Reviews.

I mlrcrls have been printed , but few are left , but it is hoped there are still sufficient to iulv brethren interested in the province who are resident in other parts of England , fj a || jlasnnic libraries should secure copies , fir there are particulars of considerable ' nincnt and curiosity to be found in its pages , hiving a value and importance far beyond Northumberland . It is very early for such a publication . Bro . A . C Richardson , p M . 1626 , prrsinten the first issue of 1 S 117 to the province , an 1 has now kindly p lacei ,, " , (^ r / viigh' in the hands of the ever-active Trustees of the Newcastle College Library

( S R . I-A )¦ w '"'> , v , ! n tne yommitree , Inve superintended the present edi ion , thi editur being Bro . 1 " . F . Schnitrrer , P . M . 541 , who has discharged that duty ably , and assuredly as willingly as eff-ctively . The editorship is on similar lines to that of 1 S 97 but this year has features of its own , and is decidedly an improvement on its predecessor . There are 30 lodges now , and a petition for another . The numbers o ( members are supplied under jS of the lodges , these amounting to a total of 277 S , or in other words the average to each lodgj is nearly 10 ) , which is probtbly the largest in

England . There is a cu'i HIS compilation it the endof the Calendir , being an approximate tah ? e of numerical position of lodges in the Province of N > rthumoerlan I " at th ¦¦•next reiiuiul'criiig , " bised on the present roll , so , of course , is subject to further changes . 'I IT ; alterations will really be so slight for the higher numbers , and yet will involve changes nevertheless of one number only as to m my lodges , that it is to be hoped it will be a long time before such a contemplated revision tikes places . Tne last wis in 1 S 03 , anil so there is plenty of time during the next century . The details given as to

the hig her degrees arc of a very interesting character . The votes in the Central Masonic Chantirs do not quite run up to 3000 , so that in this respect there is room for improvement as compared with some other provinces . Newcastle is the head-quarters for the time of the " Masonic Veterans Association " for Great Britain and Ireland , and also of the "Grand Cross of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem " and other Degrees . All these , and , in fact , every Masonic body is duly attended to , and the Calendar is complete in all respects .

" P OEMS AND SKETCHES r , v DAVID Wiu . ON , ( "TamMcPhail" ) , Glasgow : Alex . Mahom and Co ., 34 , Ann-street , City , 1 S 9 S . "—Bro . Willox has done well to collect and publish his numerous Masonic Poems and Sketches in one handy , admirably " got up " volume , at a reasonable price , and in readable type . The author has written a brief Preface , and dedicated the work to " the Right Worthy Bro . William James Hughan , " in appreciation of his valuable services to the Craft . There is also a Biographical Sketch of Bro . David Willox , appropriately introducing his poetical effusions and prose

compositions , by which it appears that he has qualili ; d as , and is a number of the "Scottish Veterans' Masonic Association , " having been initiated as far back as iSfjy . Our esteemed brother was also known as the manager for some time of the defunct " Scottish Freemason . " Sjcially and generally , Bro . Councillor Willox is much respected . The main portion of the handsome volume is both humorous and truly Misonic , some of the Poems being most pathetic , and generally compositions worthy of perusil and preservation . The ity / e may fairly be indicated by a few lines from " Freedom . "

" To-day is the time for life's battle , To-morrow we ne ' er may behold ; Then live so that pleasure or sorrow May still find us valiant and bold . " The verses on " Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty " deserve an honoured position in Con sccration services , cither as a whole , or selected verses , such as the following : " Thus will the Temple we seek to upraise

Be completed when all do their duty , And your voices unite in a chorus of praise To Wisdom , to Strength , and to Beauty . " Though some ol the pieces appear to appeal to our Scottish brethren more particularly , there is really no difficulty in reading even the most pronounced of these , and the prose , especially , offers no barrier in that respect . One of the best ol these is "Tain Mcl'hail learns the Bicycle . " " I ' om "

was quite agreeable to try Ins best "If ye'II promise that it'll no knock me aboot , I'll gie ye ma word that I'll be as car . na wi'it as ever I can . " He confessed , however , as he proceeded that lie " forgot a ' aboot the pedal in wondering what side he wasgaun tae fa' on . " After a bit he did better , and then wanting to show off , he "lost control o ' the machine on a slight incline , and part 0 ' his unmentionables on a hedge . " Ashe tells us " Tarn McPhail " is now a member of a club started at Parkhead , he has

doubtless mastered the machine ; Not a few of the pieces are irresistibly funny , and though here and there may be found a stray bit which would have b : en better omitted , such as the one on " Whisky Toddy , " the book generally is a welcome addition to our Masonic literature , and cannot fail to be acceptable in many a brother ' s home . Copies may be had from the author , Bro . D . Willox , 2 % . fid . cloth boards , or 3 s . o'd . cloth gilt . Address : 4 S , Burgher-street , Parkhead , Glasgow .

"REMINISCENCES OKA STAMMERER . " By B Beasley , The Roxburghe Press , Limited , 1-, Victoria-street , Westminster . —There are few among us who have not at some time or other come in contact with one who has what , for the sake of euphuism , is known as an impediment in his speech . As boys , perhaps , some of us may have been thoughtless and unfeeling enough to mimic him . But whenever we have met such a person we have always been overtaken with a feeling of discomfort . In our impatience , we may have tried to help him in his difficulty by supplying the word he was

unable to aiticulate , or we may have been curt in our replies , when at length he succeeded in saying what he wished , showing that we were not desirous of having speech with him , much less anything to do in the way of business . At all events , however we may have attempted to bear with him , it is on the cards that we may not always have exhibited that kindly and sympathetic feeling which one so alllicted deserves . Instances uf this arc to be found recorded in the pages of Mr . Beasley ' s book , in one of which he lost a valuable contract through his stammering , while in another ,

it was one of his tutors , the son of the head Master of the school at which he was being educated , who heedlessly caused him pain . As regards his experiences , Mr . Beasley , who had the misfortune to be a stammerer for something like 41 years , has compiled a most readable volume , and one which we tiust may prove of service to those who are suffering from the same impedi"lent of speech . lie tells us that he contracted it when a child of a few years after an •1 'tack of measles or some other of the diseases to which children are liable , an ! though he

appears to have shown great strength of mind under his misfortune and a strong ' - ^ termination to conquer it if pos-. ib ! e , it was not till many years had passed over his head , that he became capable of speaking articulately , and then the cure came upon him suddenl y , as noted in Chapter VTL , and not as the result of the special efforts he had been making . I laving achieved his purpose he has since devoted a considerable portion "' his time to alleviating the distress which others have suffered from the sime misfortune . 1 Io has had many under his careboth children and adultsand the system he

, , > as formulated appears to have been eminently successlul . He has , too , delivered lectures on the subject in sundry of our Provincial towns , and wherever he has appeared ' ° r tins purpose , his remarks would seem to have been characterised by strong common sense . His book , indeed , is well worth reading , not that the subject is a particularl y attractive OIIL-, but because he has done much to enliven it by recording ¦ anecdotes of himself and others who have suffered from the same malady ; but . above 11

•j . because he has treated it broadly and generously , carefully abstaining from laying uown any special system which may be supposed to be applicable to all stammerers •¦ p '> tro . 8 ' y advWc those who may have children who stammer to consult Mr . Beasley ' s , !' - * l " - '' ' . ienccs of a Stammerer , " and if that falls short of what is needed , to invest a "tiling in the purchase of his book , " Stammering ; its treatment , " which may be had "" . Pl"cation to Mr . Beasley , Brampton Park , Huntingdon , and which , as it has ached the 17 th edition , must have proved of service to a great number of people .

tiiti . 'J ' -KMIS-si . ) . N of the Treasurer and Benchers of the Inner Temple , representabvth liL ' j """» nt and Fletcher ' s comedy— " l'he Coxcomb " ( reviseJ)— , vill be given and l ? 1 i - rs of thc '" ^ ' "" ethan Stage Societyin the Inner Temple Hall on Thursday sumc y ' ' elj , uary " - ' . h and nth . The members of the Elizabethan Society gave 'ast a ' i ' . rcscn'ations of "Twelfth Night" in the Middle Temple Hall , in February was ' , S " , ' !' " "I'eresting to note that it is now nearly 300 years ago since the plav fonnanr . 1 ? - n .-- uccnKizxbeth '" the MidJIe Temple Hall , the date of that per . "nance being February 2 nd , ltioi

Craft Masonry

Craft Masonry

Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 663 . The annual meeting of this lodge wis held at the Masonic Hall , Dsvizes , on Tuesday , the iSth instant , when there wis a good attendance of members ani visitors . The VV . M . elect , Bro . W . J . Baldwin , S . W ., was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year by the outgoing Master , Bro . H . H . Baker , the ceremony being very efficiently

performed . Bro . T . C Hopkins , P . M ., gave the usual addresses to the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren . The W . M . appointed and invested his officers as follows , and addressed them as to their several duties : Bros . H . H . Biker , I . P . M . ; J . Hunt , SW . ; F . Rendell , J . W . j F . S . Hancock , P . M ., Treas . ; T . C Hopkins , P . M ., Sec . ; D . Owen , S . D . ; Hash , J . D . ; J . A . Rendell , P . M ., D . of C . ; W . R . C . Sudweeks , I . G .: G . T . Smith and M . K . Sloper , Stwds .: and W . G . Pike , Tyler .

After the lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to the annual banquet at the Bear Hotel , which was admirably served by Bro . F . Reynolds , P . M .

Dobie Lodge . No . 889 . On the 19 th instant , there was a grand assembly of the brethren and several visitors at the Kingston Hotel , Kingston-on-Thames . The strength of the lodge was increased by the addition of two new members , who were initiated by Bro . Geo . R . Scott , W . M ., in his usual correct style . Bro . W . Sudlow Herrick wis pissed to the F . C Degree . This was the night for the election of W . M ., and Bro . W . H . Gaze , S . W ., was the only one named on the ballot papers . Bro . J . Drewett was re-elected Treasurer in a like unanimous manner , and a Past Master's jewel was voted to the W . M . on his retirement from office .

Another candidate was proposed , and after the dispatch of all business , the customary refreshment closed the day .

Empire Lodge , No . 2108 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday evening , the 25 th inst ., on which occasion Bro . F . G . Mellows , the new W . M ., appointed as Senior Deacon Bro . () . ven Dunn , Dep . Dist . G . M . of Bombay , whose eloquent speech on the influence of Masonry as a religion that may be universally acceptable , irrespective of creed , caste , or sect , at the banquet given by this lodge in June last to Colonial and Indian brethren will be in the memory of all who heard it or have perused it in our columns . On this occasion the distinguished brother , begging the brethren to accept him

simply as a Master Mason desirous to work with the rest of the officers for the good of the Craft and the lodge , mentioned that he had been tempted , on acceptance of the office , to see what was said in holy writ regarding Deacons , and he found that what St . Paul had said on the subject by alteration of the single word "faith" into "Craft " could be applied with peculiar point to Deacons in Masonry . They were to be found in the 1 st Epistle to Timothy , chapter iii ., verse S . — " Likewise must the Deacons be grave , not double-tongued , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre . " 9 . — " Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience . " ( Craft ) .

13 . — " For they that have used the office of Deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree and much boldness in the faith . " ( Craft ) . Bro . Owen Dunn continued that he had further ventured to verify these apostolic admonitions which he respectfully dedicated to all D ; acons . " St . Paul aforetime wrote to Timothy The sort of man he'd have a Deacon be , Grave of demeanour , not with tongue too free ,

Nor given to drunkenness nor usury , With a pure conscience ever faithfully 1 Iolding within his breast the mystery . Such as have used this office well , said he , Shall purchase to themselves a good degree , As with the faith , so with the Craft , say we , And straight ahead the Eastern chair we see . "

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Lion and Lamb Chapter , No . 192 . The installation meeting was held on Wednesday , thc 19 th inst .. at Cannon-street Hotel , when there were present Comps . T . E . Biddlccombe , P . Z ., P . P . G . O . Durham , M . E . Z . ; VV . Haynes Dunn , H . j Henry Birdseye , P . Z ., as J . ; George Kenning , P . Z ., Treas . ; F . D . Rees Copestick , S . E . ; William Baker , 2 nd Asst . S ., Thomas Cohu , P . Z ., D . C and Stwd . ; G . Couchman , Janitor j S . M . Banker , P . Z . ; John Taylor , P . Z . ; lohn Kent , John G . Robeson , Geo . K . Durrant , David Ringrose . Walter T .

Fisher , Frank Hamlett , and S . M . Bhagat . Visitors : Comps . J . J . Thomas , P . Z ., P . G . Std . Br . ; Horace Huntley , J . Edinburgh Chapter ; Geo . S . Bingley , late 192 ; H . E . Cooper , 1446 ; H . A . Badman , 109 ; W . S . Page , 186 ; L . Powter , 1185 ; and Burrett Lane , Mus . Bac , 1745 . The chapter was opened and the minutes of the last convocation were read and confirmed . The report of the Audit Committee was also received and adopted . Comp .

Conestick then took the chair of M . E . Z . and exalted Bro . M . S . Bhagat in his usual able and impressive manner , so greatly appreciated by the companions of this chapter , after which he duly installed Comps . W . H . Dunn as M . E . Z ., and Frederick Hughes as H . The M . K . Z . then proceeded to invest the officers elected for the ensuing year , viz .: Comps . Copestick , P . Z ., S . E . ; Georj » e Kenning , P . Z ., Treas . ; William Baker , 1 st Asst . Soj . ; Thomas Cohu , P . Z ., D . C and Stwd . ; the others not being able to be present . ,

There being no further business the chapter was closed and the meeting adjourned . Thc companions then dined together under the able presidency of the M . E . Z ., Comp . VV . Haynes Dunn . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , being interspersed with some capital singing by a glee party consisting of Bro . Edwin Bryant and Messrs . VV . and Frank Peskett . A most enjoyable evening was spent by every one present , and a very cordial reception given to our Indian brother , who had been exalte j earlier in th : evening .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

York Lodge . The regular meeting of the above-named lodge was helJ on the ujm instant in the Masonic Hall , Duncombe-place , York . Bro . T . S . Brogden , P . G . D ., was installed W . M ., the installation ceremony being performed by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., P . G . M . O . Eng . The following is the list of officers for the ensuing yean Bros . T . S . Brogden , P . G . D , W . M . ; VV . N . Cheesman , P . G . M . O ., I . P . M . ; F . W . Halliwell , G . Stwd . Eng ., P . G . S-c , S . W . ; II . Longford , M . D ., P . P . G . R . of Mks ..

J . W . ; James Smith , M . O . ; J . W . Dow , S . O . ; j . L . Spetch , P . P . G . R . of Mks . ; J . O . ; the Rev . C . E . Wright , M . A ., P . M ., P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; ) . Blenkin , P . M , P . P . G . VV ., Treas . ; J . T . Chambers , P . A . G . Sec , R . of Mks . ; / . P . Gill , Sec . ; / . B . Sampson , S . D . ; G . J . Robinson , P . G . Stwd ., J . D . ; J . E . Wilkinson , D . C . ; " | . F . Watson , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; D . Young , I . G . ; Dr . C Tweedy and J . H . Buchanan , Stwds . ; and P . Pearson , Tyler . A vote of condolence was passed with Lady Terry and family , Sir Joseph Terry having been a member of the lodge for miny years . After the conclusion of the lodge business , the members dined together at Bro . HaUiwell's North Eastern Hotel .