Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Eeview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Historical Sketch of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 , Free and Accepted » Masons . With an Introductory Sketch of the Origin of Freeuiacuaua

masonry in Pennsylvania , iiy rjiittorci r . IU . A . Y . JU . of Lodge No . 67 . Philadelp hia : Masonio Publishing Company , 237-9 Dock Street . 1875 .

HAVING SO recently noticed the Dedication Memorial of the New Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , it will suffice , as regards this short introduction on Freemasonry in Pennsylvania , if we state that Bro . MacCalla adopts , with a very natural pride , the view taken by the compilers of that most interesting volume , that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania existed anterior to tho date that has hitherto

been assigned to the first establishment of the Craft in North America . While , however , we reserve to ourselves tho right to analyse the evidence brought forward in support of this view , we feel constrained to admit that the data furnished are of great , if not conclusive , value . The question is of great interest to tho whole Craft , yet the solution of the difference more immediately affects the

rival claims of the Province of Pennsylvania on the one hand , and that of New England on the other . However , the case , as set forth in Bro . C . MacCalla ' s little pamphlet , as in tho more imposing Dedication Memorial , is stated with great fairness . Passing , then , to tho sketch of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 , we leam that the charter of this Lodge is dated 20 th August 1795 , and was

granted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania during the Grand Mastership of Bro . William Ball , Bro . Thomas Armstrong being Grand Secretary . This Grand Lodge worked after tho constitutions of the Grand Lodge of all England ( Ancients ) , tho former Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , according to the modern constitutions , having ceased to exist about 1778 . The first officers of the Lodge ,

named in the warrant , were Bro . Andrew Baum M . D . W . M . ; Bro . Henry Voight S . W . ; and Bro . George Willig J . W ., the Lodgo being authorised to bo held in Philadelphia , or within five miles of it . The minutes are contained in five large volumes , commencing with vol . 2 ; vol . 1 , which contained tho records from its origin to flth May 1806 , being lost or destroyed . Bro . Andrew Baum was

installed W . M . at the quarterly communication of Grand Lodge , held on 7 th September 1795 , and the Lodge held its first meeting on 12 th of the same month , the W . M . installing his officers . There were present jive brethren . Up to 9 th May 1806 , it appears , from the records of Grand Lodge , that 117 candidates were initiated , and 13 brethren admitted to membership , giving a total of 130 , or an

average of over 11 additions per annum . From 1806 to 1816 tho early practice of electing tho W . M . twice in every year was followed . Up till 1812 the Lodge was invariably opened iu the E . A . Degree , but after that date a resolution of Grand Lodgo required that , with the necessary exceptions , all work should be done in the M . M . ' s Degree . Till 1872 tho annual dues of members were 50 cents , a

month , and these wore required to be paid , not only by members , but until 1826 , by visiting brethren also . Tho bye-laws of the Lodge were approved by Grand Lodgo on 2 nd April 1821 . As regards its financial history the Lodgo Concordia has reason to bo proud . On 11 th December 1847 , it had " only 451 dollars in its treasury , and none invested ; in 1831 it had 3 , 000 dollars invested ; iu 1841 , 3 , 982

dollars ; in 1853 , 5 , 202 dollars ; while it now has 10 , 000 dollars invested in 7 3-10 ths Masonic Temple Loan , besides two improved lotsiu the Lafayette Cemetery , which cost 105 dollars . " Its meetings have always been held at tho Masonic Hall of Philadelphia ; and on 13 th September 1811 , with reference to the then new Hall , tho first Chestnut Street Masonic Hall , we find the following entry : " Hailed

our new and superb sanctum ; present , 40 members aud 23 visitors ; 18 candidates initiated during the past year . " " All which , " says Bro . MacCalla , " was something to bo proud of . " Among references to former members , and applications for initiation and membership , is mentioned ono of a certain person whose application , on 10 th June 1814 , resulted in his rejection by " one wiiite ball to eleven black balls . " Of close elections one is mentioned on 10 th December

1819 , where there was a tie between the two candidates for the Mastership , there having been 41 votes cast for each . Among circumstances specially redounding to the credit of tho Lodge may be mentioned that when , in 1820 , the " active members of Lodge No . 2 had dwindled down to ten or twelve , aud its fluids were not sufficient for its maintenance , " a number of brethren , principally from Lodge Concordia

came to its aid , and " by their labours aud example restored it to its former condition of vigour and prosperity . " Then follows a short account of Royal Arch Masonry in connection with this Lodge , and also of Mark Masonry . But we will not follow the writer through the whole of his account . Let us conclude by noting that the Lodge , both financially and numerically , is in a highly prosperous state .

there being , as we have said , over 10 , 000 dollars invested , and tht number of members being 211 . The sketch is very creditable to the patience and ability of its author , the present W . M . ; and if other W . M . ' s would but follow his example , and compile short histories of their Lodges , the interests ol the Order would be greatly advanced .

The Magazines Of The Month.

THE MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .

A NEW serial— "The Dilemma" —is commenced in this month ' .-number of Blackwood . The scene is laid in India , in the year 1850 , and several among the characters who are introduced aro likely sub jects for the pen of one who is evidently a skilful writer to woik

upon . The heroine , wo presume , is Miss Cunningham , daughter oi Resident Commissioner Cunningham , and of the other personages , Colonel Falkland , the fussy Mrs . Pohvheedle , and the young Subal tern Yorke , bid fair to be interesting . No doubt , as tho tale advances , we shall find ourselves launched iuto some of the most exciting

The Magazines Of The Month.

scenes of the Mutiny . The able review of " Lord Lytton's Speeches ™ is now concluded , and we have a further instalment of that moat excellent series of papers on " The Abode of Snow . " Then follow « om « good reviews of recent books , amongst them being the Reminiscences of the late Mr . Macready , and then a sketch of " The China W * r of

1860 , " based on the recently published journals of the late General Sir Hope Grant , to whom was given the command of our forces , and tor whom the success of the operations appears to have been mainly due ,-more so , at least , than to his French colleague , General de Hon * tauban . The number closes with the usual political article , the theme being Sir Stafford Northcote ' s recent budget .

In Eraser aro an account of " Girton College , " " Tho Story of Swindon , " agreeably told by Mr . R . Jefferies , and a long desonntron of " The New Army of France , " in which the writer shows very satis , facfcorily thafc the military power of our Gallic neighbours will be considerably in excess of what it was before the outbreak of the late war , and , indeed , that in some respects it will possess some »

avantages over the German system . In addition , we have an interesting account of " The First London Dispensaries , " by a Surgeon , and of " The Royal Navy of England , " by a Commander . The article headed "Along the Western Coast of India" contains some Tamable information . Thus as to the Jainas , of whom many communituw still survive in Canara , their faith , we are told , was a mild and humane

system , thafc taught gentleness and goodwill , and was free from the haughty spirit of sacerdotalism that animates the Brahmanical religion its name implies victory over sin ; eastern wildness , and immensity of conception characterise the Jaina doctrine and cosmogony , which include distorted features of other creeds and philosophies The Jainas of the South teach there are two Kalas or cycles off the

world's duration , each made up of six unimaginable periods . The present is the Avasarpini or descending cycle . Nor need we enter into a description of this cycle , which our readers will find explained at some length . So we pass to the " Utsarpini Kala , or cycle of upward evolution , " which " began to bloom in showers of mil * and ambrosia , juicy seeds and flowers , and tho animals reserved DTT the

gods were brought back to tho renovated world , and fed on amnrosial food . It is the peculiarity of these Kalas that , as the terms dt life , statnre , and happiness continued to diminish through each of tne six Avasarpini periods , so during the six Utsarpini periods they go on increasing progressively . Theso two cycles form ono Kalpa , an extent of time inexpressible and inconceivable ; and as tho constant revolution of the dark aud bright lunar fortnights takes place every

month , so Kalpas from otermty to eternity have succeeded and anal ! succeed ; thus tho Jaina religion is eternal in one respect and transient in another . " A great deal more follows on this subject , out we must refer our readers to the article itself . Tho number closes with Pari ; IV . of a Lady ' s studies of "Gorman Homo Life ; " their "Manners and Customs" forming the subject of the present study , and very pleasantly she treats of them .

The Contemporary opens with another of Professor Lighttoot ' w aoie papers on " Supernatural Religion . " This is followed by a nrief paper on " Vivisection , " by Sir Thomas Watson , who lays down tne conditions ou which the practice may bo followed and the restrics . tions that should govern it , to which are added snggestionu tor making vivisection altogether painless to tho animal operate : * on .

Mr . Henry Dunning Macleod snecceds with a most elaborate remy to tho question " What is Political Economy ? " His answer win not perhaps satisfy all tho political economists of tho clay , our , as Mr . Macleod has clearly studied his subject , and is careful to advance no proposition without bringing forward strong evidence in supooit of it , those who may differ with him will find his present essay a , Tory

hard nut to crack . Our readers will also find Mr . Grant . Duff ' s "Notes on an Indian Journey" very attractive reading . As to the fonr serials iu Tinsley ' s , it will suffice , perhaps . U we say that in each case the interest increases as the tenour of the sroory becomes more and more clearly indicated . Of the other content * we must first single out a short tale , " All a Green Willow , " of whion . we

will remark that we hardly know whether to admire most tho HKIII with which very slight materials have been woven together , or the genuine pathos which the writer—who signs himself "Theo . "^ exhibits in his treatment . As to Dr . Maurice Davics ' s contributions they are always welcome . In his "Social Status Quo" he touones on everything of interest during the past month , from the weather

to Cardinal Manning , the Freemasons , the proposed Pan-Anguoaa Synod at Lambeth , the recent fatal balloon accident in Franco . < So . His Troubadour Song , " Amadieu des Escas , " is brief enough toatunifc of our quoting it in full : Ere , at morn , your stays yon lace , Wash—your arms , your hands , your face >

Thou , when this is finished quite , Lace—I need not tell you tight . Pare your nails , lest there should linger Ebon tips to each fair finger ; Then give proper care , be sure , To your splendid chevelure ,

Since what strikes each gazer ' s sight Chieliy , should be perfect quite . Every clay when morn doth blush Careful be your teeth to brush ; And be sure all this is done Ere you ' re seen by any one .

This all else doth quite surpass—Have at hand a looking-glass , Large and clear , where , with reflection , You may note your face , complexion . And , if needful , make correction , Should some small defect perchance Break on your admiring glance .

We are very glad that Cassell ' s Family Magazine continues to devote so much space to matters of domestic interest . " How shall I choose my Eoiise-Liuenf" is by no means an unimportant ; question to