Anniversary Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

second examination went up ; and whether they were a trifle older or a trifle younger it was a matter of management ; but he thought they should look broadly at the view of their charities and say , let them support them to the best of their ability , and the greater the success , the greater the

credit . He then proposed " The Stewards . ' Sir J B ; MONCKTON responded , and the brethren then adjourned to the Temple , where the ladies were assembled , and where a charming concert was given .

Analysis Of The Returns.

ANALYSIS OF THE RETURNS .

. The task of analysing the Returns at Wednesday ' s Festival on behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , is one that we have discharged with the greatest pleasure . We were aware how desirable it was that a large amount should be raised in order that the authorities of the Institution might be able to restore the necessary equilibrium between receipt and expenditure , which had

been disturbed by the more limited support that had been extended to the School during the past four years , and the large sum has been forthcoming . Both London and the Provinces appear to have set themselves earnestly to work in order to accomplish the end in view and the satisfaction at their success will be general throughout the English Craft . Be it our duty to show how this success has been achieved , and what lodges and Provinces have borne the chief part in securing it .

LONDON was represented by 154 Stewards , of whom 13 will be found grouped together , as usual , as the House Committee , 99 represented 94 lodges , three a corresponding number of Royal Arch chapters , while 48 , including a lady a ' nd a Lewis , were Unattached . The total obtained by the efforts of this section of the Board of Stewards was , £ 6218 8 s ., the House Committee returning . £ 632 5 s ., the representatives of lodges and chapters £ 5122 us . 6 d ., and the

Unattached £ 46 3 us . 6 d . Last year the number of Stewards from London was 145 , of whom 48 , including four ladies , were Unattached , 14 House Committee , and 83 representatives , of lodges , chapters , and a Mark lodge , the number of represented lodges being 79 . There is therefore a substantial increase in this section of the London Stewards , while the Unattached were the same . The array of three-figure lists on Wednesday was headed by Bro . S . A . Hardiman , of the Lodge of Stability , with , £ 210 , the representative of the Prince

of Wales Lodge , No . 259 , Bro . Col . A . B . Cook , who handed in a total of £ 201 1 is ., being second , while the third place of honour was secured by Bro . W . Weston , of the Eccleston Lodge , No . 1624 , with , £ 185 , Bro . A . Love , of No . 1791 , figures for , £ 132 , and Bro . R . Willoughby , of the Globe Lodge , No . 23 , for . £ 131 5 s ., the sixth place being taken by Bro . E . Prendergast' Steward for the Fitzroy Lodge , No . 569 , with £ 125 , Bro . Thomas Lovell , of the Lodge of Perseverance , No . 1743 , seventh with £ 122 6 s . 6 d ., and the next by Bro . C . A . Hooper , of the Cripplegate

Lodge , No . 1613 , with , £ 120 15 s . Then came two members of the House Committee , Bros . Thomas Fenn and Charles Hammerton , the former of whom compiled a total of £ " 115 10 s . and the latter £ 112 10 s . Bro . Dr . Ernest Pocock , of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 , brought up the rear with £ " 102 . Other good lists were those of Bro , A . C . Spaull , House Committee , for £ 89 5 s . ; Bro . R . W . Wallace , Felicity Lodge , No . 58 , for £ " 80 17 s . ; Bro . E . Styles , Camden

Lodge , No . 704 , £ 78 15 s . ; Bro . A . H . Bevan , Friends-in-Council Lodge , No 1383 , for £ " 84 ; Bro . F .. Wright , Clarendon Lodge , No . 1769 , for £ 7 $ 12 . ; Bro H . H . Nuding , London Rifle Brigade Lodge , No . 1962 , for £ " 82 8 s . 6 d . ; Bro P . G . Philps , Rye Lodge , No . 2272 , for £ 75 15 s . ; and Bro . W . G . Lowe , Lorn bardian Lodge , No . 2348 , for £ 87 3 s . It is highly satisfactory to note as regards

THE PROVINCES , the proportion of Represented to Unrepresented is far more favourable than , with the exception of the Centenary Festival , it has been for many years past , the absentees being only nine out of a total of 46 . These nine are as follow , namely : BRISTOL ( nine lodges ) , which for the last two years has confined its attentions to the Boys' School , and during that time contributed over £ 900 to its funds j CORNWALL ( 30 lodges ) , which did great things in support of its Prov . Grand Master as

Chairman at the Benevolent Jubilee in 1892 ; CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND ( 20 lodges ) , which raised over £ " 265 for the Boys' School in 1891 and £ " 420 for the R . M . B . l . in February , 1892 ; DEVONSHIRE ( 52 lodges ) ,, which took a small part in the Benevolent Festival in February last , and raised close on £ " 900—of which the bulk was given towards the Benevolent jubilee—in 1892 ; HEREFORDSHIRE ( five lodges ) which was represented at the Festival in February last , and at the Boys' Festival in June , 1801 , and LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND ( 14

lodges ) , which raised £ 388 10 s . for the R . M . B . l . and £ " 48 6 s . for the R . M . I . B . in 18 92 , while its principal contribution the year previous was in aid of the Girls' School , so that we may hope to see it represented at the Bovs ' School next month . MONMOUTHSHIRE ( 10 lodges ) has , no doubt , done the chiet of its work for 1893 , having been a contributor to the Benevolent Institution in February to the extent of £ 272 8 s . 6 d ., while it is not surprising that NORTHUMBERLAND ( 23 lodges ) , after raising £ " 136 4 for the Boys' School in June , 1892 , and

£ " 94 los . for the recent Benevolent Festival , should be resting for a time on its oars . The remaining absentee was J ERSEY ( nine lodges ) ; it took part in the Benevolent Jubilee , and is not unlikely to be found among the represented Provinces at the approaching Boys' School Festival . These nine unrepresented Provinces muster among them 171 lodges , which must accordingly be left out of consideration in noting the distribution of the amount received from the country .

Turning to the represented Provinces , which contributed £ 7792 15 s . 6 d . by the hands of 240 Stewards , and dealing with them , as usual , in alphabetical order , we find that

BEDFORDSHIRE , which has but six lodges on its roll , had the good fortune to be represented b y its Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Ampthill , who was among the Stewards as one of the representatives of the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford , at the Benevolent Festival in February , while the Province itself was represented by its Dep .

P . G . M ., Bro . Charles E . Prior , M . D ., on the same occasion . Last year it raised £ " 152 5 s ., of which £ 126 was in respect of the Benevolent Jubilee and £ " 26 5 s . for the Girls' School , while in 1891 the Boys' School was supported to the extent of £ " 138 12 s . On this occasion Lord AmpthiU ' s list reached £ 6 3 4 s ., making the total for the current year £ 105 9 s .

BERKSHIRE ( 14 lodges ) has already done exceedingly well this year , having contributed £ 203 5 s ., by the medium of five brethren representing as many lodges , to the funds of the Old People in February last . On Wednesday as many as eight of its lodges sent up Stewards , the total of their lists being £ " 325 1 is . 6 d ., while , as regards individual items , that of Bro . E . W . Allen for £ 6 $ 2 s ., and Bro . C .

Batting for £ 57 15 s ., were the chief . Last year this moderate-si zed Province raised the very large sum of £ 954 is . 6 d ., of which £ 661 9 s . 6 d . was in support of the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 172 4 s . for the Girls' School , and £ " 120 8 s . for the Boys' School . In 1891 the sum distributed amongst the three Institutions was , £ 385 is ., so that Berkshire has alread y raised more during the current year than it did in 1891 for the three Anniversaries , and that notwithstanding the heavy calls made upon its Charity for the intermediate year of 1892 .

Analysis Of The Returns.

Its old associate , the now separate province of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE , with its roll of 16 lodges , had five of them represented on Wednesday , the Buckingham Lodge , No . 59 , Aylesbury , having two Stewards . The total raised was £ " 206 16 s ., which , with the £ 81 18 s . obtained by the two brethren who did dut y as Stewards in February , make the total thus far , for 1893 , £ ' 288 14 s . In . 18 92 , there

was raised for the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 291 I 8 J ., for the Girls' School , £ 36 IJS and for the Boys'School , £ " 377 2 s ., or altogether , £ " 705 15 s ., while in 18 91 , the Benevolent Institution received £ 36 15 s ., this Institution , in support of the Chairmanship of Bro . Lord Carrington , £ 300 , and the Boys ! School , £ 174 6 s ., so that there are reasonable grounds for assuming that the average of Buckinghamshire for the years 1891 , 1892 , and 18 93 , will be at the rate of £ 500 per annum .

CAMBRIDGESHIRE sent up a representative in the person of Bro . Benj . Chennell , who had the satisfaction of compiling the very considerable list of £ " 203 14 s : In February , Bro . Bro . F . Osmond Carr , of the Isaac Newton University Lodge , No . 859 , Sgured for £ 26 in the Benevolent Returns , while last year the same Institution was enriched to the extent of £ 33 6 8 s . 6 d ., five out of the six lodges in the Province' being

directly represented . In 1891 , the Girls' School received £ 85 i 6 s ., and the Boys ' School , £ " 141 6 s ., and the former , at its centenary celebration , secured £ " 362 8 s . Thus Cambridgeshire follows in the path it marked out for itself some years ago , and though as a small province , it cannot be expected to do much , it is gratif ying to find it does so well year by year . This is the first appearance of

CHESHIRE ... during the present year , and as only two out of its 45 lodges sent up Stewards , the total is not a large one , amounting only to £ 13 13 s . But we must not be surprised at this . At the Boys' School Festival in 1891 it worked vigorously under the guidance of Bro . Newhouse , Prov . G . Sec , and to such excellent purpose that the total of its contributions reached the handsome figure of £ " 1050 . Last year at the Benevolent Jubilee , its success was more brilliant still , and 28 of its lod ges ,

with no le 3 s than 75 brethren representing them , were entered in the Returns for the very fine total of £ " 1988 10 s . Add to this that it has latterly been engaged in raising a substantial capital for the formation of a Benevolent Fund of its own ,-which shall be subsidiary to the Benevolent Institution , and do for its aged brethren and widows , what its Educational Institute has been doing for its poor orphan girls and boys , and we find ample justification for the smallness of Wednesday ' s contribution .

Only one Steward—Bro . H . Rowbottom , representing the Royal A'fred Lodge , No . 1028 , Alfreton , and a Mark lodge , did duty for the Province of

DERBYSHIRE and its 25 lodges and his list amounted to only £ 10 10 s . It was not represented at all at the Benevolent Festival in February . But we must bear in mind that a heavy drain has been made upon its resources during the last two years , its contribution to the Boys' School in 1891 having reached the substantial sum of £ " 843 17 s ., while the total for the whole year , including £ " 136 10 s . to this

Institution , was £ " 9 80 7 s . 4 d . Last year the Old People had the satisfaction of obtaining £ " 1362 16 s . out of a total of £ 1743 is ., the Girls' School being favoured with £ 131 5 s . in the following May , and the Boys' School with £ 249 18 s . in June . Here again we have no reason to be surprised that the contribution on Wednesday should have been on so small a scale . The representatives of

DORSETSHIRE were two in number , one standing for AH Souls' Lodge , No . 170 , Weymouth , and the other being Unattached . Their lists amounted together to £ 82 5 s . In 1892 , the Province and five of its 13 lodges took part in the Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and so successful were the efforts of its seven

Stewards that the sum of £ 500 6 s . was entered in the Returns , a stray £ 10 10 s . finding its way into the coffers of the Girls' School a few months later . In 1891 the Schools were supported , that for Girls obtaining £ 63 , and that for Boys £ 311 17 s . Thus with an outlay of nearly £ 900 in two years , we were prepared for a much smaller total during the present year .

The 35 lodges in DURHAM placed their interests in charge of Bro . R . Hudson , who is Provincial Grand Secretary , and worked to such good purpose that the amount of the list he handed in reached £ 107 2 s . In 1892 , the year ' s subscriptions amounted to £ 1034 , of which the Benevolent , at its Jubilee , received £ 720 5 s ., the

Girls' School £ 105 , and the Boys' School £ 209 . In 18 91 , the total reached £ 488 14 s ., of which the Benevolent Institution received £ 168 , this Institution £ 193 4 s ., and the Boys' School the remainder . In 1890 , the sum distributed was 250 guineas ( £ 262 10 s . ) , the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the Boys ' School dividing equally between them 150 guineas , and this Institution obtaining

100 guineas . In 188 9 the sum raised was £ 354 18 s ., while in the preceding year —that of the Girls' Centenary—it reached £ 761 3 s ., of which the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution received £ 122 15 s ., the Girls' School £ 375 i 8 s ., and the Boys' School £ 262 10 s . As the sum of £ 115 10 s . was raised for the Old Peop le in February , the present year ' s total thus far stands at £ 222 12 s .

ESSEX exerted itself so successfully in behalf of the Benevolent Institution in February , 1892 , and is working with so much goodwill in support of its respected Prov . 0 . Master , Bro . Lord Brooke , who has consented to preside as Chairman at the Anniversary of the Boys' School a few weeks hence , that it might very reasonably have excused itself from taking any part in the Benevolent and Girls' School

Festivals of the current year . But at that of the former in February last it was entered for £ 80 16 s . 6 d ., and on Wednesday the brethren who acted as Stewards for the Lodge of Hope and Unity , No . 214 , Brentwood , and the Joshua Nunn , No . 2154 , Halstead , together made up a sum of £ 21 , the total for the year thus far being £ 101 16 s 6 d . Last year it raised £ 2318 2 s . fid . for the Benevolent Jubilee , £ 193 4 s . for the Girls * School , and £ 95 18 s . 6 d . for the Boys School , giving an aggregate for the year of £ i 6 j 8 5 s . In 1891 it raised £ 164 ° ; namely , £ 244 13 s . 6 d . for the Old People , £ 137 10 s . for this Institution , aiid inc

£ 1265 15 s . for "Our Boys . " In 1890 , 188 9 , and 1888 the contributions to three Charities totalled up £ 977 10 s ., £ 646 5 s . 6 d ., and £ 1297 3 s . 6 d . respectively , while in 1884 , when Lord Brooke presided as Chairman at the Girls' School Festival , the total was £ 1546 , of whicn the favoured Charity received £ 1000 . What may be forthcoming at the Boys' School Festival next month we have no means

of judging , but we have every confidence that it will be a substantial amount , an will have the effect of placing the total of the present year , of grace on a leveI , ° very nearly so , with those of the most successful recorded in connection with tni Province . There are few more zealous and consistent supporters of our Charities than

GLOUCESTERSHIRE , and for this reason we are glad to see it among the represented Provinces , thoug ; . it would have been quite justified , after what it did for the Boys' School in June last year , had it elected to be an absentee . At the Festival then held in heha " that Institution , its respected chief , Bro . Sir M . E , Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . r ., P <