Reviews.

Reviews .

"CYCLOPEDIA OP CLASSIFIED DATES , WITH AN EXHAUSTIVE INDEX . " — By Charles . E . Little . ( Messrs . Funk and Wagnall's Comp ., 44 , Fleet-street , London , E . C . )—Undoubtedly this is one of the most remarkable and extraordinary works ever published , and is as much a triumph typographically as it is texturally , for the extraordinary compilation is printed and arranged to perfection , and as a volume of its kind can scarcely be excelled in any way . The Introduction by the author is dated " Jersey City , N . ] ., Dec . 7 , iSqg , " and the title-page is thus of 1000 accordingly , but the

compilation appears to end in 1894 . It was began in 1 S 90 , and took some 10 years to prepare , requiring not only Mr . Little's constant labours , but also the services of several persons , besides numerous officials consulted , who were continuously employed during that period , collecting materials , verifying dates , and the other thousands and tens of thousands of items requiring examination , confi-mation , and classification before leaving the hands of the author . The jjreat volume is of quarto size , extends to over 1450 pages , three oolumns to a page , and is really what it claims to be—a complete classification of dates of all kinds from the earliest recorded periods down to the end of the iqth century ,

concerning the various countries of the world . The work is divided into countries , from ABYSSINIA to the WEST COAST OF AFRICA , and then each country is arranged in periods , the sub-divisions of each period being seven in number , viz ., Army and Navy , Births and Deaths , CI urch , Letters , Society , and Miscellaneous , so that with a little experience one can soon determine the exact part to turn to on consulting the wond ; rful oracle . To aid the student a most voluminous Index has been prepared , and is really one of the most valuable features of this invaluable compilation , extending as it does to nearly 300 pages of three columns each , and the references supply the columns as well as the pages , so that the most elaborate pains have been taken to meet all the possible

wants of the public . lnfact . it is almost uncanny to find so many minute matters chronicled , indexed , and classified , as well as satisfactory to meet with all important facts so carefully and systematically arranged . The most rigid tests are challenged as to its efficiency , and assuredly if periection can be obtained , this enormous "Cyclopaedia of Dates" may claim the prize . Copies mav be seen at the Publishers , 44 , Fleet-street , from whom a very readable account of "The Slo-yof Seventy Centuries ]" may be obtained . Something like 100 , 000 entries of important historical events are enumerated and arranged in the volume , costing the Publishers many thousands of pounds to produce , and of its kind has neither equal nor rival .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

United Mariners Lodge , No . 30 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . FRED . C . FOSTER . "A grand old lodge" may not be the correct description , from the Masonic standpoint , to apply to the United Mariners , but for all that , as many speakers reiterated on Tuesday evening , the 15 th instant , it was " a grand old lodge . " Upwards of 13 c Worshipful Masters have occupied the chair of King Solomon—several for mure than one period of office . It follows , therefore , that additional honour and lustre attaches to

the highest office in this lodge . This explains the brilliant gathering at the Restaurant Frascati upon the occasion of the installation of Bre . Fred . C . Foster as W . M . Besides a large muster of members the following visitors attended : Bros . H . J . Weston , 1310 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . M . Haydon , I . P . M . 212 S ; W . E . Dimes , LP . M . 1693 ; L Shipton , P . M . 1922 ; J . W . Dixon , P . M . 27 ; Ad . Le Claire , W . M . 1339 ; A . J Stevenson , 2184 ; M . Thompson , 1366 ; M . Courtney , 1507 ; H . Chenery , 13191 F . G . Burstow , 1238 ; H . G . Hobday , 1693 ; F . C . Messtnt , 1922 ; and Thoma-Vine , 511 .

Lodge having been opened , and Bro . Mitchell duly passed , Bro . T . Smith installer Bro . Fred . C . Foster in the chair . The new W . M . invested Bro . J . F . Croager as hi ; S , W ., Bro . E . Lephaid as his J . W ., Bio . T . Till as S . D ., and in the absence of Bro . A LJ ( tlcweed through illness , Bio . Wilkins as J . D . pro tern ., Bro . W . Newbold as I . G . Brf . H . R . Boylesas D . of C , bro . Good , in the absence of Bro . J . A . McLoughlin , Ss'btwd ., protein ., and Bro . G . D . Fairbairn as Asst . Stwd . Bros . T . Smith , P . M ., A . E . Remington , P . M ., and E . Garrick , P . M ., again took office as Treasurer , Secretary , and Organist respectively . Bro . Reinhardt was again appointed Tyler Bio . Dnscoll , P . M ., Ihe dale of whose initiation is back in the early sixties , impressivelj made Ihe usual address to the chair .

Alter the purely Masonic business , the brethren and their visitors adjourned to the Gordon Hall , and did ample justice to the Fourth Degree . Alter the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , a capital programme was gone through , old favcuiiles like Bios . Remington , P . M . ( " Ho Jolly Jenkin " ) , Le Beau (* ' In Day . ' of Old " ) , Newbold ( " Love ' s Nccturne " ) , and T . Smith ( "The Baby on the Shore " ) delighted the assembled biethren . One of ( he visitors , Bro . Raydon , sang a patriotic

paicdy on "The VVeaiing of the Green , " and Bro . Dixon , P . M ., " Killamey , " which were both well received . Other biethren who contributed to the harmony of the evening were Bros . T . Vine ( " The Tipperary Christening " ) , A . E , Mitchell ( " Obedieni to the Call' ) , and K . G . Hobday ( "A Stammering Sweetheart" and "My Home" ) . Bro . E . Carnck once again proved himself an excellent accompanist . The brethren separated shortly after midnight .

Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . HENRY ASH . Ihe annual meeting of Ihis lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Devizes-, on Tuesday , the 15 th inst ., when there was a good attendance of members , and several visitors were present . Bro . Henry Ash , S . W ., was installed as W . M . for the ensuing

year , lie cenirory being most impressively performed by the u . P . G . M ., Bro . C . N . P . Phipps , who also delivered the usual addresses . The W . M . appointed and invested his his officers : Bros . D . Owen , I . P . M . ; W . R . C . Sudweeks ( by deputy ) , S . W . ; G . J . Smith , J . W . j F . S . Hancock , P . M ., Ticas . j T . C . Hopkins , P . M ., Sec . j M . K Sloter , S . D . ; A . J . Randell , J . D . ; H . J . Johnson , P . M ., D . C . ; S . J . Sloper , Org . ; E . Giddings , I . G . ; C . H . Parsons and H . b . ColeF , Stwds . j and VV . G . Pike , Tyler . Alter the lodge was closed , the brethren adjourned to a cold collation at the Bear Hotel .

Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 . INSTALLATION OF BRO . ALFRED BOOTH . The installation meeting of this ancient lodge took place at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark , on Tuesday , the 15 th instant . Bro . Alfred Booth was installed as W . M . by Bro . Walter J . Gregory , P . M . and Sec , the ceremony being performed in a most masterly and impressive manner . There was a large attendance of Past Masters of the lodge , and among the visitors were the following : Bros . Sydney Davis , W . M .

25 ; Allied Ford , W . M- 2757 ; Fredk . Lewis , P . M . 1599 ; W . J . Janes , P . M . 170 S ; Wm . Roots , P . M . 25 S 9 ; Kobt . G . Minton , P . M . 170 S ; A . Jones , P . M . 1949 ; A . M . Scaiff , S . D . 1364 ; D . D . Dennis , S . D . 171 ; Richard Masters , J . D . 24 O 7 ; W . T . Hodges , 21 S 2 ; C . H . Williams , 1695 ; j . Griffiths , 1563 ; and A . C . Dcvid , 1901 . The W . M . proceeded to invest his officers to serve during his term as follows : Bros . Donald Faiimaner , I . P . M . ; A . J . Jeffery , S . W . ; George Huok , J . W . ;

George Free , P . M ., Treas . ; Walter J , Gregory , P . M ., Sec . ; G . G . Bidgood , S . D . ; J . H . Wills , J . D . ; Arthur S . Jennings , I . G . ; G . H . W . Grace , P . M ., D . C . ; Henr > L . Hart , P . M ., Stwd . ; H . Gaskin Riches , Org . ; and A . G . Young , Tyler , a duty he has performed at this lodge for Ihe last 18 years . At the banquet which folk wed , alter the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , "The

Health of the W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Donald Fairmaner , l . P . M . Bro . Booth , W . M ., in reply , said that it would be his endeavour to show his appreciation of the honour that had been done him by maintaining the high reputation for which the ledge was famed . The t < ist of "Ihe Visitors" w s responded to by Bns . Sydney Davis , W . V 1 . ; Alficd Foid , W . M . ; Frederick Liwis , P . M . ; R . G . Minton , P . M . ; and William R . ois , P . M .

Craft Masonry.

The toast of "The LP . M . " was received very enthusiastically . The toast of "The Past Masters" was responded to Bros . Dr . Dixon , P . M ., who has served the lodge as Treasurer for nearly 24 years , and by George Free , P . M . who was Secretary of the lodge for 28 years . During the evening a programme of music was given under the direction of Bro . William Brett Plummer , the following brethren taking part : Bros . Duncan Tobey , W . B . Plummer , Gaskin Riches , Arthur Hilton , and Alfred Ford .

Palatine Lodge , No . 2447 . INSVALLATION OF BRO . HARRY PERRY , P . M ., P . P . G . D . The installation of Bro . Harry Perry , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., and Charity Representative of the lodge took place at the Albion Hotel , Manchester , on the iSth inst . There was a large attendance , including Bros . R . Newhouse , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec . Cheshire ; C . D . Cheetham , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . Cranston , P . G . Chap . ; George Graham , P . G . S .

of W . j Bradley , P . P . G . W . South Wales ; F . Broadsmith , P . P . S . G . W . Cheshire ; I . Tinker , P . P . G . D . Cheshire ; W . Ramsden , P . P . G . D . Cheshire ; Dr . Mellor , P . P . G . D . ; W . H . Peak , P . P . G . D . C . ; T . W . Perry , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; W . H . Perry , P . P . G . D . C . Devonshire ; Evan Williams , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Percv Webb , P . M . ; Ormrod , P . M . ; Withers , P . M . ; Walsh , P . M . ; W . Holme , W . M . elect ; Butterworth , W . M . elect ; G . W . Thornton , I . P . M . ; W . Spencer , P . M . ; J . E . Sharpies , P . M . ; and others .

The event was looked forward to with considerable interest not only by the brethren of the lodge , but by an extensive circle of Masonic friends . Bro . Perry was the W . M . of Sun Lodge , No . 106 , Exmouth , Djvonshire , in 1 S 93 , in which lodge he was initiated in 1 SS 1 , his Masonic career thus covering 20 years . He is also a P . Z . of the Sun Chapter , No . 106 , Exmouth , a Past Grand Marshal of the Provincial Priory of Devonshire , Grand Marshal in the Palatine Rose Croix Chapter , No . 7 , 18 ° , Manchester , a Knight

of Malta , member of the St . George ' s and Stamford Mark- Lodges , and a member of the Correspondence Circle Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , London . Bro . Perry has acted as Steward at the Benevolent Festival , the Boys' Centenary Festival , and the East Lancashire Systematic Benevo ' ent and Educational Institution , and is greatly interesting himself at present in the earning Festival of the last-named Institution to be held in the summer .

The ceremony of installation and other work was undertaken by Bros . Thornton , Graham , Spencer , and Sharpies . Additional interest centered in the almost unique fact that two of the W . M . 's brothers occupied the Senior and Junior Wardens' chairs during the ceremonies , one being P . P . G . Reg . of Cornwall and the other P . P . G . D . C . of Devonshire . Bro . Perry invested the following as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . G .

W . Thornton , l . P . M . ; J . Halliwell Roby , S . W . ; E . P . Hetherington , J . W . ; Wm . Spencer , P . M ., Treas . ; J . E . Sharpies , P . M ., Sec ; F . J . K . Williamson , S . D . ; W . E . Chew , J . D . ; James Marchanton , I . G . j G . Graham , P . M ., P . G . S . of W ., D . of C ; W . Hulme-Jones , Org . ; Lorenzo T . Corke , A . D . C . ; F . VV . Stroudley , W . B . Farrar , J . A . Harrison , T . Clapham , J . Patteson , J . Painter , and H . Wormild , Stwds . ; and I . R . Fletcher , Tyler .

At the banquet which followed , Bro . Cheetham congratulated the Iod * e on its efforts in connection with the Charities since its foundation in January , 1 S 93 . The singing of tne National Anthem concluded a most successful and interesting meeting .

Earl of Mornington Lodge , No . 2000 . DEATH OF BRO . R . C . P . GARDNER , P . M ., D . C . An emergency meeting of this hdge was held at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , W ., on Saturday , the 12 th instant . There were present : Bros . Hugh T . Taylor , S . W . ind W . M . elect ; A . DiwsonJones , J . W . ; H . R . Rose , P . M ., P . G . Org ., Treas . ; VV . A . Bowser , P . M ., Sec ; f . Davidson , S . D . ; W . W . Szlunpjr , I . G . ; H . L . Sarscn . Stwd . ; R . Lake , P . M . ; E . Henry Taybr . W . L . Barrett , VV . C . A-rfield , F . J . Rebman , G . Schorstein , M . D ., J . D . Pattrello , and E . Da Munck .

In the absence of both the W . M . ( in South Africa ) and the LP . M . ( through illness ) , Bro . Richard Lake , P . M ., presided ; and , after opening the lodge , called the irethren to order , and asked Bro . Rose , P . M ., Treas ., to make a statement . Bro . Rose stated that , since their last meeting , it had pleased T . G . A . O . T . U . to remove mother Past Master of the lodge , Bro . Richard C . P . Gardner , win at the timi of his leath held the office of D . C . It had been thought right and fitting to summon this . pecial meeting of the lodge in order to record the fact , and ask the brethrsn t ) pass

i resolution of sympathy with the bereived widow . By the death of Bro . Gardner he nad pereonally lost a very dear friend , and the lodge had sustained a severe loss which it # as hard to bear . Within a very short time they hid lost no less than three Past Masters—Bros . Lavies , Fox , and Gardner—by death . They succeeded each other in the chair of that lodge , and were all comparatively young men . Bra . Gardner ' s death , which was comparatively sudden , was due to heart disease . He was initiated in that lodge in 1 SS 7 , and , after filling all the junior offices with credit , became W . M . in

1 S 95 . He had a good deal of work to do during his year of office , and some had doubted whether he would be able to manage it , but he sedulousl y applied his mind to master ihe duties of the chair , with the result that he acquitted himself with distinction , and to - . he entire satisfaction of the brethren . He was a good man , a sincere friend , and a true Mason . The loss to the lodge was very great , but how much greater was that of his widow . He , therefore , begged to move— " That this lodge has heard with deep regret of the death of Bro . R . C . P . Gardner , P . M ., D . C , and desires to express to his widow

its sincere sympathy with her in her bereavement . " The W . M . in the chair—Bro . R . Lake , P . M . —seconded this , and said he was sure that all brethren who knew Bro . Gardner intimately regarded him with esteem and aff : ction . Bro . VV . A . Bowser , P . M ., Secretary , wished to add his tribute of affec tionate regard to one who had been of great assistance to him whilst acting as S . D . of the lodge . That was when Bro . Gardner was W . M ., and he ( Bro . Bowser ) would always remember , with gratitude , the instruction he had received

irom their dear friend and brother , now gone from their midst . He might state thai immediately on hearing of Bro . Gardner ' s death , he took the instructions of the S . W . tin the absence of the W . M . ) , and sent a wreath to be placed on the grave of then departed brother as a slight token of respect from the W . M ,, Wardens , officeis , and brethren of the lodge , and that the S . W . and Master elect , and their Bro . Treasurer Rose and himself attended the funeral as its representatives . He had received and

read letters of apology for non-attendance and sympathy with the lodge from several brethren , including Bros . N . H . Turner , P . M . ; Edgar A . Hughes , P . M . ; R . F . Gould , P . G . D . ; Thomas Fraser , W . M . 24 SS ; and A . W . Dennis , l . P . M . 180 . The resolution having been put , was carried unanimously , and Bro . Henry R . Rose , P . G . 0 / g ., played the Dead March in "Saul , " the brethren remaining standing to order . Tne labour of the evening being ended , the lodge was closed .

Acacia Lodge , No . 2321 . The regular monthly meeting was held on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., at | the Masonic Hal ) , Rawson-square , Bradford , when a good attendance of brethren supported Bro . J , VV . Bland , the popular W . M . The other chairs were occupied by Bros , R . S . Hird , l . P . M ., as J . W . ; Wm . Docksey , as S . W . ; F . Bettendge , B . A ., Chap . ; S . A . Bailey , P . M ., Treas . ; J . 1 " . Last , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., Sec . ; R . B . Nicholls , S . D . ; VV . Shaw-Smith , J . D . ; VV . II . Townend , I . G . j Joseph Wood , Org . ; J . L . Turner ,

Stwd . ; J . S . Cooper , Tyler ; Alfred Stephenson , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; John Niven , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . B . Fearnley , P . M . ; and J . Morton , P . M . Visitors : Bros . D . D'Arcy Danziger , 2455 , and E . C . Baity , 1545 . After the minutes ot the last regular meeting had been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Messrs . Wm . Wallace Symons and F . Fearnley Rhodes , which having been

declared in their favour , and they being in attendance , they were initiated , the former by the W . M ,, and the latter by Bro . Stephenson , P . P . G . D ., the working tools being explained by Bro . Hird , I . P . M ., and the charge delivered by Bro . Docksey , acting S . W . On the motion of Bro . Fearnley , the following grants were made from the lodge funds : ^ 10 10 s . to the Roy al Masonic Institution for Girls , 4 , 2 23 . to the West Yorkshire Masonic Library and Museum Fund .

A joining member was proposed , and , after "Hearty good wishes" from the visitors , the lodge was closed . ' 1 he bitlhrtn subsequently dined together , and a most enjoyable evening was spent , ( he toasts and speeches being interspersed with songs , recitations , and instrumental music .