Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

representing the Bushey Hall Lodge , No . 2323 . The total , as we have said , was £ 1101 ios . ; and as in February the Province raised £ 384 Ios . 6 d ., including Bro . Keyser ' s list for £ 120 15 s ., for the Old People ; and in May £ 179 os . 6 d ., of which £ 52 ios . was the donation of Bro . Keyser for the Girls' School , we have a grand total of £ 1665 is . for the year 1899 , on which we take the opportunity of congratulating the Chairman and the Province , more especially as the total for 189 8 reached £ 2126 3 s ., out of which £ 1614 5 s . 6 d . fell to the share of this Institution at its Centenary Festival .

KENT , which now has 65 lodges on its roll , has done excellently well during the present year . In February it subscribed by the medium of 15 Stewards , of whom two were Unattached , and the rest lodge and chapter representatives , £ 797 2 s . 6 d ., this being the highest amount raised by a single Province , while in May , when it only furnished nine Stewards , it figured for £ 395 iSs . 6 d . On Wednesday four

of it lodges were represented by as many brethren and there were , in addition , two brethren a Lewis , Unattached , the total being £ 28 3 ios ., and the highest list that of Bro . W . Rule , W . M . of the Pantiles Lodge , No . 2200 , Tunbridge Wells , tor £ 105 , the sum total for the year being £ 1476 lis . In 1 S 9 8 , the contributions amounted to £ 5671 16 s ., of which £ 5542 3 s . 6 d . was raised for the Boys'Cen

tenary . In 1 S 88 , the product of the year , including £ 3059 9 s . 6 d . to the Girls ' Centenary , was £ 3 688 lis ., and in 1891 , when the Prov . G . Master presided as Chairman at the Benevolent Festival , it stood at £ 4018 6 s ., while in 1892 , it was £ 2969 6 s . 6 d ., of which £ i 86 S 15 s . 6 d . was subscribed to the Benevolent Jubilee . Thus Kent is not only strong in respect of members , but also one of our most generous supporters of our Institutions . < -

LANCASHIRE ( E . D . ) , with its array of 113 lodges , has been taking things somewhat easily during the present year . In February , it raised £ 252 for the Old People , and in May , £ 194 ios . for the Girls' School , while on Wednesday it was entered for only £ 57 15 s ., the year ' s aggregate being £ " 503 5 s . But this is not very surprising , as in 1898 it contributed £ 6081 6 s . 6 d ., of which £ 5772 7 s . 6 d . being the second

highest Return for a single Province , was subscribed to the Centenary of this Institution . In 1888 , its total was £ 4350 13 s ., of which £ 28 73 14 s . 6 d . fell to the share of the Old People and £ 1350 16 s . to the Girls' Centenary . In 1 S 92 , it raised £ 2667 5 s . for the Benevolent Jubilee , and in 18 95 over £ 4000 for its own Educational and Benevolent Institution .

LANCASHIRE ( W . D . ) , with its still more formidable array of 121 lodges , has also been contributing on a modest scale during the present year , and doubtless for a similar reason . In February it raised £ 152 Ss . for the Old People , in May £ 140 14 s . for the Girls' School , and on Wednesday £ 114 ios ., the number of Stewards , including one lady , being seven . Last year its total , including £ 445 1 13 s . to the Boys'

Centenary , reached £ 4525 3 s . In 18 S 8 , it raised £ 2440 2 s . for the Girls' Centenary ; in 1891 , when the late Earl of Lathom , P . G . M ., occupied the chair at the Festival of this Institution , £ 6126 14 s . 4 d . ; in 1892 ,, it raised £ 16 97 15 s , of which £ 1197 8 s . 6 d . was in respect of the Benevolent lubilee ; and in 1 S 94 , £ . 2768 2 s . 6 d . of which £ 2500 was in support ot the late P . G . M . ' s chairmanship for the Girls ' School .

One of the 24 lodges in LINCOLNSHIRE represented by a Rev . brother bearing the well-known and respected name of Oliver returns £ 10 10 s ., which added to the handsome sum of £ 390 7 s . raised for the Benevolent Institution in February gives the total fortheyear as £ 409 17 s .

Last year the Province contributed £ 138 3 iSs . to the Boys' Centenary , and in 1896 , when the Earl of Yarborough , Prov . G . Master , presided as Chairman a . t the Girls' Festival , it raised for that Institution £ 1500 . In 1 S 92 , it figured in the Returns at the Benevolent Jubilee for £ 660 Ss ., and in those of the Festival of this Institution at Brighton in 1891 for £ 418 lis . 2 d ., while aUhe Girls' Centenary it subscribed £ 202 2 s . 6 d .

MIDDLESEX , on the whole , may be said to have done exceedingly well , especially after the efforts it so successfully made for the Boys' Centenary and the other two Festivals , as well in 1898 . In February , six of its 42 lodges compiled a total of £ 309 lis . 6 d . for the Old People , and last month 14 Stewards , acting in behalt of 11 lodges , raised £ 478 3 s . for the Girls' Institution . On Wednesday only five

lodges , represented by five brethren , took part in the proceedings , and in addition there were three Unattached , the amount compiled by the Province being returned as £ 77 3 s . 6 d . This would have been larger , but Bro . A . A . Hardy , who was Steward for Lodges Nos . 382 and 2163 , had his list entered against the lodges he also acted for in Berkshire , and Bro . J . P . Taylor , Unattached in both Herts and Middlesex , had his included in the total of the former

Province . However , £ 864 18 s ., represents a good year ' s work , so soon after a contribution of £ 358 7 6 s . 6 d . —of which £ 2895 16 s . was raised for the Boys' Centenary . In 1897 , the total was £ i' 0 $ iSs ., while in the record year of 18 96 , when its Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., presided at the Benevolent Festival , the product of the year , including £ 3507 15 s . 66 . in support of his lordship ' s chairmanship , was £ 3967 15 s . 6 d . Last year the Province of

NORTH ANTS AND HUNTS , wrich has been doing such excellent work under the auspices ot ilb present Prov . G . Master , the Ear I of Euston , surpassed all its previous efforts , and distributed £ ' 784 2 s . among our three Institutions , and of thi : ; the Boys' School at the celebration of its Centenary very naturally obtained the lion ' a share in the nhape of £ 1621 7 s . Yet the sums raised during the current year arc by no means inconsiderable for a Province which has only iC lodges on its roll . Thus , in February , lod

two ges and a chapter , which had Bro . George E . Caster to represent them , and three Unattached Stewards , together compiled a total of £ 243 is . 6 d ., Bro . Caster ' s list amounting to £ 136 ios . In May , the Prov ' . G . Master , with the representatives of two lodges and two Unattached Stewards , m * P a Return of £ 218 15 s . ; while on Wednesday Bro . Harry Manfield who has been a Steward at all three Festivals , returned £ 68 5 s ., his three lists ' v u g the % ood ] y sum of ^ 'S - Tnus the total for 18 99 is £ 530 is . 6 d . > which , after last year ' s efforts , is , as we have said , a very capital amount .

The same remarks apply with almost equal force to the Province of NORTH WALES with Us 20 lodges . In 1 S 8 S , it raised £ 792 ' js . 66 ., including £ 674 l / s . Cd . towards me Uirls Centenary , In 1892 , its total was £ 403 12 s ., of which £ 222 14 s . was in jespect of the Benevolent Jubilee , and £ 234 3 s . tor thin Institution . Last year

, incBoys Centenary was supported to the extent of £ 108 9 10 s ., while the total ¦ ortne year reached £ 1394 , This year the figures are 011 a far smaller scale and comprise £ 21 for the Old People , £ 47 S s . for the Girls' School , and £ 78 i S s . for this Institution , the year ' s aggregate being £ 147 . fiw £ " , dnesda y > • ¦ •' , " '" fee of its 12 lodges and one chapter , represented by "ve stewards , and sundry amounts collected ,

Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

OXFORDSHIRE raised £ 166 6 s ., while last month it gave £ 188 4 s . 6 d . to " Our Girls , " and in February £ 141 4 s . to the Old People ; the year ' s total reaching £ 485 14 s . 6 d ., which is certainly above the average , and that , notwithstanding that last year it raised £ 505 12 s . 6 d . for the Benevolent Institution , at whose Festival the Earl of

Jersey , Prov , G . Master , presided as Chairman ; £ 73 14 s . to the Girls' School ; and £ 33 S 7 s . to the Boys' Centenary , making a total of £ 917 13 s . 6 d . for the whole year . The Province has always acquitted itself well ; but , as far as our experience goes , there have not previously been two consecutive years which have together produced such a total of donations and subscriptions as £ 1403 7 s . 6 d . ; and the number of lodges is only a dozen , all told .

We owe it to the kindness and sense of duty of Bro . Col . A . Thrale Perkins that his Province of SOMERSETSHIRE was represented on Wednesday , his list amounting to £ 26 Ss ., while in February it raised £ 25 10 s . for the Benevolent Institution . But it would not have surprised any of our readers had the Festivals of these Institutions been unattended ,

seeing that Somersetshire , which musters only 26 lodges , had the responsibility , as well as the honour , resting upon it of " Chairman ' s Province , " and backed Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , P . G . M ., who presided at the Girls' Festival last month with a splendid subscription of £ 2134 4 s ., the total for the year being £ 2185 19 s . Last year it subscribed £ 1219 9 s ., of which all but 30 guineas was in respect of the ,

Boys'Centenary . In 1 S 95 , when Lord Dungarvan presided at the Benevolent Festival , the total reached £ 1745 35 . 7 d ., of which £ 1657 17 s . 6 d . was in support of his lordship ' s presidency . In 1892 it gave in all £ 841 15 s ., of which £ 613 ios . was raised for the Benevolent Jubilee , while in 1888 it stood at £ 1293 6 s ., of which the Girls' Centenary absorbed £ 946 is .

STAFFORDSHIRE , which musters 33 lodges , began the year by raising £ 420 for the Old People , the principal list being that of the Earl of Dartmouth , Prov . G . M ., whose intention of presiding at the Girls' Festival next year we had the pleasure of announcing last month , for £ 283 ios . Last month the sum subscribed to the Institution for Girls was £ 173 5 s ., Bro . Walker ' s list , as the representative of the Province , amounting to £ 105 . On Wednesday , the Stewards from four lodges , with a

brother and three ladies Unattached , compiled a sum of £ 16 9 is ., the principal item being the list of Bro . Thomas Taylor , of the Gordon Lodge , No . 2149 , Henley , for £ 106 is . This raises the year ' s total to £ 762 6 s ., which is most praiseworthy , after the £ 4023 8 s . —including £ 3845 8 s . for the Boys ' Centenary—of last year , and , seeing that the Prov . Grand Master has undertaken to preside , as we have said , at next year ' s Festival in behalf of the Girls' School .

One of the 22 lodges in SUFFOLK furnished a Steward with a list of £ 26 5 s . on Wednesday . Last month four lodges were represented by three Stewards , whose lists amounted together to £ 126 , while in February , two lodges contributed by their respective Stewards

£ 86 2 s . to the Benevolent Institution , the product of the year being £ 238 7 s . This is far below the yearly average , but in 189 S , the total was a record one and amounted to £ 1563 7 s . Cd ., of which the Boys' Centenary absorbed £ 1510 17 s , 6 d . In iSSS , the total reached £ 1105 12 s . ; in 188 9 , £ 1048 17 s , 6 d . ; and in 1892 , £ 1449 4 s ., out of which the Oi 6 People at their Jubilee received £ 1291 14 s . Two of the 43 lodges in

SURREY , a lodge of instruction , and two Unattached Stewards , together compiled a total of £ 90 12 s ., 6 d ., on Wednesday , which , added to the £ 649 4 s . raised by 17 Stewards for the Benevolent Festival in February , and the £ 515 15 s . 6 d .

compiled by 16 Stewards last month for the Girls' School , makes the total for the year £ 1255 12 s ., which is certainly equal , if not above , the yearly average . Last year ' s total , including £ 3499 iCs . raised for the Boys' Centenary , was £ 3974 8 s . The next highest total was in 1892 , when the Old People celebrated their Jubilee , and the Returns reached £ 2817 ios . 6 d .

When the Boys Festival is held at Brighton SUSSEX generally pulls itself together and makes a good show . But on Wednesday only two of its 32 lodges sent up Stewards , and these , with Bros . V , P . Freeman , Prov . G . Secretary , and Richard Clowes , Unattached , made up the moderate total of £ 135 19 s . 6 d ., of which Bro . J . S . Lee , representing the Royal Brunswick Lodge ,

No . 732 , Brighton , had the satisfaction of compiling £ 8 o 17 s . In February 11 Stewards , acting for as many lodges , and two Unattached brethren together returned £ 442 8 s ., while last month the Returns from 12 lodge Stewards and one Unattached was £ 371 5 s . 6 d ., the total for the year standing at £ 1049 8 s Last year produced , in all , £ 2932 15 s ., of which £ 2869- 15 s . was in respect of the Boys' Centenary , and doubtless this will explain why the Province has done less than usual .

One of the 32 lodges in WARWICKSHIRE was represented on this occasion , his list amounting to £ 21 . ' In February , the Province returned £ 84 for the Benevolent Festival , and last month £ 395 15 s . to the Girls' School , there being three lodges represented by seven brethren in the former case and 10 by 21 Stewards in the latter , the total for the year being £ 500

igs . Last year , the sum raised was £ SiS 3 4 s . 6 d ., in which was included £ 5079 14 s . 6 d ., obtained by the efforts of 237 Stewards for the Boys'Centenary . In 1 S 92 , the Province contributed £ 2186 to the Benevolent Jubilee , and in 1888 , £ 1440 6 s . Cd . to the Girls' Centenary , while even in 18 7 6 , when " big" figures were not so commonly met with as now , it raised £ 2000 for this Institution in honour of Lord Leigh ' s Chairmanship .

WILTSHIRE took no part in the Benevolent Festival , but subscribed £ 285 , per Bro . Harry Bevir , Prov . G . Sec , to the Girls' School last month , and as Brc . Bevir is a member of the Board of Management of the Boys' School , he went in for a list of Lio ios ., on Wednesday . Last year £ 539 os . 6 d . was contributed to this Institution , and £ 71 is . to the Girls' School . In 1892 , the subscriptions to the Benevolent Jubilee reached £ 483 14 s . Sums amounting to £ 36 15 s ., appear under the head of

WORCESTERSHIRE , and increase the £ 221 i is . raised for the Old People to £ 258 6 s . for the year , In 1 N 9 S , the sum of its contributions to the three Institutions , including £ 1136 as . to 1 1 Boys' Centenary , was £ 1231 13 s ., the previous hi ghest having been in 188 S , when , with £ 6 95 iSs . to the Girls' Centenary , it reached £ 848 3 s . Five of the 81 lodges in

WEST YORKSHIRE were represented each by a Steward , the total sum raised being £ 131 5 s ., which with £ 500 to the Old People in February , and £ 550 to the Girls' School last month , place the year ' s rccoid at . £ 1181 5 s , But last year ' s total was £ 7956 31 ,, which explains why West Yorkshire b less prominent than usual in 1899 .