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THE LITERARY WORLD . James Clarke and Co ., 13 and 14 , Fleet-street . A reviewer in the above publication , under the title of the " Romance of Freemasonry , " gives a most interesting essay on the History of Freemasonry , while he passes in review two of Bro . Chalmers I . Paton ' s recent books . We leave out now the line of argument he ably follows in

regard to Bro . Paton ' s books , which , however well written , are only the " deliverances , " be it remembered , of our esteemed Bro . Paton himself , and are not the expression of Masonic opinion generally , and we confine ourselves to what he says as regards Freemasonry . The writer very prcperly inveighs against the recent theory propounded by Roman

CaCatholic writers with such " gusto" and vehemence that Freemasonry is political in any sense , a revolutionary compound of Carbonari , or Illuminati , or Heaven knows what . As he well puts it , " the connection between Masonry and Carbonarism seems to us in this island as absurtl as the suspicions harboured against the members of the Pickwick Club , on account of the immortal Mr . P's .

mishaps and misunderstandings with the fair sex . We are tempted to consider the whole thing as a joke . But it is not so . Freemasonry is a word of rather elastic meaning , and it may be something or nothing , a mere social and antiquarian club in the Pickwickian sense of the word , or a grand arcanum for silently revolutionising the religious beliefs of mankind . It is thus something or nothing ,

according as we draw it in this direction or that ; and it creates a smile that while Bro . Paton would'include among the essentials of Masonry not only a belief in the Architect of the Universe , but also the definite truths of revealed religion , there are Masons , like the Grand Orient of France , who actually reject the common truths of Deism , which the Illuminati of last century regarded as

essential to Masonry . " What the Illuminati really were may be a matter of question , but any theory that Freemasonry properly is a revolutionary body is essentially absurd . If ever it be so it is through the disloyalty and treachery of those who make the peaceful and loyal principles of Freemasonry a cover for nihilistic views and hateful conspiracies .

The reviewer thus sums up his view of thc history of Freemasonry : — "A writer in Brockhaus' Conversations-Lexicon has given us a sketch of the mythical history of Freemasonry . Passing by the attempt to connect this and the other sacred societies of the age of the Illuminati of 1 st ccnturv with thc Thracian and Orphic mysteries and the symbolism of the Pythagorean philosophy , and other

secret and esoteric systems of the pre-Christian age of the world ' s history , the writer boldly mounts to the fountain head of all history . Some , he tells us , connect Masonry with the Noachida ; , or descendants of Noah , though , considering the structure of Noah's Ark , we should have been inclined to sec a guild of carpenters and shipwrights , rather than of masons , coming out of the ark , and settling on

the highlands of Armenia . Passing on to the building of Solomon's temple , the legendary history of Freemasonry fastens on this incident as the second foundation of the Order . It tells us exactly how many Freemasons were engaged in King Solomon ' s service . Their number was H 3 , coo , their courses were monthly , and they had captains of thousands and masters of lodges , the details of which

are as curious as the parallel legends of the Arabs about the Genii , who were exercised by Solomon to build his temple , and who were kept at their work long after the King ' s death , until the stuffed figure of Solomon , leaning on his ivory sceptre , rolled away , when the Jins knew that their king was dead , and so surceased to work . We are not told whether the Masons in the same way dissolved as

a society on the death of their Grand Master , Solomon . On this subject legem ! is silent . But the next we hear of the Masons is in Italy , among the Collegia of Rome . Founded by Numa , the mvthical author of thc laws and religious institutions of Rome , the Masons werc assigned free quarters beside the temples in Rome which they were engaged to build and keep

m repair . From Rome Masonry moved on to Britain , and wc hear of it next among the Culdees , of whose pure and primitive faith they are supposed to be the animating spirit . In fact , this leccnelary history of Masonry is so ingenious , and betrays such a childish acceptance of any loose scraps of history which it may con nrct in some way with a secret society , that it would be to break a butterfly

on the wheel to expose these idle tales to the tests of modern criticism . Of these legends we must say , as the Swiss do of their Tell legend , that we must approach it with a strck of patriotic presumption in its favour—in fact we must say , like the old dogmatist , credo ut intrlligam . After these tales of the genii in connection with the building of Solomon ' s temple , and that of Numa by the

Masons , it seems like a descent into plain prose to read of Athelstan , the brother of Alfred the Great , as the second fountler in Britain of the Order of Masons . The first Icelge was accordingly founded in York , in 926 , and the constitution of Masonry was drawn up under sixteen rules , the principal of which may be summed up under the sentiment 'Fear God' ' Honour the King' 'Love thc

, , Brotht-rhocd . '" We are not much concerned with these remarks , which constitute a srrt of critical commentary on the " Legends "f thc Guilds , " but we are with what follows , ir . which we cannot agree , antl which certainly is not an English view of

the matter . "Thus the spirit of Masonry is described , by those who make thecrmmon mistake of discovering in antiquity the spirit of modern times , as anti-hierarchical , and inclining » o a pure and simple form of Deism . This is the interpretation of Masonry given in the eighteenth century . e must passjightly over the intervening centuries , when

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the Masons probably were , what their name implies , a guild of craftsmen , who regarded their art as a mystery , to be surrounded with all the pomp of symbolism ; and protected from free traders and inteilopers by the magic of mystery . As time went on , and the age of guilds and close corporations silently passed away , Masonry underwent a silent change . The name remained ; but the

thing was altered . From a craft with a utilitarian purpose as the basis of its association , it became a guild for the promotion of enlightenment , and the favouring of an inner relig ion . Unlike Pietism , which aims at effecting this by using the existing forms of worship , and energising them with its own inner spirit , Freemasonry , in Germany and France especially , became saturated with

the spirit of the new Deism . " Now the truth is that , whatever has happened abroad , English MasonryneverhasbeenDeisticinanyser . se . It is Theisticnow , ( a very great difference ) , and during the last century was to a great extent Christian in its prayers and symbolism . In France and Germany , the High Grades , which seem at last to have developed into a sort of

semi-Jesuitic and Roman Catholic dogmatism , a limited sect led to that other movement , which mistaking the shadow for the substance , has seemed for sometime to favour a sort of intellectual Deism , a tolerantTPantbeism . But such is not English teaching , nor is it American , nor does it at all accord with the doctrineand sympathies of Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry . Weare

what we always have been for good or evil , a loyal , a religious , a beneficent , a fraternal , a God-fearing manhonouring sodality , carefully avoiding sectarian disputes , the " odium theologicum , " and the logomachies of heated disputants , and intent on proclaiming reverence for God and love to our brethren . Freemasonry may not , indeed , come up to this or that denominational standard . It may not

harmonise with this or that individual view of truth or of religion , but it is nevertheless a very useful and friendly fraternity , certainly in Great Britain , the United States , the Canadas , and other parts of the world , doing an immense amount of good in a very quiet and unostentatious way , and calculated to obtain

and retain the admiration of the patriot , the sympathy of the loyal , the love of the religious , and the hearty adhesion of the humanitarian . If its origin be lostin thc mist of ages , it appeals to our modern application and feelings to-day , on grounds which are certainly commendable and commensuiate alike with its own high claims , its lofty principles , and its beneficent mission .

LE MONDE MACONNIQUE . —CAUDET , Paris . The Monde Maconnique for May is full of interesting Masonic matters and papers . We regret , however , to note the animus which prevades it , especially as regards the fresh alteratir . n in the French Constitution , which will give Ihe G . Orient the power of granting ' a charter to lodges in countries where the Grand Lodge is not in fraternal relations with

the Grand Orient of I-ranee . We need not point out the extreme revolutionary and injurious tendency of such a new and reckless proposition , or thc utter breach of international Masonic law which it constitutes . It is not difficult to see that it must lead to reprisals by chartering lodges in French teiritory by the fcnglish , Scotch , and Irish , as well as American Grand Lodges . If the French position be correct , that they have a right to charter a

lodge in the Mauritius , because once upon a time a French charter was granted to a lodge there , and they have the right of prior occupation , we need hardly point out that the English Grand Lodge has the " right of prior occupation , " in every country in Europe . It is not likely that English and American Masons will stand the bullying tone and even the threatened bullying acts which characterise the present condition of French Freemasonry and are a disgrace to the Order .

DIE BAUHUTTE . —J . G . FINDEL , Leipsig . We have often alluded to this ably edited German man Masonic paper before in terms of commentlation , but we regret to observe a falling off both in the tact and the temper of its editorial words . For some time past Bro . Findel has been advocating an extreme view of Masonry , and now goes the " entire animal , " as we say , in support

of the Grand Orient of France . We are struck with the tone , which we deem altogether unmasonic , and mistake ** , whicii we consitler ludicrous if unintentional , serious if intentional , both in respect of the Baiih ' uttc itself and its alma mater , Cosmopolitan Freemasonry . In his issue ot May 1 ith , Bto . Findel says that Bro . Hubert , on whom the English brethren had placed their

reliance , remained m the Grand Orient of France , as well as Bro . Marechal , and to this he adds " Bravo ! " Bro . Findel could not have read Bro . Hubert's explanation . He says very properly that he was bound to accept the assurance of Bro . St . Jean and the Conseil de l'Ordre , and that so long as they did not alter the ritual and adhered to their declaiation of absolute toleration hc should not leave the

French Grand Orient , but if things turneel out differently from what he hoped , he should then know his duty , just as he believed Bro . St . Jean himself would . This , our readers will set , is an entirely different position of affairs , and statement . He remains conditionally in the Grand Orient ( as he is bound to do ) for the best , but like us , he cannot shut his eyes to the future . When Bro . Findel writes such a

statement as this , he should read first what Bro . Hubert himself says . In his paper of the 18 th inst . he says that in the midst of its " fulminating protest , " ( fine words , my masters ) , against perverse France , thc English Grand Lodge has

suffered a great blow , in that Bro . Tomkins' Bank has failed , and the Grand Lodge will lose nearly , fio , coo . We hasten to inform him that the Masonic Charitable Institutions will lose nothing , and Grand Lodge and Chapter will lose , we believe , not a penny . The loss is nothing . Never were our funds so prosperous , and

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our benevolence will continue as active as ever . Despite Bro . Findel ' s sneer at our " benevolence , " we wish other Masonic bodies would do as much , for no one who studies the question can doubt for a moment that the last movement in France , despite its loud professions , is purely

political and communistic ; such , at least , is our distinct opinion , and we see no use in concraling it . We are sorry to see an able brother like Bro . Findel lose himself , as Sterne would put it , in the " sty " of communistic and unbelieving dirt .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

Princess Christian , who is President , attended a meeting of the Managing Committee of the Royal School of Art Needlework last week , and afterwards made a careful inspection of the exhibition of ancient needlework . H . R . H . the President and the Managing Committee of the Royal School of Art Needlework have arranged to hold an

Exhibition of A ncient Needlework , at their Show Eooms , in Exhibition-road , South Kensington , from the Sth to the 22 dof May inclusive . M . Gounod ' s new Opera , " Polyeucte , " will be produced at the Paris Opera in July . Nottingham Castle , whose annals begin with the failure of an attempt of Alfred the Great to wrest it

from the Danes in 868 , and which has since figured in most of the great crises of our national history ; which was dismantled under the Commonwealth ; was rebuilt as an Italian palazzo by the first and second Dukes of Newcastle and was burnt in the Reform riots of October , 1831 , has , thanks chiefly to the exertions of the Mayor , Mr . W . G . Ward , commenced a new career . It has been leased by

the Town Council of the trustees of the Duke of Newcastle , for a term of 500 years , and has been restored as an Art Museum for the Midland Counties . The Prince of Wales , at great personal inconvenience , has promised to attend the opening on the 3 rd of July next . His Royal Highness , who will be accompanied by the Princess , will be the guest of the Duke cf St . Albans , at Bestwood Hall . The Mayor

will entertain a large company . The ancient Isle of Avalon , in Brittany , famed in the legends of King Arthur , has been discovered by Mr . J . S . Phene in his rambles on the Breton coast , and was described by him in a lecture at the Fine Arts Society on Thursday week . All traces of the Island of Apples seemed to have been lest , as the spot was ignored by all handbooks ;

but after several years' search Mr . Phene found on the Arthurian coast an island on which stood a curious dolmen surrounded by a court , and an adjoining island was subsequently discovered to be the traditional Avalon . The two islands had formerly been one until separated by the encroachments of the sea , and this dolmen accordingly once

stood in Avalon , butneither trees nor apples were visible , although numerous evidences of cider manufacture were unearthed , while a rude old " bt-initier was dug up near the dolmen . Close by , on the mainland , stand a menhir and two large dolmens , and the name of the town of the district , Tregastel—three castles—seems indicative of the monu - ments .

Mommsen , whose History of Rome is prized by scholarly Italians , and whose recent archaeological tour in Southern and Central Italy was marked by municipal hospitalities similar to those extended by the Dutch burgomasters to Erasmus , has been invested by King Humbert with the Cross of Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Maurice and Lazarus .

The " Frigonfique , " the vessel fitted up for the bringing of fresh meat from America , has come up the Seine from Rouen , and will be on view during the Exhibition . Holland numbers among its numerous charities " A Protestant Old Paper Society . " The Roman Catholics

of the Netherlands ( 1 , 200 , 000 in number ) send annually to the Pope the proceeds of the sale of old magazines , journals , pamphlets , and books . During the past year the society has acknowledged 412 , ooolbs . of waste paper ; this was sold for 10 , 000 florins , and the amount has been forwarded to Rome .

The Old "Green Dragon Ion " in Bishopsgatestrcet , one of the historical cluster of ancient hostelries , has been pulled down . The inn had a curious quadrangular yard surrounded by wooden balconies leading lo the upper floors , and a quaint dining-room divided into separate boxes by high partitions . It is supposed that Shakespeare ' s plays were often performed in the yards of the Bishopsgate

inns before Queen Elizabeth granted permission for a regular theatre to be built . DUTCH ARCTIC EXPEIIITION . —Commander de Bruine , of the schooner of the Dutch Arctic Expedition , Willtm Barents , has telegraphed the safe arrival of the vessel at Bergen ( Norway ) . The little schooner " behaves admirably . " The Paris Figaro is to appear in a new form

on August ist . M . de Villemessant intending to model his paper more after the English journals . As readers have long grumbled at two out of the four pages being filled by advertisements , tbe size of the Figaro will be doubled , while the special feature will be the reproduction of the most important articles of the English press and British news in general , so as to make the journal noticeable as an Anglo-French paper , styled by M . de ViUemessant the Figaro-Times .

The Education Committee have issued some modifications of the regulations respecting the child ' s schoolbook , certificates of honour , time-tables , and the conditions under which grants are made to schools . The most important change is that the local authorities are to be content with reasonableevidenceoftheageofachild , tendered by managers , or to pay the expense of the certificate of birth themselves .