Analysis Of The Subscription List, R.M.B.I.

variably absent as some we might mention are present , we prefer to say nothing . If they are content with the ignominy which attaches to them , wo shall not trouble ourselves to disturb their equanimity . Tho Provinces now claim our attention . Thirty out of the

forty-four , including districts not possessing a Grand Lodge , aro represented iu the list , the fourteen absentees comprising as usual Bedfordshire ( 5 Lodges)—when , to make an atrocious pun , will our Beds brethren , now lying so cosily dormant in their beds , wake up to a sense of their

duty ?—Cambridgeshire ( 4 Lodges ) , Cheshire ( 37 Lodges ) , Cornwall ( 28 Lodges ) , Devon ( 4 ? Lodges ) , Durham ( 25 Lodges ) , Herefordshire ( 4 Lodges ) , Northumberland ( 18 Lodges ) , North Wales and Shropshire ( 25 Lodges ) , South Wales , Eastern Division ( 13 Lodges ) , Staffordshire

( 21 Lodges ) , Channel Islands , Jersey , and Isle of Man . As regards the last three , there is nothing strange in their being rarely , if ever , represented at our Charity Festivals . They are out of the way , to say the least . With Hie other eleven , the ease is different , and as

they look to receive help in time of need , so we expect them to muler ifc under similar conditions . Nine of the above do this cheerfully , according to their means , though their names are wanting in the present list . Thus Cheshire , with an Educational Institute of its own . has been

nevertheless represented moderately at all the Festivals iu ( he last four years . Cornwall was represented by its Prov . G . M . and Bro . Hughan at the Benevolent Festival last year , the amount it contributed being £ 570 , while iu 1876 Bro . Hughan was Steward unci look up between £ 100 and

£ 500 . In this case , too , the recent disastrous Bank failure may not improbably have had something to do with its absence . Herefordshire was modestly represented afc the Girls' Festival , and lias also figured ou previous occasions . Devon is absent , but only for the second time iti thirteen

festivals . Durham gave £ 155 8 s to the Boys last July , about the same sum in ib 77 , more liberally in 1876 , and still more lihurally the preceding year . Northumberland has been an absentee afc all the Festivals which have been held since thafc of the Boys' School in 1877 , aud it strikes

us that ifc is nearly time some of its Lodges bestirred themselves again . North Wales aud Salop figured last year at I he . Boys' School for £ 169 , and afc the Girls' for ten guineas . It supported the same two in J 877 , and its Lodges are raising , it' they have not already

raised , the Watkitj Testimonial . South Wales East was very fairly represented at the School Festivals last year , and Staffordshire , as we must ail remember , did its duty admirably under its late Graud Master , the lato Earl of Shrewsbury nnd Talbot , and scut up a fair list

afc the Benevolent festival last year , besides a small contribution to the Boys' School in July . Even Cambridgeshire emerged last year from its state of torpor , and a member of one of its Lodges twice served as Steward for the School Festivals , but Beds apparently neither does nor cares aught for the Charities .

Turn we now to the Contributing Provinces . First hi order is Berks aud Hacks , which is down for the handsome sum of £ 336 7 s , the joint contributions oi' seven Stewards representing five out of the nine Berkshire Lodges , none of the eig ht , Bucks Lodges having been at thv pains to send

up Stewards . Under these circumstances the honour of the achievement must be awarded to the former county . We arc given to understand there is a strong' uudereiwreufc of fli-fceling exhibited by some of the Bucks towards the Berks brethren or Lodges , and it mav come within the scope

of our duty to offer a kw sharp comments on the subject . What are the grounds of this ill-feeling is nofc material at this moment , but we must remark that no Province has a more zealous and able Grand Master , or one that deserves to be treated with greater loyalty than

Berks and Bucks , of which Sir Daniel Gooeu has been the ruler l ' or upwards of feu years . We are prepared to find greater ov less discontent everywhere , aud when we learn that it is groundless , wo are equally prepared to lend our assistance iu stumping it out . The Etonian No . 2 u 9 ,

and tvindsor Castle No . / 71 , both of "Windsor , the Union No . 414 , of Reading , the Loyal Berkshire L . of Hope No . 574 , of Newbury , aud the Vale of White Horse Lodge No . 1770 , ol * Farringdon , are the five Lodges which imhold

the fair fame of Berkshire . Tho first of tho . c sent up two Stewards , of whom Bro . Dick Radelyffe fnrni . shed a list of £ 136 12 s tid , part of which was raised by the ticket system : the last followed its example , and though tho poungest Lodgo iu the Province—hiving , indeed , been

consecrated only a short time since—contributed , per Bros . J . Blandy Jenkins and R . Bradloj ' , a total of £ 68 5 s . Brethren of the Vale of White Horse , this is a most excellent beginning , and AVO trust that without detriment to yourselves and your belongings , you will find it in your

power to continue as yon have begun . Bristol ( eight Lodges ) has one representative , whose list amounted to £ 15 15 s . Last year one of its members took up £ 134 15 s to the Benevolent , and in 1877 , when its Prov . G . Master , tho Earl of Limerick , filled the office of Steward to this same

Institution , it contributed by his hands the sum of £ 161 8 a . Bro . McKay did the honours for Cumberland and Westmoreland , with its nineteen lodges : his list amounted to £ 63 2 s . Tho same Brother was Steward at the last Boys' Festival , when the amount of his list was £ 150 .

Derbyshire ( nineteen Lodges ) was not unrepresented , a brother of No . 731 , the Arboretum of Derby , being down for £ 23 8 s Gd . Last year its Prov . G . Master , tho Marquis of Hartington , and another brother , together handed in £ 170 . It figured likewise , though for smaller

amounts , at the Girls' Festival in May last , and that of the Boys in July . For Dorsetshire its Dep . G . Master , Bro . Gundry , acted as Steward , but the amount of his list was not stated , as it had not been received . We may anticipate , however , a good one , as the Province has always

been to the fore on these occasions . Last year , Bro . J . M . P . Montagu was its Steward for all three Institutions , and took up £ 150 to the Benevolent , £ 116 lis for the Girls , and £ 401 12 s for the Boys , or a total of £ 668 3 s for the year . Essex , Avhich has had the misfortune to lose

its G . Master lately , was nevertheless represented by Comp . Rev . H . J . Hatch , of the Priory Chapter No . 1000 , Southend , with a list of £ 11 . It figured at the Boys' Festival last July for over £ 233 , and has been creditably represented at other Festivals . Gloucestershire ( fourteen

Lodges ) , though it distributed no less a sum than £ 727 among our Institutions last year , has threo Stewards , representing two Lodges , and their joint lists amount to £ 148 12 s . Hants aud Isle of Wight , with its thirty Lodges , has only been once absent at the last thirteen Festivals .

Its contributions , in this instance , amount to £ 187 8 s od , tho result of the joint efforts of three Stewards , representing as many Lodges , namely , tlie Newport No . 151 , one of the Aldershot Lodges No . 723 ( Panmure ) , and a Portsmouth No . 1428 , tbe United Service . Three of the eleven

Lodges in Herts are represented by as many Stewards , the aggregate of their lists being £ 144 Is . It will be in the recollection of our readers that at the Benevolent Festival last year this little county headed the Provinces , with a total of over £ 645 , subsequently raised to £ 660 ; it was

represented for a small amount both at the Boys' and Girls' Festivals . Ifc has given over £ 1 , 815 since January ( inclusive ) 1875 , having been absent only once in thirteen Festivals . The Hitchin , Berkhampstead , and Cheshunt Lodges uphold the credit of tho county on this occasion .

Kent , with its forty-three Lodges , has six of them represented by as many Stewards , the total of their lists beino " £ 432 4 s ; Bro . H . M . Baker , of the Corinthian No . 1208 , of Dover , taking tho load with £ 202 18 s , Bro . A . H . Des Barres being next with a very useful £ 95 7 s Gd . We are

also gratified at finding Bro . Joynes Emmerson , of the Cinque Ports No . 1206 , Sandwich , among the Stewards , with , we presume , a personal contribution of ton guineas . We now come to East Lancashire , with its eighty-nine Lodges and an array of seventy-nine Stewards , loyally

banded together to support Bro . Lt .-Col . Starkie , its Grand Master , who occupied the chair . The total amount contributed , wc find to be £ 3 , 338 7 s Gd , but there is a further £ 400 , bequeathed by a deceased brother , to be received ; and , from the list wo published last week , there wonld seem

to be twelve of the Stewards who have nofc as yefc sent in their lists . Afc all events , East Lancashire will certainl y figure this year for £ 3 , 738 7 s Gd , if not for a greater sum . Fifty of its Lodges and one Chapter were representedsome by three , four , or even more brethren . The Prov . G .

Master ' s personal donation was a hundred guineas , P . Grand Lodgo gave five hundred guineas , P . G . Chapter fifty guineas , aud P . G . Mark Lodge , by Bro . Brockbank , sixty guineas . Of the other lists , Bro . Hine , representing

Lodges Nos . 64 and 1 , 009 , is to the fore with £ 300 ; Bro . Jas . Newton , of No . 37 , follows with £ 210 ; Bro . C . F . Matier , of No . 645 , has furnished £ 137 lis ; Bro . J . F . Tweedalo , of Nos . 64 and 277 , £ 120 is Gd ; Bro . G . F . East , of No . 163 , £ 115 10 s ; Bro . E . Ashworth , on behalf oi Nos . 64 , 274 , and 1697 , £ 105 . Bro . T . Chorlton , of