Reviews.

REVIEWS .

r Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor " Freemason ' s Chronicle , " New Barnet . — : o : — A Tourist's Visit to Argyllshire and West Highlands . ( London : GreenleesBrothers . Gratis . )] MESSES . GREENLEES have compiled a series of routes for tourists

m Scotland , which should prove of service to visitors , especially those who may not be acquainted with the best means of seeing the sights during a brief stay . The tours given number seven , and are intended to extend over one , two , or four weeks . They are accompanied by a good map , so thafc the different routes can be

traced at a glance . Beyond this portion of the work we are introduced to a mass of " Facts about Scotch Whisky , " including a description of Messrs .

Greenlees s establishments and a summary showing the magnitude of their transaction . s In this section of thc book there are several illustrations of different branches of the firm ' s business , the whole forming a pleasing souvenir of ono of the most widely known producers of this very popular beverage .

The Origin Of Masonic Veteran Associations.

THE ORIGIN OF MASONIC VETERAN ASSOCIATIONS .

BKO . KOBEKT C . NARAMOKE , formerly of Connecticut , now of Sing Sing , N . Y ., under date of 21 st July 1893 , writes : " I am proud to say that I am the author and founder of the first Veteran Masonic Association , not only in this country , but , as far as I know , in the world . " In the proceedings of the eighth annual re-union of the Connecticut Veterans , Brother

Naramore places upon record the incident that led to the organisation of the first Veteran Association : " In the autumn of 1870 , the speaker , who was at that time Master of King Hiram Lodge , No . 12 , of Birmingham , Conn ., was requested to administer the last sad rites of Masonic burial to a deceased Brother . The circumstances attending the request were of such a nature that I was in doubt as

to my duty in the matter . The deceased was not a member of my Lodge , and the friends all resided in an adjoining jurisdiction , and it was not until one hour before the time appointed for the funeral that I received information that left me without any doubt as to my duties in the premises . Hastily repairing to tbe Lodge room , I obtained the necessary furniture and , summoning three Brethren

to my assistance , I repaired at once to tho house of mourning . The place of interment was eight miles distant , at Southford , in the town of Southbury . On reaching the cemetery , and while plucking some evergreen sprigs that grew by the wayside , three aged men approached and asked permission to unite with us in tho solemn service . They said : ' We are very rusty ; some of us have

not been inside of a Lodge in 30 years , yet * we are Masons , though wo cannot prove ourselves such . ' 1 said to them : ' Brethren , you are welcome ; It matters not how rusty you may be , for at the grave of a deceased Brother we have no privacy . ' The half hour in thafc quiet cemetery was to me a time of great sadness . While reading our solemn and impressive burial service my thoughts were

divided between the living and the dead . For the dead , 1 dropped the tear of heartfelt pity and sorrow ; for the living , aged , veteran Masons before me , some of whom hud not been insk . e a Lodge m thirty years , I shed the tear of penitential sorrow , and 1 resolved then and there thafc these venerable Brethren scattered all over our State , unhonoured and unknown , should be neglected no longer .

On that beautiful autumnal day in that quiet churchyard nestling among the hills in that peaceful valley in Southford , amid a stillness almost painful , surrounded on all sides by the narrow houses of the dead , the Connecticut Veteran Association was born . The purpose then and there formed was duly inaugurated on the 17 th of June 1871 , at which time our first re-union was held under the auspices of King Hiram Lodge , No . 12 , of Birmingham . "

At this re-union a large number of very aged veterans appeared . The combined ages of the seven oldest amounted to 583 years , an average of over 83 years . It is worthy of record thafc Bro . Stephen Trowbridge , of Ansantawae Lodge , No . 89 , aged 92 years , wore on that occasion a Masonic apron purchased by him in Bordeaux , France , in 1815 , 56 years previously . Twenty-five years standing as Master Mason is still required for eligibility to membership . — " American Tyler . "

Next Week.

NEXT WEEK .

Jfonday . 48 Industry , Gateshead 491 Royal Sussex , Jersey 557 Loyal Victoria , Callington 999 Robert Burns , Manchester 1177 Tenby , Tenby 1325 Stanley , Liverpool 1753 Obedience , Okehamptou

1861 Claremont , Croy don 1991 Agricola , York 2068 Portsmouth Temperance , Landport

Tuesday . 253 Tyrian , Derby ' 954 St . Aubyn , Morice Town 1007 Howe and Chamwcod , LougLboiongh 1016 Eikingtcn , Bhrnhiglum

Next Week.

1052 Callender , Manchester 1390 Whitwell , Millom 1580 Cranbourne , Hatfield 1609 Liverpool Dramatic , Liverpool

1636 St . Cecilia , Brighton 1650 Rose of Kaby , Staindrop 1675 Ancient Briton , Liverpool 1779 Ivanhoe , Sheffield 1942 Minerva , Fenton 1958 Hundred of Bosmere , Portsea 2025 St . George , Plymouth

Wednesday . 898 Temperance in the East , Poplar 187 Royal Sussex of Hospitality , Bristol 304 Philanthropic , Leeds 439 Scientific , Bingley 461 Fortitude , Newton Moor 1119 St . Bede , Jarrow 1283 Kyburn , Sowerby Bridge 1775 Leopold , Church , near Accrington 1989 Stirling , Cleator Moor

Next Week.

2064 Smith Child , Tunstall 2330 St . Lawrence , Pudsey

Thursday . General Committee , Girls School , Freemasons' Hall , afc 5 39 Sfc . John the Baptist , Exeter 590 La Cesaree , Jersey 636 De Ogle , Morpeth 807 Cabbell , Norwich 904 Phcenix , Rotherham 1151 Sfc . Andrew , Tywardreath 1166 Clarendon , Hyde 1578 Merlin , Pontypridd

Friday . House Committee , Benevolent Institution , Croydon , at 3 810 Craven , Skipton 1822 Sfc . Quintin , Cowbridge 2415 Tristram , Shildon 2431 Kingsley , Northampton

Freemasonry In The Force.

FREEMASONRY IN THE FORCE .

To the Editor of the " Weekly Freeman . " . SIB , —A practice exists in the establishment of the constabulary force of the county Down that does not exist in any other county of Ireland . Nearly half the stations in this county are situated along the sea-board , where some mon are allowed to remain basking

themselves m the sun from ten to fifteen years without ever being removed , to the detriment of the public service . When I say to the detriment of the public service I mean to say that men who are kept at these stations for such a length of time cannot possibly perform their duty impartially , according to the constitution of the

K . I . C . code . Of course the reason of all this is obvious to any man of ordinary intelligence , for these gentlemen belong to tho Masonic Society , and whenever they are transferred to backward stations or to stations in inland discricts ( which is seldom ) , they resort to the powers of darkness to have it cancelled , and always with success .

No policeman should be kept for a longer period than seven years at any one station , otherwise he will become more like a native than an active working policeman . I would therefore suggest to the Inspector-General tho advisability of calling upon

the County Inspector to furnish him with a return giving the names and the number of years men are kept at these wateringstations , where they have pecuniary interests . Unless this state of affairs is remedied tho whole matter will be brought under the notice of the Chief Secretary for Ireland .

The strength of the rank and file in this county is 316 men , of these 250 are constables , of whom 150 are Catholics , and 100 are Protestants , the remainder being non-commissioned Officers divided as follows— Of the head constables , three are Protestants and Freemasons , and two Catholics ; of the Sergeants twenty-six are

Protestants and Freemasons , except one , and twenty Catholics ; of the Acting-Sergeants ten are Protestants and Freemasons , and five Catholics . It might not be out of place to remark also thafc the county inspector is a Protestant , and that of the four district inspectors only one is a Catholic , the other three being Protestants

and Freemasons . These figures speak for themselves and cannot be refuted . It unfrequently occurs where Catholics who have the hardihood to do their duty honestly and fearlessly havo been transferred ( like Constable Gallagher , of Dundrum ) to Sligo and other remote counties on private reports emanating from the

Orange and Masonic Lodges . The tolerant sons of William have only to state that D or B is too strict , and immediately he is transferred . In fact Catholic policemen of this county are sometimes treated worse than Russian Nihilists condemned to Siberia . Who is responsible for this state of affairs ? When will it cease ?

Does the Inspector-General , Sir Andrew Reed , know anything about it ? Does he not know that two Protestants are promoted to every one Catholic in this county ? Can he explain the reason why , notwithstanding thafc the latter are in the majority ? Yours truly ,

A Co . DOWN SERGEANT . The London , Chatham and Dover Railway announce that they have arranged with the Belgian Government Railway Administration fco continue the cheap excursions to Antwerp for 12 s 6 d ,

leaving Victoria at 8 * 15 p . m ., Holborn and St . Paul ' s at 8 * 10 p . m ., on each Saturday in September . Passengers will arrive in Antwerp at 6 * 17 a . m . on Sunday , returning at 8 * 15 p . m . on Sunday evening , arriving in London at 5 * 55 a . m ., on Monday morning .

FREEMASONRY has more to fear from foes within its lines than from enemies without . Its greatest danger is from ignorant , weak , and selfish Brethren , who are liable to wreck the Institution by their folly or passion . It will survive attacks from without , and prosper and grow strong under such adverse discipline ; but when

its own membership becomes affected by disloyalty to high and noble principles identified with the Masonic system , then ifc requires no special gift of prophecy to declare a threatened danger . Giving heed to the proposition announced at the beginning of this

paragraph , greater care should be taken in scrutinising the character and standing of applicants for the degrees . Let Masonic Lodges take heed whom they admit to membership . — " Freemason's Repository . "