Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . Calendrier Maronnique du Grand Orient de France , Supreme Conseil pour la France et les Possessions Francaises , 1882 ( 110 e annee . ) Paris : Secretariat General du Grand Orient de France . 16 Eue Cadet .

WE gather from this Masonio Calendar that thore are at the present time in France , the French possessions , and Foreign Countries , in fall working order , 276 Lodges , 35 Chapters , and 12 Councils , with a Consistory aid Grand College of Bites , making a grand total of 325 Masonic bodies . Of these , there are in Paris 52 Lodges , five Chapters , two Counoils , and the Grand College of Bites—total 60 ; in the

Department of the Seine nine Lodges ; in the other Departments 17 ( 3 Lodges , sixteen Chapters , and six Counoils , total 196 ; in Algeria twelve Lodges , two Chapters , and one Council—total 15 ; in the Colonies , seven Lodges , seven Chapters , and one Council—total 15 ; and in Foreign Countries twenty Lodges , five Chapters , two Councils , and a Consistory—total 28 . All the requisite particulars respecting

these and the dates and places of meeting are furnished , as well as of the Supreme Council of thirty-three members , by which the govern , ment of the Grand Orient is administered . Moreover , these particulars , while we can only say that , on the face of things , they appear to be accurate , are admirably arranged both in nominal and tabular lists . It is worth while notioing the distribution of French Lodges

& o ., in Foreign Countries , which is as follows : —A Lodge and Chapter at Barcelona , in Spain ; one Lodge at Corfu ; six Lodges and two Chapters in Bonmania ; one Lodge at Geneva ; three at Constantinople ; one at Beyront , in Syria ; one at Alexandria , Egypt ; three Lodges , one Chapter , and one Council in the Mauritius ; one Lodge , Valparaiso , Chili ; one Lodge at Buenos Ayres , Argentine

Confederation ; and a Lodge , Chapter , and Council at Monte Video , in the Eepublic of "Uruguay . While , however , we think the officials charged with the compilation of this Calendar have ably fulfilled their duty as far as French Masonry is concerned , we cannot speak as favourably of its foreign information . One instance , that of our own United Grand Lodge , must suffice . The name of the Deputy Grand Master ,

the Earl of Lathom , is altogether omitted . Lord Henry Thynne , M . P ., and Bro . H . C . Okeover , who were appointed Grand Wardens in 1874 are returned as filling those offices at the present timo ; while Bros . Samuel Tomkins and John Hervey , both deceased , are set down as Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary respectively . Further " Major Shadwell Clerke" is stated to be Grand Secretary General of

the Supreme Council A . and A . Bite , an office he resigned two years ago on his appointment as Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge , in sue cession to Bro . John Hervey resigned , and since , as we have said , deceased . We noticed a similar error in last year ' s Calendar , and we think it nearly time , after the lapse of close on some eight years , that

Btich errors should be corrected . We have no doubt the Secretaries of the Council of the Order , Bros . Ponlle and Wyrouhoff , are capable of accomplishing the not very difficnlt task of being accurate , and we trust they will see the propriety , as well as the advantage , of being so in future years .

Masonic Calendar and Official Directory for the Province of Wiltthire , 1882 . Issued with the sanction of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Lord Methuen and the Provincial Grand Lodge . Edited by William Nott P . M . 663 , P . Z . 632 , & c , Provincial Charity Secretary , Devizes : Printed by W . H . Buch , Winestreet .

THIS is the second year of publication , and Bro . Nott has evidently niissed no opportunity of making his Calendar as complete as possible . The Calendar for the year is exceedingly well done , and has the great advagtage of being interleaved , so that the possessor may make notes in reference to any particular meetings , or the events of a py particular day . Then follow nominal lists of the Grand and

Proracial Grand Officers for tho year , with the Officers of the subordinate Lodges and their Past Masters , and of the Grand and Prov . wand Chapters and subordinate Chapters of the Mark Grand Lodge and the one Mark Lodge in the county . In addition are details and the necessary information as to the Masonic Institutions , the votes Possessed by the Province , and the Provincial Charity Organisation , which , though it has not been more than one year in existence , has a

Balance in hand of over £ 105 , the receipts having been £ 110 and xin ^'" ings , and the expenditure only a . fraction over £ 5 . Though Wiltshire is but a small Province , with ten Lodges , four K . A . Chapters , and one Mark Lodge , and though the Craft Masons muster

? ° more than 449 , it has to its credit in respect of the Schools and ¦ Ueuevolent Institution 1117 votes , so that it can reasonably look forard to carrying a candidate for one of the Schools about once in two J ays , and for a Benevolent Institution Annuity in a somewhat longer wh ' i ° ^*' AB which is eminently creditable to the Province , bv ft ** manner in which it is recorded in the pages of the Calendar 1 Bro . Nott is worthy of all commendation .

/ t 0 Freemasons' Calendar and Directory for the Province of Glon . tester , 1882 . Published by authority of the Eight Worshipful r , - i ° i ' u ° Grand Master at ] d the Provincial Grand Lodge . Com-Piled by Brother Colonel H . Basevi Past DeDUtv District Grand

water Punjab , and Past Provincial Grand Registrar Gloucester 1 nnted b y John Bellows . 1882 . nieef ^' l "" * ° tfie Calendar and the usual information respecting the Qff ; . ln odaya of the various Masonic bodies in the Province , their Chant ^ f Pa 3 t Masfcors > & c - ' Colonel Basevi gives a list of Lodges , P ors , & o ., kc , in the adjoining Provinces of Berkshire , Bristol ,

Hereford shire , Monmouthshire , Oxfordshire , Somersetshire , Warwickshire , Wiltshire , and Worcestershire , together with a mass of details respecting tho votes and contributions of tho Lodges and brothren to our three Central Institutions , and the Provincial Charity Association of Gloucestershire , established in 1870 , its regulations ,

objects , officors , and members . In tho preface an appeal is mado to the members of the Craft in tho Province to support it more generally , and so enhance its usefulness—an appeal which wo sincerely trust will not be withont a satisfactory result . Tho

compilation , which is now in its fourth year , is well worthy of commendation , and Colonel Basevi may justly flatter himself on the clearness , precision , and method with which he has arranged its contents . Considering the limited space at his command , it is surprising how much information he has brought together .

Tlie Freemasons' Calendar and Directory for the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , 1882 . Fourth year of publication . Published by authority of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , and tho Provincial Grand Lodge . Compiled by Bro . Samuel S . Partridge P . M . P . Z ., P . P . S . G . W ., Provincial Grand Secretary .

THE Calendar and the requisite information as to tho dates and places of meetings , and tho Officers of the different Masonic bodies in the Provinces , constitute the bulk of the contents of this useful and well-compiled Calendar . In addition are lists of the Lodges , Chap , ters , Mark Lodges , & c , in tho adjoining Provinces of Warwickshire

Norths and Hunts , Nottinghamshire , Derbyshire , and Staffordshire , while the central Institutions and tho Masouic Charity Association of the Province receive their duo sharo of attention . In addition is a tabular statement showing tho voting strength of tho Province . Bro . Partridge is to be congratulated on tho admirable manner jn which he has fulfilled his task .

Masonic March and Song , The Power of Friendship . Dedicated to W . Brother J . H . Southwood ( P . M . and P . Z . 1260 , England , and P . M . 120 , Dublin ) , as a token of sincere regard and esteem by the author . Words by Bro . J . A . Wade , F . S . A . ( No . 2 , Scotland ) . Music by Bro . Louis Honig ( Lodge Asaph 1319 ) . London : Published by the composer , at his Academy of Music , 725 Commerciahroad , E .

WHEN we say that Bro . J . A . Wade is a veteran song writor , and author of " Billy Barlow , " and " Meet mo by moonlight alone , " and " Love was once a little boy , " our readers will at once feel favourably disposed towards his latest effusion , "The Power of Friendship . " Nor will they be wrong in so doing , for Bro . Wade ' s latest song is in all respects worthy of his long-established reputation .

The words , thongh simple , are very charming ; and , what will please the Craft above all things , they have in them the genuine Masonic ring . As for Bro . Honig ' s mnsic , we shall content ourselves with saying that it admirably interprets the words that are set to it . The March , too , is a spirited one , and though there is a small chance at our Lodge meetings of the spirit of geniality flagging , still , whenever an extra fillip may seem desirable , Bro . Honig ' s March will supply it .

Some Observations on Fire Insurance . In the form of a Lecture , explanatory of the principles on which tho Perpetual and General Fire Insurance Company , Limited , has born founded . By Bro E . C . Massey . Published by Winter and Bailey , 24 Chancery-lane , W . C .

ON the ordinary scheme of Fire Insurance , as set forth so lucidly in Bro . Massey ' s lecture , no remarks are necessary . The propriety of insuring against fire is recognised generally , tho majority of sensible people looking upon it as a duty , which it is imperative they should fulfil . The scheme of Perpetual Firo Insurance , howewr , is a novelty , and must be described , at all events , briefly . Tt is

remarkably simple . It is proposed to establish a Perpetual Fire Insurance Fund of £ 562 , 500 , and a Perpetual Fire Insurance Reserve Fund of £ 62 , 500 , making together £ 625 , 000 . This will be done by issuing half a million Policy Contracts at 25 s each , payable half-a-crown on application—to be returned , however , if the application is declinedand £ 1 2 s 6 d on allotment , or according to special arrangement , and

entitling the holder to interest at the rate of 3 J- per cent , per annum ( payable half-yearly ) , until the Policy Contracts are exchanged for Perpetual Fire Insurance Policies of £ 100 each , for the insurance of approved dwelling houses , and for the approved contents of such dwellings . Thus a person desirous of insuring against fire to the extent of £ 100 , can do so nnder this plan by the payment at once or as arranged of £ 1 on , for a Policy Contract which , in due course , is

exchanged for a Perpetual Policy for the said £ 100 . If ho wishes to insure to the extent of £ 1 , 000 , he must buy ten Policy Contracts , value £ 1 5 s each , to bo exchanged for as many Perpetual Policies , each value £ 100 . A strong Board of Directors has been formed , aud the important and responsible post of General Manager and Secretary entrusted to Bro . E . C . Massey , who , we feel confident , will be found a most efficient man in that capacity . We strongly recommend the scheme to our readers .

Great strides having of late been made in instantaneous photogranny , the Lessees of tho Alexandra Palace have offered prizes of gold , silver , and bronze medals for competition among professionals and amateurs , for the best photographs of the crowd assembled on Easter Monday . Last Easter Monday 76 , 824 persons visited the Palace , and it is intended to summon the whole number of visitors on the southern slopes of tho Park at a certain moment for the views to be taken .

• T . K . SIUJTD & Co ., Wine Merchant ( Experts and "Valuers ) . Well fermented old Wine 3 and matured Spirits . 2 Albert Mansions , Victoria-street , London , S . W .