Literature.

LITERATURE .

AH Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Philadelphia , the Mother City of Freemasonry in America . With the Life of Daniol Cox , tho earliest Grand Master in America , and

an Historical Sketch of the Progress of Masonry in Pennsylvania during the past one hundred years . By Clifford P . MacCalla , M . A ., P . M . of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 Philad'a , and editor of The Keystone . Philadelphia Masonio Publishing Co ., 237-9 Dockstreet . 1876 .

THE four articles comprised in this little brochure appeared originally in The Keystone , of which Bro . MacCalla is tho editor . They treat severally of "Philadelphia , the Mother City of Freemasonry in America , " " Daniel Cox , the Father of Freemasonry in America , " " 1776-1876 , Oue Hundred years of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania , " and "First Things in Philadelphia . " In support of the first of these

articles , the evidence adduced in proof of Philadelphia being the mother city of Freemasonry is the same as appeared in tho Memorial Volume published in 1874 , in commemoration of tho opening , the year previous , of the new Masonio Temple . As our readers are no doubt aware , the first part of this evidence lies in the comparatively recent discovery of a Deputation granted in June 1730 by His Grace

the Duke of Norfolk to Daniel Cox , as Provincial Grand Master for New York , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania . Until this discovery the deputation granted , in 1733 , to Henry Price , was generally looked upon as tho earliest authentic evidence of Freemasonry having an organised Provincial Grand Lodgo in North America . In addition , however , to this Deputation , we have contemporary evidence of the

existence of Masonio Lodges and a Grand Lodge in Philadelphia , derived from the Pennsylvania Gazette , a newspaper published weekly , and printed by the celebrated Benjamin Franklin , himself a Mason , and chosen to be one of the Wardens of this Grand Lodge in 1732 . Other important testimony is adduced , but , as we have traversed this ground already more than once , it is hardly necessary

for us to analyse the statements again . Suffice it to say , that on the faith of these supported statements there is little doubt the claim of Philadelphia to be the mother City of Freemasonry in America is substantiated . Other evidence affecting this claim may turn up later , but , as the case stands now , we do not see how Philadelphia can be moved from her coigne of vantage .

Tho biography of Daniel Cox is very interesting , and shows him to have been a man not only of good social standing , but possessing likewise very fair claims to literary eminence as well as in the pro . fession of the law . The hundred years of Freemasonry is clearly written , containing all the material points in the development of Freemasonry during the century ; while the concluding paper enumerates with just pride all thoso " first things" which had their

origin in the city of Brotherly Love . Altogether we are well pleased with this little pamphlet , which is well written , aud , therefore , a worthy contribution to tho Masonic literature of the Centennial Year of American Independence . We append , as likely to prove of interest to onr readers , a list of the Grand blasters in Pennsylvania from 1730 to tbe year 1786 , when tho Fraternity declared itself independent of Great Britain . They are as follows : — MODERNS .

1730 . Daniel Cox . 1737 . William Plnmstead 1732 . William Allen . 1738 . Joseph Shippen . 1733 . Humphrey Murray . 1739-40 1734 . Benjamin Franklin . 1741 . Philip Syng . 1735 . James Hamilton . 1749 . Benjamin Franklin 1736 . Thomas Hopkiuson . ' 1750-75 . William Allen .

ANCIENTS . 1764-81 . William Ball . | 1782-86 . William Adcock GRAND MASTER OV GRAND LODGE OP PENNSYLVANIA . 1786-87 . William Adcock .

Jewish Calendar for the Year 5637 ( 187 G-7- ) Compiled by Rev . M . H . Myers . London : Published by the Author , at 8 Ockenden-Road , Islington N . —By our Jewish brethren this diary will bo found invaluable . It contains tho date of each Sabbath aud festival for the year , with the portion of the Law and Prophets appointed to be read

on such day , together with a " Condensed Calendar" and table for ascertaining tho date of tho anniversary of any death for the ensuing ten years , much information respecting early printed copies of the Hebrew Bible , and other interesting matter . It is well printed , and bound in cloth , and indeed in every respect worthy of the highest commendation .

Practical Masonry.

PRACTICAL MASONRY .

( From The Keystone . ) IT has bocomo fashionable to eulogise "Practical Masonry , " meaning that Masonry which exhibits itself exclusively in helpful acts and works of charity . Wo have many words to say for , and not a word to say against these , but we do object to narrowing clown the meaning of tho term " practical , " to merely ono of its phases . Indeed we are

always suspicious of this word " practical , " in any connection . When we observe a man style himself a " practical sign painter , " or a " practical printer , " we wonder what kind of a painter or printer R'i unpractical one is , and we begin to doubt whether this practical man knows , after all , much about his business . In like manner ,

when we hear a Brother enthusiastically advocating "' Practioal Masonry , " we question whether he has not an exceedingly narrow vinw of the subject , and does not interest himself in behalf of the few at the expense of tho many . Charity is practical , but , Divine as it is , it is only bestowed upon

Practical Masonry.

the few , who are under a cloud of misfortune—which cloud often comes to overhang them through their own improvident behaviour . These few , when worthy , are entitled to receive the free gifts of the Craft j but there are others , who form the many , whose interests should be kept at least equally in mind . Masonry is not only a charitable iostitution—it is as well an intellectual , social and con .

vivial one , and therefore we protest against charitable Masonry being exclusively entitled practical . Intellectual Masonry ia practical , and so is social Masonry , and convivial Masonry . In other words , it is equally the duty of the Fraternity to conserve the intellectual , social and convivial interests of Craftsmen , as their charitable ones . Do you ask what is intellectual Masonry ? It is the accurate ,

forcible and impressive rendering of the work of the Craft . It is the interpretation of its wonderful symbolism , so that it may be plain to every Brother . It is the relation of the origin and history of the Brotherhood , showing it to have been , in principle at least , coeval with tho earliest time , and that Craftsmen have a genealogy traceable back , without a break , to the Cathedral and Temple builders of

centuries ago . That Masonry is intensely practioal which seeks to elevate the standard of knowledge among the Brethren , that aids in diffusing " more Light , " that explains Masonry by itself—its prin . ciples , its symbolism , its history . Social Masonry is equally practioal . Freemasons cannot be in truth a society of friends and Brethren nnless they are brought into

the closest fraternal relationship to each other . All of the members of a Lodge should be mutually acquainted , and a part of the enjoy * ment of every Lodge meeting should consist in the social intercourse between the members . And this feeling should permeate the Brotherhood , should subsist not only between Brethren , but between Lodges . lb is good for one Lodge to Tisit another in a bod /

occasionally . Such a course tends to break down any tendency to exclusiveness among the Lodges . It acquaints the members with the style in which the work is done in their sister Lodges and thereby promotes a healthful spirit of emulation . Freemasons may all know each other when occasion requires , but they should actually know one another more intimately than they do . Sociability among tho

members and among the Lodges is the manner to accomplish this , and this is a form of practical Masonry , that yields , iu our opinion , in importance to no other . Convivial Masonry , too , is practical Masonry . When duly regulated it conduces to the best interests of the Craft , and the heartiest pleasure of the Brethren . Say what you will , the pleasures

of the table are in their way unequalled . In our home relations we enjoy them with a zest , three times every day of our lives . In social , political and business life a dinner is a lever of the greatest power . It is easier to raise a flag-pole or a barn , to engineer the sale of an extensive property , or to open a large business enterprise , when a banquet is on tho programme . After men have sat around the

mahogany , and eaten and drank together , they are apt to think aa well as feel alike . They become as ono with each other . It ia because of this soothing harmonious , fraternal principle , which seema to be an invariable incident to a public lnnch , dinner or banquet , that we advocate the more general adoption of substantial refreshment , after labour , by tho Craft . If we would have convivial

Masonry—a kind of Masonry that is exceedingly practical , we must find it " around tho mahogany . " If we would gather a full attendance at Lodge meetings ; if wo would promote cordiality and complete unity among the members ; if we would obtain an opportunity for the instruction of all the Brethren in the work and great principles of Masonry , wo must call them off statedly from

Labour to Refreshment . The work of the Craft is very beautiful and impressive , when properly rendered , bat all work and no refreshment becomes just a little bit monotonous . Variety is the spice of Masonic , as well as other life , and must bo resorted to if we would make the Brotherhood what it ought to bo—a unit in the advocacy of its principles of Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth .

Besides , convivial Masonry is true Masonry according to ancient custom . One hundred ancl fifty years ago Lodges invariably wore convivial at the close of their work , and it continued so for a century . During the past fifty years we have progressed in an opposite direction , owing probably to the excess that came at length to be indulged in eating and drinking . Reforms of all kinds owe their

origin to excess , aud they at length , through their own excess , come to need , in turn , reforming themselves . Masonry should not bo in practice one-sided , for it is in fact manysided . It should be at once , charitable , intellectual , social aud convivial , for in being so it performs its true work , in the best manner ; affords to its entire membership the largest culture and enjoyment and is , in tho fullest sense , practical .

The approach of winter generally brings about a number of novelties and specialities both for the inner and the outer man , and already the shop windows show signs that the caterers to pnblio favour are in no way backward in their stocks of articles for internal and external comfort . Strange advertisements run through the papers , offering cas- " ^ of various sorts of wine at a low prion per

dozen , and our readers most have good constitutions if they can stand the effect of all that is offered in public print . It is , therefore , with some pleasure that we call attention to an article which cannot fail to bo welcome to thoso who aro exposed to the cold , or whose stomachs require toning ; and in doing so we but echo tho opinion of tho medical press , and even that of George Augustus Sala , so well known as tho journalist of the day . We hw- -j all heard of tho

" Ea , u do Vie " of H . Brett and Co ., so that we need not here refer to its merits . But the introducers of this now well-known brandy have brought out two liqueurs , known respectively as " Liqueur Ginger Brandy" and " Liqueur Ginger Gin , " both of which are fo " iidable opponents to all foreign liqueurs , being quite freo from cloying sweet , ness and heaviness , while sold at half the cost of the imported articlet . ...