93 the Province subscribed £ 479 16 s . ; in 18 92 , £ 705 15 s ., of which £ 290 18 s . was in respect of the Benevolent Jubilee ; and in 1 S 91 , £ 511 is ., of which £ 300 was raised for the Girls' Festival , under the presidency of Bro . Earl Carrington , then Prov . Grand Master .

A single Steward , in the person of Bro . W . Briggs , whose name is tolerably familiar to those who study our Festival Returns , did duty for the Province of

CAMBRIDGESHIRE , which , albeit there are but six lodges on its roll , is a consistent supporter of our Charities , Bro . Briggs ' s list being for £ 10 ios . Last year the Province subscribed £ 323 ios . 3 d ., of which all but £ 21 fell to the share of this Institution ; in iSyS

the total was £ 364 5 s ., of which the Boys' School obtained £ 189 , the Old People £ 101 15 s ., and the Girls' School the balance of £ 73 ios . In 1895 the Schools received between them , but in unequal parts , £ 168 ; in 18 94 all three participated in the total of £ 239 ; and in 18 93 in that of £ 290 17 s . j but in 1892 this Institution was the only one supported , and obtained £ 326 8 s .

An Unattached Steward , with £ 10 ios . to his credit , does duty for the 50 lodges on the roll of CUES HIKE , which is doubtless husbanding its strength for the Boys' Centenary . Last year it raised £ 94 10 s . for the Old People , £ 110 5 s . for the Girls' School , and £ 6 $ i 2 S > for the Boys' School , or together , £ 270 7 s . In 1895 the total was £ 237 6 s ., but in 1 ^ 95 , when Bro . Eavl Egertonof Tatton , Prov . G . Master , presided as Chairman

at the Boys' Festival , the Province did splendid work , the sum of its donations and subscriptions being £ 2000 . During the years 1 S 93 and 18 94 , the Province contented itself with the work of establishing a Benevolent Institution of its own , for which it raised a sum of £ 3000 , nor must we lose sight of iis Educational Fund , which is supported wholly by our Cheshire brethren , and has been doing excellent service for upwards of 30 years . Jn 1892 , however , it raised £ 19 88 ( of the Jubilee of this Institution , and in 1891 , £ 1050 for the Boys' SchooJt