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Literature.
of the eighteenth century , ancl brings the history carefully down to the establishment of the United Graud Lodge . On the consideration of this subject , our attention is directed to the rapid and extensive spread of the Order , ivhieh , having found an early home in this favoured island , has extended its branches over nearly the ivhole of the habitable globe . In Russia and Spain even , notwithstanding the obstacles interposed by ecclesiastic or
secular despotism , the Lodges have been neither few nor inefficient ; while wherever English , Scottish , or French Masons have penetrated , in the pursuits of war or of commerce , they have sown good seed ivhieh has seldom failed to take root and to produce an abundant harvest . A history of the vicissitudes of the JIasonie Order must necessarily contain details of unmerited persecution to which our
brethren in various parts of the world have been from time to time subjected . The freedom cf thought and upright independence of action , which have ever been advocated by Masons , have especially rendered them obnoxious _ to the papal tyranny and its once potent satellite the order of Jesuits . Narratives of the sufferings of Freemasons in the dungeons of the Spanish Inquisition , and of the edicts published against us in Portugal , Italy , and even Switzerland , may be familiar to many of our readers , but it seems hard to believe that—even a hundred years
ago—an organized system of persecution could have existed iu this happy island . Yet in Scotland , in the last century , the "Associate Synod" attempted to disturb the peace of the fraternity and drew up a list of foolish questions which they appointed every kirk-session to put to those under their charge . These related to what they thought were the ceremonies of Freemasonry , and those ivho refused to answer were debarred from reli
gious communion—the result was to cover the would-be inquisitors with ridicule , and to show that hypocrisy and the lust of spiritual despotism are not confined to the church of Rome . The latter part of Bro . Laurie's volume is devoted to a most ample detail of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; but this cannot be said to partake of the interest . of the formerat least to English brethren . Even to the members of Scottish Lod
ges the long-drawn out details of the last ten years must , we imagine , appear somewhat prolix ; nevertheless , as a well arranged record , this will always be a valuable book of reference , especially to office-bearers and those to whom precedents may be required for any public act or ceremony connected with the Order . Almost all the " loyal and respectful" addresses might be omitted with advantage to the reader , ivho is at present fatigued with an unnecessary amount of twaddle which can have no historical value whatever .
Our space is quite exhausted , or we should like to have given an extract or two from a very interesting treatise on the Knights ofthe Temple ancl St . John , ' and ofthe Royal Order , or " Heredom de Kilwinning . " This , though incorporated as part of thc history , is acknowledged to be by a separate hand : it is the work of the Chevalier Burnes , K . IL , and does great credit to that gentleman ' s industry and research . A chapter on JIark Jlasonry ,
the Royal Arch , and Ark Mariner degrees , contributed by Bro . Andrew Kerr , F . S . A .. has great merit , and throws light upon some points and distinctions " with ivhieh English JIasons are not generally familiar . In taking leave of Bro . Laurie , we have to thank him for a very elaborate work , ivhieh on the ivhole we may describe as In ' n-hly interestingand abounding in materials for studand meditation
, y ; ivhile the many points on which such a book must necessarily be defective are eminently suggestive to such brethren as have leisure and taste for antiquarian research . Should another , edition be called for ( which we can hardly doubt ) we ivould recommend tho excision of a large portion of the details of Grand Lodge proceedings , ancl the addition of as many more appendices as Bro . Laurie can procureprovided they are of tiie same value as those which
, already enrich the work . In conclusion , wc have but to add that the volume is excellently and carefully printed , and reflects credit upon the editor as well as the author . We must take exception to the illustrations , which arc paltry in thc extreme , and totally unworthy of the book or the subject .
The Autobiography of a Seaman . By Trro . irAs , Tenth Earl of 'Dundonald . Vol . " I . London : Bentley . Tin-: adventures of a seafaring life have ever been thrilling in interest to the youth of England . "With a ship thc youngest powder monkey identifies himself at once . She is something to individualise and love ; her many qualities and escapes he looks upon as made up of part of his own being ; and notwithstanding the humiliations he has to undergo in sea sickness , dirt , and want of room , yet his experience is as different to all other men ' s ns it
is possible to conceive . Still it would be generally supposed that nothing new could be written of a seaman ' s life , and—granting that in the main , there are the same principal features—yet , when a story is truthfully told of the varied experience and strange chances of a sailor ' s existence , there is a charm ancl fascination in the recital that enlists our sympathy and warms our hearts as much as if some new field of literary delight had been opened up for our amusement .
Lord Dundonald takes rank as the greatest surviving sea captain of the last great naval war . In his own immediate life perhaps there was no officer superior to Lord Dundonald ; but in the management of large armaments we cannot say whether he ivould have been equal , or not , to Nelson , for the government of this country never gave him the opportunity . Still , we believe , from his bravery and coolness , when it so pleased him , he must , il
having had similar chances , have proved himself not a whit behind the hero of Trafalgar . In all that could be effected by the skilful command of a single vessel—in all the nicest calculations of endurance of a crew—in every contingency that could arise—his foresight and prudence were extraordinary . His heroism , dash , and daring , were peculiarly his own , and jwove how possible it is for a determined officer to keep a ivhole seaboard in alarm aud
anxiety . His tactics appeal- to have been never to think the smallest subject insignificant , always to go in if there appeared to be a chance of success , but never to let himself be cajoled into an attack unless it was part and parcel of , or leading to , his ulterior object ; and certainly no officer has ever maintained a higher character for harrassing an enemy than Lord Dundonald . He in some measure seems to account for this peculiarity when he tells
us that " Tradition has assigned to the Cochranes a derivation from one of the Scandinavian sea rovers who , in a remote age , settled on the lands of Renfrew and Ayr . " In the volume before us we have a pretty clear insight into the manner in which younsters were trained as officers . He tells us he was trained under one of those rough-and-ready first lieutenants of the old schoolwho were the terrible but effective drill
, masters of the then rising generation of officers . Jack Larmour had risen from the forecastle ; and captains vied with each other to get him for their ships . When Lord Cochrane first went on board ho found the first lieutenant dressed as au ordinary seaman , with a marlinspike slung round his neck and a handful of grease in one of his fists , indulging himself , for want of other occupation ,
in setting up rigging . Prejudiced against the new comer , on account of his being a lord , and because he was tall , his first proceeding was to saw Lord Cochrane ' s sea-chest in half ; and though he took to the youngster in a surly kind of fashion , as soon as lie found him anxious to learn the rudiments of his profession , he could not be satisfied until he had caught him out in a fault and punished himbut our author
—; says , "At the first moment of my setting foot on board the Hind it had been my determination never to commit an act worthy of punishment ; but it was equally the determination of Jack Larmour to punish me for rny resolution the first time he caught me tripping . This was certain , for Jack was open and above-board , and declared that 'he never heard of such a thing as a faultless midshipman ! ' For a long time he watched in vainbut nothing occurred more than to warrant his swearing twice
, as much at me as at any other of my messmates , Jack never troubling himself to swear at a waister . To use Ids own words , it' was expending wind for nothing . ' One day , when his back was turned , I had stolon off decks for a few minutes , but only to hear , on my return , the ominous words , ' Mast-head , youngster ! ' There was no alternative but to obey . Certainly not cheerfully—for the day was bitterly cold , with the thermometer below zero . indeed it
Once caught , I knew my punishment ivould bo severe , as was , for my sojourn at the mast-head was protracted almost to the limit oi : human endurance , my tormentor being evidently engaged in calculating this to a nicety . He never mast-headed me again . " The system , if system it might be called , ivhieh was pursued by such old salts as Lieut . Larmour , did not turn out such men of refinement as the navy boasts at the present day : and it may lie '
questioned if it wasnot conducive to keeping down thc high-born and chivalrous feelings ofthe educated man ; yet it certainly produced bravery and good seamanship , and Lord Dundonald thinks that the hand to mouth system was not without its advantages in the hard , practical training through which it compelled everyone to pass . He gives us the following as his first attempt at such a rough and ready mode of acquiring the knowledge of a
seaman : — " The Thetis was ordered to equip at Sheerness , and knowing that her first lieutenant , instead of indulging himself ashore , would pursue his customary relaxation of working hard aboard , J . begged permission to remain and profit by his example . This was graciously conceded , on condition that , like himself , I would put off the officer and put on the garb of a seaman . Nothing could be more to mv taste : so , with knife
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literature.
of the eighteenth century , ancl brings the history carefully down to the establishment of the United Graud Lodge . On the consideration of this subject , our attention is directed to the rapid and extensive spread of the Order , ivhieh , having found an early home in this favoured island , has extended its branches over nearly the ivhole of the habitable globe . In Russia and Spain even , notwithstanding the obstacles interposed by ecclesiastic or
secular despotism , the Lodges have been neither few nor inefficient ; while wherever English , Scottish , or French Masons have penetrated , in the pursuits of war or of commerce , they have sown good seed ivhieh has seldom failed to take root and to produce an abundant harvest . A history of the vicissitudes of the JIasonie Order must necessarily contain details of unmerited persecution to which our
brethren in various parts of the world have been from time to time subjected . The freedom cf thought and upright independence of action , which have ever been advocated by Masons , have especially rendered them obnoxious _ to the papal tyranny and its once potent satellite the order of Jesuits . Narratives of the sufferings of Freemasons in the dungeons of the Spanish Inquisition , and of the edicts published against us in Portugal , Italy , and even Switzerland , may be familiar to many of our readers , but it seems hard to believe that—even a hundred years
ago—an organized system of persecution could have existed iu this happy island . Yet in Scotland , in the last century , the "Associate Synod" attempted to disturb the peace of the fraternity and drew up a list of foolish questions which they appointed every kirk-session to put to those under their charge . These related to what they thought were the ceremonies of Freemasonry , and those ivho refused to answer were debarred from reli
gious communion—the result was to cover the would-be inquisitors with ridicule , and to show that hypocrisy and the lust of spiritual despotism are not confined to the church of Rome . The latter part of Bro . Laurie's volume is devoted to a most ample detail of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; but this cannot be said to partake of the interest . of the formerat least to English brethren . Even to the members of Scottish Lod
ges the long-drawn out details of the last ten years must , we imagine , appear somewhat prolix ; nevertheless , as a well arranged record , this will always be a valuable book of reference , especially to office-bearers and those to whom precedents may be required for any public act or ceremony connected with the Order . Almost all the " loyal and respectful" addresses might be omitted with advantage to the reader , ivho is at present fatigued with an unnecessary amount of twaddle which can have no historical value whatever .
Our space is quite exhausted , or we should like to have given an extract or two from a very interesting treatise on the Knights ofthe Temple ancl St . John , ' and ofthe Royal Order , or " Heredom de Kilwinning . " This , though incorporated as part of thc history , is acknowledged to be by a separate hand : it is the work of the Chevalier Burnes , K . IL , and does great credit to that gentleman ' s industry and research . A chapter on JIark Jlasonry ,
the Royal Arch , and Ark Mariner degrees , contributed by Bro . Andrew Kerr , F . S . A .. has great merit , and throws light upon some points and distinctions " with ivhieh English JIasons are not generally familiar . In taking leave of Bro . Laurie , we have to thank him for a very elaborate work , ivhieh on the ivhole we may describe as In ' n-hly interestingand abounding in materials for studand meditation
, y ; ivhile the many points on which such a book must necessarily be defective are eminently suggestive to such brethren as have leisure and taste for antiquarian research . Should another , edition be called for ( which we can hardly doubt ) we ivould recommend tho excision of a large portion of the details of Grand Lodge proceedings , ancl the addition of as many more appendices as Bro . Laurie can procureprovided they are of tiie same value as those which
, already enrich the work . In conclusion , wc have but to add that the volume is excellently and carefully printed , and reflects credit upon the editor as well as the author . We must take exception to the illustrations , which arc paltry in thc extreme , and totally unworthy of the book or the subject .
The Autobiography of a Seaman . By Trro . irAs , Tenth Earl of 'Dundonald . Vol . " I . London : Bentley . Tin-: adventures of a seafaring life have ever been thrilling in interest to the youth of England . "With a ship thc youngest powder monkey identifies himself at once . She is something to individualise and love ; her many qualities and escapes he looks upon as made up of part of his own being ; and notwithstanding the humiliations he has to undergo in sea sickness , dirt , and want of room , yet his experience is as different to all other men ' s ns it
is possible to conceive . Still it would be generally supposed that nothing new could be written of a seaman ' s life , and—granting that in the main , there are the same principal features—yet , when a story is truthfully told of the varied experience and strange chances of a sailor ' s existence , there is a charm ancl fascination in the recital that enlists our sympathy and warms our hearts as much as if some new field of literary delight had been opened up for our amusement .
Lord Dundonald takes rank as the greatest surviving sea captain of the last great naval war . In his own immediate life perhaps there was no officer superior to Lord Dundonald ; but in the management of large armaments we cannot say whether he ivould have been equal , or not , to Nelson , for the government of this country never gave him the opportunity . Still , we believe , from his bravery and coolness , when it so pleased him , he must , il
having had similar chances , have proved himself not a whit behind the hero of Trafalgar . In all that could be effected by the skilful command of a single vessel—in all the nicest calculations of endurance of a crew—in every contingency that could arise—his foresight and prudence were extraordinary . His heroism , dash , and daring , were peculiarly his own , and jwove how possible it is for a determined officer to keep a ivhole seaboard in alarm aud
anxiety . His tactics appeal- to have been never to think the smallest subject insignificant , always to go in if there appeared to be a chance of success , but never to let himself be cajoled into an attack unless it was part and parcel of , or leading to , his ulterior object ; and certainly no officer has ever maintained a higher character for harrassing an enemy than Lord Dundonald . He in some measure seems to account for this peculiarity when he tells
us that " Tradition has assigned to the Cochranes a derivation from one of the Scandinavian sea rovers who , in a remote age , settled on the lands of Renfrew and Ayr . " In the volume before us we have a pretty clear insight into the manner in which younsters were trained as officers . He tells us he was trained under one of those rough-and-ready first lieutenants of the old schoolwho were the terrible but effective drill
, masters of the then rising generation of officers . Jack Larmour had risen from the forecastle ; and captains vied with each other to get him for their ships . When Lord Cochrane first went on board ho found the first lieutenant dressed as au ordinary seaman , with a marlinspike slung round his neck and a handful of grease in one of his fists , indulging himself , for want of other occupation ,
in setting up rigging . Prejudiced against the new comer , on account of his being a lord , and because he was tall , his first proceeding was to saw Lord Cochrane ' s sea-chest in half ; and though he took to the youngster in a surly kind of fashion , as soon as lie found him anxious to learn the rudiments of his profession , he could not be satisfied until he had caught him out in a fault and punished himbut our author
—; says , "At the first moment of my setting foot on board the Hind it had been my determination never to commit an act worthy of punishment ; but it was equally the determination of Jack Larmour to punish me for rny resolution the first time he caught me tripping . This was certain , for Jack was open and above-board , and declared that 'he never heard of such a thing as a faultless midshipman ! ' For a long time he watched in vainbut nothing occurred more than to warrant his swearing twice
, as much at me as at any other of my messmates , Jack never troubling himself to swear at a waister . To use Ids own words , it' was expending wind for nothing . ' One day , when his back was turned , I had stolon off decks for a few minutes , but only to hear , on my return , the ominous words , ' Mast-head , youngster ! ' There was no alternative but to obey . Certainly not cheerfully—for the day was bitterly cold , with the thermometer below zero . indeed it
Once caught , I knew my punishment ivould bo severe , as was , for my sojourn at the mast-head was protracted almost to the limit oi : human endurance , my tormentor being evidently engaged in calculating this to a nicety . He never mast-headed me again . " The system , if system it might be called , ivhieh was pursued by such old salts as Lieut . Larmour , did not turn out such men of refinement as the navy boasts at the present day : and it may lie '
questioned if it wasnot conducive to keeping down thc high-born and chivalrous feelings ofthe educated man ; yet it certainly produced bravery and good seamanship , and Lord Dundonald thinks that the hand to mouth system was not without its advantages in the hard , practical training through which it compelled everyone to pass . He gives us the following as his first attempt at such a rough and ready mode of acquiring the knowledge of a
seaman : — " The Thetis was ordered to equip at Sheerness , and knowing that her first lieutenant , instead of indulging himself ashore , would pursue his customary relaxation of working hard aboard , J . begged permission to remain and profit by his example . This was graciously conceded , on condition that , like himself , I would put off the officer and put on the garb of a seaman . Nothing could be more to mv taste : so , with knife