Literature. Reviews.

2-13 volumes ; making , with those purchased by the managers and patrons , a total of 670 volumes ( including periodicals ) added to the library in the year . The following gentlemen were unanimously elected as officers for the ensuing year : —President : Tho Duke of Northumberland , K . G ., F . R . S . Treasurer : AA illiam Pole , Esq ., M . A ., F . R . S . Secretary : Rev . John Barlow , M . A ., F . R . S . Managers : The Lord Ashburt-on , D . C . L ., F . R . S . ; John J . Bigsby , M . D ., F . G . S . ; George Dodd , Esq .,

F . S . A . ; Colonel George Everest , F . R . S . ; Sir Charles Fell owes , F . G . S . ; John Hall Gladstone , Esq ., Ph . D ., F . R . S . ; ATm . R . Grove , Esq ., M . A ., Q . C ., F . R . S . ; Sir Charles Hamilton , Bart , C' . B . ; Henry Bence Jones , M . D ., F . R . S . ; Sir Roderick I . Murehison , G . C . S ., D . C . L ., F . R . S . ; Frederick Pollock , Esq ., M . A . ; Lewis Powell , M . D ., F . S . A . ; The Duke of AA ellington , K . G ., D . C . L . ; Charles AAfieafcstone , Esq ., F . R . S . ; Colonel Philip James Aforke , F . R . S . Visitors : Beriah Botfield , Esq ., M . P .,

F . R . S ., F . S . A . ; John Charts Burgoyne , Esq . ; George Busk , Esq ., F . R . S ., F . L . S . ; Rev . Charles John Fynes Clinton , M . A . ; AAllliam Gaussen , Esq . ; Gordon AAllloughby James Gyll , Esq . ; Rev . Earnest Hawkins , B . D . ; Alcxauder Heudersou , M .. D ., F . S . A . ; Sir AYalter Charles James , Bart ; Edmund Maerory , Esq ., M . A . ; James Nasmyth , Esq . ; Henry Miuchin Noad , Esq ., F . R . S . ; Mathew Noble , Esq . ; Henry Pemberton , Esq . ; Alexander Shaw , Esq .

The Royal Society of Literature held its annual meeting last week , when Sir John Boiletiu , occupied the chair . The secretary read the report , whicli recounted the proceedings of the society during tlie past year , and lamented the loss it had sustained by the deaths of Baron von Humboldt , Robert SteiAenson , AA . R . Hamilton , Colonel Mure , Colonel Leake , Lord Londesborough , and Archdeacon Raymond . The income of the society , including Her Majesty ' s yearly donation of £ 100 , was £ 750 , and the expenditure £ 6 i 0 , leaving a balance in hand of £ -190 . Dr . Guest , iu moving that the report be adopted and printed , highly complimented Mr . A aux for the ability and zeal with which he

promoted the interests ol the society . In reviewing its career , he had come to the conclusion that it contained elements of expansion which had never been sufficiently developed . He regarded it as the nucleus round which the classical learning of the country ought to rally . The Rev . T . Hugo seconded the motion , which was agreed to . Mr . Hogg then read the chief portions of the address which the President had , according to custom , prepared . The address was extremely long , and contained

biographical and critical sketches of the men whose deaths were alluded to in the report . The reading being concluded , the Chairman said he had great pleasure in stating that considerable subscriptions were being obtained iu this country for the memorial which Germany was raising . to Humboldt , aud it was equally pleasing to know that in France considerable sums had been raised in aid of the memorial which was to be erected for Hallam . On the motion of Mr . Austenseconded by Mr .

, Botfield , the thanks of the meeting were voted to the President for Ins able address ; and , after tho balloting for officers had been concluded , the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned until the 9 th of May . The Alhemeum says that the two pictures recently sold at Glasgow as Mr . O'Neil ' s " Eastward Ho ! " and " Home Again ! " were sketches , and that they fetched £ i 72 . Mr . Alexander Christie , A . H . S . A ., died at his house in

Darnaway-Street , Edinburgh , on Sunday morning . His extremely delicate state of health for several months past , says the Scotsman , culminating in a serious illness of some weeks' duration , had prepared his more intimate friends for the event which has terminated in middle life the career of a very estimable man and deserving artist . Mr . Christie long held the position of one of the masters of the School of Art , under the Board of Trustees for Manufactures in Scotlandand was considered a very

suc-, cessful teacher . He had considerable ability , originality , and taste in design , and was a bold and effective colourist ; he has exhibited one or move pictures in every exhibition of the Royal Scotch Academy for many years .

CANONIZATION . —The Gentleman ' s Magazine , in noticing the progress of architecture , mentions the following comical canonization : —The Independents follow closely iu the wake of tho Church . They have got over thoir objections to steeples and crosses , and now , it would seem , to tho names of saints . St . David ' s , Lewisham-road , the first Independent church , we believe , with a saintly title , is so named in honour of the late Lord MayorAlderman David AAlre [ ! ! ! ] under

, , Whoso patronage it was built . It is to be , when entirely completed , a cruciform structure , with a well-developed chancel , and a tower and spire 160 feet high ; decorated in stylo , and built of Kentish rag , with Bath stone dressings ,

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

* , [ T HE EDITOR does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ' ] SERVING BRETHEEN . TO THE EDITOR . OS THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sin—A Lodge was held at an hotel in which I was a waiterand

, , I became initiated , passed , and raised as a serving brother , and received my Grand Lodge certificate . The landlord failed , and the Lodge was removed to another house in the same town , where it is now held . I went into business and have been prosperous , and am now desirous of becoming a joining member and paying my dues , & c . ; there is no other Lodge in the vicinity of my dwelling , the nearest being in a town four miles distant . ' Under

the circumstances , am I elig ible to become a joining member of the Lodge in whicli I was made a serving brother ? If not , it is a case of great hardship . Please refer to Book of Constitutions , "Private Lodges , " article 13 . I am , yours fraternally , BOlh April , 1860 . ' M . M . ( ten years ) . [ Article 18 , referred to , has no reference to your case .

According to the strict letter of the law , you are not eligible to join the Lodge in which you were initiated . Probably under the circumstances the M . AV . Grand Master would grant a dispensation to the Lodge to receive you as a member . —ED . ]

Yeab Book For The High Degrees.

YEAB BOOK FOR THE HIGH DEGREES .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sin AND BROTHER , — Such a manual , or year book , as that proposed by the Invicta R . C . Chapter would be invaluable for the high degrees in England , Scotland , and AA ales , if it gave a full list of the members , and their qualifications , of the Supreme Grand Councils in Europe and America as well as foreign Chapters . To those travelling abroador foreign brethren sojourning here

, and desirous of visiting , it would be of the greatest importance to possess such a guide . This information is given for the Irish and French Chapters , Yours fraternally , M . E . C . C .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAE SIE AND BROTHER , —I hail with satisfaction the proposal of the Invicta Chapter , of Woolwich , contained in your last , for a year book for the high degrees , and shall willingly subscribe . I hope the conductors will give a series of illustrations of distinguished members , past and present , and would suggest that the first should be a portrait of his late Eoyal Highness the Duke of

Kent , father of our beloved sovereign , who for so long a period presided over the high grades . Such a portrait would be most welcome to us all , and I have no doubt if her Most Gracious Majesty was applied to she would readily allow a copy to be taken from the one in Buckingham House . I am , yours fraternally , Dublin , 2 S ( h April , 1860 , B . +.

Grand Stewards' Lodge.

GRAND STEWARDS' LODGE .

TO THE EDITOR , OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAK Sin AND BROTHER , —As well as " Fiat Lux , " and Bro . AVigginton , I hope to see the Grand Stewards' Lodge adopt the suggestion of the former . AVe want authority , and when that authority is countenanced by our excellent M . A \ . Grand Master , uniformity must follow in time . I shall anxiously look for the next account of the Grand Stewards' meeting , in order to know

how they receive the propositions ; and if they do not take it up I shall then have something to suggest , of my own , for arriving at the much desired goal . Yours faithfully , A PAST GRAND STBAA ' AUP .

Visitors' Certificates.

VISITORS' CERTIFICATES .

TO TOE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND . MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —I cannot coincide with the views of " AA ^ . M . St . George , " on this point . The law of the case is ( ComlUnlio ) is , " Of Visitors , " p . S 3 , small , edition ) "No visitor