Analysis Of The Subscription List.

which is presided over by a worthy chief , whose uamo is intimately associated with all kinds of charitable deeds . Nine Lodges send among them ten Stewards , and there is also on the list a Middlesex R . A . Chapter , the aggi'eg-.-. te of their contributions beine £ 339 5 s . Monmouthshiio

has but eight Lodges , and theso are represented by the Deputy Provincial G . M ., S . G . Homfray , whoso list bore fruit to the extent of £ 210 . Norfolk , with fourteen Lodges , sent three Stewards , one each for as many Lodges , £ 82 17 s being the product of their united

efforts . Oxfordshire is certainly a most influential province , and as its Provincial Grand Master , but for the delicate state of his health , would have occupied the chair , naturally great things were expected of it , and the result has not belied these expectations . Ten Stewards , with

Prince Leopold at their head , did duty for six out of its seven Lodges , the total of their joint subscriptions amounting to £ 279 13 s . Somersetshire , with its nineteen Lodges , contributed £ 253 14 s , two Lodges being represented , each by a single Steward . A subscription of £ 145 emanated

from Staffordshire , the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , its Provincial Grand Master , who presided at the Festival , being one of the two Stewards who did duty for the twentyone Lodges of the Province , the other Steward representing a Wolverhampton Lodge . Suffolk , with eighteen

Lodges , has one representative only , in the person of a Steward from one of our Ipswich Lodges . His list amounted to £ 111 14 s . Three of the seventeen Surrey Lodges sent each one a Steward , and among them they raised the sum of £ 111 0 s 6 d . Two of the nineteen

Sussex Lodges contributed between them £ 150 13 s , one being a Brighton , the other a Lewes Lodge . Warwickshire , with Lord Leigh , its Provincial Grand Master , at the head of the six Stewards who represented it , figures for the handsome sum of £ 467 5 s 6 d , the two Lodges who appear

m the list , out of twenty-nine , being both located at Birmingham . If we bear in mind that when Lord Leigh presided at the Boys' Festival last year , the Province contributed exactly Two Thousand Pounds , it will be universall y acknowledged that this Province has fulfilled its duty in a

manner that may be equalled , but cannot be surpassed . The Province of Wilts , with its ten Lodges , has as its representative , Lord Methuen , its Grand Master , and through him contributes the sum of £ 273 Is . A Hull Lodge and the new York Lodge represent the Province of North and

East Yorkshire , £ 39 5 s being the sum of their joint subscription lists . £ 550 is the amount contributed by the West Yorkshire Lodges , or rather by twenty-six Stewards acting on their behalf , at the head of whom , as usual , is to be

found the respected . Provincial Grand Master , Sir Henry Edwards . Sixteen out of its sixty-three Lodges are directly represented , and four of these are entered directly as contributors . The absentees among the Provinces are as follow :

Beds ( 5 Lodges ) , Cambridgeshire ( 4 Lodges ) , Cornwall ( 27 Lodges ) , Durham ( 24 Lodges ) , Herefordshire ( 4 Lodges ) , Northamptonshire and Hunts ( 8 Lodges ) , Northumberland ( 15 Lodges ) , Notts ( 8 Lodges ) , North Wales and Shropshire ( 24 Lodges ) , South Wales E . ( 10 Lodges ) ,

South Wales W . ( 9 Lodges ) , Worcester ( 10 Lodges ) , Channel Islands ( 4 Lodges ) , Jersey ( 7 Lodges ) , Isle of Man ( 3 Lodges ) . Of these , however , Herefordshire , Northumberland , and the two Divisions of South Wales figure in last years' list , while several of the others have contributed at the Festivals of our other Charities . It must be

remarked further , as a hint to the energetic Secretaries of the Boys' and Girls' Schools , that Beds , Cambridgeshire , Worcestershire , the Channel Islands , and the Isle of Man do not figure , at least directly , so far as wo have any means of knowing , in any of the Festival lists , either in 1876 or

1875 , though , of course , it is quite possible that some of them may have contributed at other periods of the year . Moreover , there are still certain lists to be added , and these may , to some extent , alter the complexion of the list , as we have described it from the materials till now at onr disposal .

Turn we now to the London Lodges , of which , according to Grand Lodge Calendar for the current year , there are 253 , though we also know that this number has been slightly increased since the 1 st of January . Nearly onehalf of these , or , to be literal , 112 of these contribute

among them a sum just a trifle short of £ 6 , 510 . In the Calendar for 1876 will be found 224 Lodges in this District , and of these 71 , together with two others subsequently warranted , figured at the Festival for that year . From this we gather that the proportion of contributing Lodges was

Analysis Of The Subscription List.

a little over one-third of the total number . This year over 44 per cent , of tho total has subscribed . It is , however , in the jigu'iegate amount contributed by them that the progress made is the most noticeable . Last year London gavo £ 4 , 0 ( 17 out of the £ 9 , 174 raised , or less than

one-half by betwet-n £ 500 and £ 600 . This year it gives , as we have said , £ 6 , 680 out of a total of £ 12 , 656 , that is , between £ 300 and £ 400 more than one-half . Therefore , not only are tho London contributors spread over a wider area , but tho proportion of its subscription to the general

totalis even higher still . Of the 112 on this years list no less than 36 are contributing Lodges in 1875 , 1876 , and 1877 ; twenty-fivo of the remaining 76 contributed either last year or tho year before , while of the yet

remaining 51 thero are 15 which have only been in existenco a year , and have had no previous opportunity of subscribing to this Charity . This is an admirable proportion of the 26 or 27 Loda-es which have been constituted during- the

past twelvemouths . Our task is now done . We are seusiblo of the many imperfections to which theso analyses are necessarily subject , but they serve , in a measure , to point out whero there is new ground for the energy of future Boards of

Stewards . We do our utmost to promote the cause of our three Charities , and , in doing so , wo use our best endeavours to avoid giving offence even to the most sensitive . We

cannot hope to please everybody , and we aro not silly enough to make the experiment ; but we have a clear conscience , void of all intentional offence in this and all other matters which come under our cognisance ,

Covent Garden Lodge, No. 1614

COVENT GARDEN LODGE , No . 1614

THE Consecration and Installation Ceremony wag held on Tuesday , 13 th inst ., at Ashley ' s Hotel , Maiden-lane , Covent Garden , and was honoured by the presence oE several Grand and Provincial officers , and many brethren distiugnished in the Order . The brethren assembled in the ante-room , and walked in procession to the Lodge-room . Bro . W . W . Watson P . G . S ., tho presiding

officer , took the chair , and appointed Bros . J . Smith P . G . P . S . W ., and W . Hilton P . M . 7 S 0 J . W . The Lodge was opened in the three degrees , and the anthems were sung by Bro . Matthew Cooke P . G . S . Tho brethren of the new Lodge were thou arranged in order , and the acting Secretary read the petition and warrant from the Ebury Lodge . An oration on the nature and principles of the institution was given

by Bro . the Eev . P . M . Holden , with great power ; at the conclusion he recited some appropriate verses . The presiding officer then constituted the Lodge , and installed Bro . John Coutts P . G . P . as the first Worshipful Master . The newly installed W . M . having been sainted in antient form , invested bis officers . Bro . W . Watson P . G . S . I . P . M ., E . Jacobs 1348 S . W ., A . J . Iroton 134-8 J . W ., Potter Tyler .

The W . M . informed the brethren that although it had been arranged who were to be officers , yet as they wero not at present members of the Lodge , their investure would not take place until the next meeting . The furniture was very elegant , and the room artistically arrayed with floral decorations by Mr . W . Stone . Bro . W . Bonrno P . M . 749 , Secretary and P . M . 1348 , efficiently acted as director of ceremonies .

Several proposition ? were given to the Secretary for initiation , and the names of seven brethren as joining members . Hearty good wishe 3 were given from the visitors to the W . M ., and success for the future of the Lodge . After the Lodge was closed , the brethren , 49 in number , sat down to a banquet and dessert , a la Russe . The wines and viands were of first-rate description , and gave great satisfaction .

Gvace having been said , the W . M . proposed the Queen and the Craft . After the National Anthem , the health of the M . W . G . M . was given , and enthusiastically received ; this was followed by God Bless the Prince of Wales . The W . M ., in proposing the toast of tho Pro Grand Master , the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , spoke of their Masonic qualifications . He felt honoured by the presence of

three Grand Officers , and be would couple the toast with the name of a brother who is esteemed throughout the Craft . He referred to Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary . ( Loud cheers ) . The glee , "Blow Gentle Gales , " was admirably rendered by Bros . G . T . Carter , Montem Smith , J . Hodges , and K . Wilkinson . Bro . John Henry then roso to return thanks . While we had such noblemen as the Earl of Car .

narvon and Lord Skelmersdale as Grand Officers , we never can be tired iu speaking of their qualities . The Pro Grand Master is a thorough good Mason , and a Minister of the Crown , yet he can always find a few minutes to spare for the interests of the Craft . The same may be applied to the E . W . Lord Skelmersdale , who is ono who eventuall y will hold a higher position ; he is Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard ,

and holds a responsible position in the House of Lords . He had two Grand Officers on his right hand—Bros . Jabez Hogg and J . Smithwhose excellent suggestions and advice are always for the benefit of the Craft ; in their name he thanked the W . M . and the brethren for their kind expressions and hospitality , and hoped to be present on a

future occasion . Before resuming bis seat , he had a toast to propose that he was sure would be pleasing to them . We have seen the Good Ship in Covent Garden fairly launched , and properly manned . Bro . Watson has discharged his duty ably ; every one has been gratified ; all has gone well ; we have been well catered for ; at the head of that fraternal feeling is one who is a true Mason , and one