Meetings Next Week.

for 350 , 000 , 000 years ! Perhaps the most discouraging feature in Mrs . Fuller ' s book is the fact that , owing -to the deeply rooted prejudices and superstitions of the Hindus , they really believe that many of the enormities which they practice are wise and beneficial , and some of those who suffer most by these practices are most strongly in favour of their continuance . This is not a volume for general reading ; but it should claim the attention of thinkers and legislators . The illustrations are good .

Emma Marshall . A Biographical sketch , by Beatrice Marshall ( 6 s ) . —Seeley and Co ., Limited . THIS is the age of biographies . When an obscure country parson dies some relative frequently , records his virtues in a handsome volume ; a mediocre novelist is not infrequently immortalised in two volumes ; the letters of , poor poets are collected and arranged

with a lavish attention , ludicrously disproportionate to their author s importance . We have prefaced our notice of Miss Marshall ' s biographical sketch of her mother with these remarks , because we wish to express our strong conviction that "Emma Marshall" is an exceedingly able biography , conspicuous among many bad ones . Every lover of what is sweet and true in literature owes a great

debt to the stories which Mrs . Marshall wrote with such surpassing versatility ; for , even if they have : read none of them , they can hardly have missed reading many books obviously written on the model of " The Parson ' s Daughter" or " Under Salisbury Spire . " The manner in which Miss Marshall has handled her subject is , we think , eminently happy . Emma Marshall , during almost the whole

of her active adult life , passed her days successively at Norwich , Wells , Exeter . Gloucester , and Bristol , and her daughter has wisely drawn her character as much from the standpoint of the kindly and refined English f ? entlewoman as from that of the writer of some of the most charming historico-biographical stories in bur language . We can give to this book . the highest praise . which a book can ever

merit ; for nobody can read this biography of a noble woman without being the better . On almost every page there are proofs that in the character and genius of Emma Marshall two traits were conspicuous . Her life was ennobled by the loftiest ambitions ; her influence was enhanced by the spirit in which she discharged the lowliest duties . We could have wished that a few more Tetters

throwing light upon the progress of the stories , and the' range and extent of the writer's studies , had , been inserted . in this volume ; but Miss Marshall , prompted no doubt b y feelings , of , delicacy , has touched but slightly upon the subject of her mother ' s attainments . How great those attainments were , and how successfully their possessor could turn to the days that are no moreand , live in them

, during the writing of her stories , is known to everybody—from Macaulay's " Schoolboy " to Mr . Andrew Lang . We hope that many —particularly schoolboys—will find opportunity to read this volume . There is a charming literary flavour about its ' style , and a restraint in its diction which might be imitated with profit . The volume lias a few excellent illustrations .

BOOKS RECEIVED . New Century Library , ( 2 s net per vol . ) . —T . Nelson and Sons . The Works of WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY . Vol x ., The Adventures of Philip . The AVorks of CHARLES DICKENS . Vol ix ., American Notes , and A Child's History of England .

The Works of SIR WALTER SCOTT , BART . Vol . ii ., Guy Mannering \ Vitruyian Lodge , No . 87 . ON Saturday , at the Duke of Albany , Kitto RoadSt .

Cather-, ine ' s Park , Nunhead , Bro . R . Fitch W . M ., Butler S . W ., Mangold J . W ., Bale P . M . acting Preceptor , Reynolds Sec , Bennett S . D ., Morris J . D ., Phillips I . G ., Spaul P . M ., Morris P . M ., Binns P . M ., Bint P . M ., Dobell P . M ., Hancock , Brandenburg , Down , Jarvis , and others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Hancock acting as the candidate . Bro ! Phillips answered the questions leading to the second degree and was entrusted . The Lodge was advanced , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . Bros . Dobell and Morris P . M . rehearsed the ceremony of installation , all the work being perfectly rendered . Bro . Butler was elected W . M . for to-day ( Saturday ) .

Finsbury Park Lodge , No . 1288 . A VERY good meeting was held on Saturday , 5 th inst ., at the Old Cock Tavern , Highbury , N ., those present including Bros . H . Badman W . M ., G . D . Butterworth S . W . , J . Key J . W ., H . Hill P . M . Prec , C . W . Austin P . M Sec , John Thorn assist . Sec , G . Grant S . D ., T . A . Key J . D ., E . Baker I . G ., J . Coulthard , W . Coby , A . J . Davis Taylor P . M ., and others .

The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , including the ancient charge . Bro . John Thorn worked the fifth , Bro . Butterworth the sixth , and Bro . Austin the seventh section of the lecture . The Preceptor proposed that a heartv vote be passed , congratulating the W : M . on the way in which he had ; :.. dered the

first ceremony , for the first time in that Lodge . He felt sure that if Bro . Badman , who was W . M .-elect of his Miother Lodge , acquitted himself in the same admirable manner there , it would be a credit to himself and to his Lodge . The complimentary vote was passed and suitably acknowledged . Bro . James Day 128 S was elected a member , and Bro . Butterworth chosen W . M . for the next meeting ,

Meetings Next Week.

There was a large gathering at the regular meeting of the Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge , No . 23 62 , held , on Wednesday , gth inst , at the headquarters of the corps , and an enjoyable evening was spent by those present . The harmony was well sustained , during the after dinner " proceedings when , thanks

to the influence of Bro . J . Balls , the presence or Miss Julia Vivers was secured , she rendering "The meeting of the waters" and " Killarney" most exquisitely , and receiving the . hearty applause of the Brethren . Her accompanist was her sister , Miss Edna Vivers .

The Grand Hotel , Cromer , was on Thursday evening , the 10 th inst , the scene of the third annual ball given , by the Worshipful Master and , Brethren of the Baring Lodge , in aid of the Charities of the Craft . The appointments of the ball-room left nothing to be desired in the tastefulness of

decoration or brilliancy of general effect . The band was supplied by Bro . Salkind , and was under the able conductorship of Bro . S . Bennett . The programme comprised twenty dances . Bro . H . Callow was M . C ., and Bros . J . Lovelace ,

H . S . Fowler and R . M . Ling Assistants . There were upwards of a hundred and twenty guests . The spacious entrance hall was used as a lounge . An excellent supper was served by Bro . James Clarke .

* * * Last week we spoke of a " record "—an Organist haying been invested-nine years in succession , but this pales into insignificance before that of Bro . James Lawton , Uppermill ,

near Oldham . Bro . Lawton isin his 82 nd year , and is a P . M . of the Candour Lodge , No . 337 , which was formed in 1812 . He has been in Office for thirty-six years continuously , and was invested on Thursday last as Secretary for . the 30 th time . He is the oldest member of the Lodge ,-and a P . RG .

S . of W . for West Yorkshire , in which Province Uppermill is situate . We congratulate Bro . Lawton on his admirable " record , " and trust he will have still further prosperity and many happy days . — "Manchester Courier . " [ We cordially endorse the congratulations . —Ed . F . C . ]

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SPIERS * POND , STORES ( No Tickets Required ) QUEEN VICTORIA STREET , E . G ., Opposite Blackfriars Station ( District Rly . ) AHD St . Paul's Station ( L . C . & ' D . Rly . ) . PRICE BOOK ( 1 , 000 pages ) , iUustrated , free , on application , FREE DELIVERY IN SUBURBS by our ovtin Vans . L iberal te rm s for Country Orders . FOR FULL DETAILS SEE PRICE BOOK .