Reviews.

Reviews .

" Popery : What It Is . " By LEON DKI . BOS . — F . Case , 12 , Booksellers' Row . It is always very difficult for Masonic scribes to review a professedly polemical work in a Masonic journal , Those for whom we write proclaim allegiance to an Order which specially deprecates the " odium theologicum , " which equally ignores controversy and believes

emphatically that the world is , after all said and done , wide enough for us all . And though we give Mr . Leon Delbos ( Bro . are we to term him ?) all credit for good intentions , sincere opinions , and much energy and emphasis of expression , the pamphlet he has been so good as to send us for review is practically " unreviewable" by us . Fur we could not treat it properly , or even partially , without

finding ourselves at once in a very " debateable land " indeed of incrimination and recrimination . We agree with the writer , that anything more childish , and useless , or more unwise in itself than the anathematizing spirit of the Church of Rome , as against persons , doctrines , books , Freemasons & c , never was exhibited in the history of the world , and that it is one which for sane and

religiously minded persons is alike painful and humiliating to realize and remember . But having said this , we stop here . Weare not justified as Freemasons in attacking Rome , qua Rome , nor is it part of our duty as Masonic reviewers to dilate upon charges many and great , which go to impugn the constitution , the tenets , the practices of the Church of Rome as such . There are plenty of newspapers

in which such accusations can be reproduced , in which the honest and indignant opinions of Leun Delbos could find vent , but they have no place properly in the pages of the Freemason . We have said thus much for fear of being misunderstood . Our Masonic motto is always , " Defence , not Defiance , " and we Masonically object to all embittered controversies , as it would be meist contrary to all our

kindly teaching , if we allowed our pages to become the medium of the angry inculpation of this or that religious body , however hostile that body may be to Freemasonry . Even supposing that thc Church acts unfairly by us Freemasons , as it clearly does , condemning all Freemasonry , though ignorant of our true principles , and unable to appreciate our good work , that is no reason why we

should turn our peaceful Freemason into a polemical or religious journal . Moreover we confess that we have , as Freemasons especially , little sj mpathy with that sensational literature just now which deqls largely in " spicy " and vehement railing against all religious organizations . These intrepid , and excited penmen often seem to remind

us of the old waiter at Vauxhall , who when asked what orders his " missus" had given him replied , "Says she to me , Robert , she says , keep on perpetually a cutting ham sandwiches . " Seriously , while we deprecate angry logomachies in the Freemason we are quite aware , that there is a most important side to the question , but it must be settled elsewhere , and certainly not in the Freemason .

" Der Bund ; " edited by Hugo Mandello and Dr . Ludvvig Rosenberg , Pesth . This is a new Ma ? onic serial , edited by two well-known Hungarian brethren , one of whom has for some time past been the editor of the " Hajnal , " an Hungarian Masonic paper . There are splits in editorial as well as ministerial cabinets and seme equally meaningless , and it seems that

Bro . Dr . Rosenberg has set up an opposition paper to the " Hajnal , " or rather a rival paper , with the asristance of a co-editor . We do not exactly discover the point of difference or the aim of our learned confreres ; but we think it well to note the appearance of " Der Bund . " It appears to be ably edited , is well printed , and has a good deal of Masonic information .

" Sctipture Extracts ; compiled and pointed as a Musical Service for the various Masonic Ceremonies ; " by Bro . DAVID PRICE OWEN . Simpkin , and Marshall , London . Agreeing as we do with the proposition that music may most fitly be introduced into our Masonic Ceremonial , and acknowledging gladly the efforts of some able musical writers in this direction , we are not quite prepared to say

that we can conscientiously approve of the present woik . It seems to us to print too much . Its points and rubrics are too plain to be misunderstood , and much which is so complacently given to the profane world , ought to be reserved in our humble opinion for the lodge , and the lodge alone ; but then we belong to the old school . We think the idea of the writer not a bad one , and had it

only been carried out in due subordination to the dictates of Masonic reserve , we should have been ready to welcome it and glad to commend it . As it is , we fancy our humble criticism will be the one which will occur to Masons generally on running through il * . At the same time we wish to encourage the great and goodly use of music in Masonic Ritualism , and call the attention of all brother organists and " sweet singers " to the work .

ICELANDIC LAW . —Mr . Jon Jonsson the secretary to the Governor of Iceland , is now industriously occupied in the study of trials by juries in England , and in the pursuit of records bearing on the early history of this subject . Iceland seems to be waking up to the memory of her former self . In her laws and literature are found the earliest and at the same time the fullest records of "trial by jury . " Certain antiquaries hold it to be an institution

brought into England by thc Danes , which in itself is very likely—indeed , extremely so—although it does not prove its prior non-existence among the Anglo-Saxons , kith and kin of the Danes themselves . After the union with Norway in the latter half of the 13 th century trial by jury fell into desuetude in Iceland . Now that the Danes are , after laborious inquiries , on the point of adopting the English mode of procedure with regard to the jury , Iceland wants to inquire for herself , too , on the point . — Athemeum .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

ROYAL INSTITUTION . —Professor Dewar commenced on Friday week a course of lectures on the chemistry ofthe organic world . Thc special scope of the course is to bring together all the work on the subject deme most recently by observers in many countries , but yesterday's lecture was occupied with a preliminary sketch ,

commencing with Priestley ' s observations from 1771 onward- - . The Professor has collected and printed extracts from Priestley ' s writings , which show the sequence of his experiments , and these notes , put in chronological order for the first time , we believe , are of value to students of the su : jeet . Priestly found that air in a confined space , while vitiite . l by the burning of candles , was restored by plants under certain

conditions , and this condition lie found after many experiments was that the plant was in a vegetative state . Jugen-Housz , interested in t'riestley ' s work , found in 1779 that the meaning of plants having this effect was that " lhis wonderful operation is by no means owing to the vegetation of the plant , but to the influence of the light eif the sun upon the plant . " lean Schebicr , in 1792 ,

communicated a paper to the "Journal de Physique , " in which he pointed out the pr . ibabiity that carbonic acid gas is decomposed by plants iu vegetation . Many of the historic il experiments were rejirnduced , and the action of light on phosphorescent bodies was shown , illustrating a

phenomenon which set the minds of the early observers at work in connexion with the influence of lighten vegetation . From this starting-point the subject is to be woiked out in the subsequent lectuies . Its ilevclopment has latterly been so rapid that frequent issues of text books have hardly kept pxce with it .

The first cocoa house belonging to the Public Cocoa House Comi any was opened at Leeds the week lefoie last . Some very successful experiments with the telephone have been can led on lately at St . . Petersburg , the result bring an ouler from the Government to establish telephonic communications between the Exchange and

the 'Iclegraph Department . Arrangements have also been made for the extensive use of the telephone on the Warsaw Railway . Marble identical with the famous yellow Italian Marble—the Giallo Antico—has Jeen found in California , at Tehacepa , Kern County . 'The Californian stone is white , with aniber-culoured veins , and the discovery is highly prized , as the quarry from which the yellow Italian

marble was preicured has been unknown for centuries . Mayfair states that in a biography of Jacob Beihme , contributed to the " Dictionnaire tie la Conve rsation , " M . Bouchitte has credited him with the authorship of certain " Reflections sur les Bottes d'lsaie "—a title which is all the more comical from the fact that Beihme was a shoemaker . It appears , however , that the work was really an essay on a theological dissertation of Professor Isaias Stiefcl , " Stiefel" being German for boots .

Literature in Germany , which has languished considerably since the Franco-Prussian War , bids fair to recoveritrelf . Last year 16 , 437 new hooks were published throughout the Empire , an increase of 2000 on the average of the past tight yeais . DAMI " . —The rainfall at Portree , Skye , during 1877 was 9 * 5 * 26 in . The least lainfall in any month

occurred in April—viz , 1 * 77 in . The heaviest was in November , 15 * 6 9 in . On October 14 th 4- 9 8 in . fell within 24 hours . Rain fell on 283 days during the year . —British Medical Journal . HER MAJESTY ' S THEATRE . —The English Opera Season at Her Majesty ' s Theatre will soon close , as the Italian Opera Season will this year commence at an

unusually early penud . During the brief recess the house is to be icdecoratcd , and , among other structural improvements , additional staircases are to be constructed on both sides of the house , improving the already spacious access to both the pit tier ami the grand tier . Fires in London during 1877 , to which the Fire Brigade were called , numbered 1708 , of which 106

were false alarms ; while 14 , 057 , 16 5 gallons , or about 65 , 400 tons , of water were used tor extinguishing conflagrations . There were 16 5 persons endangered by fire , but only twenty-nine lost their lives . THE CLEOPATRA . —The monolith ship with her precious freight is still lying in the East India Docks , only a few minutes' walk from the Blackwall Railway

Station . Many thousands of persons have visited her since her arrival . A public meeting has been held at Oxford , at which resolutions in support of the recommendati- ns of the Royal Commission on Railway Accidents , that compensation be given to railway servants for accidents , were passed , Beth Sir . W . I larcourtand Mr . Hall , the members

for the city expressed their sympathy with the cause . Sir William Harcourt said he could not understand why a guard or other railway servant who was injured while travelling in a train which met with an accident should be the only one amongst tne passengers who was not entitled to compensation . The Fashionable Bracelets worn by

Transatlantic Belles this season must be serious weights to the wrist . Oriental bangles are the favourite style , and appended from them is a miscellaneous collection of miniature articles in gold or silver , relieved by black and red enamel , such as kettles , opera glasses , teapots , goblets ,

skulls with ruby or diamond eyes , mice , horses , dogs , eggs , keys , scissors , shoes , Cupids , and harlequins , columbines , clowns , and pantaloons in striped enamel or silver encrusted with gems . The necklace to match is made of Japanese amber , with a transparent locket containing a fly apparently * alive .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

DUKE OP CONNAUGHT LODGI * (" "in . 1524 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge wis held 011 I ' liuisday last , at the Havelock Hotel , Albion-rend , D . ilston , Bro . Bernard Meyer being inslalled W . M . A n-p . irt of the proceedings will appear in our next . Bro . Col . Francis Burdett , Granel Sovereign

of the Red Cross Oreler , has appointed Bro . the Rev . J . Marsden , B . D ., M . P . S . of the Maurice Conclave , 112 , ami P . VT . of the St . Peter ' s Loelge , No . 476 , to succeed as Inte uelaiit G . neral for Carmarthenshire , the lamented Brti . Rev . Litimer Maurice Jones , B . D ., Deputy Grand Master for the Western Division of South Wales , a very distinguished Mason , and large-hearted brother , whose loss will be long deplored .

On Monday last Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , S . G . W ., was installed Great Prior of Ireland , in the room of the late Maiquis Conyngham . The ceremony took place at the Masonic Hall , Dublin , in the prcser . ee of a large assembly of the brethren rcpreserling the City and Provincial precept & rics ¦ f the Great Trie ry of Irelmil . Amongst those Liking a prominent part in the proceedings were Viscount Pu we 1 seo el it , tile Earl of Hunting .. or , Capt . Huband , anil Capt . N . G . Philip-- .

The annual ball of the Kail of Carnarvon Lo . lge , N <> . 1 ( 1 42 , takes place on the . 22 nd irst ., at I adbr . ke Hall , la-broke Grove-road , Nutting-hill . The whole of thepro . erds will be devoted to the ltoyal Masonic Institutioi fer Girls . ROYAL COLLEGE OI > VETERINARY SURGEONS . —At a meeting of the Court of Examiners hell on

Saturday , the 12 th ult ., uni ' er the provisions of the new Supplemental Charter granted by her Majesty on tlie 23 rd of Ociober , 1 S 76 , in order more eff . ctuallv to promote and encou . age . he study of veterinary medicine and surgery , it was orelered that a new class of members , to be called " Fellows , " should be created , making it imperative for each cane'ielatc , prior to such examination , to jiass a

higher order of examination and to proeluce a certificate of graduation in arts at a university , or certificate of liberal education after an examination by the College of Preceptors , under the direction and supervision of the Council . The examination for fellowship to be oral and written , and the subjects to be on physiology and

comparative anatomy , pathology , therapeutics , suigiry , sanitary science , dietetics , and epizootiology . We are pleaseel to notice among seven successful candidates the name of our late respected citizen , Bro . Robert Ward , of Goldsworth Loelge , Weiking , as having passed 1 successful examination , admitted to the Fellowship Degree , and received thc diploma . —Hampshire Chronicle .

The meetings of the Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction , No . 1278 , will in future bc held at the Salmon and Ball ( Bro . H . Smith ' s } , Bethnal Green-road , every Wednesday evei . ing , instead of Friday , at half-past eight o ' clock .

We are in a position to state that the Queen will hold a Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on Thursday , Feb . 28 , at three o'clock , on which occasion Her Majesty will also receive the Corps Di plomatique , under the usual regulations of the Diplomatic Court .

Her Majesty will also hold Drawing Rooms on Thursday , March 21 ; Tueselay , May 7 ; anel Thursday , May 9 . Bro . Emra Holmes is bringing out a new tale in The Masonic Magazine , commenceel in the Christmas number , called "Amabel Vaughan , "—tlie autheir takes

the side of the boys as to the administration eif Christ ' s Hospital—and the editor , in a foot note to the first chapter , says : — " We are among those who much regret the sensational excitement abcut Christ ' s Hospital , but we have thought well to let our brother speak for himself . " The story , as containing the reminiscences of an " Ol 1 Blue , " promises to be interesting . —Civilian .

THB RECORDERSHIP OF LONDON . —The announcement of the resignation , through ill-health , of the Right Hon . Russell Gurney , M P ., as Recorder of London , though not unexpected , liascauseel sincere regret throughout the corporation . There are , already two candidates in the field—namely , Sir Thomas Chambers , M . l \ , who has filled the office of Common Seijeant for 20 years , anel

who acted as Recorder during Mr . Gurney ' s absence in Jamaica and the United States , and Mr . Robert Malcom Kerr , LL . D ., the Judge of thc City of London Court , and one of the Commissioners of the Central Criminal Court . The names of Sir James Fitzjames Stephen , Q . C , and Mr . W . Digby Seymour , Q . C , Recorder of Newcastleupon-Tyne are also mentioned . The appointment is in

the gift of the Court of Aldermen , a body of 26 members . The first known Recorder of London was Jeff rey de Norton , who held the offiice in 1298 . Sir Edward Coke was Rjcorder in 1591 , and the -notorious Judge Jeffreys was elected Common Serjeant in 1670 , being then only 23 years of age , and Recorder of London in 16 78 . Lord

Chancellor King was Recorder in 1708 . Stow says that the Recorder of Lonelon must be " a grave and learned lawyer skilful in the customs of the City , " and qualified to be " the chief assistant of thc Lord Mayor and Aldermen for their better direction in . natters of justice and law . "

Lord Hartington has given ¦ stj . Joo towards the extension of the University of Edinburgh . His Royal Hi ghness the Prince of Wales will hold a Levee on her Majesty ' s behalf at St . James ' s Palace on Saturday , the 9 th February , at 2 o ' clock , and another at thebeginning of March . Will any brother kindly send to the Editor of the Freemason a copy of Loonr . is's Musical and Masonic Miscellany for November and Deceml er .