Reviews

REVIEWS

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

This handsomely got-up calendar has now been issued for 18 years . It has had several editors from time to time , all most competent and zealous in the discharge of their duties , the present Craftsman in charge of that important department being Bro . B . A . Smith , M . A ., LL . M ., P . M . 523 , Prov . J . G . W ., who has

ably continued to conduct the work on the excellent lines laid down by his immediate predecessor . The portrait this time is that of Bro . the Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., P . M . 1560 , the Prov . Grand Secretary , who assuredly well deserves the honour . In the appreciative sketch of this energetic and esteemed

clergyman , we note that his advancement has been rapid , though not more than he has been able fully to sustain . " The son of a Mason , " he was initiated in No . 1560 on nth January , 18 7 6 , and succeeded to the chair of his lodge in 1881 . In 18 7 8 he became Prov . Grand . Chaplain , in 1884 Prov . G . Sec , in succession to the

esteemed Bro S . S . Partridge , the present D . Prov . G . M ., and at the Jubilee was appointed to the rank of P . Prov . S . G . W . Few brethren , if any , in their time have done more for the welfare of his province than Bro . the Rev . C . H . Wood , and we trust he will long be spared to thus aid the lodges of the province , to all

of which he is so much attached . The calendar illustrates how well managed is the province , and how zealous is the brotherhood throughout the two counties thus so sensibly combined . There are but 12 lodges , with 608 members , yet between them they hold 1583 votes for the Central Masonic Chanties . This shows

an increase of over 200 during the past year , mainly in the " Boys . " A full list of all the voters appears in the capital table , which is a most useful and interesting compilation . Thereare five chapters , with 174 members , and no lack of other Degrees as well , considering the

size of the province . Plenty of information is afforded on all points—Charities , laws , funds , & c , & c , & c . — and altogether it seems to us well nigh impossible to improve this handy guide , which reflects much credit on the painstaking editor .

THE MASONIC YEAR BOOK FOR THE PROVINCE OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE , 1890 . This useful and artistically got up directory is printed and published by Bro . W . P . Spalding , by " order of the Prov . G . Lodge , " which is as it should be . It ought not to be left to any private member to bring out such a needful year book . Statistically , the province is much as in 188 9 calendar . There are six lodges , with 352 members , and four R . A . chapters ,

with two Mark lodges , and a K . T . preceptory , and a Rose Croix chapter . Existing Freemasonry in Cambridge dates from 1754 , and , so far as we can judge , the Craft was never so vigorous as now in the province generally . Work has been " done well " during the past year , and an excellent feeling pervades all the lodges . The brief sketches of each by Bro . Spalding are an excellent feature of his brochure .

FREEMASONS' MANUAL FOR KENT FOR 1890 . We cannot add to previous encomiums as to the conspicuous merits of this wonderful compilation . Bro . T . S . Warne , the zealous editor , knows well our estimate of his distinguished and persistent labours on behalf of his province , both editorially and generally , and the printer and publisher—Bro . J . D . Terson , P . M .

199 , Dover—has done his pait admirably . An additional item this year is a sketch of the Province of Kent by Bro . W . J . Hughan , who has often been p leased to aid his friend in the supply of material for the " Immortal " ( as it is known in Kent ) , and we are obliged to the editor for permission to publish such an interesting contribution :

The Provincial Grand Loage of Kent appears to have been formed in 1770 , at least there is no account prior to that year , when the Hon . Robert Boyle Walsingham became the Prov . G . M ., by authority of the Duke of Beaufort , M . W . G . M . Considering that Provincial Grand Masters were appointed so early as 1725 , and that there was no lack of lodges in Kent long before 1770 , it is

remarkable there was no local Ruler until that year . Captain Charles Frederick succeeded in 1774 , according to the official Calendar , when Lord Petre was the Grand Master , followed by Captain George Smith in 1777 . This brother was invested by the Duke of Manchester , G . M ., as J . G . W ., on May ist , 17 S 0 , but there was a discussion as to the propriety of so doing , owing to the office held by Bro .

Smith as Prov . G . M ., and at the meeting of Grand Lodge held November 1 st in the same year , the J . G . W . resigned that position on the plea of ill-health . At the Grand Lodge , April gth , 17 S 3 , it was announced that the ommittee of Charity had declined to accede to Captain George Smith ' s application to officially sanction his work , entitled " The Use and Abuse of Free Masonry , " which decision was there and then confirmed . The Earl of Effingham was

present and presided as the G . M . The Prov . G . M . acted contrary to the Constitution , and not appearing , when duly summoned , he was " expelled the Society " at the Quarterl y Communication on February 2 nd , 17 S 5 . Thc Royal Military Lodge , No . 371 , Woolwich , of which he was vV . M . at the time , was erased nth February , 1780 . The next Prov . G . M . was Colonel J acob Sawbridge , whose patent was issued in 1785 ( H . R . H . the Dukeof Cum-

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berland being M . W . G . M . ) . The installation took place at Canterbury on 27 th October . He was succeeded by Dr . William Perfect in 1 794 ( by authority of H . K . H . the Prince of Wales , G . M . ) , who was installed at Faversham iSth May , 1795 . A well-known Volume of Sermons , by the Rev . Jethro

Inwood , " preached upon several occasions before the Prov . Grand Officers and the Brethren in the Counties of Kent and Essex , " was published in 1799 , and dedicated to the R . VV . Bro . William Perfect , M . D . This clergyman's name does not appear in the list of Prov . G . Officers as Grand Chaplain of Kent , prior to 1 S 06 ,

but it is likely an earlier appointment was made , but not registered . Sir Walter J . James , Bart ., was installed as Prov . G . M . at Maidstone , on nth June , 1 S 10 ( by the same authority as his immediate predecessor ) , but the seventh Prov . G . M . —General Sir Samuel Hulse—by patent

from H . R . H . the Dukeof Sussex , M . W . G . M ., in 1 S 14 , did not begin his duties until 30 th June , 1 S 1 C , when he was formally installed at Gravesend . The Right Hon . General Hulse—who was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1 S 30—was Deputy Master to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ( afterwards George IV . ) , W . M . of the Prince of Wales

Lodge 17 S 7 to 1 S 20 , and continued to serve in that honourable position for 34 years , his resignation as D . M . taking effect from January 21 , 1 S 21 . The Hon . Twiselton E . T . Fiennes ( afterwards Lord Saye and Sele ) , who served as J . G . W . of the Grand Lodge in 1 S 22 , was appointed as his successor in May , 1830 , by

similar authority , and was installed at Chatham 10 th August , 1831 . On his lordship's decease in 1 S 47 , the R . VV . Bro . Lebbeus Charles Humfrey , Q . C , became the Masonic Ruler of Kent , the installation ceremony occurring at Maidstone on the 9 th of August of that year . The R . VV . Bro . was J . G . W . of Grand Lodge in 1 S 4 G , but only

occupied the chair of his province for live years , his death taking place in 1 S 52 . The late R . W . Bro . Charles Purton Cooper , Q . C , installed at Folkestone on 20 th June , 1 S 53 , resigned in May , 1 S 60 . He was a frequent contributor to the defunct " Freemasons' Magazine , " and was one of my oldest and most

esteemed correspondents . The eleventh Provincial Grand Master—so also the two immediate predecessors—was appointed by the Earl of Zetland Grand Master 1 S 43-1870 . As Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., his lordship was installed at Gravesend on 22 nd October , 1 S 60 , the patent being dated June iSth of that year . Of over 40 Provincial Grand

Mas ets , there are now only three who are senior to his lordship , and all the 26 " District Grand Masters are of subsequent date . In iSSC his lordship succeeded his father as Earl Amherst , but , amid numerous duties—many being of a responsible character—the beloved Prov . G . M . still continues to take a most lively interest in all that concerns the welfare of the

province , which now consists of 57 lodges , being the fourth in respect of numbers in England . The Deputy Prov . G . M . is the W . Bro . James Smith Eastes , P . G . D . of England , whose devotion to the Craft is well known and appreciated throughout the county of Kent . W . I . HUGHAN * .

Kent is a large province—the fourth in size in England—having 59 lodges ( two more than in last year ' s manual ) , with some 3350 members . One lodge , No . 2041 , has omitted to make the necessary returns to the editor . We would rather not be the leading or responsible members of that lodge , as it is a small

matter for each lodge to do its part . There are 21 Royal Arch chapters ( 20 previously ) , with 521 members , 19 Mark lodges , with 488 members , four Rose Croix chapters , four Knight Templar preceptories , and the same number of Red Cross conclaves . For all these bodies there are furnished the rolls of officers ,

Past Masters , & c , years of service , and other particulars , also by-laws of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter , and much other information . The list of votes for the Central Masonic Charities and the Mark Benevolent Fund run up to nearly 10 , 000 , being a

considerable advance on last year , and has been compiled by Bro . J . D . Terson . Kent for 188 9 has received from these Institutions the large sum of ^ 215 633 . 5 d ., so that there is every reason why the brethren should be generous in their gifts .

THE INDIAN RELIGIONS ; or , Results ofthe Mysterious Buddhism . Concerning that also which is to be understood in the divinity of fire . B y HARGRAVE J ENNINGS . George Redway , London . The author in his preface , which , although short , is very much to the point , would impress his readers with

the fact that his work is not to be lightly considered . He deplores that in the present higher civilisation , pure student work , the secret of human nature , the destinies of our mysterious race , in short the nonmaterialistic school of thought is in a great measure neglected , or slightly and fancifully treated of . He

concludes , " It is a treatise specially addressed to thinkers , and to them alone . * ' Commencing with Buddhism , the foundation of all Indian religions , the author proceeds to treat of Brahmanism ; the theories of caste and the historical details . Then follows the writer ' s interpretation of the philosophical basis

of Eastern beliefs . It is here , as one would naturally expect , that Mr . Hargrave Jennings indulges in many of those vague and abstract flights of thought which , although connected here and there , are in many cases so clothed and disguised in the Oriental style of metaphor , as to convey the faintest g limmerings of the aim and impression of the writer .

But Buddhism and the allied beliefs , stripped of their grosser and material rites and observances , become so ethereal , so absolutely metaphysical , that it would be well nig h impossible to present anything like a simple and logical interpretation of ideas before ordinary students . Mr . Jennings has , however , in many ways , enlarged and simplified our conceptions of the various religions in the east .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Albion Lodge ( No . 9 ) . —The last regular meeting of the season was held by this lodge at Freemasons ' Hall , on the 4 th inst ., under tiro . Edwin Waller , W . VI ., assisted by his officers : Bros . Hamlyn , S . VV . ; French , J . W . ; Friend , P . M ., Treas . ; Harvey , P . M ., Sec ; Suckor , S . D . ; Pritchard , J . D . ; Willey , P . M ., D . C ; Kettle , I . G . ; and Thompson , P . M ., Stwd . There was also a good muster of the other members of the lodge , together with the following visitors : Bros . Binckes . P . G .

Craft HDasonrv . METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

S . B . ; Norman , I . G . 174 , S . VV . 2291 ; Garwood , 94 C ; Sprake , 2192 ; Bagot Harte , 30 ; Honig , 1319 ; Simpson , 105 G ; Smith , 1743 ; Trepole , 201 ; Izard , 1017 ; Massey , P . M . 1297 ; and Osborne , late iSS . The work performed included the raising of Bros . A . J . Harvey and Izard , and the initiation of Mr . John Edward Longuehaye . It was also resolved to have a summer banquet , and a Committee was appointed to arrange details for same .

After the closing of the lodge , the members of the lodge and their guests dined together in the adjoining building , and when full justice had been done to the various dainties provided , the usual list of loyal and Masonic toasts was dealt with , and in the intervals between the speeches a delightful programme of music was performed , under the direction of Herr Louis Honig , assisted by Miss Effie Clements , Herr Muscovitz , Victor Opfermann , Bro . Arthur

Thomas , and Mr . Bob Rae ( "The Whistling Coon . " ) It would be invidious to mention any one performance where all were so good , and it must suffice to say that the evening ' s music was exceptionally good . In the course of the evening a very gratifying testimonial was presented to the genial Secretary , Bro . Harvey , P . M . It was beautifully engrossed on two sheets of vellum , and handsomely bound in the form of a table book or album . It was as follows :

" At a meeting of the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Tuesday , January 7 th , 1 S 90 , it was moved by Bro . Poupard , W . M ., seconded by Bro . S . Vallentin , P . M ., and carried unanimously , that the best thanks of this lodge be given to Bro . L . VV . Harvey , P . M . and Secretary , for his general exertions to promote the welfare and interests of the lodgeand

, also for his energetic and persevering endeavours during the last two years to obtain a charter for a chapter of the Royal Arch Freemasons to be attached to this lodge , and which was successfully accomplished , and is recorded on the minutes of the lodge . It was also moved by Bro . Poupard , seconded b

W . M ., y Bio . H . S . Friend , P . M ., Treas ., and carried unanimously , that the above resolution be engrossed on vellum , and presented to Bro . Harvey . ( Signed ) " XV . POUPARD , W . M ., ' " EDWIN WALLER , S . VV ., "ERNEST AUGUSTUS HAMLYN , J . W . "

Bro . Harvey returned thanks for that mark of the brethren ' s regard for him , and proceeded , with his customary heartiness , to urge on the members the advantage of attending the Albion Lodge of Instruction , and to touch on other matters tending to the well-being of the lodge . Before sitting down , he ( having received the gavel from the W . M . ) proposed " Success to the Masonic Charities , " and

urged the brethren to support Bro . Waller , their VV . M ., in the Stewardship which he had undertaken for the Boys ' School . With the toast he coupled the name of Bro . Binckes . Bro . Harvey said he was one of those who were the truest supporters of Bro . Binckes , who , he thought , was a most ill-used man . Bro . Binckes had worked hard when the Boys' School was a very insignificant thing . Bro . Binckes had

given the prime of his life to that Institution . It was very nice to attend those Masonic banquets once a month , but when a man had five or six calls of an evening , then it became a toil , and the pleasure ceased , unless the man loved his work ; and he ( Bro . Harvey ) did ask the brethren to show that the Albion Lodge , at any rate , was one to support Bro . Binckes in his work for the Boys ' School .

Bro . Binckes returned thanks in a very able speech , in which he made an earnest appeal for the Charities , to whose good , he said , he should in any event always be devoted . He referred in terms of moderation , that were in the best possible taste , to the inquiry that had been instituted . In doing so , he said he felt he was on delicate ground in touching on a subject which had been referred to

by Bro . Harvey . He apprehended that he spoke to friends who had watched certain proceedings that had taken place during the past nine or twelve months in the R . M . L for Boys , of which he had been Secretary for 29 years , and for which he had laboured conscientiously , arduously , and , he thought he might say , not unsuccessfully . That it had been considered right to institute an inquiry he had to

nothing- say , but , while he had been made to a certain extent a scape-goat for what had taken place , he could place himself before them , his old friends of the Albion Lodge , and defy any one to say one word against his honour , his honesty , or his integrity ; and , therefore , whether or not that was the last occasion on which he should appeal to them , as he appealed to them that night , to their

support Master in his Stewardship for the lodge , he did not know , but as regarded the Committee which conducted the inquiry , he had nothing to find fault with , they had treated him most kindly and considerately and were doing their very best . If there were faults they were endeavouring to mend them ; but whatever the faults might have been in theadministration . even if they had been worse than they had been proved to be , the brethren

would not allow 26 3 children to suffer because A , B , and C had done what some one thought was not the best , though he ( Bro . Binckes ) , contended they had done their best ; what he wanted to know was , why the Boys' School had been singled out alone for scrutiny ? The brethren would see byand-bye that there was not one charge of malversation of the funds ; not one single farthing had been wrongly applied . Well , then , if that tremendous inquiry resulted in that favour-