Reviews.

have m that Poem a record of some of the old resolutions at that assembly . That the "Syte" alluded to by tho Poem , and MatthoAv Cooke ' s MS ., is meant to be York , AA o think may fairly be assumed , though it is noteAvorthy that the actual

mention of York as tho Syte , so far , does not date from earlier than the 16 th century . The tradition , IiOAA'ever , of Freemasonry , is so un-Avavcring and uniform on tho subject , that Ave do not in any way , AVO think , lay ourselves open to the charge of Anvevitical

acceptance of tradition , if AVO express our belief , that York Avas the place of the general assembly for the most part , at any rate , of the north of England , and that an assembly Avas really hold there in the time of Atholstan . With regard to the lodge

undorArelibishopChicheloy , in King Henry Villi ' s time , no evidence of such a fact is so far knoAvn to bo in existence . There is evidence of a lodge being attached to tho Christ Church Convent , Canterbury , in Win . Molasb ' s timethe members of Avhich

, received "Livery , " or "Murrey Cloth , " annually from tho Convent . Chieheloy ' s name , curiously enough , stands at the top of the page as " Armiger , " and receiving tho

same "Livery . " Tho names of tho Master , "Magisfcer , " two Wardens , " Guardian ' , " eight Masters , Magistri , and five apprentices , apprenticii are given . The lodge is called " Lo Logo Lothoiiiomui . " And , lastly , Avith reference to the Locke MS . it is not IIOAV generally accepted . If it does

exist in MS ., that MS . is very late , and the original story of it was , that it came from a pamphlet printed at Frank-fort , Avhich pamphlet has never yet boon found . Its first appearance was in the Gentleman ' s Magazine , the language of the document

itself is very suspicions , and seems to be unreal . The archaisms are unnatural , and do not even represent' the age to AA'bicb they are said to belong . And lastly , Mr . Locke ' s letter is not now accepted as genuine . Wo think that , if Bro . Mitchell ' s

work reaches a 2 nd edition , ho should allude to tho doubtfulness of these documents and statements , as from nothing has Masonry more suffered , than a too hasty acceptance of the statements of other Avritorsand a quiet handing on of the

, same Avithout the slightest critical stud y , to later generations . Wm . Preston ' s history , admirable as it is , is not altogether free from those-blemishes ,

and some of his statements , as to the age of certain documents , have not yet been verified by later researches . Take , for instance , the record said to have been made in the time of Edward IV . That short notice seems to be mainly taken from

" Guillim , " and , probably , refers to tho simple fact that , a grant of arms Avas made by Clarencieux , King of Arms in the 4 th year of the reign of King Edward IV , to the Mason ' s Company in London . But here we must stop to day . We fool bound to

add , in conclusion , that the Avork reflects tho greatest credit on our able Bro . Mitchell , that tho stylo is clear and forcible , and that , Ave have no doubt , this last addition to our historical authorities Avill find many readers—especiall y in America , where so

much of the ivork refers , to tho actual history of American Freemasonry . That such a Avork should be published at all , is , in our opinion , a very healthy sign of the present Masonic age .

Irish Freemason ' s Calendar and Directory . We are glad to receive and to peruse this useful Directory of tho Irish Craft . We have often thought , that , it is a great pity AVO do not ICIIOAV more of our Irish . Brethren , and of the proceedings of the Irish Grand

Lodge than AVO do ; but AVO trust , that , there is a better time coming . The " getting up " of the " Irish Masonic Calendar and Pocket Book " is vary creditable to all concerned , and it deserves the support of all original and affiliated members of tho Irish Grand Lodge .

Jahr Buch fur Freimaurar . —Bro . C . Von Dalen . This useful little book , edited by our Avcll-knoAvn Prussian brother , C . Von Dalen , and published by Bro . J . Findel , is a very useful epitome of German Freemasonry ,

in that it sets before us the A-arious governing bodies , and also tho various lodges and their Masters in Germany . It g ives also an account of tho " Verein Deutschcr Froimaurer , " with its active and Honorary members , as AVOII as a list of Masonic

worthies and brethren past aAvay , and an interesting reference to Masonic literature . As a little Pocket Book , an " aide memoire " day by day on Masonic matters , this useful and unpretending publication must lie most valuable ; ancl AVO are glad to have been pri-Adleged , both to receive it and to react it