Reviews.

Reviews .

MILTON'S COMUS . By Dc D . F . RANKING , M . A ., and B . M . RANKING . H . West , 381 , Mare-st ., Hackney This is a very well printed and convenient reprint of the well-known " Masque of Comus , " with a dedication by Henry Lawes , gentleman of the King ' s Chapel , who undertook the part of the " Spirit , " and by whom the music that first appeared with it was written .

The earliest edition of ' •Comus" appears to have been 1637 , and " Printed for Humphrey Robinson at the sign of the Three Pidgeons , in Paul ' s Churchyard . " We think it a pity that the original date of Lawes ' s preface is not given , as in all such matters as coacern the reproduction of books we never can be too particular . " Comus" is so well known , that little here seems

necessary to bc said about its merits , which are many , or its grace , which is great . The taste for masques , which had died out , seems to be reviving amongst us—not unhappily—and we trust that it is just possible that they may assume a m-are definite and vital expression in our literature and tastes for the future . As regards " Comus , " it is well to remember that

between 1627 and 1697 , no less than twenty-seven editions appe ared of k , and no work that we are aware of , of similar cast or calibre , has enjoyed so much popularity , or has been so appreciated by the ingenious and the intelligent . The "Masque of Comus" has many and great beauties peculiar to itself , and in the present edition we are pleased to acknowledge the usefulness and effect of the notes which

Messrs . B . M . and F . Ranking have attached to it . They are both readable and very seasonable , very proper and very perspicuous , and show both good taste and knowledge of thc subject , not the least important desideratum in commentators , though not always attended to . Though we are aware that the high merits and great name of Dr . Arne have long been given to the music to which " Comus " has been set , we confess that we should like

to witness a revival of " Comus , " with the music of honest old Lawes , as it was first conceived and first played . The Messrs . Ranking give us a very neat and handy little companion for the railway bag or the railway journey , for students at examinations , for the lovers of John Milton , and we thank them for it , and wish them alike a large circulation and honest appreciation of a very pleasant little book .

FREEMASONRY , ITS HISTORY AND AIMS . By EnwAitn F . WILLOUGHBY . We have read this article , which appeared in " Macmillan " for June , with singular interest , inasmuch as , unlike most similar lucubrations , it is both fair and clear and based upon facts , and a true perception of the veritable , according to our view , explanation of Masonic history . We understand ,

moreover , that the writer is a brother of our Order , and we are glad to acknowledge him among the far too limited band of Masonic students , historians and arch-elogists . Bro . Willoughby ( we hope he will pardon us for saying so ) , does not , however , appear to be " posted up" as to our present state of Masonic evidence , and talks of a " lodge held at Canterbury 1426 , under the patronage of the

Archbishop ( Chiehely ) , as we learn frcm a MS . of W . M . Morlat , the Prior , & c . " This is the old story ; " Morlat " being probably misspelt for Molart . But the truth is no lodge was held in 1426 at Canterbury untler Chiehely , as an historical tact , but Preston , or Preston ' s authority , saw a register in the Turner MS ., Bodleian Library , in which is a giant of " Livery " 1429 to the Master , Warden , and

Masons « f the lodge , and Chichely ' s name stands at the too of the lodge , he also receiving " Livery , " Voila tout I Molash is the real name , not Molart . The entry , however , proves that a lodge of Masons was attached to Chrislchurch , Canterbury . Bro . Willoughby seems to have adopted Bro , Findel ' s patriotic view of the Germanic origin of English Craft

Masonry , than which , we need hardly remind our readers , nothing could be more visionary . The evidence of the Guilds is quite fatal to any such proposition . Whether or no the MS . Mas nic Poem is a 14 th century or 15 th century MS . is still to some extent an open question . " We have Halliwell , Casley , Wallbran on one side , and Mr . Bond on the other , who is we need not observe , one

of the very hig hest authorities that can be adduced . KIoss's theory as to " internal evidence" is , however , most doubtful , and in our opinion untenable , and in fact his arguments , if fully developed , might ( with our present knowledge of MS . of which he was ignorant ) rather substantiate than diminish the earlier date of MS . We must remember here lhat Mr . Bond giyes both to thc Masonic

Poem , and Matthew Cooke ' s MS . prose Constitutions an equally early 15 th century date . WhattheCoiistitutionsof York Masons are , to which Bro . Willoughby alludes , we do not profess to understand . Bro . Willonghby ' s theory that the word Freemason is " intended to indicate their independence of the clergy , under whose control and direction they had formerly been , " is , we

apprehend , however ingenious , utterly opposed to all the well known facts of the case , and utterly untenable . If one fact is clearer than another , it is the intimate union between the mediaeval Freemasons and the Monastic bodies . The word " Freemason" ( see Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia ) means simply , " a Mason free of his Guild . " Bro . Willoughby seems to have been misled by a want of clearness of expression in Bro . Findel's History as

regards the Sloane MS . That MS . had been known for some years before 1863 , to more than one Masonic Student in England , through Mr . Wallbran , and Bro . Findel's altentiou was called to it by an English Masonic Studen t , who also gave a duplicate copy of it in his possession , ( which had been transcribed for him by Mr . Sims , of the British Museum ) , to Bto . Findel himself , and . on which he based his enquiries in the British Museum .

Reviews.

This is clearly stated in the " Mittheilungen" of the German . Masonic Union , though not in the "History . " Bro . Findel thinks the Sloane MS . had belonged once to Dr . Plot , which certainly would acccount for his knowledge of ths contents . Whether that MS . be a portion of an operative ritual catechism or not is an open question It is very much like what stems to have been seen by

Dr . Plot himself , as we have just remarked , and which clearly was not purely operative . Agreeing as we do in the main with Bro . Willoughby ' s able paper , and entering fully as we do into his appreciation of the French High Grade movement in the last century , we are glad to read his contribution to "Macmillan , " and thank him for it sincerely .

But we think it right to add in conclusion that English Freemasonry is alike indigenous in origin , and national in conception and development , and that the notion of a special philosophy , a peculiar teaching attached to it , beyond what its honest and excellent formularies avjw , is , though a popular idea with some foreign writers , a mere chimera .

English Freemasonry , since 1813 , at any rate , has been a religious and philanthropic sodality , based on acknowledgement of T . G . A . O . T . U ., reverence for thc Bible , and toleration of our brethren and fellow mortals , upholding the principles of loyalty , order , and peaccfulness , a disavowal of sectarian controversies , and marked by a very active exercise of universal benevolence and charity .

During the last century it was more Christian than anything else . To say that English Freemasonry is " Deism " or any other " ism " is simply a parody on history , a complete travesty on all the known facts of the case . Our honest old brethren knew nothing about " Deism ; " many of them were men of culture and men of position ,

clergymen and savants , nobles and literati , soldiers and-wtll-todo merchants . If they took np any " vanity " it was , perhaps , a little social materialism , in common with all around them then , and which is illustrated effectually by those festal songs and gay madrigals . But to assume today , that all those who formed part of our loyal and social Order in the last century , who toasted " The King and the

Craft , " were "Deists , " philosophers in aprons , or sceptics in petto , is not only a little too much , but it is simply ridiculous . It is a "discovery " of our modern critics , whether from internal or external evideice , which seems to be on a par with that well-known old print , "Commemorating A Discovery , " which some of our readers will remember placed the W . M .

and brethren in a very unfortunate position , and even made some of the eilder P . M . ' s , being married men , blush . If any of our good foreign brethren doubt our word , let them study that striking print carefully . Seriou > ly , we thank Bro . Willoughby , as we hope we may term him , for a most readable anel rational paper on Freemasonry .

BULLETIN DU GRAND ORIENT DE FRANCE . This useful monthly publication has reached us , and though there is nothing of great importance in it just now , we are always glad to receive it . THE MASONIC ADVOCATE , 1 NDIANOPOLI 3 . We greet our old friend month by month with genuine satisfaction . It is always most readable .

KENNING'S MASONIC CYCLOPEDIA . The publication of this cyclopaedia is an undoubted service and a noteworthy enriching of our literature . This encyclopaedia of Bros . Woodford and Kenning really meets a want , and it is so correct , thorough and complete , that it satisfies all reasonable demands , though absolute

perfection and correctness such a work cannot attain to , but in general , and on the whole , a permanent , useful , and valuable work has been produced and up to the height of Masonic enquiry , ancl of which , unless we wish pettishly to find fault , we cannot deny our recognition . —J . G . FINDEL , in Bauhiitte .

Grand Commandery K.T. Of Nebraska.

GRAND COMMANDERY K . T . OF NEBRASKA .

At thc sixth annual conclave of the Grand Co . nmandery , Knights Templar , in Nebraska , thc following named Knights were elected and were duly installed in their respective stations : Sir Daniel H . Wheeler , G . Commander ; Sir George H . Trunime ) , Deputy G .

Commander ; Sir Joseph K . Marley , G . Generalissimo ; Sir George W . Lininger , G . Captain General ; Sir Thomas B . Lemon , G . Chaplain ; Sir Charles B . Palmer , G . Senior Warden ; Sir Gustavus Stevenson , G . Junior Warden ; Sir Samuel G . Owen , G . Treasurer ; Sir William R . Bowen , G . Recorder ; Sir Cyrus W . Wheeler , G . Standard Bearer ; Sir Francis E . White , G . Sword

Bearer ; Sir Dennis 11 . Andrews , G . Warden ; Sir William J . Mount , G . Captain of thc Guard . A new command was established at Falls City ; Mt . Sana ! Commandery , No . 8 . The Grand Commandery ordered that the election of officers in subordinate Commanderies shall be on the first Friday after Good Friday of each year , and the

installation on Ascension Day : that each Commandery shall annually assemble at its Asylum on each Good Friday for religious services appropriate to the day , permission being granted to repair to some church or place of public worship for such purpose . A field encampment was ordered to be held on thc first

Tuesday in September next , at such place as the Grand Commander and his staff may determine . The resolution adopted at the last annual conclave , ( page 232 ) increasing by 50 dols . the fees for the Order , was repealed , and instead each candidate is required to uniform himself within ninety days after receiving the Knights Templar Order .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

The forthcoming number of Petermann ' s "Mittheilungen" contains a highly interesting paper entitled " The Sun in the Service of Geography , " in whick the advantages of the process of heliogravure , or sun engraving upon copper , as practised by the Austrian Military Geographical Institute , are dwelt upon . The maps

of the new Austrian Ordnance Map are carefully drawn on paper , on a scale of 1 : 60 , 000 . They are then reduced photographically to a scale of 1 -. 75 , , transferred upon coppei , touched up , and printed . In this manner each sheet ofthe map can be produced in nine months , while the same amount of work engraved in the usual manner requires nearly 46 months for its completion . The whole of

the Austrian Staff Map , consisting of 715 sheets , will thus be completed in io , i r , or 12 years . No less than 271 have been published since 1874 . The advantages of this ( . recess , as regards cost and rapidity of publication , are evident , and they fully compensate for any slight inferiority in the appearance of the work . An engraver , to whom we showed one of the maps produced in this manner , firmly

believed that it had been engraved upon copper . If . the Ordnance Survey Office were to avail itself of this process , the one inrh map of the United Kingdom , for which we shall have to wait under present arrangements for years , might be completed very speedily . The Ordnance survey of Palestine , at all events , might be produced in this manner at comparatively little expense , and in a very

superior manner , as an examination of a specimen map in the " Mittheilungen " will show . We ought to mention that a similar process , invented by Colonel Avet , has been , in use for several years past , in the officeof the Italian General Staff . —Athenaum . The Pope last week presided over the Commission of Christian Archaeology , being the fiiit time for

120 years ( so a telegram states ) that the Pope has filled thc chair at a meeting of savans . He ordered the excavation of the Catacombs of St . Petronilla to be prosecuted at his own expense . A Joint Roasted by * the Heat of the Sun is one of the chief attractions of the grounds of the Paris Exhibition , where M . Mouchot , a Tours Professor , when thc

clouds permit , daily cooks a portion of meat by means of a strong reflector . On Saturday he succeeded in boiling sufficient water for three cups of coffee in three quarters of an hour . In Algeria , where the sun naturally possesses greater power , Professor Mouchot has roasted quails in twenty minutes . At the International Cattle Show , in

connection with the Paris Exhibition , last week , both her Majesty and thc Piincc of Wales are exhibitors . The three English laureates of honourat the show are William MacCombie , of Aberdeen , for a cow of Angers breed ; Lord Walsingham , for sheep ; and Mr . Sexton , of Ipswich , for a hog . The Training of Carrier Pigeons is still

energetically pursued in Belgium , and during the latter part of May some 3086 baskets of pigeons , containing in all 123 , 440 birds , crossed the Franco-Belgian frontier , so that the pigeons might learn their way home from French territory . Four hundred birds have also been sent from Belgium to Rome , where they will be loosed and despatched on their

return journey to Brussels . In consequence of recent bereavement , Princess Louise was unable to open the exhibition of the Fanmakcrs' Company on the 19 th inst ., as originally intended . The exhibition is accordingly postponed for a few days , but due notice of the opening will be shortly announced .

Professor Virchow , of Berlin , believes he can furnish proof from a Bulgarian skull that the Bulgarians are not of Slav , but of Turkish origin . CLEOPATRA ' S NEEDLE . —There is nothing further as yet to report , beyond the fact that a beginning has been made in the movement of the monolith itself , apart from the cradle on which the ship is berthed . The lift ,

which was but a few inches , and merely for the sake of verifying the powers of the only pair of hydraulics then in position , was made about 7 o ' clock on Friday morning , when the tide wis near its lowest . Thc hoist was applied to the head only of the needle—that is , to the lighter end .

Of course , since the obelisk weighs but 187 tons , the result of this merely pro forma experiment was perfectly satisfactory , fn the course of tbe day the second pair of jacks was fairly planted on the middle staging , and when the third and last shall have been placed under the monolith's base all will be ready for more serious work .

A letter from the French Ogowe Expedition was read at the last meeting of the Geographical Society of Paris . It is quite a year since it was written , and some apprehensions have been entertained as to the safety ofthe explorers . M . de Brazza states that the Ogowe ? is reduced to small proportions and flows from the south , so that it gives the impression of being really an arm detached from

the Congo . The expedition was to travel northwards in order to examine the sources of a powerful affluent . Illness was prevailing among the small party , and the hostility of the native tribes was growing stronger . —Nature . His Royal Highne-ss the Prince of Wales has , wc understand , graciously intimated his consent to accept the office ot president of the Royal Colonial Institute . The

Duke of Manchester , who has filled the position since 1871 , upon the 'elirement of Viscount Bury , has been elected a vice-president ancl chairman of the council . — Thc Colonies and India . The Eruption of Vesuvius , in A . D . 79 , when Pompeii and Herculaneum were overwhelmed , is to be commemorated in Pompeii next year , on the eighteen hundredth anniversary .