Metropolitan : Instruction.

The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Lobb acting as candidate . Bro . Making P . M . answered the questions and was entrusted . The Lodge was opened in the second degree and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed . The perfect working of Bro . Strutt being so well known requires no compliment on our part , suffice it to say , his performances were all that could be desired . Bro . Culverhouse was elected W . M . for Monday next .

The charitable disposition of Urn . Woodrow P . M . Preceptor of the Lodge showed itself in a proposition that a small collection be made each time of meeting from those present , to form a Benevolent Fund , which was carried unanimously .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

TRUTH INSTRUCTION CHAPTER , No . 1458 . THE regular meeting was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on the 10 th inst ., Companion Buckley Oarr P . Z . P . P . G . J . Preceptor . After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Companions Elijah Turner , Bectitude Chapter , No . 581 , and J . B . Carter , Virtue Chapter , No . 152 , were successfully balloted for as members . The ceremony of exaltation was afterwards rehearsed bv Oomp . Charles Swinn P . Z . P . P . G . S . B ., assisted by Comps . Thos . ThrelfalfH ., A . Hibbert J ., H . Hellewell S . E ., and J . J . Dean P . S .

A special feature was the delivery of the historical and symbolical lectures by Comps . Swinn and Hibbert respectively , both being enjoyed by a fairly large audience . The next meeting will take place on Tuesday , 8 th May .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PERCY LODGE , No . 122 . ON Wednesday , 18 th inst ., at the meeting held at the Masonic Hall , Stockton-on-Tees , the Lodge was favoured with a visit by the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Northumberland and Durham . The W . M . Bro . Charles T . Johnson presided , and was

supported by the Bev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., Provincial Grand Mark Master , Colonel W . M . Angus Deputy P . G . M . M ., John B . Boberts Prov . G . J . W ., W . C . Barron Prov . G . M . O ., Eev . A . L . Curry Prov . G . C , John Heppel P . P . G . S . O . Prov . G . S ., Thomas Bobinson Prov . G . D . C , B . A . Luck P . G . D . Eng ., and others . The S . W . Bro . C . Fergyson was elected as W . M . for the ensuing year , Bro . J . Harrison P . M . Prov . G . I . G . Treasurer , and Bro . B . R . Smith Tyler .

Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , Music , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , New Barnet . Abbe Mouret ' s Transgression . By Emile Zola . Edited with an introduction by Ernest Alfred Vizotelly ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Chatto and Windus . M . EJIILE ZOLA occupies a somewhat unique position in the world of creative literature . All his readers are violent partisans or equally violent detractors ; for he is a personality whom you cannot ignore . His reputation

in France is , in petto , the figure of his reputation in the world generally . His admirers write and speak of him " on this side idolatry" ; his enemies tell us that his characters are often too loathsome to be touched , thereby saying of Zola what Macaulay said of Wycherley . The truth is that a fuller comprehension of M . Zola's aims as artist and teacher would spare English criticism the utterance of much superficial nonsense . We are pleased that Messrs . Chatto and Windus have sent us " Abbe Mouret ' B Transgression " for

it is in many respects illustrative of M . Zola ' s best work . The sheer animal , yet perfectly innocent nature and proclivities of Desiree ; the truly wonderful Albine , who easily baffles any effort at a one-sentence estimate ; the Abbe , with his unconsciously supersensuous spirituality , who , after his delirium , forgets that he is a priest , but realises poignantly that he is a man ; the immorality and utter irreverance of the village folk ; the mockery of much of the high ritual practised in France as elsewhere , —these are some of M .

Zola ' s themes , and few writers could have handled them so ably . Doctor Pascal , too , is strong and typical , and La Teuse is amusing , and shrewdly sketched . Altogether , this is an exceptionally fine study of that strangely perplexing subject , human nature . It is as subtle as it is powerful , and the many purely descriptive passages , so exquisite in the original , have been admirably translated by Mr . Vizetelly . So much of this book as a child can understand will do it no harm ; but to be comprehended , "Abbe Mouret's Transgression " should be perused carefully and word for word .

The Struggle for Empire . A story of the year 2236 . By Robert William Cole . —Elliot Stock . " ABMA VIEUMQBK CANO . " SO sang Virgil shortly before the birth of Christ . Nineteen hundred years have not diminished our interest in that theme ; for " arms and the man " is still a subject of sovereign efficacy with writers who would curry favour with the public . James Grant , Bertram Milford , George Griffiths , William Le Queux and many others have done

their best to show us that , the slaying of man by his fellow man may become , in skilful hands , a highly edifying subject . Some readers , however , prefer other themes , just as they prefer Lord Leighton ' s great painting "The Arts of Peace " to his " Arts of War . " Unless the author of "The Struggle for Empire " is a romancer indeed there is a tempestuous epoch coming by and by . We are pleased to think that we shall not be alive about the year 2236 ; for thus shall we be in blissful ignorance of the great battle in space between the sons of the solar system and those of what Mr . Proctor would call " Othpr

world ' s than ours . " We shall know nothing of the operations of our fleet beyond the orbit of Neptune ; of the danger of being smitten by a projectile Jiurled towards us from a distance of 100 , 000 miles , of the 4 , 000 battleships to be destroyed in a few hours , to say nothing of many another unconsidered trifle . However , mighty gifts of imagination apart , Mr . Colo is master of a clear and forcible style , and has succeeded in making a very readable book where many have given us rubbisb . He should try his hand at a larger work .

Books Of The Day.

The History of Pendennls . His fortunes and misfortunes , his friends and his greatest enemy . By William Makepeace Thackeray . New Century Library ( 2 s net ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . ¦•" . > The Old Curiosity Shop . By Charles Dickens . New Century Library ( 2 s net ) Thomas Nelson and Sons .

THERE is hope for the librarians yet . A few years ago , in the pages of the " Nineteenth Century , " Mr . Gladstone wrote concerning the enormous increase of books , and referred to their future housing as a very serious problem . Were all publishers to imitate Messrs Nelson , and to issue all their volumes in the garb and size of the New Century Library , the problem would be solved . The two volumes before us aggregate fifteen hundred pages ; they occupy together about one and a half inches on tho book-shelves 1 When we

add that the type is larger than that used to print the leading article in the " Times " it will bo seen that the Now Century Library is as thoroughly serviceable as those volumes , of seven times the bulk , with which we are all so familiar . Macaulay might have read such books in the street all day , and not felt weary , or tho Doctor himself , were he to dine again with M . r Dilly in the Poultry , would find this edition of " Pendennis " sit easily in hie large hand whilst ho composed his mind and prepared to make himself

affable to Jack Wilkes . Of tho two works which Messrs Nelson have sent us there is , in truth , nothing frosh to be said . They have been read the wide world over . Like all really great writers , Dickens and Thackeray never come too early or stay too late . The " Old Curiosity Shop " is equally welcome to Mr . Andrew Lang or the young Miss or Master home for the holidays . Indeed , it is difficult to say whether the learned or the ignorant are the more fond of Little Nell or the less fond of Daniel Quilp . And much the same may

be said of "Pendennis . " Major Pendennis and Captain Costigan , " Pen " and Harry Foker , have preached wholesome truths to many who seldom favour the parson with their presence . We may remind our readers that this universality of appreciation is the last and crowning diploma of merit . To write for my set or your sat is an easy task ; to write for the whole world is a labour only accomplished by a Homer , a Dante , a Shakespeare , or a Cervantes , —and , we would add , a Dickens , or a Thackeray .

Ethnology . Translated from the German of Dr . Michael Haberlandt , by J . H . Loewe . Temple Primer ( Is net ) . —J . M . Dsnt and Co . THE Temple Primers have commenced well . They promise to be a truly serviceable series of introductory short studies on groat subjects . The student who carefully masters this little volume by Dr . Haberlandt , and Mr . Edward Clodd ' s " Story of Primitive Man " will be efficiently equipped for the study of Ratzel , Lubbock and Tylor . There are doubtless some folk who know

nothing of anthropology , and care less ; but to many it is a fascinating subject . The section on the culture of nations , so aptly illustrated by many drawings , strikes us as particularly satisfactory ; indeed , the treatrnentis more exhaustive than one expects iu a primer . This book should at least prove a salutary incentive to modesty in regard to one's powers , for the vistas which it opens up are truly alarming . The late Duke of Argyle wrote eloquently on the unity of man ; we think there is much in this work of Dr . Haberiandt ' s tending to a contrary conclusion .

Words from St . Paul ' s . By William Sinclair , Archdeacon o £ London . No . 1 ( 4 d ) . —Thomas Burleigh . MANY will welcome this small but important publication . The Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair is one whose utterances invariably command respect . In him meet two qualifications for the office of preacher not always possessed by the same individual : sound scholarship and even sounder sense . He is among the most popular of the many popular Brethren who have been

honoured with the appointment of Grand Chaplain of English Freemasonry . We road this first number of " Words from St . Paul's " in the . hope that , even in tho compass of a brief sermon , we might meet with that eloquent and powerful pleading by which tho author is so preeminently distinguished . We were not disappointed . The Christian soldier in search of that " armour of

God " with which Saint Paul urged the Bphesians to arm themselves , will find seasonable assistance here . We notice that the text of this sermon is from Saint John , to whose writings Archdeacon Sinclair has written a valuablo introduction ; and from that text he has given us the best plea for the supremacy of Scripture that we have met with for some time . May the series prosper .

BOOKS RECEIVED . Church and Realm in the Stuart Times . A course of ten Illustrated Lectures by the Rev . 0 . Arthur Lane ( L ' . R . Hist . S . Author of " Illustrated Notes on English Church History " ) . Arranged for popular instruction , to accompany a series of 600 Lantern illustrations ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Edward Arnold . The Fight for the Crown . By W . E . Norris . Third edition ( 3 s 6 d ) . — Seeley and Co ., Limited .

Music Of The Day.

Music of the Day .

RECENT PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED . Reid Bros . Ltd . —The Queen and the Craft . By W . C . Newsam P . M . 1821 P . P . G . Org . Sussex . — ' Mid the Hush of the Twilight . By Wm . Cartwright Newsam , composed by Francis Bohr . —For Queen and Country . Arranged as a march , for piano , by Oscar Verne .

Edwin D . Lloyds . —The Conquest . By James Strang , music by Edwin D . Lloyds . —Elaine . By G . Hubi Newcombe , music by Edwin D . Lloyds . — Forget me ! By Constance Bache , music by Alfred Dregert . —The Everlasting Song . By Stanhope Gray , music by Lindsay Lennox . —The Flower's Message . By Edwin D . Lloyds . —Forget-me-not . By Wm . Austen Leigh , music by Paul Colberg . —Love's Answer . By Edward Oxenford , music by Marie Brooke . —The Miller Maiden . By Elphinstone Thorpe , music by

Edwin D . Lloyds . —The Sun is always Shining . By Arthur Eliot , music by Clarence Lucas . —Wake , Oh ! Wind . By S . J . Reilly , music by Paul Colbarg . —By the Wayside . Words anonymous , music by Anna Kinnison . — A Tale re-told . By Gunby Hadafch , music by Gu ' seppe Villa . —Two songs ( 1 Winterlied , 2 In shower and sunshine ) . English version by Mrs . John

P . Morgan and E . David , music by Henning von Koss . —Two songs ( 1 When dead leaves fall , 2 "lis the spring ) . By Follett Thorpe , music by Edwin D . Lloyds . —Russian Cradle Song . By Nellii ; K . Blissctt , music by Josephine Patten . —The Shoreless Sea . By Mark Ambient , music by Edwin D . Lloyds . —Tarentella for violin and piano . By Clarence Lucas . —Two characteristic Dances ( 1 Fan dance , 2 Graceful dance ) . By Clarence Lucas .