Reviews.

interesting memorials of their sojourn there , among others , many sepulchral monuments , evidently of Hebrew origin . Ancl we are also reminded that several rivers on the Euxine are called after Israelitish names . Much stress is laid on the similarity between the Israelitish and Gothic character and institutions . Thus we

see in all the institutions of the Saxons , the principle of self-government ; and , wdiat is somewhat remarkable , ten was an adopted number . They chose one from every ten men amongst them to sit in the council of their little community , generally consisting of ten compartments

or wards . Ten of these wards formed a ty thing or parish , and ten of these tythings formed a hundred , ft will be remembered that by the Mosaic institutions , the people were placed under rulers of thousands , of hundreds , of fifties , and of tens . And a Jewish synagogue ,

corresponding to a modern parish , appears , at a subsequent jieriod , to have been jiut under the direction of ten elders . The Saxon county , whicii was more extensive than the hundred , corresponded to the Tribe in Israel Nor should we overlook the fact , that the Saxons

had the Israelitish division of the clay , The ancient Egyptians , Babylonians , Persians , Syrians , and other Eastern nations , reckoned their da )' as we do , from sunrise to sunset . The Saxons , however , retained the Israelitish reckoning . " The Saxon language is said to yield proof of

Israelitish origin , to some considerable extent . Sharon Turner has collected two hundred and forty-seven Saxon words , which are undoubtedly derived from Hebrew , ancl thecognate Arabic ; and some have maintained that 95 per cent , of Saxon words are derived from the Hebrew . A careful

examination of Saxon projier names is said , by Air . Carjienter , to disclose the Hebrew custom , which , as is well known , gave names that were significant . A whole chajiter is devoted to show that Getre is a name given to Israel , and means a downtrodden vine—a figurative expression that may

well be applied to a crushed and down-trodden people , especially when we bear in mind the fact , that Israel is often represented under the symbol ofa vine , or a vineyard . The latter jiart of the work is devoted to the consideration of the jirophecies that identify Israel and the Anglo-Saxon race , ancl are thus classified : —

I . Israel ' s localisation . II . Their Christiani / . ation . ill . Tlieir original possessions . IV . Their giving birth to nations or kings . A . Tlieir diversified works . Their principal localisation is fixed in "the

ISLANDS , " in the midst of the sea . the authority of 41 st chajiter of Isaiah being cited to justif y this ; and the British isles are identified as those indicated in prophecy , while Ezekiel is made to connect Tarshish and Sheba , or England and India in such a manner as to fix the prophecy

unmistakably on England , with her Indian jiossessions . AVe should have been glad to see this chapter enlarged a little , for its arguments , as they stand at present , appear to us somewhat crude and inconclusive , though , probably , had they been more amulified , they might have been

more convincing . This same remark will apply to some of the succeeding chapters . To us , indeed , the latter part of the volume does not appear to be so fully arguedout as the former ; nevertheless , it abounds with interesting matter , ancl will well repay a

careful perusal . Upon the whole , Mr . Carpenter ' s is a much more readable and popular book than others that we have seen on the same subject . The argument is better sustained , and the reader is more thoroughly carried away by the views and hypotheses of the author . He " will

indeed , often be tempted to take as demonstrated , what even the author admits to be only shown to be plausible and hi ghly probable . Perhaps w e may justly say , that a case of hi gh probability is fairl y made out on behalf of the theory in question ; but we should certainly require some

further li ght on prophecy , and some fuller evidence from history , to absolutel y convince us that the Anglo-Saxons are trul y the descendants of the ten tribes which revolted under Rehoboam , and Were , about 250 years afterwards , extinguished as a nation , and carried away into captivity .

Reviews.

It is but just to add that the volume is a revised ancl enlarged publication of a series of papers originally published in the Freemason , and that the compact between Jews and Christians precluded the author from adducing

arguments from the New Testament . Mr . Carjienter thinks he could have sustained his theory by even stronger jiroofs , if he had been permitted to do so . It might be well to prepare another and a larger edition , free from this restraint , if

these stronger proofs are really forthcoming , for the subject is worthy of exhaustive treatment . AVe might further suggest , that should another edition be published , a map , showing the migrations of the Ten Tribes would be a

valuable illustration , and a useful aid to readers . A copious index , too , of the numerous Scrijiture quotations antl illustrations , would be very acceptable to those who really wish to stud y a question whicii is fraught with so much interest .

Tne . Family Friend . S . AV . Partridge and Co ' This illustrated monthly magazine is fast increasing in jiopularity , and deservedly so . AVe are bound to recognise the excellence of this unpretending , but really most useful publication ,

and hope that as thc aim of the editor is to assist in arresting the progress of pernicious literature , which is now , to a fearful extent , rinding its way to the homes of our country , the members of our ancient and honourable society will support him in his trood work .

The magazine will be found to be worth ) ' of its title , and pre-eminently a friend to the British workman , and to all lovers of unsensational reading .

The People ' s History of Cleveland . Tweddell ancl Sons , Stokesley , Yorkshire . Again , another work from the inexhaustible and most fertile brain of the veteran man of letters . Bro . Geo . AL Tweddell . This time it is

of such a character , that we predict a speedy and large sale of its . several parts , and hence we have faith in its comjiletion in a few months . AVcare sorry to find , however , our friend ' s

experience has not been always of this pleasurable character , for wc possess parts of several most excellent publications of his uncompleted , and have been so for months , and some for years . AVe wish him heartily all the success hc deserves .

Was Shakspeare A Freemason?

WAS SHAKSPEARE A FREEMASON ?

( From the Royal Cornwall GaxelleJ I wonder whether Shakesjieare—Charles Knight will have it to tie Shakesjieare , and 1 believe him to be correct , for surley Shakespeare knew best how to spell his own name—was a

Freemason : Two or three months ago I reatl that Air . Parkinson said he was ; and I have surmised a hundred times since , off and on , whether the asserter of the statement was ri ght or not . Air . Parkinson is , I think , prominently

connected with the London daily press . At any rate he is the newly-elected Master of a Lodge recently formed at no great distance from the metropolis under somewhat peculiar circumstances . As well as I remember , a Bard

of Avon Lodge , whose appropriate site would be renowned Stratford , had been neglected in its jiroperest home , so some men of taste , who love both Alasonry and Shakespeare , were authorised to rebuild the lodge nearer London . It

was at its installation that Air . Parkinson asseverated that England ' s gratest writer was a Alason . He referred , in very chaste language , to Shakesjieare ' s qualities as author , playwright , actor , and man ; but , when he would have

sjioken of his jiroofs that the immortal AVilliam was a Brother ( had the newspaper report continued ) the veil was drawn between the sons of light and the profane , and , as one of the last , 1 have been groping about ever since . That

Shakespeare was a butcher , farmer , woolslajiler , deerstealer , and ostler , and that he was neither , has been well discussed . Afore recently he has been claimed for some of the learned professions , especially for the law . Tbat , in heart and soul

Was Shakspeare A Freemason?

he was a musician , painter , philosopher , lover , botanist , antl naturalist , all of us , even the most casual reader , must admit . And so , Mr Parkinson may mean that , in thought and sentiment , he was a speculative Alason—that he has enshrined in undecaying monuments , though they be

but of words , some of the richest treasures of the AIasonic creed . But you will remember that one of the most telling arguments of those who have laboured to jirove that the poet was of their calling , was that none but a professional—none but a man versed , nay steeped , in the

technicalities of his trade' — -could say the things he has said in such words as he has used . The argument told until some other writer used it to shew that Shakespeare was of his craft . And then the 011-looker saw that both were wrong and both were right—that the bard ' s knowledge of

minutest details were almost as wondrous as his grasp of Nature and Truth ; antl that , as he is for all time , so he was of no particular trade . However I guided my inquiry by this argument . If Shakespeare was a Freemason , surely he would use the terms , the symbolisms , of his

Order . The \ ' are most expressive . They seem to be cherished by every modern brother . He uses them dail y and hourly . Did Shakespeare employ them ? Upon this hint I—looked . Here is the result . Shakespeare never wrote such a word as " Freemason . " I thought I had him when I came to " The singing masons , building

roofs of gold ; " but this beautiful phrase belongs to the little honey bees—instinctive masons , whose association , loyalty , building skill , industry and jirovision for the future make them worthy our best study and deepest admiration . The clowns , in Hamlet , who fun and joke in the churchyard about Christian burial and crowners '

' quest law , ask " AVhat is he that builds stronger than the mason ? AVe know the answer too well . The Count of Rousillion has to stay with the King of France ( in All ' s Well ) much against his inclination ; but his complaint that he will be able to do nothing- nobler than " creak

his shoes on the plain masonry" is not redolent of the tesselated pavement . A term much used by Alasons , in these times and in some of tlieir oldest documents is , " Alaster . " It was a favourite word of Shakesjieare ' s . He uses it no less than five hundred and ninty-two times . The

master of the vessel ; the master of the Tiger ; master doctor ( frequently ) ; master guest ; master parson ; master tapster ; master constable ; master schoolmaster ; " my very noble and approved good masters , " as addressed by Othello to the duke and senators sittinsr in the Venetian

council-chamber ; but never does it come as master Alason or as the master of a lodge . Ah ! Lodge ! Shallow accuses Falstafi " : " You have beaten my men , killed my deer , and broken my lodge . " That is not the lodge we want . The fantastic Don says to the country wench ,

Jaquenetta , " I will take thee to the lodge , ' but hardl y means the place where woman is not permitted . Indeed our author speaks of lodging as much as lodge , and both wortls are used in the same sense , Nowhere does he use " craft" as a Alason woultl . The word " ajiprentice" is never

emjiloyed liy him ; though once only he speaks of "apprentice-hood . " hi Richard IL , Bolingbroke speaks of serving a long apprenticehood to banishment—so long that when his freedom comes he will be able to boast of nothing but that he had become a journeyman to grief . Pretty talk , but unmasonic , that is not specially masonic .

"The trijile pillar ofthe world transformed . " Ah ! here is a clue to something . It is a clue ; but to one of the finest pieces of scorn in the English tongue . Philo says of the once noble Antony , " He becomes the bellows and the fan , to cool ' a gijisy ' s lust—the tri ple pillar of the

world , transformed into a strumjiet ' s fool !" Surel y Shakesjieare was not oveifond of architecture . How significant , how full of meaning , is the column . Shakesjieare never availed himself of the word " Architect . " How often other writers employ it—the architect of his own fortunes , the

Divine Architect of the Universe , ice . He uses it but once , and then it is as " an architect and plotter . " " Corner-stone " he refers to once ; to copestone or topstone , never . " Yond , cornerstone " is jiointed at by one of the characters in Coriolanus , as being as difficult to move as the heart of the banished patriot . Arch he only uses