Analysis Of The Returns.

13 66 , who raised £ 158 us . ; and then close together are the following , viz .: Bro . S . G . Edridge , La Tolerance Lodge , No . 538 , with £ 130 os . 4 d . ; Bro . G . E . Higg inson , Creaton Lodge , No . 1791 , with £ 127 ios . 6 d . ; and Bro . Walter T . Johns , Leopold Lodge , No . 1571 , with £ 126 . Bro . James Cook , Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , raised £ 107 12 s . 6 d . Three Stewards had the salisfaction of handing in lists of £ 105 , namely : Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , Royal AthrLtan Lodge , No . 19 ; Bro . H . A . Baxter , Southwark Lodge , No . 879 ; and Bro . W . Baddeley ,

Unattached ; Bro . R . Baker , Clerkenwell Lodge , No . 196 4 . bringing up the rear with £ 102 18 s . Other good lists which , though falling short of three figures , are most creditable to the Stewards who raised them , are those of Bro . G . Trunchard Cox , Fidelity Lodge , No . 3 , for £ 88 5 s . fid . ; Bro . E . Forbes Lankester , Shakespeare Lodge , No . 99 , for £ 72 19 s . ; Bro . Alfred Moore , Phionix Lodge , No . 173 £ 86 2 s . ; Bro . Joseph Curtis , representing United Strength Lodge , No . 22 S —Bro . Terry ' s mother lodge—for £ 85 ios . ; Bro . Hugh Cotter , Yarborough , No .

554 , for £ 80 ; Bro . G . R . Nichols , NeI ? on Lodge , No . 700 , lor £ 85 is . ; Bro , Rev . R . Milner , Friends-in-Council Lodge , No . 1383 , for £ 84 ; Bro . J . J , Mackay , Kensington Lodge , No . 1767 , for £ 7 8 6 s . 66 . Bro . W . G . Lowe , Clarendon Lodge , No . 1769 , for £ 97 13 s . ; Bro . W . C . Smith , Chough Lodge , No . 2264 , for £ 90 ; Bro . Alfred Banks , Viator Lodge , No . 2308 , for £ 70 17 s . Gd . ; Bro . Rich . R . Collick , Bolingbroke Lodge , No . 2417 , for £ 92 12 s . ; and Bro . G . F . Smith , Gatwick Lodge , No . 2502 , which was only consecrated a few days ago , for £ 70 .

THE PROVINCES , though the area from which their representatives were drawn was more circumscribed than in ordinary years , deserve full credit for the part they took in the celebration . Only 27 out of the 4 6 Provinces—including the group of lodges in the Channel Islands where there is no Provincial organisation—were represented , the number of their Stewards being 160 , while the aggregate of the lists they

compiled reached the handsome figure of £ 7237 us . Last year when the reaction that set in after the successful efforfs of the Jubilee year was in full force , only one less than the same number of Provinces was represented , while the number of Stewards was only 122 , and the total of their Returns reached £ 4634 8 s . 6 d . There has thus been a substantial advance as well in the country as in town in the Returns on this occasion as compared with those of 18 93 .

The following Provinces were absentees from the Festival , namely : BRISTOL ( nine lodges ) , which has now been unrepresented at four successive Festivals on behalf of this Institution , but which in 1891 and 1892 raised upwards of £ 900 for the Boys' School , and is , we believe , included among the contributing Provinces at one or both of the School Festivals now approaching . BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ( 18 lodges ) is an absentee for the first time since it was organised into a separate Province , its contributions only last year to our three Charities having been—to the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , £ 81 18 s . ; to the Girls School , £ 212 is . ; and to the Boys' School , £ 184 5 s . 6 d . ; the total during its three years' existence as a separate Province which it has distributed among our three Institutions amounting to £ 16 94 2 s . CHESHIRE ( 45 lodges ) has been doing excellent work oflate . In 1891 it raised £ 134 ios . for the Girls'School , and £ 1050 for that of the Boys . In the following year it distributed its favours to the extent of £ 2168 ios . among all three Charities , the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution receiving at

its Jubilee £ 19 88 ios ., the Girls' School , £ 11 7 12 s ., and the Boys' Scho . il , £ 61 Ss . Last year it gave only two small amounts to this and the Boys' Institutions , the Province being at the time engaged in finding the capital for a Benevolent Institution of its own , and at the first annual festival in aid of this local Charity , donations and subscriptions were announced to the extent of a full £ 3000 , of which five-sixths had been received when the Festival was held . Add to this , that for more than 30

years it has maintained an Educational Fund , which has miterially assisted in the trainingand advancement of children of Cheshire deceased or indigent Freemasons , and the reason is obvious that it cannot always be found among the supporters of our Central Charities . CORNWALL ( 30 lodges ) was most ably represented at the Boys' School Festival in June of last year by Bro . Gilbert B . Pearce , whose list amounted to £ 225 15 s ., while in 1892 it gave its entire subscription to this Institution , the sum it raised in support of its Prov . Grand Master as Chairman of the day

being £ 77 6 15 s . In 1891 it figured in the Returns for this Institution and the Boys'School , the total of its contributions being £ 289 15 s ., while in 18 90 all thro :: Charities were favoured , the amount distributed amongst them being £ 380 is . CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND ( 20 lodges ) took part in the Boys' Festival last year to the extent of £ 63 8 s ., and in the Jubilee of this Institution the year previous , when its present D . P . G . M ., Bro . McKay , took up a list of £ 420 , while in 1891 the Boys' School received £ 265 13 s ., and the R . M . B I . £ 4 6 4 s .

DERBYSHIRE ( 25 lodges ) may not improbably be reserving itself for one or other of the two School Festivals , and will , no doubt give , as usual , an excellent account of itself before the year is out . In 1 S 93 it raised £ 1043 7 s . gd . tor the R . M . Institution for Boys , while in 1892 it contributed £ 13 62 16 s . to the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 126 to the Girls' School , and £ 249 18 s . to the Boys' School , or altogether £ 1738 14 s . In 18 91 it supported the Girls' School to the extent of £ 136 ios ., and the Boys ' School to that ol £ 843 17 s ., or together £ 980 7 s . DEVONSHIKE ( 52 lodges )

raised £ 206 6 s . in 1893 , of which the Boys' School secured £ 179 us ., and this Institution the small remainder . In 1892 the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution received the lion's share of its attention in the shape of contributions am untingto £ 807 18 s . 6 d ., while the Girls' School had £ 68 5 s ., and the Boys' School £ 47 5 s . In 18 91 the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution obtained support to the exent ° f £ 63 , and the Boys' School to that of £ 408 2 s . In i 838 the sum raised by this Province exceeded £ 1000 , the Boys' School being favoured with £ 84 o , the Girls '

Schoolwith £ l 26 , andthe Old Peoplewilh £ 475 ? . HEKKKORDSHIKE ( five lodges ) was represented at last year's Festival of this Institution on an exceedingly mjdest scale , at its Jubilee in 1892 , and at the Boys' Anniversiry in 1 S 91 , but ith . ua Charity Association , which enables it to rendtr service to our Institutions for which it obtains no credit in our Festival Returns . LINCOLNSHIRE ( 24 lodges ) took a small part in last year's Festival for the Girls' School , but in 1892 its contingent of 13 Stewards compiled the admirable total of £ 660 5 s . at the Jubilee of this

Institution , while in 1891 it raised £ 481 for the Boys' School . MOXMOUITISHIKK ( IO lod ges ) will doubtless give its support this year to one of the Schools , as in February , 1 893 , it raised £ 277 8 s . 6 d . for the Old People . In 1 S 92 the Boys' School received the bulk of its contributions in the shape of £ 316 18 s . ; in 1891 the Old People were supported to the extent of £ 327 is ., while in 1890 , it was the Girls ' School turn , and the sum of £ 247 was raised in its behalf . NORFOLK ( 17 lodges ) figured among the represented Provinces last year , when the Steward of one of its

seven lodges raised £ 78 15 s . for the Girls' School , and the year previous it took part in the Old People ' s Jubilee by raising £ 406 5 s . NORTHUMBERLAND ( 23 lodges ) raised £ 94 ios . for this Institution in 1893 , and in 1 S 92 £ 105 for its Jubilee and £ 1364 4 * . for the Boys' School . NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ( IG lodges ) raised £ 131 5 s . for the Girls' School in May of last year ; in 1892 £ 157 10 s . lor Ihe Benevolent Jubilee and £ 34 13 s . for the Boys' School ; and in lSyl , £ J 7 16 s . 6 d . for the Girls' School and £ 203 gs . for the Boys' School . 'There ; ire "ot many Festivals from which SIIKOI'S IIIUE ( 12 lodges ) , since its

organisation into a separate Province , has been absent . Last year it raised £ 105 for the G > rU' School , and in 18 92 £ 615 16 s . 6 d , of which £ 455 lo . i . was included in the Returns at the Benevolent Jubilee . In 1891 it subscribed £ 455 gs . 6 d ., of which the Boys' School obtained £ 212 12 s . 6 d ., while at the Girls' School Centenary it was returned as contributing the substantial sum of £ 770 15 s . S OMERSETSHIRE ( 26 lodges ) is not usually to be found among the Provinces we are now concerning ourselves about . Last yrar it raised £ 31 ios . wr this Institution ; £ 132 6 s . for the Girls' School , and £ 17463 . for the Boys '

Analysis Of The Returns.

School , altogether £ 338 2 s . ; in 1892 , £ 613 ios . for the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 196 15 s . for the Girls' School , and £ 31 iOi . for the Boys' School ; and in 18 91 , a total of £ 7 62 8 s . fid ., of which the Boys' School was so fortunate as to secure £ 48395 . SOUTH WALES ( E . D . ) , with 19 lodges on its roll , raised £ 315 for the Girls' School in May , 1 S 93 , and in 1 S 92 , £ 180 for the Benevolent Jubilee , and £ 321 15 s . fid . for the Boys' School Festival , making a total of £ 501 15 s . 6 d . In

1891 , the amount obtained from this source was £ 479 15 s ., of which this Institution received £ 380 . STAFFORDSHIRE ( 31 lodges ) raised £ 424 7 s . 6 d . in the year 1893 , the Boys' School being favoured to the extent of £ 355 12 s , and the Girls ' School with the remainder . In 18 92 , all three Charities were aided , the Benevolent receiving £ 392 ios . at its Jubilee , the Girls' School £ 84 , and the Boys' School £ 285 12 s ., the aggregate of these sums being £ 762 2 S . ; while in 18 91 the total was £ 7 61 15 s . 6 d ., of which the R . M . B . L obtained £ 152 5 s ., the Girls' School

£ 157 ios ., and the Boys School £ 452 os . fid . J ERSEY ( seven lodges ) was included in the Returns at the Boys' School Festival in June of last year for £ 263 , and in those of the Benevolent Jubilee the preceding year for £ 63 ; and the lsi . K OF MAN ( nine lodges ) raised sums amounting to £ 44 ios . fid . for the School Festivals in 1893 , and in 18 92 £ 52 ios . for the Old People's Jubilee , and £ 46 2 s . for the Girls ' School . These ig absentee Provinces muster amongst them 38 S lodges , which had no part in the proceedings at Wednesday ' s gathering .

We have said that the Provinces included in the present Returns are 27 in number , the first in alphabetical order being that of

BEDFORDSHIRE which has , however , only six lodges on its roll , and is , therefore , not sufficiently strong to make much of a Return . Still , its senior lodge , the Bedfordshire Lodge of St . John the Baptist , No . 475 , which meets at Luton , furnished a Steward , in the person of Bro . F . J . Coleman , whose list amounted to £ 102 ios . Last year its contributions to the three Charities amounted to £ 183 17 s . fid ., the list of

its D . P . G . M ., Bro . Prior , at the Festival of this Institution in February last , being £ 47 ss ., while at the School Festivals , Bro . Lord Ampthill , the Prov . G . Master , did duty as Steward , his list in May for the Girls' School reaching £ 62 13 s . 6 d ., and for the Boys' Festival , in June , £ 73 12 s . 6 d . This is the most successful year since Bedfordshire became a Province , but in i 8 g 2 it raised £ 120 for the Benevolent Jubilee , and £ 26 5 s . for the Girl's School , and in 1891 , £ 138 12 s . for the Boys ' School , the D . P . G . M . 's list of £ 109 4 s ., being the principal item .

Four out of the 15 lodges on the roll of BERKSHIRE sent four Stewards to this Anniversary , among whom Bro . C . E . Keyser , representing the Union Lodge of Reading , No . 414 , will be found as well as among the Hertfordshire Stewards , and Bro . W . B . F ' endick , of the Ascot Lodge , No . 2460 , among the London , as the representative of No . 1321 . The total raised by these four biethren

was £ 247 13 s ., ot which Bro . Keyser is responsible lor £ 122 5 s . Od ., and Bro . Fendick for £ 70 . In 18 93 , the sum raised amounted to £ 742 17 s ., of which this Institution received £ 203 5 s , the Girls' School £ 325 6 s . fid ., and the Boys' School £ 21453 . fid . In 1 S 92 the Returns were still higher , and amounted to £ 954 is . 66 ., but this is to be accounted for by the occurrence of the Benevolent Jubilee , at which the Province was entered for £ 661 gs . fid . ; while in 18 91 , it Distributed £ 385 is . among the Charities . A record such as this is most commendable .

It was only on Wednesday morning that Bro . Young , of the Ledge of the Three Grand Principles , No . 441 , Cambridge , sent in his name as Steward , and thus had the pleasure of transferring the Province of

CAMBRIDGESHIRE from the list of absentees to that of the represented Provinces . But last year it took part in all three Festivals , contributing £ 26 5 s . to this Institution , £ 201 12 s . to the Girls' School , and £ 63 to the Boys' School ; or together £ 290 17 s . In 1892 it raised £ 326 8 s . for the Benevolent Jubilee , and in itigi £ 141 4 s . tor the Boys ' Institution , and £ 85 16 s . for Our Girls ; or in all £ 227 . Bro . Young ' s list on Wednesday was £ 10 ios .

Bro . VV . Douglas Dugdale did duty as the representative of the 13 lodges in DORSETSHIRE , his list amounting to £ 157 ios . In 18 93 , it took part in the Festivals of the two Schools , the amount contributed to the Girls' Institution being £ 82 Ss .,

and to that ot the Boys' £ 150 15 s . In 1892 , the Province laid itselt out to support the R . M . B . L at its Jubilee Anniversary , to which it contributed the handsome total of £ 500 6 s ., a sum of £ 10 ios . to each School raising the total for the year to £ 521 6 s . ; while in i 8 gi , it raised £ 6 3 for " Our Girls' " and £ 248 17 s . for " Our Boys , " or together , £ 311 17 s .

DURHAM , which can now boast of 3 G lodges , is more often than not to be found among the represented Provinces on these festive occasions , and the sum it occasionally subscribes is considerable . In 1891 it contributed £ 168 to the Old Peoph ' , £ 193 4 s . to the Girls' School , and £ 127 is . to the Boys' School , making in all £ 488 5 s . In i 8 g 2 its Returns were more than double this sum , the total raised

tor the Jubilee ot this Institution being £ 720 5 s ., for the Giils' School £ 107 2 s ., and for " Our Boys " £ 20 g , the aggregate of the three amounts being £ 1036 7 s . Last year there was a descent to the far smaller total of £ 338 2 s ., which was not veiy unequally distributed among the three Charities . On Wednesday Bro . William Barlow acted as Steward for the Stranton Lodge , No . 1862 , VVe .-t Hartlepool , and had the satisfaction of compiling a list of £ 154 7 s .

After its brilliant efforts in support of the chairmanship of its respected Prov . G . M ., Bro . Lord Brooke—now Earl of Warwick—at the Boys' School Festival in June of last year , it could not in reason be expected that the Province of

ESSEX , though it has 34 lodges on its roll , would make much of a Return on this occasion . Indeed , considering that these efforts followed immediately after the Province had exerted itself wilh success in aid of the Jubilee of ilns Institution in i 8 g 2 , and had raised no less than £ 2608 5 s . during that year , it is an addition . 1 leather in the cap of Essex , that it should have sent up the compact little band of six Stewards

on Wednesday , of whom ihree did duty lor as many lodges , one for a chapter , and two—Bros . W . Shurmur and George Finch—were Unattached . 'The toial of the lists compiled by these brethren appears as £ 158 2 ' ., the principal item being the £ 52 ios . obtained by Comp . G . Graveley , ol Chapter No . 2374 . In 1891 the Province raised altogether £ 16 4 8 , of which £ 1265 is . 6 d . was in aid of the Boys '

School ; in 1892 , as already stated , £ 2608 5 s ., out of whicli this Institution obtained £ 2318 2 s . fid . ; and in 1893 , £ 2317 16 s ., ol which £ 2214 it ' s . 6 d . was in respect ot the Boys' School . Thus the aggregate ot the years 18 91 , 1892 , and 1893 , reaches the tremendous figure of £ 6574 is ., or an average of £ jigi 6 s . per year . From a Province whicli has been greatly affected by the diminished value of land and agricultural produce , such figures as these almost takeaway one ' s breath .

Two out of the 15 lodges in the Province of GLOUCESTERSHIRE sent representatives to this Fcstaval , their lists , with that of Bro . Lea , Unattached , together producing £ 73 10 s . Last year the Province was in the position of Essex at the present time ; that is to say , a heavy demand had been made un its resources in 1892 , when Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., presided at the Boys'