Analysis Of The Returns.

ANALYSIS OF THE RETURNS .

We are now sufficiently ahead of the Centenary Festival of 1 S 9 8 for the Donations and Subscriptions at the Boys' School Anniversiry to have resumed its average level . In 1899 the Returns were under £ 5000 ; last year they reached to closeon £ 17 , 000 ; this weekthey just turn £ 23 , 000 , and compare not

unfavourably , with the totals of £ 26 , 000 and upwards , which were realised at the Benevolent and Girls' School Festivals in February and May re spectively . Wednesday ' s actual . figures were : London , with 249 Stewards , £ 9150 ; the Provinces and Foreign Stations , with 304 Stewards , £ 13 , 870 ; total , 553 Stewards , £ 23 , . Turning to

, LONDON , which , as we have said , subscribed £ 9150 by U 12 mclium of 249 Stewards , we have much pleasure in drawing particular attention to the following lists , which , one and all , exceeded £ 100 , the place of honour being taken by Bro . Thomas Fraser , of the Eccentric Lodge , No . 2488 . with the handsome total of £ 368 4 * :. Bro .-A . Fergusson , of the Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 , was a capital second

with £ 333 , nine of the donors on his list being Stewards as well ; and Bro . E . Rutherford , representing the City of Westminster Loige , No . 1563 , and including the donations of 17 of the members , who also acted as Stewards , stood third , with £ 328 13 s . Bro . J . J . Linton , Clarence and Avondale Lodge , No . 2411 , and Bro . C . F . Wahl , Felicity Lodge , No . 58 , were fourth , and fifth with £ 220 15 s . and £ 213 3 s . respectively , and then

followed a group of three , comprising Bros . J ' . H . Davidson , Unattached , with £ 189 ; Bro . A . G . Neville , of the Verity Lodge , No . 2739 , with £ 186 18 s . ; and Bro . T . F . Marson , of the Friends-in-Council Lodge , No . 1383—who has acted before in the same capacity with marked success—with £ 184 is . Bro . W . H . Wilson , of the Committee Dinner Club , came next in order with £ 156 95 ., and then there appeared another group of three , all clo > e together , and consisting of

Bro . E . A . Smith , of the Royal York Lodge of Perseverance , with £ 145 19 s . ; and Bros . A . E . Pridmore , of the Guardian Lodge , No . 2625 , and U . B . Ladler , Crusaders Lodge , No . 1677 , each of whom had the satisfaction of returning £ 140 . Bro . E . P . Moore , of the Tivoli Lodge , No . 2150 , is entered for £ 129 13 s . 6 L , and Miss McLeod , Unattached , and Bro . N . Robinson , of the Derby Allcroft Lodge , are bracketed next with £ 126 to their credit . Bro . G . Paxton , of the Salisbury Lodge , No . 435 , compiled a list of £ 110 5 s-, and Comp . James Cook , All Saints

R . A . Chapter , No . 1716 , l £ io 6 is . ; while Bros . W . A . Bowser , Mornington Lodge , No . 2000 , and W . Chambers , of the Nelson Lodge , No . 705 , with Comp . hj . Bergmann , Mizpah Chapter , No . 1671 , tied with £ 105 each . Bro . R . C . alford , of the Loyalty Lodge , No . 1607 , returned £ 103 8 s . 6 d ., and Bro . A . Greenwood , St . Leonard's Lodge , No . 1766 , £ 101 16 s ., while Bro . A . B . Hopkins , of the Empire Lodge , No . 2108 , brought up the rear of the three-figure lists with a level £ ioo . There was also a goodly proportion of lists ranging from £ 70 to within £ 100 , th « compilers of which deserve kudos for their successful efforts on the occasion .

Turning our attention to THE PROVINCES , we consider it a piece of good fortune for the Institution and at the same time a mark of respect to the Chairman that the claims of this School should have oeen recognised over so large an area . As a rule we are content if about three-fourths of the Provinces are represented , but on Wednesday 43 out of 46 sent up Stewards .

Consequently there are only three absentees , namely , BRISTOL ( nine lodges ) which ' did its duty splendidly by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in February , ( when it subscribed towards it funds £ 732 7 s . ) , and the remote Provinces of J ERSHY ( seven lodges ) and the ISLE OF MAN ( nine lodges ) , which are included in these Returns from time to time , and generally to very good purpose , the former of the two having subscribed £ 183 15 s . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls as

recently as last month . The number of Stewards from the 43 represented Provinces was 304 , and the total raised by their combined effoits £ 13 , 870 . In February , 37 Provinces and a Foreign Station by the medium of 320 Stewards compiled a total of £ 14 , 239 17 s . for the Benevolent Institution , while in May , 410 Stewards from 35 Provinces and three Foreign Stations , returned £ 16 , 252 19 s . gd . Thus during the current year the Provinces have distributed the large sum of

£ 44 , 362 16 s . gd . among our Central Institutions , irrespective of what they may have done or are preparing to do for their own local Charities and the Mark Benevolent Fund . BEDFORDSHIRE , which is the first in alphabetical order of the represented Provinces , had one of its seven lodges represented at the Benevolent Festival in February , the list raised by Bro . Daniel as its Steward amounting to £ 40 19 s ., while on

Wednesday the Province as a whole and another of its lodges had a Steward in the person of Bro . F . W . Williams , who is entered for £ 48 6 s . Last year the Province distributed £ 237 us . among the three Charities , of which the Girls ' School secured £ 153 us ., and in 1899 the same School was supported to the extent of £ 13317 s . 6 d ., while in 1898 the Province subscribed in all £ 321 16 s . 6 d ., including £ 288 4 s . 6 d . to the Boys' Centenary . It has also done well in previous years ; but so far its " record " year is 18 9 8 .

BERKSHIRE , "though it has just had the misfortune to lose its Prov . G . Master , has not broken through the rule it appears to have adopted of being represented at the three Festivals of the year . In February , four of its 17 lodges sent up Stewards , who , ' with Bro . C . E . Keyser and his son and another brother U nattached , compiled a total of £ 323 6 s . for the Old People . In May seven lodges , represented by eight brethren , of whom Bro . Keyser was one , together returned £ 320 5 s . On

Wednesday as many as 11 lodges , with the R . A . Cnapter attached to one of them , were represented by 14 brethren , lodge and chapter No . 414 having the same Steward acting in their behalf . There were also two Unattached Stewards , including Bro . C . E . Keyser , who is the Treasurer of the Institution ; the sum total of the lists being £ 525 , and the total for the year £ 1168 1 is . The principal items in Wednesday's Returns were £ 99 15 s . raised by Capt . II . H . Tasker , uf Lodge No . 795 , and £ 79 6 s . by Bro . Keyser .

Similaily BUCKINGHAMSHIRE , whese record achievement was in 1900 , when Lord Addington presided at the Benevolent Festival , and ihe Province subscribed £ 1495 ios ., out of a total during the year of £ 1606 19 s ,, has done duty at all three Festivals . In February it raised £ 122 7 s . 6 d . for the Old People , four of its 22 lodges , represented by halfa-doaen Stewards , taking part in the proceedings . Last month six lodges and the chapter attached to a seventh , with two brethren Unattached—the number of

Stewards being 17—compiled a sum of £ 375 3 s ., the lists of Bro . W . Yeo , of No . 2421 , and Bro . F . S . Priest , of No . 2816 , being for £ 105 and £ 101 17 s . lefuntively . On Wednesday three lodges gave their assistance , and their four Uvi ^ entativrs , including the same Bro . W . Yeo , of No . 2421 , together with Bro . la ' nvs and Miss Lily Stephens , and Bro . and Mrs . W . G . Cannon—who must be experiencid bombardiers by this time—compiled a Return of £ 137 03 . 6 d ., which , added to ihe Ber . evolent and Girls' School figures , places the aggregate for 1901 at

£ 634 Uf . , Thcufc h there are only seven , odges in C AMBRIDGESHIRE , it h ^ s bravely borne its part in all three Festivals , having raised £ 102 19 s . 6 d . for the Old Pc-ple , when three of its lodges sent up Stewards i £ 31 ios . for the Girls' School last month , and £ 134 for this Institution on Wednesday . In compiling the last-mentioned Return , there were three lodge representatives ,

Analysis Of The Returns.

of whom Bro . A . E . Chaplin , of Scientific Lodge , No . S 3 , did duty for the whole Province as well as for his lodge ; while Bro . Major O . Papworth , Prov . G . Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Management was Unattached . ' Thus the year ' s contributions from Cambridgeshire amount to £ 268 gs . 6 d ., and in compiling this the St . Audrey , No . 2727 , Ely , has been the most prominent , having raised £ 81 19 s . 6 d . at the Benevolent Festival , and £ 50 per Bro . J . cl Laxton for this Institution .

CHESHIRE , with its imposing array of 55 lodges , has done but little in the opening year of the new century . The Stewards of two of its lodges together subscribed £ 21 in February for the Benevolent Institution , and on Wednesday Bro . James Cookson Unattached , handed in a list of £ 10 ios . These are poor Returns from so large a Province , but we must not Jose sight of the fact that Cheshire has

an Educational and a Benevolent Fund , both of which are well furnished with capital , and do good work locally , while on special occasions it has contributed on a scale worthy of its rank and fame . Thus in 1891 , 1895 , and 1898 it supported this Institution , giving . £ 1050 in 1891 ; £ 2000 in 1895 , when Earl Egerton took the chair ; and . 62753 12 s . to the Centenary ; while in 1892 it raised £ 1988 for the Benevolent Jubilee . There is evidently a strong feeling in

CORNWALL , with its roll of 31 lodges , in favour of our central Charities ; or , perhaps , we ought to say , such a feeling has existed for many years , but his been more conspicuous latterly . In 18 92 , when the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , D . G . M . England , and G . M . of the Province , occupied the chair at the Benevolent J ubilee , Cornwall subscribed £ 776 15 s ., and again in 1895 when his lordship presided at the Girls '

, School Festival , it figured for £ 750 , while in 18 9 8 it raised in all £ 924 5 s ,, of which £ 554 19 s . was subscribed to the Centenary of this School . In 1899 it' distributed £ 516 6 s . among the three , and last year £ 37 8 , of which all but £ 21 fell to the share of " Our Boys . " In February it raised £ 431 3 s . 6 d ., of which £ 398 18 s . appeared on the lists of Bro . E . M . Milford , as the Steward for the whole Province , and the rest on that of Bro . Sholto H . Hare , representing No .

I 9 S 4- In May the sum of £ 131 5 s . was subscribed , £ 115 ios . being on the list of Bro . R . Faull , representing the Province and Lodge No . 510 , and £ 15 15 s . to the credit of Bro . Sholto H . Hare , Unattached . On Wednesday Bro . Col . G . ] . Parkyn did duty as Steward for the Province , hanidng in a list of £ 47 5 s ., and Bro . Hare , Unattached , supplemented this with £ 11 us ., making the total for Wednesday £ 58 i 6 s ., and for the year . £ 624 4 s . 6 d . One of the 23 lodges in

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND was represented at the Benevolent Festival in February , and another at that of the Boys' Institution on Wednesday , the list reaching £ 15 15 s . on the former occasion and £ 42 on the latter . But in 18 97 , when Bro . Lord Henry

Cavendish-Bentinck , M . P ., its P . G . M ., presided at the Festival of this School , the Province raised £ 1260 in honour of the event , while the following year it contributed £ 222 is . to the Centenary . It has also figured satisfactorily at previous Festivals , and notably last year , when it subscribed in all £ 197 12 s . 6 d ., of which all but 10 guineas was for this Institution . After subscribing £ 764 6 s . 6 d . to the Girls' School last month , it was hardly to be expected that

DERBYSHIRE , though it numbers 27 lodges , would figure largely on the occasion . Still one of its lodges with two Stewards acting on its behalf , and Bro . I . N . Woodiwiss Unattached , were entered for £ 10 ios ., which , with the aforesaid contributions to Our Girls and , £ 10 ios . subscribed by Bro . I . N . Woodiwiss to the Old People in February , places the year ' s total at £ 885 6 s . 6 d . The Province has shown up well at many previous Festivals , but never so well as in 1898 , when it raised in all . £ 2784 ios . 6 d ., of which £ 2419 2 s . was in respect of the Centenary of this School .

DKVONSHIRE , would seem of late to have adopted the same view as to the claims of our Central Charities to support as its neighbour Cornwall , and as it now comprises 60 lodges , the new view is most crediuble . In 18 9 8 , its total reached £ 1961 4 s . iod ., including £ 18 75 23 . iod . to the Boys' Centenary , while in the two following years it raised £ 274 us . ( in 18 99 ) , and £ 519 15 s . ( in 1900 ) . This year it has done better still , having given most of its attention to the Benevolent Institution ,

which it supported in February most handsomely with £ 779 2 s ., of which £ 74 6 us . was entered in the list of Bro . John Stacker , Prov . G . Secretary , as the representative of the Province . It supplemented this last month with , £ 31 ios . to thc Girls' School , while on Wednesday the Stewards from two lodges , with Bros . H . L . Schuster , F . B . Westlake , and J . R . Wilson compiled a Return of £$ oo , making the total for the whole year £ 1110 12 s . There were two Stewards from

DORSKTSIIIRE , of whom one acted for one of the 15 lodges and one was Unattached , the total of the two lists being £ 59 6 s . 6 d . In February , Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , acting independently , figured lor . £ 105 , while in May a lodge Steward and a Steward Unattached returned lists together amounting to £ 52 ios . Thus the year has produced a sum of £ 216 16 s . 6 d . Last year the Province was represented at all three Festivals , the sum of its contributions being , £ 263 16 s , and in iSgg £ 336 us ., while in 1898 it reached what for so moderate a Province must be described as thc immense sum of . £ 2127 ios . 6 d .

DURHAM , which has 3 8 lodges on its roll , appears to have come to the conclusion that Stewards are both useful and ornamental personages , and that as it makes a point of contributing to each of our three Institutions annually , it may as well do so by the medium of one or more of these brethren . Thus in February t * J members of Lodge No . 1862 compiled a list of £ 189 , and , in May , Bro . VV . " Cochrane , representing the Province , took up a sum of . £ 288 15 s . On Wednesfor

day Bro . C . T . Johnson , for the Province , and Bro . Sir George H . Philipson , the Universities Lodge , No . 2352 , returned lists amounting together to / 27 . I 1 and placing the year ' s total at . £ 750 15 s . Last year the sum of £ 332 7 s . w ; iS apportioned among the Institutions , and in 1899 , when the Province h « l j Festival all to itself , and subsciiied about £ 2500 for its Educational an « Hudson Benevolent Funds , only £ 157 ios . ; while in 1 S 9 S it raised in a " £ > 43 7 s ., of which £ 533 2 s . was in behalf of the Centenary of " Oar Boys . " There is little need to dwell on the splendid work which

ESSEX has done this year . In February the Earl of Warwick , Dap . G . Mister ol England and Grand Master of the Province , presided as Chairm in at '" Benevolent Fes'ival , and liss ^ x contr ' . b-jted £ 4000 , including his lordship ' s personal donation of 50 guineas . La ; -t month , notwithstanding this greit and

successful effort , it entered an appearance at the G ; rls' School Festival eight Stewira \ of whom six were representatives of three of its 44 lodges and t > vo Unattache , compiled a total of 4359 7 s ., while on Wednesday , Stewards to the number ol 1 > of whom 10 acted for tiye of the lodges and a chapter returned in all £ j 9 ' , . total for the whole year being £ 4548 7 s . There is no need to go into f" « details in the case of a Province which has so recently distinguisned itsull-