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BRO . ROBERT RAYNHAM , ORPHEUS LODGE , No . 1706 , PROFESSOR OF SINGING AND ITALIAN , Is open to accept Engagements , and provide VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL ARTISTES FOR MASONIC BANQUETS , CONSECRATIONS , INSTALLATIONS , & c . Address . —St . PAUL'S CATHEDRAL , E . C .

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SEVENTY-EIGHT Songs , Dances , Original RECITATIONS , & c , with full Pianoforte Accompaniment . Nearly all these Songs are original , and very suitable for Masonic Banquets . Positively the Cheapest Collection of Music in the World . 6 d . or Sd . post free . JOHN GUEST , 2 G , Ivy Lane , Newgate-street , E . C .

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T ^ R EE GRANTS OF LAND IN MANITOBA . 160 acres in Manitoba anil the North-West Territories . 100 to 200 acres in the other Provinces . LAI 10 UR OF MA . KIXUS IN DEMAND . Assisted passages . Special facilities for domestic servants . Apply for Pamphlets containing full information respecting thc investment of capital , advantages oilcrcd to farmers , land regulations , demand for labnwf , rates ot wages , cost of . living , assisted passages , & c , to J . O . Colmcr , Secretary , of thc Ollice of the High Commissioner fof Canada , o , Victoria Cliarnbcrs , London , S . W . ; or fo John Dike , Agent of tiie Canadian Government , 15 , Water Street , Liverpool .

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Crown Svo ., Paper Cover . " , Oil . j I . imp Cloth , is . ; Cloth Hoards , is . 6 d . Hy Post 41 I . extra . THE EAST ANGLIAN HANDBOOK AND AGRICULTURAL HANDBOOK for 1884 . CONTIXTS . The farming of Kast Anglia . Iiv C . S . Readc . The Great International Fisheries Exhibition . Ilyj . J . Manley , M . A . Some old Inn Signs of Norwich . Hy Mark Knielits . Notes on the liast Anglian Calender . Hy J . T . V'arden . The Sprintr , Sowing . Iiv | . Vickers . Snilolk Sheep . Hy " Invlct . V" of the Field . Norfolk ( . atunir and Prices One Hundred Years Ago , Hy " Agricola . " Thc Population of Norfolk and Norwich . Hy ' * Historic 1 * - * . " County I lislory . By " Argus . " " To a Hare . '' Hy | . O . Howard Tailor . The Smilhlield Show of iHSj . History of the Past Hast Anglian Year . Hy the Editor . Local Occurrences . Ohituarv . Justices of the Peace . Public OHicials . Mayors and Slierllls . Members of Parliament . Hankers . Volunteers , foxhounds , & c . Parishes and Post Towns . Carriers . Hallway I- ' ares . Illank Diary , & c . & c . Published by P . Soman , at the . lrgut Office , Norwich ; and the unil . ir . I Ollice , Lowestoft .

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PERILS ABOUND ON EVERY SIDE ! The RAILWAY PASSENGERS' ASSURANCE COMPANY INSURES AGAINST ACCIDENTSOFALL KINDS , —ONLANDOR WATER , AND HAS THE LARGEST INVESTED CAPITAL , THE LARGEST INCOME , A ND P AYS Y EARLY THE L ARGEST A MOUNT OF COMPENSATION of any Accidental Assurance Company . CIIAIRMAN .-HARVIE M . FARQUHAR , ESQ . Apply to thc Clerks at thc Railway Stations , the Local Agents , or West End Oflice : S , GRAND HOTEL BUILDINGS , C HARING C ROSSJ or at the HEAD OFFICE 1-64 , CORNHILL , LONDON , E . C . WILLIAM J . VIAN , Secretary .

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THE CYCLISTS' ACCIDENT ASSURANCE CORPORATION , LIMITED . CAPITAL £ 100 , 000 . HEAD OFFICE : IS , COLEMAN STREET , LONDON , E . C . BRANCHES : LIVERPOOL Palace Chambers , Victoria-st . SCOTLAND 24 , George-square , Glasgow . IRELAND 7 , UpperTemple-st ., Dublin . This Corporation INSURES BICYCLES , TRICYCLES , and VELOCIPEDES against Damage by ACCIDENT , including a FREE ANNUAL INSPECTION by a practical man . Personal Accidents of ALL KINDS insured against , and SPECIAL RATES quoted for CYCLING , FOOTBALL , CRICKETING , & c , & C 'Prospectus may be had on application to either of the above olliccs , or of Local Agents . J . ALFORD CLARKE , Manager . Policy Agents and Repairers required in all Towns 'Unrepresented .

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ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY , LIMITED . 7 , BANK BUILDINGS , LOTHBURY , E . C . General Accidents . I Personal Injuries Railway Accidents . I Deaths by Accident . C HARDING , Manager .

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• - ¦ pHEATRE ROYAL , DRURY LANE . C I N D E R K L L A . GRAND CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME BY E . L . BLANCHARD , WITH ALL THE BEST FEATURES OK OLD-FASHIONED PANTOMIME AND ALL THE SPLENDOUR OF MODERN SPECTACLE .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

M . BOLTON . —The question of music in lodges was discussed in our pages some weeks ago , and the pressure on our space will not admit of renewing thc discussion . A review of "Thoughts on the Threshold" and on The following communications have been received , but are not inserted in this issue owing to want of space : — "Spanish Freemasonry " will appear in our next . Opening of the New Masonic Hall at Crowle . Entertainment at the Girls' School . Craft Lodges—Nos . o S . C , 3 S , 5 S S . C , 105 , iSS , 294 , 317 , 422 , 54 S , 574 , 73 * , 797 . 9 ' 3 » 1002 , 10 SG , 4 02 , 1 G 09 , 1620 , 17 SS , 1903 . Royal Arch Chapter—No . 317 . Lodge of Instruction—No . 1425 . BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " El Taller , " " Thc TricvcI ' mR Journal , " " Municipal Review , " , * Die Bauhmtc , " " Caygili ' s Illustrated Tourist Catalogue , " " l . a Rcvista Masonica dcl ' l ' cni , " " Liberal Freemason , " " Citizen , " " Royal Cornwall Gazette , " " Voice of Masonry , " "Court Circular , " "Jewish Chronicle , " " Broad Arrow . "

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

¦ * MAj **** j * n * iA ^*' . - ***^*********^^ ^^^^^^ ^

SATURDAY , J ANUARY 12 , 1884 .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinlonsexpressed by ourcorrespondcnts , but we wish in ati > irit ot { au piny to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free dlscusf Ion 1 '

ACCOMMODATION OF MEMBERS OF GRAND LODGE . To the Editor cf the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Although Grand Lodge has declared against thc scheme for cnlargingthc Temple , all , I think , are agreed , that the present building when restored will fail to provide

adequate accommodation for those attending the meetings of Grand Lodge ; and inasmuch as every year adds to thc number of those entitled to bc present , it is evident the inconvenience now endured must nccessar'd y increase , unless something can be done to reduce thc number of those enjoying a right to admission . Grand Lodge is both a legislative and judicial assembly ,

possessing powers great and almost absolute in regard to matters affecting thc Craft . As at present constituted , it is composed of Masters of lodges , Past Masters , and Wardens . The interests of thc Craft demand that its members should consist of those possessing the fullest knowledge and the widest experience in regard to thc matters with which Grand Lodge has to deal .

Without intending any disrespect to the worthy brethren who attend Grand Lodge in thecapacityof VVardcns , itcannot be denied that , as a class , they have not enjoyed thc opportunity of acquiring either the knowledge or experience Possessed by those who fill , or have filled , the Master's chair . I there be not room in Grand Lodge for all , who should be excluded ? My answer is , those least qualified to

discharge the duties . Wardens , as a rule , reach in due course the Master ' s chair , and my belief is that for thc purpose of accomplishing so desirable an object as that in view , they would , as a body , cordially assent to forego thc privilege they now enjoy . I would not suggest that any alteration in thc existing law should affect those brethren who at the date of thc change might be entitled as Wardens to the right of

attending Grand Lodge . If the existing state of things bc permitted to continue but few Past Masters of any standing will care to submit to thc annoyance and inconvenience involved in an attempt to discharge their duties as members of Grand Lodge , and Grand Lodge will in future be composed only of those who , attracted by novelty , may be induced to put up with thc inconvenience and loss of time involved in a

struggle to secure places an hour before the commencement of the proceedings . It cannot be expected that provincial brethren will care to incur the loss of time and the expense of a journey to town to attend Grand Lodge , unless there be reasonable probability of their finding

accommodation when reaching there . The question appears to me to be well worthy thc consideration of the Craft , and I am not without hope that this letter may at any rate be the means of eliciting the views of those most particularly interested in thc question . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , E . LETCHWORTH .

THE MOON'S CHANGES-A QUERY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you or one of your readers , of your or his kindness , favour mc with the date of the full moon between 2 nd December next and 30 th January , 1 SS 5 . I have looked at five almanacks , including Whittaket's , but without success .

I want to get out a tabic of our lodge meetings for thc next twelve months , but in the absence of the information I now seek I am unable to determine whether the particular meeting of this lodge depending on that particular full moon will coalesce with Christmas Day ncxt or fall on New Year ' s Day , 18 S 5 . —I remain , yours faithfully and fraternally , WM . DEMES , P . P . G . R . Sussex , P . M . and Sec . 341 , & c . Wannockv Rye , oth Jan .

Reviews

REVIEWS

THE MASONIC GUIDE FOR THE COUNTY OF XORKSHIRE AND EBORACUM MASONIC CALENDAR FOR 1 SS 4 . VVe gladly notice thc prompt appearance of this publication . It is a compilation which for compactness and reflects

accuracy great credit on Bro . Whytehead . There may be more comprehensive Masonic Calendars , but wc venture to say there are none which , having regard to the amount of information they contain , arc likely to prove more useful to the brethren . The fact of its having reached the eighth year of publication is thc best evidence of its _____

merit . JOHN BULL AND HIS ISLAND . Field and Tuer ; Simpkin , Marshall and Co ., London . This is a translation , as published by " Yc Lcadcnhalle Presse , " from a French work entitled " John Bull ct Son He , " and which , written under the pseudonym of " Max O . RcII , " is believed to be the production of a gentleman once connected professionally with one of our City Schools .

The author tells us that he has lived over a decade in London , duly paid his taxes , and enjoyed the privileges of a "soidisant" Britannic citizenship . There can bono doubt that he has improved his opportunity , used his eyes and his ears , and given his countrymen a smart if satirical account of John and Mrs . Bull and their little family . Wc smile at much of the author ' s epigrammatic writing , his telling sentences , and his exhaustive summings up . We will

not amrm that he is anywhere intentionally unfair or hostile ; but we make every allowance for the undoubted fact , that this work is set forth wilh thc amiable intent of amusing his countrymen and countrywomen , with a light and not illnaturcd " skit , " at thc expense of John Bull ! To France and Frenchmen generally John is still an almost unknown personality , England even yet a " terra incognita . " Much that goes on day by day , many of our

customs , habits , and proclivities , our tastes and tempers , our ideas and institutions , are so much Hebrew or Sanskrit to the ordinary Frenchman ; and some of the most amusing blunders as regards England , its history , its proceedings , and its " facon de vivre " are made by French litterateurs and in French journals , whoseeditors and writers must know better , we should have been inclined to think " a priori . " Accordingly Max O . Rell carries us through a succession of

descriptions and statements , highly coloured p ictures and sensational groupings , which are well worth reading , if only to rcalizchow clear and how pointed , how witty and how cynical , and yet bow very incorrect at thc same time a writer can become , whose only object is to amuse , to quiz , to depict with the light hand of gentle sarcasm or spective imagination all that he so effectivel y puts forth , for the delectation and amusement of a critical , a sceptical , or a

foughtcr-loving audience .- Many years ago there used to be an old play performed at Paris , called " Les Anglais et les Anerlaiscs pour Rire , " and our esteemed confrdre Max O . Rell has undoubtedly compiled and compacted a work which , in its ori g inality , good humour , and not unfriendly criticism , will lind , as it has found , many readers , and will please , as it has pleased , many who peruse it in French or English . We said before , wc do not think the writer is intentionally

unfair ; we repeat the assertion . VVe think him a little prejudiced and somewhat " borne * " in his deductions . But he has a latent sense of humour , and a very genial philosophy in reserve , and so he never degenerates into hopeless platitudes , or perverse exaggerations . His premises are not always sound , and his conclusions arc very often illfoundcd ; but we can pardon his venial errors , in that we make allowance for his " chaff , " and can laugh still heartilyhappil

, y at _ fair " skit . " There is one point , however , we must protest against , —his bold and reckless statement that after 30 every Englishwoman is an old woman . A more unreal and ungallant assertion never was hazarded by even the politestor unpolitcst of Frenchmen , and if there is one asseveration in thc book which every Englishman will heartily laugh it , it isthis one . Wc hope he will delete it in another edition , as it is a very silly calumny on that most acreeable

class of English women , and as unfounded in fact as it is in ^' phusike . " Wc will not give Max O . Rell the "retort courteous , " though many will at once jump at what we might say . Taking all the various points one by one to which he refers , we feel , and can say with safety , that his ideas are imperfect and hisstudicsskin deep , his knowledgesupcrlicia ) , and hisobservation at fault . There is a great dealof point , and wit , and humour , and sarcasm in his probing of our weak

points , ana tlie detective joints of pur armour , in his amusing description of our amiable infirmities , our conspicuous humours , our fads and our follies , our national conceit and out individual exclusiveness , our love of the odd , abnormal , sensational , extravagant , our general distrust and dislike of foreigners . Wc do not complain of his general view of John Bull , as it is on the whole a genial , it a Gallic one ; but weare not insensible to that undertone of " Dcrsiflarre . "

which in some cases almost amounts to a " double entendre , " and will bc relished in " Outre Manchc , " inasmuch as our French friends , even better than wc , can read between the lines . On one point he has said nothing , viz ., the Freemasons . Is it that he is a member of our good Order ? or is it that he is sli g htly ashamed of that monomania of some French writers , which , like some good old ladies in days gone byascribes everything

, of wrong or evil to " those wicked Freemasons" ? Wc part , however , with Max O . Rell on the best of terms . We cannot afford even to feel annoyed at deductions which are weak , or explanations which arc absurd in realistic accuracy . We believe that , like many others , wishing to be clever and pointed , lie has sacrificed much of accurate ideality and true colouring ; that he has allowed his love

for an epigrammatic turn or a neat sentence to master his own more just view of persons and things ; and that while his work is readable and amusing in the nighest degree , as it undoubtedl y is , it can never be appealed to by the litterateur or the historian as a correct representation of things and persons as they are , a reliable picture , a faithful description of "John Bullet Son He" ! l

THE ART OF SINGING . Sometime since Bro . Frederick Penna delivered a lecture at the Marlborough Rooms , Regent-street , on " The Art of Singing , " and as singing is one of the arts which find favour with the brethren we take leave to direct tho