Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

SUMMARY OF THR PROVINCES .

£ s . d . Bedfordshire ... 66 3 o Bcik hire 134 S o Buckinghamshire 215 5 0 Cambridgeshire 302 10 3 Cheshire ... ... ... ... 5 6 2 6 Cornwall 179 16 o Cumberland and Westmoreland Derbyshire 30 S 6 Devonshire ... 70 7 o Dorsetshire 137 11 0 Durham 253 1 o Kssex 406 3 6 Gloucestershire 6 S 15 0 Hampshire and Isle of Wight ... 31 10 o Hertfordshire 8 39 7 6 Kent 212 3 o Lancashire ( F . ast Division ) . . 432 i <> o Lancashire ( VVest Division ) ... 42 o o

I £ s . d . ; Lincolnshire 10 10 o i Middlesex 345 14 6 j Northants and Hunts 141 15 o j Northumberland 36 15 o Nottinghamshire 78 9 o Oxfordshire 235 11 6 Shropshire ... 31 ' <> 0 Staffordshire 115 10 0 Suffolk 162 3 o Surrey 3 ' 5 * * o ' Sussex ... 1227 7 6 ¦ Warwickshire 231 o o [ Wiltshire 205 o o j Worcestershire ... 493 10 0 Yorkshire , West Riding ... 500 0 o North Wales 31 10 o Guernsey ami Alderney ... 12 ( 1 n o Foreign Stations 31 10 o

GENERAL S UMMARY . 19 G STK \ v . \ Rns—LONDON * ... ... ^ 10 , 08 3 4 6 226 STEWARDS—PROVINCES ... ... 8 , 11 . 1 14 ' J

422 GRAND TOTAL ... ... £ 18 . 197 ' 9 3 Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON proposed " The Chairman . " The Dukeof CONNAUGHT , responding , said : Brethren , I do not know how to thank you sufficiently for ihe warmth with which you have received this toast , or Bro . Sir John Monckton for the very kind and flattering manner in which he has proposed it . As your Chairman I am delighted with the

result of this evening ' s festival . It is a satisfaction to me that I should have been in the chair on an occasion when we havrf been able to add so largely lo the funds of this most deserving Institution . I thank you all for having supported me in such large numbers as to entirely ( ill this hall , and I thank my Province of Sussex for supporting

me in such large numbers . I only rrgret that my Deputy , Sir William Marriott , owing to ill-health has not been able to attend . It is a great satisfaction to any Chairman to feel tbat when he does what he can for promoting so good an Institution he is so warmly and ably supported as you all have supported me this evening .

Bro . the Rev . H . R . C OOPER SMITH D . D ., P . G . C , proposed "The other Institutions . " Bro . F . R . \ V . HEDGES , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I , for Girls , responded to the toast . The Duke of CONNAUGHT then said : Brethren , I now give you the loan of " The Stewards , " and it is a very in portant one . A great deal of the

success of the subscription list is due to the indefatigable manner in which they carry out their duties , and I think there is no least we ought to drii . k with greater cordiality or gratitude than tbat of the Stewards . Their post is no sinecure ; they have worked very hard and very successfully . I couple with it the name of the President of the Boaid of Stewards , Bro . Lennox Browne .

Bro . LENNOX BROWNE acknowledged the toast . Bro . Dr . STRONG proposed " The Ladies . " liro . RICHARD FVE , P . G . Treas ., replied , ard the Duke of Connaught , wilh the Stewards ard other brethren proceeded to the Tinriple , uhrrc the Duke presided , and the company enjoyed an excellent concert . The Duke of Connaught on Ieavirg was loudly cheered .

Analysis Of The Returns.

ANALYSIS OF THE RETURNS .

There is no need to dwell on Returns which every one must allow . ire worthy alike of his Roynl Highness the Chairman , the Institution , ami the Craft . It is enough that on this occasion the third hig hest total ever compiled at . an ordinary was obtained al this Festival , the grand total being £ 18 , 197 19 s . 3 d ., of which London with 19 6 Stewards subscribed £ 10 , ( 183 I * 6 d \ , and the Provinces anil Stations Abroad , with 226 Stewards , £ 8114 14 s . gd .

Taking LONHON first , we note with p leasure the following 23 lists ranging from £ 100 upwards , the Lodge ot Fellowship , No . 2535 , which was ably represented by Bro . John R . Roberts , taking the honour of lirst place with a total of £ 259 ( is . Bro . Charles Spencer ' , Steward for the Lodge of St . John ' s , No . 1306 , was a capital second with £ 21 S "ji- and then followed Bro . James Terry . Secretary of the Institution ,

, who , though a Steward Unattached , compiled a total of £ 187 . Bro ! Lennox Browne , Hon . Treasurer to the Board of Stewards , also had under his charge the Empire and Iris Lodges , Nos . 2108 and 2545 , raised thc excellent total of £ 16 3 9 s . fid ., Bros . R . W . Huntley , of the Marquess ot Ripon Lodge . No . 1489 , and Hro . Capt . J . H . Dcttmnr-Todd , London Irish Rilles I . odge , No . 2312 , being close up with £ 152 5 s . and £ 150 3 s . respectively . Then followed liro . Constantine Don-sa , Belgrave ' Lodge , No . 749 , with £ 133 12 ** ., and Uro .

Richard Parish , Finsbury Park Lodge , No . 1288 , with £ 130 14 s . Od , and then came a group of three , consisting ol Bro . 1 * 1 . W . Clarke , Woodgrange Lodge , No . 2409 , who accumulated £ i 2 ( i ; Bro . A . Barnard , Clerkenwell Lodge , No . ¦ 9 G 4 with £ 120 15 s . ; and Bro . George Samuel , Plucknett Lodge , No . 1708 , with £ 120 4 s . 6 d . Bro . W . J . Stratton , Tivoli Lodge , No . 2150 , and Bro . David Urnuhart , of the "Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 , were as nearly as possible on a level , the former handing in a list of £ 118 15 s ., and the latter

one of £ nS is . M . P . ro . W . ] . Walsham , Rahere Lodge , No . 2546 , raising £ 117 15 s- Cd ., and Bro . F . Schmitz , Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , £ 117 12 s . Mrs . James K . Terry , daughter-in-law of the Secretary , rendered good service by compiling £ 115 15 s ., and Bro . A . McQueen , Union Waterloo Lodge , No . 13 , is entered for £ 115 ios * . ; Bro . J . Welford , Unattached , gave in a list of £ 110 5 * - ; Bro . W . Hunt , of lhe- Old Concord Lodge , No . 172 , £ 110 ; Bro A . M . Humphrey , Crusaders I . odge of Instiuction , No . lC > 77 , and Comp . Jas .

Speller , of the Crusaders Chapter , No . 1077- which i . s on the eve of being consecrated—had the honour of rcturniigenchol them £ 105 ; while Bro . Capt . Portlock Dadson , Friends-in-Council Lodge , No . 13 8 3 , raised £ 103 19 s ., and Bro . W . Hibbereline , of the Telegraph Cable Lodge , No . 2470 , £ 100 5 s . The following are also worthy of being mentioned : Bro . W . J . Greig ' s list of £ 71 8 s . in res-peel of the Lodge of Prosperity , No . OS , Lodge of Sincerity , No . 174 , which contributed

/ ii 2 12 s . Od ., per Hro . Joseph liay / ey ; liro . Christopher Jolly , United Slrength , No " „ oS—Bro . Terry ' s ' mother lodge— £ 81 8 s . fid . ; Bro . George Smith , Yarboroni'h I . odge , No . 554 , £ ? 5 * I ! r 0 * ' - - * *¦ Bl *' ke New Concord Lodge , No . 813 , £ 7 6 is . ; Hro . H . A . Baxter , Southwark Ledge , No . S 79 , £ 84 ; and Bio . M . 1 , Turk City of London Lodge , No . 901 , £ 71 7 s . Od . ; Hro . Robert . A ) lc * -, jun ., of the ' Doric Lodge , No . 933 , figures lor £ " Ki 7 s . Od . ; and Bros . R . J . and Gio . Ke Chillingworth , Beacontree Lodge , No . 1228 , for £ 8 u 17 s . B . u ,

Analysis Of The Returns.

A . Atkin , Ebury Lodge No . 1348 , had the satisfaction of compiling £ 95 ns ., while Bro . S . G . Bonner , Corinthian Lodgo , No . 1382 , is responsible for £ 73 ios ., and Bro . W . R . Simmonds , Langthorne Lodge , No . 1421 , for £ So 5 s . Bro . James Brown , Mount Edgcumbe Lodge , No . 1446 , raised £ 86 123 . 6 d . ; " Bro . M . M . Taylor , City of Westminster Lodge , No . 1563 £ 7 6 9 s . ; and Bro . John

, Hampson , Leopold Lodge , No . 1571 , £ 8455 . ; Bro . H . Cornford , Earl of Lathom Lodge , No . 1922 , figures for £ 7 8 15 s . ; and Bro . George Clampitt , Regent ' s Park Lodge , No . 2202 , for £ 70 7 s . ; Bro . W . G . King , Bolingbroke Lodge , No . 2417 , for £ So is . ; while Mrs . John Newton compiled the very handsome list of £ 74 . is- Cd .

We now tu rn our attention to THE PROVINCES , of which 35 , represented by 22 Stewards , took part in Wednesday ' s proceedings , nnd , with the aid of five other brethren from sundry Foreign Stations , returned amongst them the very handsome total of £ 8114 14 s . gd . This is a somewhat smaller proportion than usual , there being the following 11 absentees , which , for reasons which in the majority of cases we arc in a position to furnish , had no

part whatever in this Festival : BRISTOL ( nine lodges ) was an absentee from all three Festivals last year , while in 1 S 95 it contributed £ 10 ios . to this Institution and £ 107 Ss . tothe Hoys'School , and in 18 94 £ 441 to the Girls' School and £ 16 iGs . to its sister Institution at Wood Green . In 18 93 it was unrepresented and in 1 S 92 and 1 S 91 it very generously supported the Boys' School , its contributions to that Charity during the two years amounting to the very considerable sum of £ 911 . In 1890 it did nothing , but in 18 S 9 the Old People werc supported

to the extent of £ 52 5 s . It is thus eight years since this Province has given any support to this Institution , and though we are well aware that it has been doing good service at home in connection with its Provincial Educational and Benevolent Association , which it established some few years since , we would suggest that the time has arrived when it mi ght with advantage do something for our Old People generally . HEREFORDSHIRE ( five lodges ) appears to have forgotten lhat there are any Central Institutions to support , but

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND ( 14 lodges ) , though absent on Wednesday , isa regular as well as a generous supporter of all three , and in June of last year returned £ 231 to the Boys' School Festival , the sum being somewhat smaller than usual because the Province was engaged in raising a Memorial Fund to the late Bro . VV . Kelly , P . P . G . Master . In 1 S 95 its contribution to this Institution was £ 300 Os ., while in 1 S 94 it raised £ 330 ios . for the Girls' School , and in 18 93 £ 207 ios . for the Bo ) s' School ; in 1 S 92 it was entered in the Benevolent Jubilee

Returns for £ 388 ios . MONMOUTHSHIRE ( II lodges ) may be looked for in connection with the Girls' School Festival in May , as it raised £ 246 3 s . for the Old People in February , 1 S 96 ; £ 148 us . Od . for the Boys' School in July , 1 S 95-and £ 297 us . Gd . for the Girls' Institution in May , 1 S 94 . NORFOLK ( 18 lodges ) wns represented at two of last year ' s Festivals , that of thc Girls' School , to which it <** , * ive £ 105 , and that of the Benevolent Institution , towards which it subscribed £ -35 14 s - 1 " 1 S 95 its contributions , to theamount of £ 205 5 s ., helped to swell the

Relurns at the Girls School Anniversary ; in 18 94 it gave £ 134 13 s . to the ^ Boys ' School ; in 1 S 93 , ^ 7 8 15 s . to the Girls'School ; and in 1892 , £ 426 5 s . to this Institution in respect of its Jubilee Celebration . SOMERSETSHIRE ( 26 lodges ) was quiet in its moieiner . ts last year , raising £ 87 3 s . for the Boys' School and £ 36 15 s . lor the Girls' School , or in all onl y £ 123 iSs . But this was to be accounted for by its Io ) al support of Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , its respected P . G . M ., when he acted as Chairman for this Institution , and the total which was raised by our

Somersetshite brethren reached the splendid total of £ 1657 ' 7 - 6 d . The minor contri . butions to the School Festivals augmented the total tor the year to £ 1745 3 s . 7 d ., so that the rest of the year 18 9 6 was only what might be expected alter such successful efforts . In 1 S 92 it raised £ 613 10 s . for the Old People ' s Jubilee , the ¦> ggri'gate for the year being £ 841 15 s ., while in 1888 it was returned among the contribntories to the Girls' School for subscriptions amounting to close on £ 1030 . SOUTH WALES , EASTERN DIVISION ( 22 lodges ) stands committed to the support

of the Girls' School , its P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Llangattock , having accepted the Chairmanshi p at the Festival of that Institution , and , therefore , as it is one of those Provinces which devote their main support to each of the Charities in turn , we are not surprised at its absence from Wednesday ' s Festival , especially as in 18 9 O it raised £ 285 for the Old People by the hands of Hro .. George dairy . In 18 95 the Girls' School received subsciiptions amounting to £ 300 , and in 18 94 the Boys' School was favoured with £ 350 . In 1 S 93 the sum of £ 325 10 s . was

compiled for ' Our Girls , while as the year 1892 was of special impoitance , £ iSo was raised for the Benevolent Jubilee and £ 321 15 s . Gd . for " Our Hoys , " making Ihe year ' s total £ 504 15 s . Od . SOUTH WALKS , WESTERN DIVISION ( 10 lodges ) also supports onr Institutions in turn . In 189 O it raised , per Bro . J . Llewellyn 'Ihomas , £ 210 for the Girls' School , and the preceding year £ 239 19 s . 6 d . for thp Bo _\ s' School b y the hands of lhe same brother , while in 18 94 there was contributed to this Institution the sum of £ 154 12 s . In 1893 the Girls' School

received £ 177 19 s ., and in 1892 " Our Hoys " were the r < cipient of its favours to the extent of £ IOI is . ( id . YORKSHIRE , North and East ( 34 lodges ) , worked very hard for our Old People in 18 9 6 , the total of its contributions at the Festival in February being £ 900 , while this was supplemented with £ 4 8 Os . in May to "Our Girls , " and with £ 74 lis . in June to "Our Hoys , " placing the aggregate for the year at £ 1022 19 s . Not much was done in 18 95 , when the amount distributed only reached £ 155 12 s . Od ., but the sum of

£ 441 15 s . was subscribed in 1 S 94 , and £ 424 4 s . in 18 93 , while in 18 92 , including £ 711 9 s . to the Benevolent Jubilee , it reached £ 733 4 s . The other unrepresented Provinces were those of J ERSEY ( seven lodges ) and the ISLE OI * MAN ( nine ledges ) , which every now and then are included on these occasions , and sometimes to very good purpose . Here then we have 11 Provinces , comprising amongst them 10 5 lodges , which-in estimating the merits of the part played by the Provincial section of thc English Craft on Wednesday must be left out of the reckoning .

Of the represented Provinces the first on the roll—taking them al phabetically—is BF . nrounsuiRE , of whose seven lodges two sent up Stewards in the persons of Bro . the Rev . V . T . Wjalt , who , as representing the Sir William Harpur Lodge , No . 2343 , liedfoid , returned a list of £ 3 6 15 s ., and Hro . John Smith , of the Ampthill Lodg ' ej

No . 2490 , Ampthill , whose list amounted to £ 29 8 s . In 189 G its contributions to the Old People and Girls ' School amounted to £ 42 ; in 18 95 the Benevolent , and Boys' School received £ 148 is . between them , the latter obtaining £ 105 and the former £ 43 is . In 18 94 , when the total was the highest raised since Bedfordshire was created a Province , the sum of £ 238 9 s . was distributed among the three Institutions , while in 18 93 it reached £ 18 3 17 s . Od . In 18 92 the Benevolent and Girls' School obtained between them £ 152 < s .

BERKSHIRE invariably shows to considerable / advantage . In the old days when it was associated with Buckinghamshire under the late Hro . Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart , there was rarely a festival held but " Berks aud Bucks" might be looked upon as a certain contributor , while since it has been a Province b y itself , its contributions have been on a larger , if not more regular , scale . In 18 91 il raised in all £ 3 85 . 13 . and in 18 92 £ 954 ns . Od ., of which £ 661 9 s . Od . was in respect of the Benevolent