Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N .

— : o : — Masonic Calendar for the Province of Hertfordshire . 1887 . London Gilbert and Rivington Limited , St . John ' s Square , E . C . Iris a marked feafcnre in the progress of the Craft that the number of these useful little companion works , which are so essential to the

information of members of Provincial Lodges , is on the increase , whilst the style in which they are arranged , elaborated , and got up is alike creditable to the compilers and handy to those who are placed in possession of such books of reference . The Calendar which has just been published by authority of the Provincial Grand Lodge of

Hertfordshire is nn admirable specimen of this class of Masonic work , and there is evidence throughout its pages of skill aud attention having been bestowed upon its compilation by the editor , Bro . Geo . E . Lake Prov . Grand Secretary , Edenloa , Watford . In addition to the Calendar proper , in which notices are given of the dates of

installation and other meetings iu connection with the Province , spaces are left on the opposite pages for entering " engagements ; " aud then follow lists of the Officers of the United Grand Lodge of England for the current year ; of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire ; lists of Lodges in the Province , with times and places of meeting ;

dateB of consecration ; the investiture of Officers at last installations ; subscribing Past Masters ; and indeed all the information that can be deemol requisite concerning each individual Lodge , The same remarks apply to the Royal Arch Chapters , Knights Templar , and Mark Lodges and Lodges of Instruction ; whilst in an Appendix we

find an " In Memonam of brethren deceased during the past year ; a list of the Masonic Charities , and local Stewardships and subscribers thereto ; special reference being given to the Hertfordshire Masonic Charity Association , of which the Prov . G . Master , Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., is the President , The littlo compendium is neatly stitched into

a cover of blue boards , with gold title and border ; and is of a convenient size for the waistcoat pocket . The letterpress is in every respect perfect , whilst the amoant of information contained in the book renders it indispensable to every member of the Craft in the Province .

Calendar and Directory for the Province of Middlesex , 1887 . London : 26 Budge-row , E . C . HERE we have another valuable compilation , from tho pen of a wellknown Brother , Henry Lovegrove , A . R . I . B . A ., whoso name is as a " household word " amongst every section of Masonry in Middlesex ,

and far beyond . It is published under the authority of tbe R . W . Sir Francis Bnrdett , Bart ., P . G . S . W ., Provincial Grand Master , of whom on excellent portrait is given as a frontispiece . It necessarily follows that these Calendars are very similar in the manner in which thencontents are arranged , and many of the remarks given with respect

to the above-named work are applicable to this . Every information is here afforded that can bo useful to , or desired by , tho members of Middlesex Lodges , Chapters , & o . ; and the details are so arranged that anv point npon which brathren are desirous of being instructed

is placed readily at the linger end . A portrait is included in tho biok , of Bro . Henry Lovegrov . himself , as Prov . Grand Treasurer R . A . C ., and the Calendar is well priuted , on good paper , of handy size , and is in every respect suited to tho purposes for which it has been designed .

Messrs. Cassell & Co.'S Publications.

MESSRS . CASSELL & CO . ' s PUBLICATIONS .

British Ballads ; Popular Educator , Sfc . London : La Belle Sauvage . yard , Ludgate-hilJ , E . C . AMONGST the many admirable standard works that have emanated during recent years from this eminent firm of publishers , " British Ballads" must bo accorded a foremost rank . It is almost un .

necessary to allude to Messrs . Cassell as the pioneers of pure and wholesome literature , for their efforts in supplying an antidote to t ' lo pernicious effnsions of the "cheap press" have achieved a world-wide reputation . The series under notice , and to which wo have had the pleasure of calling frequent attention in these

columns , is rapidly approaching completion , and next month will witness the concluding number of one of the best aud most apprecint d issues from the Belle Sauvage establishment . We opine tliT . ) are few libraries in which may bo found anything like so prrfecfc and riclienhc a collection of tbe old ballad literature of our

i oantry , and tho volume will prove not only a valuable addition to the store of useful information and reference on the drawing-room table , but a solid addition to the reading material of a household or public library . The work is exquisitely got up , from a tvporraphical point of view , whilst tbe illustrations , which have been

contributed to by most of the leading of our modern artists , are profuse , and of a most delicate and superior description . Many and excellent as havo been the serial volumes published by Messrs . Cassell and Co ., we regard " British Ballads" decidedly as ono of the most elaborate , comprehensive and useful , affording as it does

the means of coming into contact with all the best—though unhappily little-known—of our own ballad writers . We say advisedly thnt these composers are comparativel y little known by the majority of modern English readers , for it is a lamentable troth I ) at most of tho rising generation may bo on quotation terms with

I ho latest music-hall ditty or " penny dreadful" atrocity , aud yet be entirely in ignorance of the beauty and sublimity of the best of cur old ballads . To rescue the reading pnblio from such a conditioner at i < ny rate to place within their reach a feast of richer t ' r ings , has been the aim of the publishoi' 3 in their years of literary

Messrs. Cassell & Co.'S Publications.

enterprise ; and we sincerely congratulate thorn upon the near completion of a new additiou to the splendid collection of standard works they have placed npon our library shelves . " The Popular Educator " is so famliar to every class of English reader who lay any claim to intellectual study whatever ,

that the mere mention of tho title is sufficient in announcing that another series is almost complete , the twenty-sixth number being issued this month . It wonld be difficult to enumerate how many editions this wonderful mass of education has been through since oar schooldays : and it wonld tax the ingenuity and patience of the

most astute philosopher to try and gauge tho tremendous amount of benefit that has been conferred upon our youth and manhood by the production of these sucessive volumes . Not a subject in tbe whole range of study and useful information bub has been thoroughly

thrashed out in tho pago 3 of the " Educator , and the practical lessons have been supplied by such easy and gradual stages that even the youngest students has been assisted most pleasantly and thoroughly along tho paths of educational research and kuowledge .

Another marvel of literary entorprise has very recently b 9 en despatched from the Belle Sauvage press , and what would have been an impossible feat a few years ago has become now an accomplished fact . We refer to tho publication , at the ridiculously low price of threepence , of Charles Dickens ' s Christmas Carol and The Chimes ,

stitched together in noat and handy form , and which is finding its way rapidly into the hands of myriads of readors . Tho publication in cheap form of this immortal author ' s undying works may be in a measure attributed to the expiration of the copyright ; but when we remember that originally fivo shillings was the price charged for the

Carol alone , it is truly as marvellous as it is gratifying that these grand works are now placed within the reach of the most humble classes of readers , amongst whom they are being taken up with au avidity that is as commendable to them as it is congratulatory to every well-wisher to the spread of pure and wholesome literature .

" ILLUSTRATIONS . —The Queen haB graciously accepted , from Mr . Francis George Heath , a copy of the firet volume , just published by Messrs . W . Kent and Co ., of his pictorial threepenny magazine"Illustrations "—which contains as its frontispiece a largo cabinet portrait of Her Majesty , privately taken , and for the publication of which , in " Illustrations , " tho Queen ' s spacial sanction wa 3 given to Mr . Heath .

The brethren of True Love and Unity Lodge , No . 248 , Brixham , will formally dedicate their new Hall on Thursday , the 20 fch instant . The foundation stone of this building svas laid on tho 25 th February 1886 , and the

ceremony on the 20 fch instant will be condncted by Worshipful Bro . W . G . Rogers Deputy Provincial Grand Master , assisted by Worshipful Bro . T . W . Lemon Past

Provincial Grand Chaplain , and Worshipful Bro . W . J . Hnghan Past Grand Deacon ( of England ) . The Lodge will be opened at half-past one , and at three o ' clock the brethren will attend a service at All Saints' Church .

Brethren of the neighbouring Lodges are fraternally invited to attend this meeting ; those wishing to remain to banquet ( tickets 4 s each ) will kindly oblige by signifying

their intention to the Secretary , Bro . Charles Atkins P . M . 27 , at the Queen ' s Hotel , Brixham , not later than Monday , the 17 th instant .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Olympic—We are glad io hear that Mr . Edward Terry ' s season at this theatre is likely to bo a prosperous one . " The Church , warden" increases nightly in popularity , and for the first time for many year 3 boards are freqnenlly seen with the words " House full . " This is as it should be ; " The Churchwarden , " with Mr . Terry in the

title rile , is certainly one of the merriest pieces running at tho present time . It is preceded by the one act comedy drama " Home Rule , " and Offenbach ' s burletta " The two Blinds . " Wo trust Mr . Edward Terry has turned the fortunes of this house , and will secure the reward he so justly deserve ? .

Mohawk Minstrels . —This popular troupe of entertainers is now offering a most interesting programme , with several new son « s aud ballads for the first part ; whilo in the second , the etitertaimueub is both amusing aud varied . Such vocilists as Thos . Campbell , Ernest Gordon , Waltur Hawkins , Grantham Yates , C . II . Chivers ,

and Master Boll are sure to please an audience , whilo the comic element is equally well sustained . Mezzetti , Onzella , and Mezzetti i j ; o through a wonderful performance on tho triple horizontal bars .

Johnny Morton and Tom Sadler , American comediajs , are amusing ; while tho dancing spider of Pete Dwight is well worth seeing . The entertainment is brought to a conclusion by " The Double Let , " supported by several prominent members of the company .

Mr . Edwin Drew announces tho second Dickens' Birthday Celebration in tho Banqueting Room , St . James' Hall , on 8 th February . There will be an entertainment of music , reading ? , recitation ? , and scenes connected with the novelist , and afterwards a Costume Ball , , in which will appear many characters from the novels . Mrs . Wclclon will attend as Sergeant Buzfuz .