Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

of rrark rd at laige ; ar . d he was sure all would agree with him that there ¦ w . -s ro bttler erxpor . ent cf these piinciplrs than Lord Llangaltock , their Chairman : It was difficult in his lordship ' s presence to say all one would ( ike to say ; they all knew what Lord Llangattock had done for Freemasonry ard vhat he had dene for the Benevolent Institution that evening ; he was a man well known , and he wished him long life , success , and prosperity .

Bro . Loid LLANGATTOCK , in reply , said , in the name of the Institution , he thar ked the Stewards and all the generous Masons for the magnificent contributions , and for their goodness in making his year of oflice successful . He wore on his breast a beautiful jewel that had been given him ; he should keep it and value it as amongst his greatest treasures as a remembrance of . Masonry , and of that happy , pleasant evening that he and the

brethrr n had passed together . He looked into the jewel hoping to find a leck cf Bro . James Terry ' s hair in it ; but he found he had given it all to the old ladies at Croydon . ( Laughter . ) He ( Lord Llangaltock ) did not wish to- say anything about himself , except how proud he was of the honour that had been so graciously conferred upon him as Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Division of South Wales ; how proud he was of his

23 lodges and of the spirit and energy which pervaded the whole of the district , ard to feel that they were all working happily and harmoniously together for the gcod of Freemasonry . He could not resist saying a word , although no words could express his feelings of gratitude and appreciation of his Deputy Grand Master , Bro . Marmaduke Tennant—how loyal he had been lo him and had sustained him in working his province ; he was glad

of that opportunity of thanking him publicly . He was proud to see such a splendid gathering cf Masons . He was sure that meetings such as those could not but be agreeable and profitable to the cause , where they were able to throw aside all differences of opinion and meet together with that unanimity and brotherly love without which Masonry could not exist . Let them continue to show the world that Masons did not meet there for big dinners and fine clolhing , but that they endeavoured to carry out the principles of the Craft ,

which were founded on the Volume of the Sacred Law . Let them bear in mind that they belonged to a Society , the oldest on record , one which . demanded of them that they should be firm and faithful in their allegiance , that they should walk uprightly in the world , respecting themselves , and thereby insurirg the respect of others . He thanked them again for all their kindness and their warm greetings towards him that evening . He could now say one word—Let them rejoice that they were not divided ,

One in body we , One in hope and doctrine , One in Charity . ( Cheers . ) Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., proposed "The Other Masonic Institu tions . "

Bto . F . R . W . HEDGES , P . G . S . B ., in responding , thanked Bro . Eve for tVe strcrg appeal he had made for the Girls' Institution . It was pleasing for him to have to congratulate the Benevolent Institution on the magnificent result of to-night . He did not believe the Girls' School or the Benevolent Institution wculd suffer materially for the Centenary of the Boys ' School , and he congratulated the Benevolent Institution at being the first

to give evidence that the constitution of the Craft was so well founded . He ccngratulated the Chairman ' s province , and he could not forget that two years ago his lordship presided at the Girls' Festival , when £ 16 , 000 was collected . The province sent then 1000 guineas . Last year it sent £ 605 to the Boys ' . To-night they sent a further £ 600 ; in two years , ^ 2300 . The Girls' Festival , when Lord Dungarvan would preside , would be on May 10 . Bro . J . M . MCLEOD also responded .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , proposed "The Stewards , " and Bros . THOMAS and JAMES LEWIS THOMAS replied . Bro . Dr . SUTHERLAND proposed " The Ladies , " and Bro . LENNOX BROWNE acknowledged the compliment .

A concert in Freemasons' Hall followed , in which the following artists were engaged : Mme . Kate Cove , Miss Annie Bartle , Miss Florence Venning , Miss Edie Rejnolds , the Westminster Singers ( Bros . George May , Harper Kearton , Charles Ackerman , and VV . H . Brereton ) , Bros . Mel . B , Spurr , F . R . Kinkee , and David Devant . ?

ANALYSIS OF THE RETURNS . There is no need for anything in the way of preface to the Analysis of the Returns whii . li , for many years past , we have been in the habit of writing . We , therefore plunge at once in medias res and offer such comments on the result as seem necessary or desirable .

The total which it was Bro . Terry's privilege to announce in the course of the evening was , as will be seen from the array of figures already given , £ 18 , 291 8 s . 6 d ., the number ol ladies anu brethren who gave their services as Stewards being 483 . Of these , 267 Stewards , who together raised ^ 9912 is . 6 d ., formed the London contingent , while the remaining 216 , who obtained . £ 8379 7 s ., did duty for the 35 represented Provinces . Dealing , first of all , with

LONDON , we rcmaik with pleasure that , while the number of Unattached was considerable , comprising 60 brethren and 13 ladies , the other 194 Stewards acted for 135 lodges , one lodge of instruction , and seven Royal Arch Chapters , this being a fair proportion to the total number enrolled in the Metropolitan district . The premier place was taken by the City of Westminster Lodge , No . 1563 , whos-5 W .

Master , liro . H . T . Gulliford , with the assistance of 30 of the members , had the . satisfaction if banding in a list of ^ 425 . The second highest list was that of Bro . T . F . Marson , who acted for the Friends-in-Counci ) Lodge , No . 1383 , and raised a total of , £ 279 6 s . ; while liro . J . Morrison McLeod , Secretary of the R . M . Institution for Boys , represented the Old Masonians Lodge , No . 2700 , and compiled precisely the same amount as he did last year when he represented the

same ledge at the Girls' School Festival , namely , . £ 24 6 15 s . Following this we have a group of three lists which are fairly close together , and comprise that of Bro . Thomas Wakley , jun . who was in charge ofthe Old Westminsters' Lodge , No . 2233 , and secured fourth place with . £ 19 8 9 s ., Bro . A . P . Bebrouth , Merchant Navy Lodge , No . 7 81 , being next with . £ 186 6 s ., and then Bro . James Terry , the indefatigable Secretary of the Institution , who , notwithstanding his many arduous duties , found time to raise , as the representative of his mother lodge—United

Strength , No . 228— £ 180 13 s . 6 d . A second group of four must next be mentioned , compiising Bro . F . A . Harrison , of the Mizpah Lodge , No . 1671 , with £ 157 ios . ; Bro . A . Taylor and three other members of the Langthorne Lodge , No . 1471 , who jointly return a list of . £ 155 12 s . ; Bro . Stanley W . Ball , of the Cricklewood Lodge , No . 23 61 . with £ 155 , ' and Bro . George Cunnington , Loyalty Lodge , No . 1 C 07 , £ 150 . Coming close upon the heels of these are the lists of Bro . W . Hanes , of the Domatie Lodge , No . 177 , amounting to £ 147 , and of Bro . W . J . Da ' rby , Sincerity Lodge , No . 174 , for £ 145 , and then we light upon a third group ,

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

which includes Bro . J . Campbell-Johnston , who raised ^ 13 6 ios ., as Steward for the Creaton Lodge , No . 1791 , while Bro . F . G . Doughty , of the Great Northern Lodge , No . 1287 , tied him with a like amount . Bro . G . F . Rossiter , Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , has a list of ^ 131 9 s . 6 d . and is followed closely by Bro . Charles Fox , St . John's Lodge , No . 90 , with 126 . The Tivoli Lodge , No . 2150 , is entered per Bro . W . Godson , for . £ 120 , and Bro . A . L . Thomas , Ionic Lodge , No . 227 , f jr . £ 117 12 s . Bros . H . J . Bertram , of the Fitzroy Lodge , No . 569 , and John P , Flew , Fulham Lodge , No . 2512 , stand next in order , each having to

his credit £ 115 ios ., while Bro . H . Pamment , Nelson Lodge , No . 700 , returned £ 110 ios . ; Bro . J . R . Pakeman , Temple Bar Lodge , No . 1728 , £ 109 103 . ; and Bro . J . A . Stretton , Lewisham Lodge , No . 2512 , £ 107 is . The three next had the satisfaction of contributing , through the medium of their chosen representatives , ^ 105 each , namely , Strong Man Lodge , No . 45 . per Bro . W . Briggs and others ; the Clerkenwell Lodge , No . 1964 , per Bro . W . A . Hume ; and the Whittington Lodge , No . 862 , per Bro . W . C . Tyler . Bro . A . F . Hardyment , of the Brondesbury Lodge , No . 2698 , brought up the rear of the three-figure lists with a round su n of £ 100 .

The following lists are also worthy of recognition , namely , that of Bro . J . R . Francis , Albion Lodge , No . 9 , for . £ 70 _ s . 6 d . ; of Bro . J . R . Creasy , Fortitude and Old Cumberland Lodge , for ^ 73 ios . 6 d . ; of Bro . F . C . Bradley , Kent Lodge , No . 15 , £ 81 18 s . ; and of Bro . H . P . Miller , of the Lodge of Felicity , No . 58 , for ^ 87 3 s . Bro . A . Ritchie , as Steward for the Pha-nix Lodge , No . 173 , compiled a sum of , £ 93 9 s ., and Bro . W . Reynolds , High Cross Lodge , No . 754 , . £ 7 1 13 s . The John Hervey Lodge , No . 1260 , is entered , per Bro . Walter Potter

for £ - / 0 , and the Surrey Masonic Hall Lodge , No . 1539 , per Bro . A . V . "Marshall , for . £ 7 1 4 s . Bro . Harman Visger , as Steward of the Ravensbourne Lodge , No . 1601 , compiled £ 84 , and James Edge , of the Kilburn Lodge , No . 1608 , . £ 70 . The Rothesay Lodge , No . 168 7 , did well , as usual , its representative , Bro . josh H . Catton , returning £ 85 16 s . Bro . W . Bland , All Saint's Lodge , No . 1716 , had ^ 70 to his credit , and Bro . Janus W . Facey , Kensington Lodge , No . 1767 , . £ 94 14 s . Bro . W . Hill ,

representing the Earl of Lathom Lodge of Instruction , No , 1 9 22 , is entered for . £ 73 ios ., and Bro . E . W . Hobbs , Viator Lodge , No . 2308 , for . £ 75 4 s . 6 J ., while Bro . A . Eades compiled , £ 89 5 s . for the Horough of Greenwich Lodge , No , 2332 , and Uro . R . N . Crane . £ 78 15 s . for the Columbia Lodge , No . 2397 . Bro James O'Dea , Borough Lodge , No . 2589 , figures for £ 73 ios ., and Bro . Frank R . Kenning , Unattached , has ; £ SS 1 is ., including a donation from his father , Bro , George Kenning , sufficient to complete his qualification as Patron .

We must now give our attention to THE PROVINCES , of which 35 out of 46 were represented by 216 Stewards , and contributed ££ 379 7 s . In estimating the merits of the Return , we cannot leave unnoticed the exceptional circumstances under which it was made . There can be no disguising the fact that the heavy calls made upon our country lodges—indeed , upon the whole English Craft—in June of last year in behalf of the Centenary Festival of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys , and the splendid response which was forthcoming from town and country alike , not only exercised a depressing effect on the amounts subscribed to the other Institutions in 1898 , but are calculated to exercise a similar influence during the present year and those that follow upon all three Charities . It would be absurd , not to say unseemly , to call upon our lodges and Provinces always to be contributing at high pressure , as it were , and hence we look upon the part played by the Provinces in supporting this year ' s Festival of the Benevolent

as most creditable . Considering that the whole of the Provinces were represented at the Boys' Centenary on " the glorious 10 th June , " 1898 , that the number of ladies and brethren who acted in their behalf was 2559 , and that the total amount raised through the exertions of those Stewards was within a minute fraction of . £ 82 , 843 , we have every reason to be grateful to the 35 Provinces which have so loyally come forward to support the Benevolent Institution on this occasion , and for the . £ 8379 7 s ., which they have contributed towards the funds of this Charity .

As for tne 11 absentee Provinces , there is one principal reason which is applicable to each and every of them , and which , at the same time , explains and excuses their absence . They all helped to make the Boys' Centenary the magnificent success it was , while in the case of those amongst them which did this only on a moderate scale , it will be found that they had previously done yeoman service in other directions , or else that they are too remote trom the head-quarters of Freemasonry for their non-attendance at a Festival or Festivals to attract unfavo irable

comment . Thus BEDFORDSHIRE ( seven lodges ) ever since it was constituted a Province under the late Bro . Col . \ V . Stuart as P . G . M ., in 1885 , has taken part in most of the anniversaries that have been celebrated , and last year it raised more for the Boys' Centenary and this Institution than it had ever done before . BRISTOL ( nine lodges ) , not only has a Charitable organisation of its own , but contributed £ _ S 4 7 s - - to the Boys' Centenary . C UMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND ( 21 lodges ) figured for only . £ 222 is . 6 d . at the Boys' Centenary , but then in

1 S 97 , when its Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Henry Cavendish-Bjntinck , M . P ., presided at the Boys' School Festival , it raised . £ 1260 . DERIIYSIIIRI ; ( 27 lodges ) surpassed anything it had ever previously done for one of our Institutions when it subscribed last year . £ 2419 2 s . to the Boys' Centenary . DURHAM ( 37 lodges ) gave last year £ 52 ios . to this Institution , . £ 57 15 s . to the Girls' School , and i , S 33 2 s . to the Hoys' Centenary , the total of the three contributions bL-ing ^ 643 7 s . H EREFORDSHIRE ( 5 lodges ) , which is

about the smallest province in England , acquitted itself most creditabl y last year by raising ihe very tine total of , 6330 15 s . ; while as regards NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ( 18 lodges ) we cannot call to mind a year in which it subscribed so large an amount as in 18 9 8 , the total it contributed to the Boys' Centena .-y being . £ 777 . WILTSHIRE , too , with it 12 lodges , not only raised £ ___ for the Boys' Centenary , but managed to help the Girls' School with an acceptable list of £ 71 is . j its total for the whole year being £ 610 is . The Province of GUERNSEY AND ALDERNEY ( 6

lodges ) after raising , £ 78 15 s . for this Institution , and , £ 10 ios . for the Girls ' School , compiled a total of £ 151 4 s . for the Boys' School , the product of the year 18 9 8 being , £ 240 9 s . J ERSEY ( 7 lodges ) raised ^ 130 12 s . for the Old People and , £ 131 _ s . for the Boys' Centenary , or in all ^ 26117 s . ; while the I OF MAN ( 9 lodges ) gave , £ 27 16 s . towards the Boys' Centenary , and has from time to time done service for all our Institutions ; but while its contributions are always welcome , its absence is rarely , if ever , the subject of comment . The number of lodges comprised within these Provinces is 158 .

We now take the 35 represented Provinces in their alphabetical order , the first to claim our attention being BERKSHIRE , which both since its organisation in 1890 as a separate Province and previously as part of the old Province of Berks and Bucks has always exhibited a generous spirit towards our Institutions . In 1891 , it raised in all , £ 385 is . ; in 1892 , its total for the year was ^ 954 ns . 6 d ., of which . £ 661 9 s . Cd . was subscribed at the

Jubilee of this Institution ; in 1893 , it was entered lor £ 724 7 s . ; in 1894 , for £ 5 X 3 - 13 s . 6 d . ; and in 1895 , for ^ 939 6 s . 6 i . In 18 9 6 , it was still more successful and distributed J £ IOIO 19 s . 6 d . among the three Institutions , the largest portion being assigned to the Boys' School , while , in 1897 , it raised in all . £ 825 i 6 i . 6 d ., of which the Old People had the good fortune to obtain , £ 455 3 s . 6 d . Last year it was one of the limited number of Provinces , which , in tneir eagerness to support the Boys' Centenary , did not entirely lose sight of the claims of the Benevolent and Girls' Institutions , the amount it subscribed , to the former being , £ 163 i 6 i . and to