The Senior Vice-Presidentship Of The Lodge Of Benevolence.

on them by the Constitutions , in being allowed to elect the Vice-Presidents of the Board . It may have been that Bro . Lambert would have been elected to the office all the same , and in that case ho could have accepted it with grace , but being now placed in ti by what we will term an error of

judgment on tho part or his friends , we most respectfully submit that he is tho recipient of an empty compliment , and one which ho can most certainly feel no pride in accepting . There are many men who , if placed in a similar position , would have courted some other expression of opinion , but

this does notappear to have been the case with Bro . Lambert , who wo hope will enjoy the honours of his new office . There is one consolation left to him and tho Craft ; tho appointment is for one year only , and at the corresponding meeting of Grand Lodge next year he , his friends , and the

Masons of England generally , will be able to form a pretty correct opinion of tho popularity of the appointment now made . There is ample time for Bro . Lambert to show that his' appointment was a suitable one , so far as tho requirements of the office are

concerned , although it was not made by the unanimous voice of Grand Lodge , and we hope he will avail himself of the opportunity , remembering tliat his re-appointment will rest entirely on his so doing . We cannot conclude without expressing our heartiest approval with the remarks of the

Acting Grand Master in reference to Bro . Clabon , the retiring President , and we feel convinced that the thanks he so ably conveyed to that brother , and the remarks he made respecting his ability in his late office , are really the sentiments of the entire Craft , by whom Bro . Clabon will

long be remembered as a worthy Mason , and one who most conscientiously carried out the trusts of the high office conferred upon him by the Grand Master . We can only regret that he has found it desirable to tender his resignation , and express a hope that he may long be spared to enjoy the well-earned respect of his brother Masons .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . D . DRYSDALE P . M . No . 211 . IT is with a regret which , will be shared by every member of St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 211 , and the large circle of friends and acquaintances to whom he was known , that we announce the death of our worthy and

Worshipful Bro . Douglas Drysdale , twice Master of the Lodge with which ho was associated , and for the long period of thirteen years—from 1866 to 1878—its zealous and indefatigable Secretary . Bro . Drysdale was elected a joining member of No . 211 as far back as 1846 . In 1847 he filled

the office of Inner Guard , and the year following- that of Junior Warden . In 1849 , he was installed Master , and was again chosen to serve in that capacity in 1864 . He fulfilled tho duties of Secretary , as we have said , from 1866 to 1878 , and in the latter year tendered his

resignation , not only of that office , but of his membership of the Lodge . So highly , however , were his services and ability appreciated that , when it was found he could not be prevailed upon to withdraw his intention of retiring from the Lodge , he was unanimously elected an

honorary member , and Bro . W . W . Morgan , the Secretary pro torn , was requested to convoy to him an intimation of this slight testimony to his worth , and to express a hope that whenever his engagements permitted he would kindl y honour the Lodge with his presence . In 1869 a resolution

was unanimously agreed to , to the effect " that the best thanks of this Lodge are clue and hereby given to the Worshipful Bro . D . Drysdale P . M . for his valuable advice and assistance rendered to many successive W . M . ' s , thereby contributing materially to the welfare and good report of

the St . Michael ' s Lodge . " At the time of his death Bro . Drysdale was the Senior Past Master and member of the St . Michael ' s Lodge , and his loss will be all the more deeply lamented from his association with it for 35 years . We will add that , the death occurred , very suddenly , on Saturday ,

the 26 th ultimo . He had spent the previous evening in a Lodge of Instruction—a fact which demonstrates the enduring interest he took in the Craft , and which full y justifies our statement that he may be said to have died in harness . On quitting the Lodge he returned home , supped

and played cards with his wife , and had retired to his bedroom , when he was seized with an apoplectic fit , and never spoke again . Tho funeral took place last Friday . To his widow , to his friends , and to his brethren of the St . Michael ' s , we offer ou . v sincerest tribute of sympathy .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

all Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . Xrw Modem Toy Boots ' . London : Dean and Son , 160 A Fleet-street , K . C . —Of all times of tho year Christinas is the season for the production of novelties in the shape of Toys , Toy Books , Pictnro Books ,

Story Books , and the like , and tho firm of Dean rim Son have long enjoyed tho reputation of being among the most successful caterers for the public in respect of this class of specialities . We have received several specimens of their new Shilling and Sixpenny Toy Books , among tho former being " Currant Buns for Daughters and Sons , " " Olden Bhymes for Modern

Times , " and " Buckle my Shoe , or One , Two , Three , who a Dnnce Would , be ? " among the latter , " The Pig Bought with a Silver Penny , " " The Babes in the Wood , " " Eobinson Crusoe , " " Cock Eobin , " and " The Wonderful Adventures of the Ten Little Niggers . " The letter-pves 3 , which is printed in good bold type , calls for no special comment , bnfc the illustrations are capitally executed , being both well-drawn and well-colourcd .

Boutleclr / e ' s Christmas Number contains a series of nine Christmas stories , with eight fnll-page platos and nnmerous smaller illustrations . Madame De Witt ne ' e Gnizot contributes an admirable account of " An Anabaptist Wedding in Alsace , " and Lord Brabourne a well , told story of " The Little Gentlemen , " with an illustration by Ernest Grisofc . "Tho Snow-White Poodle , " translated from the German of

A . Godin , by W . Beatty Kingston , has two illustrations , and there is also a story of " Greystoke Hall , " by Mrs . F . Lockyer , which will serve to wile away a leisure half-hour very pleasantly . The full-page Plates , from designs by R . Caldecott ( "Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross" ) , L . Delort ( "My First Fox" ) , Gustavo Doro ( " A Great Mistake " ) , and others , are printed in colours by Edmund Evans , and will no doubt be appreciated as they deserve .

Snow Time and Qloio Time . Being the Little Folks Annual for 1882 . ( Cassell , Petter , Galpin & Co ., London , Paris , and New York . ) This is an admirable collection of short seasonable stories and poems , with a " Little Folks Calendar" and " Puzzles , " profusely illus . trated . We have pleasure in specifying " Some Fireside games , "

" Life ' s Christmas Carol , " "AChristmas in the Arctic Sea , " "Silent Stories and Shadow Pantomimes , " and " Father Christmas ' s Wei come , " the words and music by Charles Bassett , while the illustra fcion serves as a very artistic frontispiece , the figure of Old Christmas being particularly jovial .

Tlie Steadfast Aim . Christmas number of tho Quiver ? for 1881 . ( Cassell , Petter , Galpin & Co . ) The contents include a series of eight stories , all of which possess so high an order of merit that we do not hesitate to specify them in the order in which they appear : — " Tom Torke ' s Legacy , " by Edward Garrett ; " The Boot and Offspring of David , " by the Right Rev . Ashton Oxenden , D . D ., late

Lord Bishop of Montreal ; "A White Christmas Flower , " by F . M . F . Skene ; " He ' s Gone Yonder , " by the Rev . P . B . Power , M ] A . ; "No Room , " " A Christmas Carol , " " Two Christmasses , " by Christian RedFord ; and ' * Tho Whole Mill Wheel , " by Mrs . Linnseus Banks , Many of these names are well-known to readers of periodical

literature , and are a guarantee of the excellence of their several contributions . The illustrations , which harmonise well with the letter press , are by R . Barnes , A . Hopkins , H . Barnard , M . L . Gow , G . Clausen , W . J . M . Row , & c , & c . The music of the Carol is by Sir G . J . Elvey , Mns . D ., Organist of the St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor .

The QvAver , Part 193 ( Cassell , Petter , Galpin & Co . ) contains , among other readable papers , " Cnrlyle at Hurstmonceanx , " by the Rev . E . Venables , M . A ., Canon of Lincoln ; " The Church of the First , born , " by the Rev . John Stonghton , D . D . ; " Equal to the Occasion , " by Edward Garrett ; " Christ the World ' s True Light , " by the Rev . H . Allon , D . D . ; and the usual assortment of " Short Arrows . " The illustrations are both nnmerous and well done .

We have also received from the same firm Part I . of the Cities of the World , illustrated , and Part I . of the shilling issue of Picturesque Europe . As to the latter , its many and beautiful illustrations , together with the concisely written letterpress , are so well known that wo need not be at tho pains of repeating the favourable opinion we gave in reference to the more expensive issue . Wo content ourselves with advising our friends not to lose the opportunity of subscribing to a

periodical which , of its kind , may be equalled but cannot bo surpassed . The " Cities of the World , " so far as this number , has created a highly favourable impression on our mind , both as regards the narrative and tho many illustrations with which it is embellished . The frontispiece is a well-engraved view of Pari % showing the seven bridges . The price of each monthly part appears to bo only sevenpence .

The Chichester St . Peter s the Great Parochial Magazine ( Chichester : printed by John William Moore , 39 East-street ) , contains a description of the "Mntton Bird , " several short stories collectively grouped together in a certain " Dawn of Day , " a magazine within a magazine . We notice there is also a chess column , comprising problems and notes . We wish it a long continuance of success .

A Masonic Association , to be called the Upton Lodge of Instruction Masonic Association , " has been formed . The object is to obtain for its members life governorships in the Royal Masonic Charitable Institutions . At a

meeting held on Wednesday , 30 th tilt ., a committee was appointed , and rules , & c , were framed . Bro . Penner P . M . 1227 is the President , and Bro . D . Moss S . D . 1275 is the Hon . Sec .