Reviews.

At page 127 , Bro . Findel uses the following Avords , " Bacon ' s empirical philosophy " Avas improved upon by Hobbes , " two statements AA-hich Ave leaA-e just as AVO find them , for the names of Bacon and Hobbes will both live centuries after Bro . Findel's sheets have all disappeared from the cheesemongers . From the land of mystics , dreamers , and latitudinarians , Ave expected to have found some more "reliable" matter on Rosicrucianism than that adduced b y Bro . Findel . He appears to pin his faith to Bro . Kloss so firmly that ho neA * er " moves

a step without dragging in that brother ' s name as sponsor for all he sets forth . But Bro . Kloss does not appear to have known very much about the Fraternitas E . G ., and as it would exhaust too much space to correct Bro . Findel ' s countless " reliable" errors on that brotherhood , AVO abstain from all further remarks on the subject , except to warn our readers from taking . one single statement as authentic . John Toland ' s book is entitled Panlheisticon—not cum . Bro . Findel should not have alloAvcd such a blunder to appear .

There is a question floating about in our Masonic circles as to Avhen the Master ' s degree Avas imputed . Of course Bro . Findel , having been in close communion with an individual brother interested in settling the matter in his own Avay , makes a good round assertion , that from 1650—1700 " most probably " the three grades in the profession were incorporated , at that time , into the " fraternity as the three degrees" ( p . 134 ) . This is a specimen IIOAV the blind can lead the blind . In 1717 no one knew the master ' s part . But there was

a master ' s part , for the York Rite Brethren knew it , and Bro . Findel could haA e seen it , if ho had opened his eyes , Avhen he was here . AVhat Avould bo thought of any expert in documentary lore if he were to make such a naive admission as the following note ( p . 135 ) . " We give these " regulations as they are found in the Harleian Manuscript , that being , accord" ing to Kloss , the most reliable text . " Bro . Kloss defines Avhich is the best authority — most likely without having ever seen tho ori ginal — and yet Bro . Findel , Avho , AVO suppose , has seen them for himself , defers to the judgment of

Bro . Kloss . Perhaps the " most reliable text " was the most useful in " elaborating " the history before alluded to . Towards tho conclusion of page 139 is the following sentence : — " From the materials , slowly , surely , and regularl y prepared , far back in the " medieval twilight of the middle ages , " ( sic ) " carefully cherished and handed " down to posterity by the old building associations of Germany and England" arose a UCAV and beautiful creation . "

Reader ! Is not this " elaborating " a " reliable " statement ? Such treatment does this History present on almost every point . Bro . Findel has quite imagination enough to have Avritten a most " reliable" Masonic romance , and then language of the kind Avould have been tolerated , but in such a veritable History , as that before us claims to be , Fatherland and the guild theory go hand in hand . Much good may the association do either or both . Not to bo wearisome , we shall glance at Bro . Findel ' s sections which treat of

England only , leaving others to examine those portions of his book Avhich appertain to their own nationalities , if they think it worth the trouble . Bro . Findel seems to haA e a curious conception of Freemasonry . He lays much stress ^ on its good fellowship , _ e . g ., " many of tho accepted Masons , it is said , " busied themselves with Rosicrucian ] ihiloso 2 ihy , i . e ., with alchemy and theo" sophy ; Avhich , however , by no means promoted social intercourse" ( p . 143 ) . Now , at the beginning of the 18 th . century , the old Masons did not cultivate

social intercourse , as Ave understand the term . They never told by Avhom , Avhen , or where , they Avere received into the order . They did not practice the knife and fork degree so ardently as their successors have done . They really did study the Roscicrucian philosophy , but they did not understand it to mean alchemy , although they and AVC perfectly admit of theosophy forming a large ingredient of it . As a specimen of the " reliable " accuracy of Bro . Findel , take the following note ( p . 144 ) . " Degaguliers Avas a calvinist , Avhilst Anderson Avas a preacher in " the English high church . " Desaguliers Avas not a calvinist , as his sermons