The Coloured Mason Question.

precedent for ono of his predecessors . This is something like the proverbial Irishman ' s progression backwards , or as though we might say that certain people inherited their property from their heirs and successors . Bro . Norton , you must have just a wee drop of Irish Wood in your veins ,

or you never would have made such a bull . Nevertheless , very dear Brother—in imagination , of course—we take you friendly by the hand , and wish you God speed in all your undertakings . Masonic and profane . Only , please be

careful in other discussions not to reverse the natural order of things , and justify the past by the future . We greet you well , Bro . Norton , and send you hearty good wishes for a merry Christmastide and a happy New Year . —ED . FREE - MASONS' CHRONICLE . ]

The Magazines Of The Month.

THE MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .

Blacliwood commences with a further part of " A Woman Hater . " Dr . Ehoda Gale again plays an important part , and is destined , we imagine , to render valuable aid in unravelling certain mysterious antecedents in the history of Mr . Severn , who is now engaged to marry Miss Vizard . The picture of the ancestral home of the Vizards is admirably drawn , and indeed in all tho scones depicted in

this section of the story tho writer has succeeded even beyond expectation . As regards the story of " The Secret Chamber , " our readers will gather from tho title what is its character . It is not too much to say that it possesses a "thrilling" interest—that we believe to be the proper expression—while , at the same time , it comes legitimately within the range of family mysteries . " A Winter Reverie" is delightful reading , and so , too , No . III . of "Devious

Rambles with a Definite Object . " The other contributions include a lively description of " A German Bath , " a review of " Prejovalsky ' s Mongolia and Solitudes of Northern Thibet , " together with the usual political article , the subject of which is " The Conference at Constantinople . " Those of our readers whose political views aro the same as Maga ' s , will , no doubt , derive much pleasure from reading it .

We rarely see a number of Temple Bar which ia not crowded with articles exhibiting a very high order of merit . This month fiction , history , and dramatic criticism are worthily represented ; the first , by Mr . Anthony Trollope ' s story of "Tho American Senator , " and "My Uncle ' s Darling ; " the second , by an able sketch of "Henry the Fourth and la Belle Gabrielle ; " and the last by another of the

series of very popular sketches of " Our old Actors , " The Elder Matthews" being the actor whose career and attributes the writer has chosen to pourtray . Then there are biographical sketches of the late " George Stubbs , R . A ., " and a short essay on " Vulgarity , " with a Spanish picture , cleverly described , of "Toilers on the River . " But the verses b y G . J . Whyte . Melville , entitled " The Object of a Life , " are unquestionably the chief attraction of the number .

Another magazine to which we are always ready to accord a hearty welcome is Cornhill . The new serial story , commenced last month , of " Erema ; or , my Father ' s Sin , " is worthy of all praise , while in " Carita , " which has been current for a longer time , tho interest is well sustained , the story being life-like , and full of incident . " Towards tho North Pole , " as the title indicates , describes

the progress of Arctic discovery , and our readers may ba sure that the expedition recently returned to England claims its share of attention ; its sledge labours being principally noticed . An essay on " Culture and Modern Poetry , " and two biographical sketches of " Charles of Orleans , " and " Abraham Cowley , " complete the list of contributions .

Baily contains a short , but well-written history , entitled "The Straight Tip , " together with a continuation of "Tho Recollections of Mr . Coleman . " Those who are fond of analysing the performances of our Public School Cricketers will find ample to employ their

leisure moments on " Cricket ; the School Averages , " in which the batting and bowling averages of each member of the principal Public Schools Elevens is carefully recorded , and the leading characteristics of each boy ' s play described . " Our Van" is more heavily laden than usual , while the quality is , as usual , excellent .

Txnsleya has latterly varied its programme very considerably , and beyond all question for the better . Serial fiction still occupies the most prominent placo in the programme ; bnt , relatively to the other contents , the prominence is no longer so distinguishable . Thus Mr . Albert Vandam contributes a paper on " Dramatic Adaptation , " for which " Peril" at the Prince of Wales serves as the text . The author of "The Old Candidate" and other works writes a tale , entitled

" Vaccination to Matrimony . " In addition are an article on " Darwinism , " by Mr . Henry Penning ; "A Quest , " in two chapters ; " Too Late to Mend , " and " Veneer , " by W . Maclirie . In the way of poetry we find another of the " Lore Songs of all Nations , " and a gracefully-written set of verses on "True Friendship , " by Mrs . M . A . Raines , whose acrostics on the months we have had to mnch pleasure in quoting in previous issues . This little poem we take leave to reproduce here .

Oh ! for a kind and loving friend , Who knows our better thoughts untold ; Who'll for truth ' s sake our name defend , And virtues more than faults unfold ! Oh ! for a pair of trustful eyes To look into our own , and see What ' s hidden from the worldly-wise , Yet all lo plain to you and me !

The Magazines Of The Month.

Oh ! for an honest . ha » d to clasp , When heart and hand are pledged to you ! Th' unspoken promise of that grasp , Would say , " 'Twill be ever true . "

When earthly friends are false , and prove How fleeting are all things below ; For peace turn to the FBIEND above , No change can such love over know .

A new volume of Cassell ' s Family Magazine is commenced this month , and with it two new serial tales , one by J . Berwick Harwood , entitled " Paul Kuox , Pitman ; " and tho other , " My Guardian , " by Miss Ada Cambridge . We like them both , and shall watch their progress with keen interest . Miss Julia Goddard contributes somo

very appropriate " Christmas Verses . " Tho bulk of tho other contributions are of a practical character , such as the directions laid down iu answer to tho question , " What shall wo do boforo tho Doctor comes ? " " Gardening in December , " Mr . Payne ' s very seasonable instructions about bishop , mulled claret , and wassail , bowl , and other

" Christmas Cheer , " " How to Decorate a House at Christmas Time , " together with " Chit-Chat on Dress , " and " The Gatherer ' s " Notes ; In addition to those are " Some Curiosities of Evergreens , " contributed by Mr . J . E . Taylor , F . L . S ., F . G . S ., & c , and a readable account of " Windsor Castlo and its Romances . " The frontispiece is a well , executed engraving of " Windsor Castle . "

We havo received from the samofirm of publishers ( Messrs . Cassell , Fetter and Galpiu ) Part . I . of a now Natural History , intended for tho use of the student and general reader , and giving all the latest information derived from authentic sources . This work will be issued in monthly parts , at the modest price of sevenpence each part , and

will bo illustrated with about two thousand wood engravings . Knowing , as we do , tho valno of these various serial publications , we strongly advise any of onrreaders whose librarymaynotbealready furnished with such a work , to order this Natural History to be sent them

regularly . This Part I . treats of " Quadrumana-Apes and Monkeys , " and is unquestionably an excellent number . If succeeding parts exhibit the samo degree of merit and the same accuracy of descrip . tion , tho work , when completed , will , indeed , be a treasure to the naturalist .

In Part IV . of The Countries of the World , " we find ourselves still lingering in the Arctic regions , but progress is gradually being made to a southerly direction . The whale fishery is noticed at some length , and there is a very good engraving of " Attacking a Whale with a Hand Harpoon . "

Among the contents of the Leisure Hour must be mentioned the first part of an interesting biography of " Joseph Mazzini , " a description of " Ormuz , " an account of " The American Centennial Exhibition , " and a paper on "Early Civilisation , " in which the Rev . Canon Rawlinson sums up the results of the inquiries in previous papers . "Wit in Court" is highly amusing , while No . IV . of

" American Caricaturists " is a worthy sequel to the former three . There are two admirable papers , entitled respectively "Iron Mining and Iron Manufacture in India , " aud " London District Post-Offices , " nor must we overlook the merits of " Antiquarian Gossip on the Months " and " Weather Proverbs . " These last are brought to a close , with somo general instructions for correctly reading tho baro . meter , as December furnishes only one proverb : —

" Thunder in December presages fine weather . " Iu the way of Antiquarian Gossip , we find a more interesting array of old and quaint customs than usual . Wo requote the following from Gay ' s Trivia on St . Stephen ' s , or , as it is more generally known , Boxing-day : —

" Some boys are rich by birth , beyond all wants , Beloved by uncles aud kind good all aunts ; When time comes round a Ghristmas-bo , e they bear , And one day makes them rich for all the year .

At Drayton Beauchamp , in the county of Backs , it seems , there was a custom for this day called Stephening . All tho inhabitants had to go the rectory , aud eat as much bread and cheeso , and drink as much ale , as they chose , at the expense of tho rector . In Scotland , the

last day of tho year is known as " Hogmanay . " It is a great holiday , and , early in the morning , children go round to the better class of houses for tho customary dole of oaten bread , singing at the same

timo" Hogmanay , TrolJolay , Give us of your white bread and none of your grey . " We note that , in the Sunday at Home , Dr . Stoughton ' s aeries of articles on " Westminster Abbey" is still current , whilo Mrs . Finn contributes No . IV . of her series of papers on "Agriculture iu Palestine . "

The Royal Masonic Cyclopmdia of History , Rites , Symbolism , and Biography . Part V . Edited by Kenneth R . H . Mackenzie , IX ( "Cryptonymus" ) . London : Bro . John Hogg , 15 A Paternoster , row , E . C . THIS part takes us as far as the beginning of the letter S , and thers only remains one more part to bo issued , when the Cyclopaedia will bo complete . We notice the same evidence of careful research and

thoughtful selection of matter on tho part of the Editor in this as iu the preceding parts , and we are quite satisfied the work , when perfect , will prove an invaluable addition to every studious Mason ' s library . Bro . Mackenzie is worthy of all praise for the time and labour he must have spent in the preparation of this work , and we trust the brethren will show thoir appreciation of his Cyclopmlia by purchasing it .