Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Keview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . G . The Land of the Pharaohs—Egypt and Sinai . Illustrated , by Pen and Pencil , by the Rev . Samuel Manning , LL . D . London : Religious Tract Society .

THIS is a very elegant and beautiful record of travel . The author , who can use the pencil as cleverly as the pen , has given us a very graphic description of his journey from Alexandria , up the Nile , to Nubia , with a sketch of his route through tho Suez Canal , and across the great wilderness of Sinai . The book is beautifully illustrated , and most of the engravings appear to have been specially prepared

from his original sketches . Some of tho Egyptian wall sculptures appear to have been copied from Sir Gardiner Wilkinson ' s great work on the " Antiquities of Egypt , " but we can scarcely expect the flying tourist to notice for himself all the details of the archaeology of the land of the Nile . Dr . Manning is an enlightened traveller , and his ideas of the theology of Egypt are worthy of a cultivated

mind . We notice , indeed , with some amusement , that he regards the symbol of the circle and the cross , which occurs so frequently in the sculptures , as having some prophetic reference to Christianity . A further reference to Bunsen , -whoso great work he quotes , will , we hope , enlighten his mind as to its true meaning . We need scarcely say that- it has nothing

to do with Christian philosophy , and might seem rather heathenish to those readers who are accustomed to regard Egyptian theology from the standpoint of the modern Philistine . We notice , further , that there are several vague references to the prophetic hooka of the Bible scattered through the work . We are glad these references are vague . Dr . Manning shows both his liberalism and

his learning by refusing to dwell upon the stock quotations of ignorant commentators . Egypt was in the days of its decline and fall when the poems were written which bear the name of Isaiah , and we know enough of the Hebrew literature to be aware that the Hebrews invariabl y fulminated the most splenetic and impotent threats against all the nations by whom they were surrounded . One

of the prophecies which is quoted as bearing upon Egypt has been shown by no less an authority than Bishop Louth , to refer to Nebuchadnezzar . Some orthodox writers upon Egypt have expressed surprise that there » is little or no reference upon the monuments to the kingdom of Judah , but the reason of this is obvious . Judah was too insignificant for notice . Dr . Manning very properly questions

the dictum of those sanguine people who see in the wall sculptures evidences of the labours of the children of Israel when in captivity . It is not at all likely that the Egyptians , tho proudest people on earth , would thus distinguish the men whom Manetho styles " a band of leperous slaves , " besides the so-called Israelish sculptures are in the region of the Upper Nile , and we have good reason to suppose

that the captives were located in a region not more than a few clays ' march from the Gulf of Suez . Dr . Manning finds comfort in the fact , established beyond all controversy , that the Temple of Denderah , ¦ which was once supposed to rejoice in an antiquity beyond that of the creation of man , is now proved to be comparatively modern . He does not , however , make any reference to Mr . Horner ' s researches in the

Nile Valley , nor to the astounding conclusions which have been drawn from them . Champollion , indeed , attempted to dogmatise upon the supposed antiquity of the monuments of Egypt , but modern Egyptologers happily know more about the matter than the great French explorer . The vast antiquity of some of the monuments is conceded , but apart from , and beyond the visible evidences of the great

duration of civilisation in the Nile Valley , which the architectural remains afford , Mr . Horner ' s researches prove that , ages prior to the colonisation of Egypt by the people we call Egyptians , primitive man , sufficiently civilised to be in possession of pottery hardened by fire , had lived on the banks of the mysterious river . We do not care to mention Mr . Horner ' s figures , it is sufficient for us to say that he

throws this savage period back far beyond the beginning of the commonly received Biblical chronology . Having said thus much of the slighter faults of Dr . Manning ' s book , we cannot speak too highly of its general tone , of its illustrations , or of the elegance of its style . It is a sign of tho times when the Tract Society , which has been accustomed to place works relating to Egyptology and kindred sciences upon its own Protestant Index

Expurgatorius , publishes such a volume . There are some people who dare not approach the study of ancient civilisation without the authority of the Church , and to such people the present volume will be useful , if not welcome . They may learn much from it , and it will instil no prejudices into then minds . Perhaps they may rise from its perusal convinced that tho Egyptians were not such dark heathens as they had imagined . We heartily commend Dr . Manning's book to the notice of our readers .

The Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia of History , Rites , Symbolism , and Biography . Edited by KENNETH R . H . M ACKENZIE XI ? . ( "Cryptonymus" ) . London : Bro . John Hogg , 15 A Paternosterrow , E . G .

WE have received Part II ., which , from the cursory examination we have so far had time to give it , appears to bear out the impression we formed from a careful study of the first number . There c ; an bo no question the work , when complete , will bo a valuable addition to every Masonic library .

The Freemason's Repository ( Providence , R . I . ) contains two very capital articles , one entitled " Knowledge is Power , " the other , " The Ideal Mason , " besides a full account of the various proceedings during the month of October .

Reviews.

Streaked with Gold is the title of the Christmas number of tho Gentleman's . The number , which consists of a tale , or series of tales , with one connecting link , is excellently written . Tho incidents are very skilfully interwoven , and most , if not all , of the characters , are admirably drawn . Dr . Philip Thornfield is , indeed , very finely I conceived ; and , among tho best writing in the book , are the three chapters , in which is described " Philip Thorn field's folly . "

The Belgravia Annual opens with a well told story , entitled " Sir Luke's Return . " Samuel Grynde and Walter Carlyon are very natural , and the device employed by Sir Luke to test the reality of the feelings displayed towards him by his kindred on returning to England a wealthy man , if not possessing any great degree of

novelty , is very well contrived . " Tho Pride of the Corbyns' is also a tale that will bear reading more than once , and so too , will " The Secret of the Stair . " The engravings , particularly that of " Afternoon Tea , " are admirably drawn . In short , this Christmas number is a famous specimen of the art and literature usually to be found in the magazine district of Belgravia .

The serials in Tinsleys' call for no particular comment , but Dr . Davies , while giving some prominence to clerical matters , in his " Social Status Quo , " is not unmindful of other matters , and discusses the weather , Mr . Irving's inpersonation of Macbeth , the Railway Jubilee at Darlington , total abstinence , and Dr . Richardson ' s paper at the recent Social Science Congress at Brighton , in lively vein . This chatty kind of article on general questions is , in our

opinion , preferable to a single theme , with even the most brilliant variations . His Troubadour Song , " Reason and Folly , " is admirable . If we remember rightly , the friend of a certain Capen Cuttle was " Entrapped" in a similar , though loss elaborate , fashion than is Captain Denham , in the short tale of Mrs . Alexander Fraser . However , Captain Denham fares better in the long run . We ask no apology for quoting the following stanzas on

AUTUMNTIDE . I am pacing the lovely gardens—Thou art not by my side , In the blended summer and winter , In the golden autumntide . For the withered leaves are falling Amid surrounding sheen ; And tho long bare trunks stand naked , With sunlight glinting between .

' Which things are an allegory , With beauty and wisdom rife ; Emblem of our affection , Type of a blessed life .

Thine absence would be winter , Mirrored in leafless bole , But thy deathless love is the sunshine Of summer to my soul .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

— : o : — MASONIC BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIU , —Although you have , very properly , pending the Report of the Committee of Enquiry , stopped all further discussion , in your columns , of the Management of the Boys' School , you will , no doubt , be glad to

correct an error of fact into which you have inadvertently fallen . In the leader of last Saturday ' s " CHKONICLE " you speak of the late Head Master as having been deprived of his office . He resigned his appointment . Your obedient Servant , 23 rd November 1875 . V . P . T .

Grand Lodge, California, U.S.

GRAND LODGE , CALIFORNIA , U . S .

THE followinp- are the recently elected Grand Officers for the year 1875-0 . Johc Mills Browne—Grand Master . Charles L . Wiggin—Deputy Grand Master . Willey J . Tinuin—Senior Grand Warder ,. Jacob H . Neff—Juuior Grand Warden

James Laiuley—brand Treasurer . Alex . G . Abell—Grand Secretary . Henry Cox—Grand Chaplain . William E . Moody—Assistant Grand Secretary . J . W . Shaeffer—Grand Lecturer .

M . S . Thresher—Grand Marshal . Samuel Grey — Gravel Bible Bearer . Hiram I ^ euni-. g—Grand S ' . anrhvrd Bearer . George Hinds—Grand Sword Bearer . Sol . Kohlman—Senior Grand Deacon .

Wm . H . Crane—Junior Grand Deacon . Hiram F . Taft—Senior Grand Steward . Wn-.. Vanderhnrst—Junior Grand Steward . John Pashbury—Grand Pursuivant . Samuel D . Meyer—Grand Organist . James Oglesby—Grand Tyler .