Reviews.

REVIEWS .

Quarterly Statement of the Palestine Exploration Fund ( No . IV . ) London : R . BENTiEr . The report contains a " Statement of Progress , " which asserts that the illness of Captain Warren and the whole of his little party engaged in the excavations had in a great measure impeded their operations . It is

satisfactory to state that all have recovered with the exception of Corporal Ellis , and have , under the superintendence of the chief , resumed their labours . The time spent in the Lebanon for the purpose of recruiting their health was not entirely wasted , for Captain Warren gives us "Notes on a visit to Saida , " which is full of interest . Another on the temples of Lebanon , it is stated , is

expected shortly . The work of excavation was resumed in November , but too late for anything new in this number . It is gratifying to announce that £ 1300 has been collected during the past three months , and no less than 128 lectures have been delivered in various towns where local associons have been formed . One illustrious visitor

to the scene of operations ( the Marquis of Bute ) before leaving presented Baptain Warren with the sum of £ 950 as a donation to the fund . The committe state that nnless they receive additional support Captain Warren will have to return before another summer . The sum of £ 8000 is asked for the next year . And concludes that it may not be said that this England , the richest , proudest , and most bible-loving country in the world , has abandoned one of the greatest undertakings for want of money .

Proposed Masonic Hall In Glasgow.

PROPOSED MASONIC HALL IN GLASGOW .

A meeting of the Masonic brethren in the province of Glasgow has been held at the Prince of AVales ' s Hall , Buchanan-street , to consider a proposal to erect a Masonic Hall in the city . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . AV . M . Neilson , the chair was taken by Substitute-Master Barrow . The prospectus of a Glasgow Masonic Hall Company , having the Earl of

Dalhousie as honorary chairman and the Earl of Dunmore and Mr . Merry , M . P ., as honorary directors , was put into the hands of the brethren present . This document set forth that it was anticipated that a large hall , capable of accommodating comfortably 1500 persons , with lodge rooms fully more commodious than the hall presently occupied by St . Mark's Lodge , might be erected , in a-

central and public thoroughfare , at a cost , including the site , of about £ 15 , 000 . The estimated revenue , based on the returns of the Trades' Hall , and on what was known would be obtained as rent from the various lodges in the province was £ 1500 a year , and deducting the cost of assessment , repairs , and keep , the net revenue would be £ 1125 , showing on an outlay of £ 15 , 000 a return of 7-j

per cent . The shares would be £ 1 each . The Chairman stated that a committee to further this hall scheme was appointed shortly after the election of Captain Speirs to the Provincial Master ' s chair , but the death of that lamented brother put a stop for a time to anything being done , and it was only recently , and since the election ofthe present Provincial Master , Bro .

Neilson , that the movement had assumed a definite shape . The committee were so sanguine of the success which would attend the scheme that the initiatory step ol incorporating a limited liability company had been taken , and the present meeting bad been called that tbe whole of the brethren in the province might bo enlisted in the matter . It was very desirable tbat the Masonic body should become the sole proprietors of the contemplated building , and he strongly urged both lodges and individuals to come forward at once and carry out what would

Proposed Masonic Hall In Glasgow.

be a great public benefit as well as a benefit to the Craft , and an excellent commercial speculation . Bro . Gordon Smith , the law agent of the company , detailed at some length the proceedings of the committee and the prospects of the scheme . It was intended , he said , that the hall should possess greater accommodation and convenience for public assemblies than any of the

existing halls in the city . The estimate of cost— - £ 15 , 000 —had been made up from a knowledge of what an excellent site , in a leading thoroughfare and accessible by numerous omnibuses , wouldcost , and from the statement of an eminent Glasgow architect . As to the revenue , the figures in the prospectus mi ght all be taken as considerably below what could be looked for , aud in point of

fact not only would the buildings be a credit to the Masonic body , and a great convenience to the general public , but they would form a most excellent speculation for the shareholders . The liability would be limited , so that every shareholder would know exactly what he was responsible for , and as soon as possible after the company got into working order , the proprietors would have an

opportunity of electing such directors as they could rely upon to work the affair to the best advantage . Bro . Smith concluded his remarks by stating that it would be necessary to secure the contemplated site , or one equally suitable , without delay , and by suggesting that the

meeting should nominate some gentlemen to co-operate with the already enrolled proprietors in this matter . Mr . ~ D . B . M'Gregor , the secretary of the company , mentioned that the Earls of Dalhousie and Dunmore had intimated their willingness to take shares , and stated that there were good grounds for believing that very many of tho wealthier members of the craft would join

the undertaking . For the convenience of all parties , the £ 1 share would be contributed in this manner—2 s . 6 d . as a deposit on application , 2 s . 6 d . on allocation , and three instalments of 5 s . each at intervals of not less than three months . Bro . David More spoke in favour of the scheme '; and

Bros . James Campbell and James Wallace moved and seconded a resolution approving the action of the committee , and naming the sub-committee to act with the enrolled proprietors in securing a suitable site . The resolution was agreed to unamimously . In answer to a question , Bro . Gordon Smith said no arrangement had yet been made with the various lodges

in the province that had halls to give up these and come into the new buildings . Matters were not yet sufficiently advanced to make inquiries on that point . A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close .

Scientific Meetings For The Week.

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK .

Saturday , 22 nd Jan . —Royal Institution , at 3— " On Meteorology , " Mr . Scott ; Royal Botanic Society , at 3 . 45 . Monday , 2-lth Jan . —Royal Geographical Society , at 8 ; Entomological Society , at 7—Anniversary Meeting ; London Institution , at 4 ; Medical Society , at S . Tuesday , 25 th Jan . —Royal Institution , at S— " On the Architecture of the Human Body , " Professor Humphrey ;

Ethnological Society , at 8—¦ " On the Orig in of the Tasmanians , geologically considered , " J . Bonwick— " On a Frontier-line of Ethnology and Geology , " H . H . Howorth— " The Nicobar Islanders , " G . M . Atkinson ; Institution of Civil Engineers , at 8 ; Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society , at 8 . 30 . AVednesday , 26 th Jan . —Society of Arts , at 8 . — "On the Modes of Reading iu use by the Blindand the Means for arriving

, at Uniformity , " Thomas Armitage , M . D . ; Geological Society , at 8 . — " On tho Crag of Norfolk and associated Beds , " Joseph Prestwich , F . R . S ., F . G . S . — "On the Possil Corals of the South Australian Tertiary Deposits , " Dr . P . Martin Duncan , F . R . S ., Sec . G . S . — "Note on a very large vradescvibod Wealdean A ertebra , " J . AV . Hulke , F . R . S ., P . G . S . ; Ai etiological Association , at 7 .