Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , Music , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , New Barnet . — : o : — Military Lodges ; the Apron and the Sword , or Freemasonry under Arms , by Robert Freke Gould Past Senior Grand Deacon of England ( 5 s ) . —Gale and Polden , Ltd . Ourt well known Brother Gould has once again contributed a valuable and interesting addition to Masonic literature , by his book recently published

¦ with this title . Commencing with the legendary connection of Charles Martel , King Athelstan , and other celebrated personages with the Craft , Bro . Gould proceeds to trace the progress of Freemasonry until he arrives at the more certain ground of our established history . It is curious to notice that the first Warrant creating a travelling Military Lodgo of Freemasons was granted by the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1732 . At that time " tho distressful country " was at peace , although several English and Scotch Regiments were stationed

in various districts ; and the Warrant referred to was issued to tho First Foot —now the " Royal Scots "—and the number 11 was assigned to it . There ia no doubt that the institution of Travelling Lodges materially contributed to the dissimination of the principles and tenets of the Craft throughout the world , especially in America and India . Thus in 1768 , when several British regiments arrived at Boston , many of the men were Masons , and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Scotland to appoint " A Grand Lodge Master of Ancient Masons in America . " A vast number of our leading and distinzuished men

in both the Army and Navy have been members of the Order , and Bro . Gould gives a long list of names of Military Brethren who have commanded Armies in tbe field , or our Navy at sea , from Wellington and Nelson to Wolseley and Beresford . We will not give extracts from this most interesting work , because we feel sure that we have said sufficient to recommend it to the notice of our readers , who will doubtless soon possess a copy of their own . The book is full of entertaining anecdotes , and the information contained does great credit to Bro . Gould's research .

Modern English Writers : Robert Louis Stevenson , by L . Cope Cornford . —Blackwood and Sons . OK the principle that " who drives fat oxen should himself be fat , " the writer who undertakes to discuss the work of Robert Louis Stevenson should himself be a literary craftsman of no mean order . Mr . Cope Cornford seems to have felt his responsibility whilst engaged upon the volume before us , and many a carefully finished phrase , many an houest striving after an

epigrammatic felicity of touch , attest his success . The narrative portion of this book ia somewhat slender ; but in face of Mr . Sydney Colvin's two volumes of Stevenson's letters just published , and the authorised biography expected from the same hands , Mr . Cornford ' s brevity is to be commended . The short chapters of critical appraisal , which have reminded us sometimes of Henry James and sometimes of Coulson Kernahan , tell us much about Stevenson as romanticist , artist , moralist and sedulous cultivator of a prose style of singular charm and grace . These chapters are well thought out , and ably expressed ,

and we can very readily credit the writer ' s own statement that he has always been an eager student of Stevenson ' s work . Only those whose duty it is to read and write much know how supremely difficult is the task to pronounce adequate judgment upon the entire work of a great writer . Mr . Cornford carefully traces the evolution of Stevenson's literary craftsmanship , from tho days of the little note books and the aping of Hazlitt , Lamb and Hawthorne , to "Treasure Island , " " Catriona" and " Wier of Hermiston . " Students of English Literature would find it extremely beneficial were they to read this Btudy of an eminent man of letters with earnest attention .

The Valley of Light , by W . Basil Worsfold . —Maomillan and Co ., Limited . HISTORY , says Francis Bacon , makes a man wise . There is a deal of history in this book concerning the valleys of the pious Piedmontese , and we are not sure that we could name any writer who would have handled this subject to greater advantage , save , perhaps , the late John Addington Symonds . Here , too , wo have some skilful limming of landscape , sometimes a silhouette , sometimes a vignette , sometimes a full length portrait . The writer has chosen

to work in the form of a series of letters written amid the scenes which he describes . This , on the wholo , was a wise course to pursue . Mr . Worsford tells us much about the Vaudois and their heroic struggles , so long sustained and so often repeated , on behalf of their religious freedom . It is a sad and a long story ; but it should be read widely . It is profitable , though not pleasant , to be at times reminded of the iniquitous tyranny too often practised by warrior-prelates who have posed as lords over Christ ' s heritage . As we

read the " Valley of Light" we felt a fresh sympathy with Mr . Swinburne ' s recent sonnet , in which he alluded to the " holy hounds of Rome . " The terrible stories of the massacres of the Vaudois , concerning which Mr . Worsford writes so strongly , are only to be paralleled by such narratives as the massacre at Glencoe , and the tragedy of Macallister's Cave . But we feel justified in making one remark . Toleration is easily enough preachedbut

, we fear it is customary , in practice , to make an exception to the disadvantage of one ' s particular enemy . Perhaps the Vaudois were as obnoxious to Pianezza as the Salvation Army is in the eyes of Mr . Basil Worsfold . We trust the author of the "Valley of Light" will find fit opportunity to write on some other epochs as ably as he has done on those of the VaudoiB persecutions .

The Temple Classics . Microcosmography . By John Earle . —J . M , Dent and Co . MACAULAY once defined a scholar as a man who reads Plato with his feet in the fender . Similarly , we might suggest that a genuine " litterateur " is one who reads Elizabethan and Carolean literature , or books of that ilk , during the Christmas holidays . Master John Earle' contrived to put into this little volume a doal of sententious and urbane humour—that indefinable

quality of which Charles Lamb was one of the latest really able exponents . Such a quality is comparable to the flavour of a generous wine upon the palate . As we turn these pages we cau fancy that the " Microcosmographist " is at our elbow , smiling at our enjoyment of his " Plain country fellow , " " Handsome hostess , " or " Young raw preacher . " Here wo see

our ancestors as others saw them . The quaint phraseology is characteristic of the age in which Earle wrote ; but his humour is eminently his own . Comparisons are often superficial and misleading ; but we may suggest that had Earle lived a century later his style would have closely resembled tho style of Joseph Addison . Were we compelled to limit our library to a single collection we must confess that the Temple Classics would seriously compete for our favour .

Books Of The Day.

The Vicar of St . Margaret ' s . Prize story on the present day conflict with sacerdotalism . By W . G . Murray , illustrated by W . S . Stacey ( Is 6 d ) . —Religious Tract Society . THE Religious Tract Society have set us a somewhat difficult task in asking us to review works of a distinctly religious controversial nature , for , as is pretty generally known , Freemasonry particularly discourages discussion of religious or political subjects in its Lodges . However , our editorial table

is not quite so exclusive as a Master ' s pedestal , and we take up the task in a general rather than a distinctly Masonic spirit , and hope that we may be able to justly deal with the books of this class boforo us without violating the principles of tho Craft . The Society are to be commended for their good intentions . They are no doubt sincerely anxious to place before their many readers such literature as shall tend to warn them against the insidious advance of sacerdotalism in this country . But we cannot think that such a

book as " The Vicar of St . Margaret ' s " will greatly assist the good cause . The story , as a story , is not uuskillfully constructed , indeed , we found it , on the whole , sufficiently interesting . But the picture , as is so frequently the case , is overdrawn . " Father" Adair , of course , ultimately joins the Church of Rome ; " Sister " Mary , of course , privately encourages the young ladies to pray to the Virgin ; Imogen is , of course , persuaded to run away from homo and join a sisterhood ; the " Mother Superior , " of course , prevaricates when questioned concerning the whereabouts of Imogen . Finally , the young

lady is brought to see tho errors of sacerdotalism , and becomes a rational being once again . To be quite just we must compliment the author upon the strong impression frequently produced by the slightest touch . But we venture to insist that in such books as "The Vicar of St . Margaret ' s " moderation and reserve are absolutely esseutial . The events here narrated are presumably intended as a fair study and reflection of Protestant life subjected to ritualistic influences . Are young ladies usually drawn into the bosom of sisterhoods by quite such a " modus operandi" as that here depicted ? Wo greatly doubt it .

Music Of The Day.

Music of the Day .

Mary . The celebrated ballad transcribed for the pianoforte by A . Cunio ( Paterson and Sons ) . —As an ardent admirer of " Mary " we are perhaps partial to any version of the favourite air that may come under our notice ; yet we cannot believe it is partiality alone that commends this work to us . It possesses merit—based on a pleasing theme—which should win it general favour .

Three Hungarian Dances , by Frederick Mullen ( composer of the famous set of " Norwegian " dances ) make up the 49 th number of the "Globe " edition of instrumental music , edited by William M . Hutchison , and published by Jofierys Limited , The collection is deserving of tho highest commendation , and should win equal favour as its predecessors . Olivia , by Cyril Carlton ( Edwin Ashdown ) is an easy arrrangement for the piano , which possesses a pleasing melody .

Zerlina intermezzo , composed by E . Boggetti ( E . Ascherberg and Co . ) , is a tuneful piece which abounds in some lively and taking passages .

Alpenklange . Melodisohes Tousfcuck fur pianoforte , von Georg Scharf ( A . Hammond aud Co . ) is a piece that would delight the aspirant for the role of brilliant executant , as it provides good scope for effective rendition . Complete Scale and Arpeggio Tutor for the pianoforte , containing all the scales and arpeggi required by candidates preparing for the chief examinations , by Adolphe Schloesser ( Gould and Co . ) . —A very useful and carefully arranged work for students .

dementi ' s Six Sonatinas , edited and fingered by Graham P . Moore ( Gould and Co . ) . —This collection gives evidence of careful work on the part of the compiler , and should prove of service and a means of instruction to the learner .

Prelude and Fugue No . 23 in B , by J . S . Bach , which appears as No . 195 of Messrs . Robert Cocks and Co ' s Standard Classical pieces for the pianoforte ( Gould and Co . ) well sustains the high reputation of the series , which has long enjoyed considerable popularity among our professors and teachers .

Echoes of Home . A selection of popular melodios easily arranged and fingered for the pianoforte , by Sydney West and William Smallwood ( Gould and Co . ) . —This series should hz a favourite with our younger friends , soveral well-known tunes having already been included in it , under the careful

direction of the well-known experts whose names we have quoted . The sixteenth part struck us as particularly pleasing , being devoted to a rendering of the popular " Tatters , " which we have long regarded as a favourite . Other numbers are equally pleasing , and include a wide range of musicianly productions .

Sambo . Barn dance for the pianoforte , by Rees Evans ( Edwin Ashdown ) is another lively tune which should gladden tho heart of any disciple of terpsichore ; it should be heard again and again in our midst at the festive assemblies of the season , having just the easy swing that dancers love . Hamilton ' s Instructions for the American Organ and Harmonium

( Gould and Co . ) enjoy the recommendation of a well-known name , and do credit to the author , who hero adopts his popular plan of imparting instruction by means of well-known tunes . We think it a very great encouragement to learners to be given airs with which they are familiar , as a means of improvement , rather than dry unknown ones , and for this reason particularly , as well as on general grounds , we recommend Hamilton's tutors .

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