Reviews.

Reviews .

THE EOOK OF THE LAW OF THE GRAND COMMANDERY OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF PENNSYLVANIA , 1878 . This is a well printed collection of the laws of Pennsy lvanian Templary—which wc are pleased to receive and glad to peruse . Perhaps , they have not much interest for any but Masonic Knights Templar , but be that as it

may , we are not so bigoted ( for Craft Masons are always tolerant ) but that we may take an interest in somewhat analogous systems , and quasi-Masonic coteries . The " High Grades , " as they are called , ( though we think the word a misnomer ) , exist , and it is idle affectation to ignore the fact , that they are both well "thought of , " and

sincerely esteemed , by many most excellent Masons . We think , as we have often said , the term " High Grades " a misnomer , inasmuch , as according to our views , pure Craft Masonry is the highest and most ancient of all . For Christian Masonry , though we do not belong to it , we have , what it has a right to expect and claim , all courtesy and all consideration .

SINGING . An Essay : ' By Bro FREDERIC PENNA . Tinsley Brothers , 8 , Catherine-street , Strand . Bro . Penna , ( wc understand he is a member of our Order ) , well known as an artist of no mean celebrity , has put together a few hints on " Thc Art of Singing , " which we have run through , unfortunately , owing to much work , perhaps too cursorily . Still , though not " professed

musicians , " or even " accomplished amateurs , " wc are enabled to say that the little work is both sensible and practical , is well conceived and well written , deserves perusal and demands consideration . It handles a confessedly very difficult , nay , intricate subject , with great clearness and good effect , and is , in our opinion , better worth reading than many other more ambitious works on so abstruse and yet

harmonious a subject . Pleasant souvenirs crowd before us , as we write , of an animated band of would-be songsters who made melody in "days of old" with touching refrains and happy glees , and evei delighted the " sterner sense " in a good old ancient city in a classical close of an estimable professor of Divinity , who has found a few weeks back his " honoured rest . " If music hath charms to

soothe thc savage breast , " if music can lighten sorrow and mitigate care , the good advice of Professor Penna , giving us safe maxims and sound counsels on its " ups and downs , " on its " quavers and its crotchets , " its "bars " and its " movements , " should be gratefully welcomed and warmly patronised . " Adveniant utinam sic mihi s ; epe dies .

KENNING'S MASONIC CYCLOPEDIA . Edited by the Rev . A . F . A . WOODFORD , M . A . ( Kenning . ) The greater part of this volume we must be content to take on trust , but there are parts which an outsider may criticise . Euclid i ., 47 , it may be remarked , is not a problem at all , however " striking and beautiful , " and it certainly is not called the " pons asinorum . " The book ,

however , is a laborious compilation , and includes a great variety of information which , whatever its value , is certainly curious , and often not without interest . The world may be glad to have a description of " Freemasonry " from one who may be presumed to be an authority . It is " an art founded on the principles of geometry , and directed to the service and convenience of mankind . " So

far , the definition would do for land surveying . "It may also be termed a science , as it teaches us alike the laws of self-government and self-restraint , and inculcates the abiding need of intellectual culture and self-improvement , forbearance and fortitude , toleration and truth . It is also the setting-forth of social harmony and personal virtue , and aims at the loving fellowship of brethren and the peaceful progress of mankind . —The Spectator

THE BERLIN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY . —This establishment , which is situated at No . 5 , Rathbone Place , Oxford Street , and which is under the direction of Mr . I . Gcrson , is probably well known to many of our readers as a convenient place where they may procure photographic reproductions of all sorts and sizes for their albums ; but they may not be equally aware of the importance of some of

the works which have been thus reproduced under Mr . Gerson's direction , and which are , colour excepted , absolute facsimiles of celebrated originals , being- the full size of the pictures from which they are taken . Among these we may mention , from the Dresden Gallery , " The Sleeping Venus , " " The Reclining Venus , " " Thc Lady with a Vase , " of Titian ; " The last Judgment , " of Rubens ;

and the " Virgin and Child , " of Holbein ; and , from the Berlin Museum , portraits by F . Hals , Sec ., Vandyke ' s "Entombment , " and Rubens' "Raising of Lazarus . " These are only a few among a number of masterpieces which have been thus reproduced , and which form most appropriate ornaments for halls and other places where there is plenty of wall-space , the prices , moreover , being

very reasonable compared with their intrinsic value . Among the modern works in the Company ' s collection we may note " The Proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles , Jan . 18 th 1871 , " a picture by H . Von Werner , which was presented to Emperor William on his birthday last year , and a series of recently-executed photographs , by Loescher and Petsch , of Berlin , of His Majesty , the Crown Prime , Prince Bismarck , and Count Moltke . Next , we

would call attention to an admirable humorous scries of sketches from " The Merry Wives of Windsor , " by Grutzncr ; to " A Pic-Nic , " in which the young folks are imitating the festive proceedings of their elders , by L . Knaus ; and to " The Dancing Master , " by Vautier , an artist highly appreciated in Germany , but not so well known here as Knaus . Riefstahl ' s " Pantheon of Agrippa , " Bokelmann ' s " Pawnshop , " Treidler ' s " Francis I . refusing to Sign the Treaty of Pavia , " and Henneberg ' s " Pursuit of Fortune , "

Reviews.

are all , in their several styles , well deserving of notice , and numbers of others remain of equal merit , to which , for want of space , wc are unable to refer . "—Graphic .

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

THE PARIS LODGES . Since last I wrote , by the courtesy of Bro . John Hervey , our esteemed and excellent Grand Secretary , whose readiness to oblige wc all have so many proofs of , I have seen thc Grand Lodge minutes of the last century . The lodges struck off in 1768 were the Lodge 49 , alaVille de Tonerre , Rue des Boucheries a Paris , founeled April . 3 , 1732 , and

the Lodge at Aubigny , 111 France , No . 73 , founded August 12 , 1735 . It is evident to me that no other lodge but thc lodge warranted in 1732 was founded in Paris , or emanated from our English Grand Lodge . But if the French argument be correct , and the actions of the French Grand Orient legal in the Mauritius , then thc English Grand Lodge has the right of prior occupation in France , and

may grant warrants to English Masons in France , who have a right to select the jurisdiction they most affect . What is " sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander , " is an old" " English proverb , and if such French Masonic law be good at the Mauritius , it is , in my opinion , equally good in France . But it may be said " two blacks don't make a white . "

Probably not , and , therefore , as it is never right , under any circumstances , ' ¦ to do evil that good may come , " perhaps the most dignified course for the Grand Lodge will be to treat such revolutionary proceedings with silent contempt . I ought not , perhaps to mix up Masonic ethics with archa ; - ology , but I may , perhaps , under the circumstances , be pardoned for doing so . MASONIC STUDENT .

MULTA PAUCIS , & c ., & c . Thc " Complete Freemason , " or " Multa Paucis , " was an unauthorised account of Freemasonry , issued , it is believed , in thc year 1766 . Several of the author ' s statements differ from those by thc Rev . James Anderson , D . D ., as to the early history of Ihe Craft , and , therefore , I think we shall be obliged to set aside such assertions , and give

the preference to ' those of Dr . Anderson , who , clearly wrote at a time when many personally knew as lo the facts narrated , he , himself , being one of the chief actors in the " Revival , " of 1716-7 . Thc author cr compiler of " Multa Paucis , ' speaks of six lodges being present or represented at the " Revival , " whereas Dr . Anderson says four . Now , the " Book of

Constitutions , " of 1738 , by the latter , was really the official statement issued by the Grand Lodge , and consequently is supeiior in authority on such points to all other works , no matter by whom , having , indeed , been written by vote of the Grand Lodge , and agreed to in MS . by the same body . The I . P . M . of 533 also notices another crrnr on the

work under consideration , viz ., as to the re-election of Crawford . " An Old Masonic Book , " by R . W . O ., was really a reprint of the Constitutions of 176 7 , only in 8 vo ., with the addition cf the scheme e > f Incorporation , oic . It was not issued by the Grand Lodge . W . JAMES HUGHAN .

RE-TRACING BOARD OF THE ROYAL ARCH . Bro . Kenneth R . H . Mackenzie is in error as to Cole being thc engraver of the List of Lodges , 1735 . He did not act in that capacity until much later ; the engraver of that period , and in fact from 1723 until about 1750-5 , being John Pine . W . J . II .

NEW MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM . Thc following will doubtless interest many archaiological readers of the Freemason : —Among the latest additions to the manuscripts in the British Museum arc the following : —A Greek MS . of thc early part of the 12 th century , containing homilies on Genesis ; a Latin Psalter , illuminated in Germany in the 1 sth century ;

an English MS . of the 15 century , being "Thc vtys boke of Phylosophi and Astronomye , " treating of zodiacal influences , with medical recipes , and a treatise on surgery . Of historical interest are : —Accounts of Subsidies and Taxes in Normandy in 1341-2 ; a Journal of the Return of the French Embassy under the Comic d ' Avaux from thc Northern Courts , February-August ,

16 . 36 ; Exchequer Accounts for the years 1543-1717 ; Copies of the Despatches of Sir Ralph Sadler , Ambassador in Scotland , in 1539 , 1543 ; and letters uf the political agent Plantamour to Secretary Blathwayt , from Berlin , 1701-1702 . There are also : —Poor ' s rate Book for Poole , Apiil , 16 97 . Minute Book and Accounts of Hammersmith Charity School and the Latimer Charity ,

1713—1751 ; the Inquisition post mortem of lands of Anne widow of John Holland , Duke of Exeter , 1458 ; Creditors' Accounts delivered in thc executors of the Duke of Richmond and Lennox , 1672 ; Coats and Crests of English Families , of thc seventeenth century ; a History of the Manscll Family , 1754 ; and a Register of Noble Families of Pistoia , by the

Cavaliere Franchi , in three volumes , 1701 . Letters to Lady Sundon , lady-in-waiting to Queen Caroline , 1732 — ' 737 '> a poem of the seventeenth century , by G . Ellis , " Adam ' s calamatie and misery cured by Christ ' s humanytie ar . d mercy ; " the Report of the Synod of Upsala for consideration of thc Swedish Liturgy , 1593 ; Sermons

in thc Guarani dialect of Mexico , of the seventecth century . A large number of volumes of music have also been added , chiefly containing church music by Italian composers of the eighteenth century , and also airs aranged for the organ , & c , by John Cooper , in thc seventeenth century , compositions by William and Thomas Lirnley and some operas by Meyerbeer and Rossini . INDAGATOR .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

Preparations are being made in Nottingham in view of the approaching visit of the Prince and Prir . cess of Wales to the town to open the Nottingham Castle as an Industrial and Art Museum on the 3 rd of next month . During their stay in the neighbourhood the Prince and Princess will be thc guests of thc Duke of St . Albans at

Bestwood-lodge , where they will arrive on the 2 nd of July . Aimng the distinguished visitors who are expected at the opening ceremony and at a luncheon afterwards in the Albert-hall are Mr . Gladstone , who is one of the trustees of the Duke of Newcastle , to whom the Castle belongs , Sir Henry Cole , K . C . B ., Lord Belper ( Lord Lieutenant of thc county ) , the Bishop of Lincoln , and others .

The National Gallery hf > s acquired a valuable picture by Paul Veronese . " Sf . Helena ' s Vision of the Invention of the Cross , " which was bought at the sale of thc Ncvar Collection on Saturday for 3300 guineas . The painting depicts thc saint life-sized seated with her head leaning on her hand , her face turned upwards , and gazing on a cross supported by cherubs . It was formerly the

altarpiece of a chapel dedicated to St . Helena at Venice , and passed through the hands of the great Duke of Marlborough , the Duke of Leeds , and the Marquis of Hertford . At Saturday ' s sale the two great attractions were Raphael ' s "Viergc aux Candelabres , " and the "Vierge a la Legende . " The former , which is a circular painting and only 26 in .

in diameter , was bought in for 19 , 500 guineas , while the latter , representing the Virgin seated holding her child , and which is said to have belongeel to Charles I ., was sold for 3000 guineas . Thc remaining pictures included examples by Murillo , Titian , Vancyck , Raphael , Veronese , Cuyp , and others , and the who ! e sale realised £ 44 , 522 17 s . 6 d .

Rome proposes to hold an International Exhibition in 1881 . Mr . George Smith left in an almost complete state the " History of Sennacherib" ( in the same styleas the well-known " History of Assurbanipal ) , with thc cuneiform texts transliterated and translated . All that was wanting was the last 20 pages , which have been

supplied by the editor , Mr . Sayce . It is published at thc expense of the Mr . Bosanquet , and will be out shortly . — Athemeum . A Museum and Free Library for South London , on the plan of thc Bcthnal Green Museum , is being discussed , and an offer has been made to a committee of gentlemen interested in the movement to let the hall at

the Surrey Gardens for six years at a nominal rent for this purpose . GOLD MASKS IN TOMBS . —M . Mariette , in " Monuments of Upper Egypt , " says : ° " We discovered ( in the Tomb of Apis , at Sakkarah ) a human mummy . A gold mask covered ils face , and jewels of every description where arranged on its breast . " ( p . 92 . )

The Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company ( Limited ) , of Manchester , have just completed a novel kind of railway waggon adapted for carrying meat , game , fruit , or similar perishable commodities . Thc waggon when loaded is hermetically closed , except where , by an automatic arrangement , air is taken in , and after undergoing a refrigerating and drying process , circulates

over the whole contents of the waggon . It then descharged through an exhaust pipe . Waggons of this discription will be principally used for the large traflic in meat between Scotland , Liverpool , and London . They will enable importers to store their meat for several days should they find the market overstocked . The arrangements for cooling and drying the air have been designed

by Colonel W . D . Mann . Ihe bathers of St . Louis , who are settled on the ruins of Carthage , have just prepared a fine map of the site , and have tent a number of copies to M . Le ' on Renier for thc Institute , French public libraries , and individual scholars . The Fathers have conducted excavations among the ruins of Carthage at their own expense , and

have purchased all the antiquities the discovery of which in the adjacent country has been reported to them . They have thus £ » imcd a large collection of Runic and Latin epigraphs , which they arc about to present to the Academy of Inscriptions . —Academy . Mr . Streeter writes to the Times : —Already a panic seems to have been created by the report in

the Times of frauds in ccuncction with imitation jewellery and diamonds known as thc " Waterkloof . " It may allay much misapprehension if those of your readers who have recently purchased diamonds of which they have any doubt would submit them to a very simple test—viz ., the file . By drawing across the suiface of any imitation diamond a small steel file , an effect is produced as highly

detrimental to the spunous as it is satisfactory to thc genuine article . To the uninitiated no better test presents itself . " The Question of how little food is sufficient to support life has been studied by an Indian doctor in the most practical manner , the doctor having subjected himself to a diet experiment for six weeks . In support of his theory

that a man ' s daily food should only cost him sixpence , the doctor lived for thc first seven days on bread , milk , fruit , and vegetables , costing only 3 s . id ., and having an average daily weight of a little over half a pound . His health remained perfect and his weight did not diminish , so for the second week he took prepared farinaceous food , milk , and fruit , consuming daily a little over 9 I 0 / ., and then

felt so strong that he gave up milk and lived on 3 d . a day . In the fourth week he took half a pound of food daily , at a cost of 2 d ., and tried soup , puddings , and eggs , but this did not answer , for the fifth and sixth weeks be lived on 8 J oz . to QOZ . daily . He carefully avoided stimulants and tobacco , and finally declared that he experienced a constant increase of physical strength and power of work .