The History Of Freemasonry.*

conclusions , and may shake the effective value of many of his ingenious criticisms , just as they may \ ve ;* ken the force of many of the proofs of his constructive and destructive skill , yet his work will remain a stately monument of

industry , investigation , penetration , aud power , invaluable as an aid to Masonic students , and truly , if not infallible , at any rate a veracious history of Freemasonry . For Bro . Gould ' s objections are never easy to refute , nor are his

most Nihilistic positions always possible completely to confute . He has shown us what can be done to make the history of Freemasonry readable and reliable , and we

must honestly concede to him , in this our age of Masonic study and research , a foremost place , if not the foremost , amongst those loyal workers who have sought to give truth , form , and vitality to the legends and myths of our Order .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

A . 11 Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill . Pentonville , London , M * .

Picturesque Wales . Handbook of Scenery accessible from the Cambrian Railways . Edited by Godfrey Turner . London : W . J . Adams and Sons , 59 Fleet Street , and Simpkin Marshall and Co ., Stationers' Hall Conrt , E . C .

Now that the holiday season is in fall swing , and business men who have the means and opportunity are flocking away in all directions from the " stuffy" confines of the great City , seeking rest and invigoration on breezy downsor afc quiet seasidehannts , the question " where shall we go ? " recurs with the regularity of clockwork .

Time was when nothing but a trip to the Continent could be the " correct thing , " and there are not a few people who measure their enjoyment to a great extent by the amount of money which can be expended in a given time . Undoubtedly 10 those whose position in life enforces them to perpetual leisure , and consequently a need of

frequent change , a crnise to the Mediterranean , an excursion on the Danube or the Rhine , scaling the Alps or basking near Norwegian fjords may be a beneficial form of relaxation ; bnt , after all , we question whether the real kernel of its enjoyment is not in the

thonght that such luxnrie' are attainable only by the affluent and favoured few . Of late years , however , there seems to have come a " change o ' er the spirit " of holiday dreamers , who are awakening to the fact ibafc there is no need to cross the Channel in search of

lovely scenery , of exhilarating and -life restoring climate , combined with all the other pleasures of a Continental journey except perhaps —if that can he called a pleasure at all—the puzzling perplexity of asking for everything you want in " broken " foreign jargon , ancl having your meals served up in mysterious fashion , about which

too many questions should not be asked . Samuel Weller jun ., when invited to regale on meat pies , mildly suggested that he always liked to " know the lady as made ' em ; " sagely observing that " when cats is in fruits is out ; and when fruits is out cats is in . " To a majority of those who look forward regularly to a fortnight ' s or a month ' s

holiday in the summer , there is no necessity of making a toil of pleasure by bridging the " silver streak , " ancl floundering about in as many fusty old Continental towns as can be crammed into tho programme of a tour . At home , within a few hours' reach , are scenes of natural beauty unsurpassed by those of any other countrv ,

and it is some gratification to find that English people are beginning to appreciate that fact by visiting in increased numbers yearly our own favourite resorts , both inland and along the coasts . Valuable aids to tourists of this class are issued from time to time by able writers who , abandoning the stereotyped form of the ancient

" guide books , " which were but an advertising puff for the respective districts with -which they dealt , give to their renders a " round , tmvamish'd tale" of -where to go , the best and cheapest routes , the most charming spots at which to halt , and , in fact , a bird ' seye view of how to condense within a given time the greatest

possible amount of enjoyment at the most reasonable expense . Another of these handy little works has just made its appearance , from the pen cf Mr . Go -ifrey Turner , entitled " Picturesque Wales , " and is a handbook of scenery accessible from tho Cambrian railways . Ifc is plentifully embellished with maps and illustrations ,

showing the chief pc . ints of interest to ho visited 111 the Principality , the result of personal and recent observations during ;¦ „ panoramic tour to Gwyllt Waiia , or tho Wild Wales of legend and history . Mountain and dell , lake ancl mere , with the pastimes peculiar to each , climbing , fishing , boating and thereat , are ail described with

facile pen by the compiler , and in such a manner as to make ono long to bo up and off at once to the scones so graphically presented to us . We will not attempt to follow our " tourist ' s guide " through tho labyrinths of rugged , romantic , ami sequestered scenery which he delineates in a book of ono hundred pages , but will leave tho reader ,

and especially he who con templates a . " run out" somewhere , and who docs not know exactly where to go . fee secure this hand y little "brochure for himself , assured that he will be charmed away by tho pardonable enthusiasm of the writer in his admiration of the scenes !

throngh which lie has passed . Information is given of the best j hotels afc which to stop , the local industries , iho . no : i accessible means j of reaching desirable spots , both inland and on the coast , and the principal points , such as the reef at Abeiystv .-yth , the Uuivcrsitv College and Castle ruins thero , the Craiglas rocks and cave , Teify

Lake , Monk s Cave ( Thunder Hole ) near Aberystwyth , Falls of tho Myrach and Rheidol , Devil ' s Bridge , Aberdovev Town , the Bird

Reviews.

Rock and ruins of Castelby-Bere , -owyn , near which is tha Tal-y . llyn lake and pass—a wildly rugged looking spot ; Barmouth aud its pretty surroundings , Dolgelly with its outskirts of trees aud rocks , " torrent walks , " & c , the ruins of Harlech Castle , aud a great many other features of antiquity aud history are pointed out in the wood engravings with which the handbook is profusely illustrated .

Black and White . An Illustrated Weekl y Journal . Manchester : 58 Cannon Street . THE peculiar interest to ns , attaching to this new venture , which has just attained the ninth week of its age , is the space devoted to local Masonic matters , aud an excellent portrait of Brother Colonel

Le Gendre N . Starkie , Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire . We are somewhat surprised that the illustration was nofc accompanied by some kind of notice of the career of a Mason who is so deservedly popular iu his Province and in the Craffc ; but the editor contents himself with a summary of the proceedings of

Provincial Grand Lodge held at fche Manchester Free Trade Hall , on the 11 th of last month . Notices appear of Local Lodges , which give to the journal a distinctive feature , so far as the Provinces are concerned . The other contents of this little work appear to be

judiciously and smartly put together , a wide range of subjects being covered , including treatises on art , the drama , sketches and " inklings " in black and white , which combine to make up a literary pennyworth that will doubtless find many an appreciative favour in its own especial district .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

CONSECRATION OF THE GEORGE PRICE CHAPTER , No . 2096 . ON Saturday last another addition was made to the number of Royal Arch Chapters in the Province of Surrey , when the George Price Chapter was consecrated by M . E . Comp . General J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., Grand Superintendent , at the Greyhound Hotel , Croydon . He was assisted in the ceremony by Comps . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke G . Scribe E ., Rev . A . F . A . ' Woodford

P . P . G . S ., F . West Provincial Grand H ., Charles Greenwood Provincial Grand Scribe E ., II . E . Frances P . Prov . G . D . C , and other Provincial Grand Officers . For some time past a wish had boon expressed that the success attendant upon the George Price Craft Lodge should be further developed by the establishment of a

Royal Arch Chapter in connection with it . Efforts to obtain this desirable end were put forth , and a warrant was in due course obtained , the founders being Comps . Flugh Marcus Hobbs Scribe E . -163 P . A . G . D . C . ( K . A . Surrey ) M . E . Z . designate , Joseph David Langton J . elect 1319 II . designate , James Shepherd Frazer P . Z . 214

aud 1519 P . P . G . A . S . ( Middlesex and Essex ) J . designate , C . H . Woodward P . Z ., Arthur Adams , A . Stewart Brown , llaitland H . Dicker , M . L . Levey P . Z ., F . Cambridge , Gordon Smith , E . C . Holdsworth , R . W . Wilson , C . Holden , and F . Carter . All were present with the exception of Comp . Woodward , who expressed regret at being

unable to attend ; and a similar letter was received from Comp . Georgo Price , who sent his heartiest wish ~ s for the success of fche Chapter . The Consecration was looked forward to with considerable interest , and thero was consequentl y ; i numerous muster of Companions from all parts of the Province . The Principals pro tern .

having opened tha Chapter , the Comps . entered in order aud saluted , after which the M . E . Z . addressed the assembly ou tho nature of the meeting , and called npon Companion J . to give fche introductory prayer . Acting Scribe E . then stated the wishes of the Companions and the proceedings they had taken with resoecb fco the Chapter ,

subsequently addressing the Principals and reading the Petition aud Charter . The Companions having signified their approval in Masonic form , the M . E . Z . proceeded to constitute them into a regular Chapter according to ancient rite , and an eloquent oration on the nature and principles of the Institution was delivered by Comp .

Rev . A . F . A . Woodford P . P . G . S . Then followed the anthem , " Behold how good and joyful a thing ifc is , brethren , to dwell together iu nnity , " and the first portion of the dedication prayer was said . All the Companions turned to tho East while the M . E . Z . gave fche invocation , and portions of scripture were read . The ceremony of

consecration then proceeded in tho usual form . The Chapter having been duly dedicated and constituted , the anthem , " God of lovo whoso lovo unceasing , " was sung , and tho installation of Principals wan performed b . Companion Colonel Shadwell II . Gierke Grand Scribe E . Tho following is a complete list of tho Officers

lor the year . •—Comps . xiugh J , I . Hobbs M . E . Z ., Joseph D . Langton II ., James S . Fraser J ., C . II . Woodward acting P . Z . and Dir . of Cers ., A . Stewart Brown Scribe E ., Muitland K . Dicker Scribe N ., Arthur Adams Treasurer , M . L . Levey P . S ., F . Cambridge 1 st A . S ., Gordon Smith 2 nd A . S ., E . 0 . Holdsworfch Steward , W . Lauo Janitor . Ou tho motion of the . M . E . Z ., tho Consecrating and Installing Officers

were unanimously elected hon . members of tho Chapter , and a vote of thanks was ordered fco be iccorde-d on tho minutes for their kindncas in assisting at tho ceremonies . Comps . General Brownrigg and Col . Gierke briefly acknowledged the compliment paid them . Several propositions for exaltation and joining were handed in , aud after tho usual business ; the Chapter was closed in form . The musical

! portions of tho ceremony wero admirably carried out , under the direction of Comp . F . Cambridge P . P . G . O . Surrey , and added very materially to tho imprcssiveness of the proceedings . In the j evening the Companions sat down tj a sumptuous banquet , j served under the persona ! superiateadeneo of Brother F . W .

Bridle , manager of tho ho : el , whoso arrangements were all that could be desired . Amongst tho Visitors present were