Progress Of Freemasonry In Germany

Weidtman , ofthe Elberfeld Lodge , in support of this petition ; and . finally the reestablishment of a mutual representation between the Grand Land Lodge ( Swedish system ) and the GranclLodgesof Dresden , Hanover , and Hamburg—asymptom of the brotherly unity now existing amongst the Lodges on different systems , and something like a guarantee for future

harmoiry . The year we have just glanced at has now for ever vanished , and another , with its various duties ancl vicissitudes , has just commenced . May it be attended with a greater degree of development of the grand princi ples of Freemasonry—truth and j ) erfection .

Taste And Want Of Taste In Decoration.

TASTE AND WANT OF TASTE IN DECORATION .

1 itoi .-i . sson Tjinsiisaii , in his Academical Lectures , says that " all representation ofthe beautiful is called art . " Hence , from the reverence entertained by the ancient Greeks for the beautiful , the implicit belief prevailed among- them that some higher power accorded ^ to the artist a protecting aid ; they crossed thc threshold of their temples with awe ; they stood with veneration before their sculptors in the Parthenon ; they looked upon art as divine worshi

a p ; they bent to its followers as to high priests , as to those holy men ivho alone might approach their altars ancl prepare their sacred offerings ; in fine , tbey regarded art as destined lor some ulterior higher end than thc mere gratification of the senses . If in these days art has failed to exercise such influence , it is on account of the absence of its high appreciation , and of the belief that its cultivators do not rise so very high above the comearthStillin these

mon . , days as of yore , it is the peculiar province of art to give to life , and to spread over its bare necessities and arrangements , thc charm of grace . Incalculable are thc oll ' ectsof this ; ancl yet we cannot trace the thousand hidden ways by _ which the " representation of the beautiful" arrives , at exercising an influence over our natures ; wc cannot determine the measure of that influence caimot tell when in what

; we even , or it has _ shown itself . All wc know is , that we receive impressions as we imbibe principles ; they steal upon us unconsciously ; gently they conic , but indelibly they leave their mark behind . Harmony of tone is allowed to be not without its effect on the mind . - Will nut those same persons concede a like power to harmony displayed m tho forms of things ? If they deny it , it is only because in ' the latter case it is less apparent from being less direct not

. Though so immediate , it is more durable in ' its consequences . And ive rely upon it for working a change in men's minds , making them susceptible of the grand or beautiful ; softening their manners , ancl preventing them from being brutal . Beauty of form has ,

most marvellousl y , a plastic power over tlie mind , though thc change it effects is gradual , in common with all things which are moulded into shape . To render art , genuine art , accessible to the people , to make its contemplation a matter of rare occurrence , is therefore to be looked on as a matter of positive importance . The debtor account of outlay or of trouble , may not be balanced by an exact creditor for so much improvement in taste and manners ¦ the venture

yet , will not be a losing one . Let those by whom the production of the art manufactures are put in circulation , have a thought as to the price by which they are to bo obtained . Let them be widel y disseminated , be accessible to those whose means are not ample , but who are notwithstanding willing to expend somewhat more than the mere common jug would have cost , for the pleasure of possessing something that ives elegance to tho

g table or the shelf , and affords satisfaction as often as it is looked upon . It is already something gained , when they feel they are the possessors of a work of art ; they begin to take an interest iu what the artist , produces , as even for them his genius has been employed . Domestic decoration must ever be an object of importance to all who take an interest in the advancement of art , because taste is insensibl moulded and formed b

y y the effect of familiar objects in daily use . \\ c should hope for little artistic judgment from persons whose lives ivere spent in rooms ivhere the principles of correct taste were violated in every article of furniture . In domestic economy utility must always hold a higher place of estimation than mere beauty ; but there is an advance when the decorative art is made applicable to objects and purposes that

were previously regarded as merely useful , and wore on that account tolerated in spite of their unsightliness and deformity . Our stove grates and fire places have long been objects which the genial influence of a comfortable fire could alono render tolerable ; toe beauty of the marble chimney piece could not atone for tlie heavy mass of metal it enclosed : the effect was that of a

magnificent frame surrounding a detestable picture ; and the mass ivas almost equally bad , whether it assumed the form of polished steel , or shone in all the honours of black lead . The Dutch tiles in which our ancestors rejoiced , and whicli may still be seen iu a few old houses , were better than the new walls which now guard ancl disfigure our hearths ; coarse as they were , and wretched as were

the figures with which they were adorned , they ivere still suggestive , and the family circle assembled round the social hearth could often derive amusement and instruction from their contemplation . The great objection to these tiles , independent of the coarseness of their execution , was the small size , which gave to their use the effect of a pavement set up perpendicularly . Thc experiment long remained untried of producing slabs ot earthenware -and still

, more , slabs of porcelain , that would resist the action of fire as perfectly as any metal , and ivould at the same time be susceptible of decoration derived from thc highest ivork of art . It is only within the last few years that tlie slabs of porcelain have been made of sufficient size to render them applicable to the interior decoration of the fire place , and the very rich effect ivas attained which they now produce . The flowers in the several designs are

all painted in their natural colours ; and these colours having been vitrified in the process of manufacture , are , of course , indestructible . We believe that at most of the manufactories in Staffordshire , and also at the porcelain manufactory in Worcester , those slabs arc now produced ; ancl that the manufacturers generally are giving to the article very great attention—considering it a staple of their tradeone which taste can be largely

, upon exercised . Wc have often noticed the almost instinctive anxiety of persons to associate flowers with the means of warmth . Even the poorest persons love to have posies displayed on the mantelpiece , and wreaths of flowers are among thc most common

decorations of our metal stoves . The manufacturers of porcelain slabs have followed this apparently natural taste , and bestowed a large share of their attention on floral decoration ; indeed , some of those panels are among the most beautiful specimens of flower painting we have seen for many a long clay . We have seen several slabs with Saracenic decorations in the style of Owen Jones ' s great ivork on the Alliambra , and their effect is particularly gorgeous and

magnificent . Porcelain panels are susceptible of ornament in high relief , as well as pictorial decoration , and we havo seen both combined with the happiest effect at the exposition in Paris , and at several show rooms in London . We have dwelt chiefly on thc application of these panels to fire places , because this is likely to be one of the most popular forms in which they can be used , not merelon account of their beautybut also on account of their

y , convenience , a wot sponge being sufficient to clean them in a minute , and their radiation of heat greatly contributing to the warmth of au apartsieut . The latter quality ivas the chief recommendation ofthe Dutch tiles to our ancestors , and we have heard old people lament their disappearance , declaring that when they were used , fires gave out double their present heat . But these porcelain slabs are applicable to many other purposes . They are

beautiful tops for toilet tables , being much lighter than marble , susceptible of much greater decoration , not more fragile , and quite as easily kept clean . They might be introduced into thc decoration of conservatories with tlie most excellent effect ; aud we have seen panelled surbases , ivhich to the merits of cheapness ancl cleanliness superadded a very pleasing picturesque effect . In ¦ short , in winter , they add largely to the comfort aud elegance of an apartment ; and in summer they render unnecessary the usual mode of hiding a fire place—by classing it among the most agreeable attractions of the room .

Iii one of our rambles through soma ofthe avenues , streets , and thoroughfares , lined with villas , crescents , terraces , detached and semi-detached houses , with whicli tbe suburbs of our great metropolis abound , we fell to meditating on our changeable seasons that give us a taste of the climates of every country . The day ivhich had commenced with au intense frost , with a g limmering of sunshine , turned to rain , giving an appearance of gloom to everything , ivhich

was considerably increased by our passing a crescent with balconies ancl verandahs to the first floor windows , and , iu addition , a plantation of trees iu front . We thought bow dreary must be that sitting' room , that excluded the slightest natural warmth of the sun . AVe are no enemies to verandahs , as iu summer they , are agreeable ; but for that very reason , in winter they arc disagreeable . Again ; thc window itself came down to the floor , ancl into thc vastl in

opened balcony— y agreeable those months when wc may lounge outside ancl read a Imok , hut , as disagreeable on a winter ' s evening , as its many draughts prevent the room getting thoroughly heated by the largest fire . " AVhat then , arc ive to have our windows plain enough ibr a workhouse ' ! " some one may exclaim . No , lor a summer room should be shaded and open to