Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Eeview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . MAGAZINES OP THE MONTH .

OUR rea'lers will find tho current number of Blackwood just what » magazine should bo at this season , AVCII furnished with light yet profitable matter . "A Woman Hater" is developing into an admirable talo . "In a stndio-Conversatiou No . V . " is genially written . " Lady Adelaidea Stndv , " is a pleasant piece of sketch work ,

, and " A Wanderer ' s Letter , " in which the scene of Napoleon's terrible defeat at Leipzig is described , well deserves pernsal . It is almost a matter of course that "The Eastern Question" should have its notice , but that is not Maya ' s fault . The concluding article is " Tho Autobiography of a Joint Stock Company ( Limited ) . "

Behjravia , wo regret to say , is much weaker than formerly in the matter of illustration , L . Cattermolo ' s May and December being the exception , but in all other respects it Avell maintains its high character , 'f ho gem of the number is Mr . Swinburne's poem , " A Song in Season . " "From Dreams to Waking" is the title of a new

story by Mrs . Lynn Linton , and we angnr well of its career , from the opening instalment . Mr . Charles Eeado ' s series of " Good Stories of Man ancl other Animals " is continued , and "A Special Constable " is capitally told . The old serials are still current , and the reader will find Mrs . Lovett Cameron ' s " Juliet" a well-planned tale , with more than one piece of life-like portraiture in ifc .

Tinsley ' s , latterly , has included more solid reading than formerly , and this offers a very pleasing contrast to the fiction and papers of a more passing interest . Tho author of "Famous Bohemians" contributes , this month , a good article on " Voltaire ancl Gibbon , " and wo shall heartily welcome more of the same class in future numbers . " Some Modern Pastimes , " by W . Bellars , contains some common

sense . The manner in which people endeavour to pass time is often painful in the extreme , and tho writer points out how easy it is for people Avho are so minded to find amusement . His suggestions are not in tho form of a lecture . Eemarks that assume this character are more frequently resented than heeded . Mr . Bellars wisely draws a distinction between what is merely clone as a kill-time and

amusement which is in no sense a labour and yet genuine . He cites more than one instance to point his moral , ancl people will find his advice well worth following . The serial stories , which may be said to form the strength of this magazine , are all that can be desired . Tho plots are Avell interwoven , and the characters life-like . As usual , too , tho poetic clement is AVOII represented , Dr . Maurice Davies , with his " Love Songs of all Nations , " being still a leading contributor .

In Cornhill there is a choice array of articles , fiction , in the shape of the new talo of " Caritii , " heading the list . " Tho Eev . Adam Cameron ' s visit to London " is commenced this month ; bnt to very many readers the account of "A Lady's visit to tho Herzogovinian Insurgents " will just now prove the loading attraction . When , last year , tho Consuls of the Great Powers traversed thedistnrbed Provinces

of Turkey , ifc was said tho chief difficulty they experienced was in finding any insurgents . The experiences of ono who has actually come in contact with them Avill bo all the moro interesting . Of the other contents , " Thoughts of an Outsider : International Prejudices , " and tho portrait of " A delightful Avoman , " will be found very agreeable reading , while " Horace ' s art of Conduct" is admirably sketched .

Wo are promised in the August number of tho Gentleman ' s a complete story by Mr . Charles Gibbon , to be called "In Pastures Green , " and in September will be given another , "As she comes up the stairs , " by the author of " Comin' thro' the Rye . " This month we havo the opening chapter of a story by Mr . Justin McCarthy . The title is " Love in Idleness , " ancl the hero , Mr . Stephen Acton , a very pleasant personage to become acquainted with . Latterly , Mr . Hepworth

Dixon has been Aviiting somewhat fully on matters political . A while ago it Avas the purchase of the Suez Canal Shares , Avhich evoked his comments ; now , under the title of " Three Emperors' Policy , " ho is quite as outspoken about the irrepressible Eastern Crisis . Wo must leave our readers to form their own opinion as to tho correctness of Mr . Dixon ' s views . Mr . and Mrs . Clarke ' s Recollections , and the third part of Eed Spinner ' s Ocean Log are still current . The Table Talk is excellent , as usual .

naily is always ono of tho most attractive periodicals , and just now there is plenty of seasonable matter to discuss . The Cricket season is at its height , and tho recent doings of the University Elevens afc Lord ' s naturally form the subject of one of the articles . Then the North and South match at tho same ground on Whit-Monday ancl

following ( lays for the benefit of Hearno is passed under review , and the writer of " Onr Van " is as lively ; is ever iu his comments do omnibns rebut . " In the Park " is a highly chatty paper , and there is a sketch of "Quail Shooting near the Pyramids . " We deeply sympathise Avith the reader who cannot enjoy these . His " Avorks" must Avant a littlo looking after .

Wc are more than ordinarily pleased with the contents of the present number of tho New Quarterly . Those who care to study " The Spirit of Modern Agriculture , " will find the subject discussed in a long and able article by Mr . Richard Jefferies . Major Knollys gives a detailed account of " Our Disasters in Affgbanistau , " showing how they arose , ancl how , with ordinary caution on the part of our

chiefs , the terrible losses AVO sutfered might easily have been prevented . Fiction is always an important element in this periodical , and tho tale of "Allan Glayne , " as told bySu- Charles Young , Bart ., very Avorthily represents this branch of literature . "The Tourist in Portugal" is from the pen of Mr . John Latonche , and those who remember his pleasant record of Travels iu the same , country will

Reviews.

rejoice afc his re-appearanoe among the contributors to the Hew Quarterly . " A Wit of the Last Generation " is well sketched , tho subject Joseph Jekyll , many of whose terse and witty sayings are quoted by the writer . " The Academy and the Salon , " by J . W . Comyns Carr , and " The Troubles of An Automaton , " by Clementina Black , are excellently well written , while the editor has done his part admirably , his review of "Current Literature and Current Criticism " being a model specimen of critical writing .

CasselVs Family Magazine contains the nsual programme . Tho serial fiction is in the highest degree interesting , the older of the two stories being admirably told . "The Gatherer" publishes a whole regiment of useful and entertaining notes . Among the practical

papers , for Avhich this Magazine is so generally appreciated , we tnnsc mention tho "Chit-Chat on Dress , " and another of Mr . Payne ' s excellent papers on Cookery . The paper on Gardening , too , is well worth studying , the information it contains being more serviceable ancl far better compiled than we find usually in such articles .

The illustrations in the Leisure Hour and Sunday at Home are very well drawn indeed . "The War of American Independence" is still continued in the former , and so aro the Notes on tho Months and the Weather Wisdom wo have so often quoted specimens of . Tho chief attractions of Sunday at Home are Dr . Stoughton ' s papers on

" Westminster Abbey , " continued , a second interesting contribution by Mrs . Finn on " Agriculture in Palestine , " and articles on " General Sir Hopo Grant , " " Whale Fishing , " and " Eussia in the Latter Years , " tho last being by Dr . Keith . We can strongly recommend both these periodicals to the notice of onr readers . The young especially will find plenty of wholesome matter .

Precept And Practice.

PRECEPT AND PRACTICE .

From the "HEBREW LEADER . "

THE following conversation , between a friend and ourself , meeting at a festival in tho Temple , should be of interest to the Brotherhood : " It is noAV twenty-six years since I joined the Order you love so well , and to which you devote so much of your energy , and it has been thirteen years since I Avas exalted as a Eoyal Arch Mason , and exactly that length of time since I havo entered its doors . This seems

strange to you ; but let me explain the reason why . You know I am of a genial nature and fond of social company , and therefore you will wonder tho more . " "Let us hear yon , " AVO replied , "for you have never shown in the many years Ave have associated any outward sign of your connection with an institution which Ave should think would be your ideal of mental enjoyment , in study , in making the great

principles a chief topic in converse , and , in truth , presenting yourself a practical demonstration of the beauties of its teachings and of its lessons inculcated , for yon lead an exemplary life . " " Hold ! " said our companion ; " yon havo struck npon tho key-note of my exception I _ grant all you say as to precept , but the practice in the Order is so widely different . I was young , and fond of jovial society , but loved

tho very word ' charity' in its noblest and broadest sense . Many of my yonng companions were of the Order , but little insight led mo to knock , and the door was open to me . I drank every word that was uttered , I revelled in every ceremony , and as a student few surpassed me . Afc tho closo of every communication , as I advanced to the third degree , I accompanied the Lodge companions to the nearest refresh .

ment saloon , ancl with them enjoyed the passing cup . Great freedom and license were used in conversation , and while my nature and spirit rebelled , I silenced them with the thought' this is a casual outburst intended complimentarily to my passing the grades . ' But as time wore on , I found the fortnightly communications followed invariably by the same hurrah , and less restraint at my presence , or other in .

comers , and Avhat was bearable afc first not only became irksome , but with numbers of tho members becoming too familiar with the refresh , monts , ribaldry , unseemly jest and questionable song ruled the hour , ancl time flow past without one word of intellectual enjoyment , and my little home began to be neglected . I had the manliness and courage to stop right there , to go home direct from the Lodge , and to

visit and know for myself if this was a Masonic ruling passion . ' Tia trne I found many Lodges different from my own ; but many , I regret to say , of tho same faulty habit , undoing tho good so beautifully taught within the walls of our Masonic homo . I dropped my attendance , while ever cherishing what I had so beautifully learned of the noblest

Order in the land—noble in precept , but not so in practice . But now let mo add my mind would not let me give up the Order , and thirteen years ago I concluded to join the Chapter , deeming that there I Avonlcl find the cream of the Brotherhood , ancl my heart ' s wish gratified . But no , no change ; and I have been outside tho sanctuary ever since . "

Having had much experience , we had to acknowledge much of the force of our friend ' s remarks . It is to a great extent a sad truth , bub neither our pleasure or our dnty to act as did our friend . Wo insist upon remaining in the Lodge and in the Sanctnary , and not only by precept , but by example and practice , to induce others , if they feel the need of refreshment after the hour ' s labour , that they shall not

spend it in intemperance or excess , but in an enjoyment that shall bo intellectual in the main , and worthy of gentlemen and Masons . Every one exerts some influence ; and if he docs in the right direction with one companion , it will soon yield its fruit , and the influence will be sensibly felt among the whole body . Tho impression npon the

initiated will be everlasting , and the precept become of necessity his practice . God is immutable and eternal , and wishes rather the good purpose , when once begun , to be persevered in to the end of life . Popa Alexander , in hjg famous ball to the Knights Templars , in U 72 , says i- *