Reviews.

Tasmania—Past and Present . A Lecture at the Town Hall , Col Chester , delivered on the 3 rd January 1877 . By Sir Charles Du Cane , K . C . M . G ., Ex-Governor of the Colony . Colchester : Printed at the " Essex Standard " Office , 1877 . WE have read this little pamphlet with a great deal of pleasure , and we may add with as much profit as pleasure . As Ex-Governor of the

Colony , Sir Charles Du Cane speaks with a full knowledge of its condition and future prospects . He is also well versed in its antecedent history . Above all things , however , must be noted the singularly clear and genial manner in which he imparts his knowledge , experience , and hopes . Nor is this all . There is a mass of valuable information which has been specially compiled for tho benefit of

intending emigrants . This information is derived from official and , therefore , trustworthy sources , so that any ono who contemplates emigrating to this colony will know beforehand what he shonld take with him , what ho must expect on his arrival out there , and what his prospects of establishing himself successfully . Wero there more of these pamphlets published—the price is only ninepeuce—relating to other

colonies and countries , we should hear less frequently of the disappointments and misfortunes of emigrants from these shores . We congratulate the proprietor of our Essex contemporary , not only on the excellence of the publication which has appeared under their auspices , but likewise on the neat and workmanlike manner in which they have presented it to the publio .

Cook ' s Handbook for London . With maps . London : Thomas Cook and Son , Ludgate-cirous , and Simpkin , Marshall and Co . ; and New York : Cook , Son and Jenkins , 261 Broadway . This is a most accurately compiled guide to the railways , tramways , omnibus routes , steamers , cab routes , & c , of tbe Metropolis , as well as to all the principal churches and chapels , public buildings and offices , museums ,

picture galleries , educational institutions , law courts , prisons , monuments , and the like , and also to tbe theatres , clubs , newspaper offices , and foreign consulates . It further contains the needful information about hotels and boarding houses , foreign money and measures , with the equivalent of the former in English , mileage and weather tables , variations of time in different countries , and a calendar for 1877 and 1878 . The maps are clearly drawn , that which shows the railway

system being especially so . In fact , this handbook contains in modest compass all the information which a Londoner or visitors to London can possibly need for general purposes . Nor is the excursionist overlooked , for there is a long catalogue of places withiu easy access of the metropolis , and the needful particulars how to reach them . Any of onr readers who may want such a handbook should buy one . We feel certain they will consider the sixpence it will cost them a profitable investment .

We have received copy of the New Boat Race 'Map of the Thames on the large scale of six inches to the mile , published by Thomas Letts , 72 Queen Victoria-street , E . C . To the large number of our readers who will doubtless make a point of witnessing the Inter-University race of to-day , this timely publication will be of great value , as showing the leading points such as Bishop ' s Creek , the Soap Works , the

Oil Mills , Corney Reach , Chiswick Eyot , & o ., & c , to which reference is so frequently made in the records of each day's practice . But not only on this particular occasion will it be found serviceable ; the new race map likewise shows all seats , roads , lanes , parks , gardens , along tho route , 'together with the height of different spots above

highwater mark , and will be of value , therefore , to residents and intending residents in the neighbourhood of this portion of the river . It is , moreover , entirely trustworthy , as it has been taken from the recent ordnance plans of Middlesex and / Surrey . Continuation sheets of maps north , south , east and west of this , on the same scale , can be obtained of the publisher .

Beginning A Lodge

BEGINNING A LODGE

( From the Voice of Masonry . ) A by " no means limited experience and an extensive observation in the matter of Lodge establishment , convinces me that a great proportion of the evils that beset , and the difficulties that environ , the progress of a Lodge , have their origin in tho early stages of its existence , and many of them within the hours that give

it birth . There are many causes which work together to produce and formulate this fact . It is deemed desirable by those who seek to establish a Lodge , that as large a . number as can conveniently be obtained should be received at the time it is formed . This is desired for two reasons ; if a large number then become members , it

gives eclCd to the proceedings , and public notice is moro concentrated upon a Lodge that starts out with such a following . Hence we sometimes hear members of the young Lodge congratulating themselves on the great number of Masons which are made in the early days of its existence j and then , it frequently happens , that a

pecuniary calculation enters into the acconut . It costs money to fix up halls for Lodge purposes , and often thoso who have borne the burden of the preparation are led by a necessary regard for their own exchequer to count the number of fees which will liquidate the indebtedness . Hence a point is often strained to admit ono , who , if

the Lodge was older or out of debt , would never be taken by the hand as a brother . Cases have been known where this money operation has been carried so far as to allow the unbaliotted candidate to advance his initiatory fee before there was any Lodge to which he could make application . These cases ought to be rare . By the

influence of these considerations men of doubtful character and principles pass the ordeal and are received into fall fellowship as Masons . It is but fair to state , in this connection , that a lack of experience may be pleaded by those who are guilty of the sad indiscretion of allowing such men to figure on the roll of members ; aud

Beginning A Lodge

this plea may go far to mitigate the offence , but does by no meaus remedy the evil when once it is consummated . The evil consequences sometimes remain to curse their authors , and the Lodge for years and decades , and not unfrequently a second generation is plagued by the loose action of the too trusting fathers . Masons who are about to constitute a Lodge should remember that

numbers are not always strength , and that one unworthy member can , and probably will , do more harm to Masonry than the combined hosts of all outside antagonists . They should also charge their memory with the fact that it is much more easy to keep a bad man out of the Lodge than it is to expel an unworthy member . And , again , one good member cannot bo supplemented by any number of

bad ones . With these facts in mind , the founders of a new Lodge will not be likely to prefer numbers to merit , nor to hold a fall muster roll as superior to a meritorious membership , and will very likely conclude that no new members will be better for the Lodge than any number of bad ones . The future of a new Lodge depends in a greater or less degree

upon the character and standing of those who originate it . These associated together in a Lodge naturally draw to them men of their own sentiments aud principles . The staid churchman attracts his brother churchman ; the rough , uncultivated man brings that class with him ; the scientist influences scientific men of his acquaintance j and so through all grades of character and attainment . A Lodge ,

the projectors of which should all be of tbe strict Puritan school of theology , would hardly gather in the free-thinking class of religionists ; neither would a Lodge composed of persons with aristocratic ten . dencies , bring to their fold any greater numbers of the less pretentious classes of society . As a general rule Masonry flourishes best and grows most

luxuriously among the middle classes—the workers of the community . Its leveling principles do not harmonise with its notions of exclusive holiness in religion , nor exclusive privilege in the social world . Our Order finds it chief supporters among the producers of the countrythose who meet all men—even the king on his throne—on the level , and treat each , though he be as poor as Lazarus , on the square .

These aro the men who give character to tbe community in which they live , and who will give character to any Lodge thoy may join . Common sense , then , would dictate that the organization of a Lodge should be of such material as will command the efforts and secure the influence of this class . It should always be remembered that Masonry has little in common with aristocracy , and least of all with

the aristocracy of wealth . "It regards no man for his worldly wealth or honours . " Hence it may be concluded that all efforts—and such are sometimes put forth , to secure as a member , the little , great man—the rich man of the community , a character which a ' most every neighbourhood possesses—might better be withheld or directed to other objects . Almost certain to claim precedence in the

Lodge on account of his possessions , he breaks np the level on which the true Mason seeks always to travel , and the road of all becomes more difficult in consequence . And , in most cases , such men do not appreciate either the benefits or beauties of Masonry . They do not feel the need of an institution founded upon the mutual wants and capabilities of the race . They feel their own provision against

adverse fortune is made , aud heuce conclude that the benefits of the Order , so far as they are concerned , are theoretical rather than practical ; and hence are Masons in theory only . It is impossible , in the nature of man , that such an individual should lovo Masonry for its own inherent value , because the circumstances by which he is surrounded do not conspire to teach him its actual , practical worth .

At long intervals we find wealth combined with a natural sympathy with human infirmity , which enable their possessors to fully appreciate the value of the Fraternity in mitigation of human ills . but these cases may be classed as au exception to . the general rule ; While it , by no means , should be understood that the possession of wealth disqualifies a man for Masonry , it should be understood that

the fact of wealth is of no value in his examination . Let him come in , if a good man , but he should get the degrees in such fashion as will convince him that tho favour received is on his part , and not on the part of the Fraternity—a proposition that is sometimes , if not frequently , reversed in practice . In the light of the foregoing remarks , it will appear that in the

organization of a new Lodge , if wo would have it prosperous , wo should prefer those in moderate circumstances , for in that class wo find those who need its aid , and consequently can appreciate its blessings . It is in that class that the workers and producers of the world are found . They are the men that fill the street with traffic , and cause the whirr of machinery to be heard all over the land .

They wield the saw , tho hammer , the trowel , and the chisel . They run our railroad trains , and go down to the sea in ships for the benefit of trade and commerce . They traffic with the nations , exchanging the products of our soil for necessaries aud luxuries which we do not produce . They follow the plough iu seed time , and in the harvuat guide the reaper and feed the thresher with the golden sheaves of tho

ripo grain . These aro the men to make a prosperous and permanent Lodge . They give their character to every community , and the results of their labours to the ends of the world . Aud such men sustain our Institution . Hence , more than anywhere else , when beginning a Lodge , we should look among them for material from which to build . It is not meant by anything here said , that the

doors of the Lodge should be closed against any respectable calling or profession , any more than it ia intended to say that every active worker , whatever his character in other respects may be , should be received into the Lodge . Masonry finds its largest sustaining power and most active members among business men—the workers and producers . Therefore it should seek more especially for the " living

stones , " with which to " erect its moral and Masonic edifice , " in that quarry . Masonry does not find ready sympathy and aid from those tvhose wealth has removed them from the fellowship of the people , therefore it should not seek for goodly material for the building in that direction , expecting to find iu plenty stones such us are wanted . The meaning of this is , " always select the beat material / '