Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Cui Bono ? Masonry : What ' s the use of ifc ? or , the last secret of Freemasonry revealed . Being Five Lectures on the Utility of Freemasonry , delivered by the late F RANCIS MASON , M . A ., D . D ., author of " Pali Grammar , " " Karen Grammar , " " Karen

Trigonometry , " "Burmah , " "The Story of a Working Man ' s Life , " & c , " Past Grand Deacon of tbe Grand Lodge of Missouri , and Chaplain of Lodge Greenlaw , No . 1 , 095 , Tonngoo , Bnrmah . Edited by E . G . Man , Barrister-at-Law , Past Master , Lodge " Rangoon , " District Grand Registrar in tho District Grand Lodge , British Burmah . Printed for the editor by Cassell , Petter and Galpin .

THESE lectures were in the first instance delivered in open Lodge , but much new matter having since been added , the author takes npon himself all responsibility for the sentiments to which he gives expression . Wo imagine , however , his views will prove in the main acceptable . He is most enthusiastic in his advocacy of Freemasonry . He makes it apparent that the objections so frequently raised against

it rest on no satisfactory basis , and thafc only tho most wilful opponent can refuse to be convinced of the utter worthlesssness of such objections . He is very methodical as well as very careful in his statements , his arguments being very skilfully strung together His apology is , indeed , a great success , whether we look at it logically or as to its literary merits , and a brief sketch of the lectures may

not prove altogether without interest to our readers . The first two are devoted to a consideration of Ancient Masonry—in the one , as ifc was anterior , in the other , as ifc was posterior to Solomon . Our readers will , of course , be able to form some notion of the principal points referred to in these . We pass , therefore , to the Third Lecture . Herein are dealt with the " Passive

Uses of Speculative Masonry . " Having first noted the evils which must arise where class distinctions exist , and having pointed out thafc men are gregarious animals , or rather , as tho author puts it , sociefcy-animals , he then proceeds to argue the necessity there is that some Oecumenical Society should be established , and he affirms that tho germ of such a society already exists , and will be found in

Freemasonry . In the next chapter aro shown tho " Aggressive Uses of Speculative Masonry . " The title of this lecture is suggestive of a certain amount of violence , and violence , too , of a serious kind . The word " aggression " usually implies an offensive movement—offensive , that is to say , in more senses than one . This , however , is not the meaning here given to " aggression . " Ifc is intended to show the

good that Freemasonry might effect if only it directed its attention to overcoming , by its influence and example , the many abuses to which men are liable . The aggression is intended to bo directed against what is baneful to society , and here the writer enlarges on the amount of good of which Masonry is capable . No doubt , as ifcs influence becomes greater , many of the evils we havo such reason to

complain of will disappear . Masonry is the one Order or Society which affords a common ground for men of different political and religious views to meet upon , and when men meet more frequently , they will necessarily work more harmoniously . Thus Freemasonry is the opponent of { all that is discordant , and the steady progress it will certainly make against whatever disturbing elements exist may rightly

be set down as among its " aggressive uses . " The concluding Lecture , in which are set forth " the Unity of Love , tho Unity of Masonry , " Bums up tho author ' s case very admirably . Having said this much , wo leave tho rest to our readers . Let them read , and determine for themselves whether these lectures are , or are not , worthy of the encomiums we have passed upon them . We have not

the slightest misgiving as to the verdict they will pronounce . We feel sure they will be well satisfied that , even if any other line of defence , in protecting our Order from the attacks so pertinaciously made upon it had been thought preferable , tho effect would not , by any means , have been more telling . Dr . Mason , whose death occurred so recently as March 1874 , was a Mason of long standing , having completed ,

at the time of his death , a connection with Freemasonry extending over more than half a century . He had held office both in the United States and under the English Grand Lodge , and from his long and intimate acquaintance with the meaning of our mysteries ho was better able than most brethren to form a jnst conclusion of its merits and power . Wo trust the publication of these lectures ,

which have been most carefully edited by Bro . E . G . Man , will prove of service both to the widow , who , wo are very sorry to hear , is left in not over prosperous circumstances , and the Craft . We are sure ifc will enhance , if thafc , afc least , be possible , the respect ; in which this earnest exponent of Masonry was hold by all sections of the Brotherhood . A f ow essays snch as these will be of undoubted good in furthering tho cause of Masonry .

The Royal Masonic Cyclopoidia . History , Eites , Symbolism and Biography . Edited by KENHLTH H . MACKENZIE , ( "Cryptonymus" ) . Part IV . London : Bro . John Hogg , 15 A Paternoster Row , E . C . THIS Part takes us as far forward in the alphabet as the letter N , which is completed up to Nov . We find everywhere in it the same

evidences of care in the compilation and selection of matter , the same power of easy condensation , very few of the articles extending to any length , while all are fully explanatory of the subjects they deal with . Precision and clearness are two of Bro . Mackenzie ' s most conspicuous traits , but the former is never obtained by any sacrifice of necessary exposition . We have before said 'that this Royal Masonic Cyclopwdia

will , when complete , be a most valuable work , in fact , one of the most important additions to Masonic literature during the last quarter of a century . Certain it is , tho closer becomes our acquaintance with Bro . Mackenzie ' s work , the more convinced are we of the correctness of this opinion . Ifc is a clear , concise and accurate compilation , and , as fluoh , we hope ifc will be well acid worthily supported by the Craffc generally .

Cook's Tourists Handbook for the Black Forest . London : Thomas Cook and Son , Ludgate Circus , E . C . ; Simpkin , Marshall and Co . 1876 .

THE remarks we recently made on another of these useful Handbooks apply equally well to the one before us . The first dozen pages are , for the most part , of general interest , while the rest of the work is devoted to a description of tho Black Forest itself , its general and particular features , its scenery , agriculture , inhabitants , history , & c How to proceed , what places to stop at , what hotels to patronise , the

scenes of interest that demand a special notice , all these aro detailed very fully and circumstantially , so thafc a tourist who follows the directions laid down in these pages will have himself only to blame if his visit to this attractive parfc of Europe is not an agreeable one . The Appendix contains a list of places in Europe , with the principal festivals , and the days on which they are held . There ia

also a carefully prepared Index of names of places , & c ., and the various features of note which the tourist is expected , or will in all likelihood be prompted , to " do . " These , with a capital map , will be found most valuable . We have no hesitation in recommending this Handbook to all intending tourists . The information it contains is complete and accurate , and has the further advantage of being well arranged for reference .

A Few Words of Advice on Travelling and its Requirements . Addressed to ladies . By H . M . L . S . With short vocabulary in French and German . Second Edition . London : Thomas Cook and Son , Ludgato Circus ; Simpkin , Marshall & Co . ; New York : Cork , Son and Jenkins , 261 Broadway .

WE trust none of our fair readers will thmk us ungallantifwe say thafc a little work of this kind is very necessary . Good advice , of course , is always welcome , and we know of no class of people who stand more in need of it than the tourist , and the lady tourist in particular . Men do not find it imperative to burden themselves with many impedimenta , but ladies , when contemplating a trip abroad , are often

afc a loss what to take with them , what to leave behind . If a visit to some foreign capital is intended , then a sufficient assortment of dress similar to what is worn at home is necessary . People ought to dress equally well in a foreign city as in London . If , however , the trip ia of a more ambitious character , then dresses for travel as well as for civilized society must bo provided . Be ifc remembered that the con .

veyance of luggage m nearly all foreign countries is somewhat expensive , and certainly involves trouble . The packages should be few in number ; fchey are more easily looked after , and stand less chance of being lost by the way . Their contents should be of good quality , able to stand wear and tear , and not requiring to be changed too often . Only a veteran can speak with authority on those matters ,

and it is a veteran who tenders advice in these pages . For this reason alone we are by no means surprised these hints as to " Travelling and its Requirements" should have reached a second edition . Other reasons there are , however , and among them , thafc advice is offered to visitors to any and every parfc of the habitable world : what ; and how much a person should take to India , what to America , what in making the circuit of the world . Other information

there is , —for instance , as to souvenirs , and where to buy them ; as to money , hotels , fees , custom-house establishments , & c . & c , and the Vocabulary in French and German will be found extremely useful . We cannot call to mind a book of this class which contains more valuable hints within so modest a compass , and wo strongly advise our fair friends who are not already provided with one , to purchase a copy ; they will find the money spent a mosfc profitable investment .

Cook ' s West of England Tours will prove useful to intending visitors to this parfc of England , and especially to those who have formed no plan of travel . The pamphlet includes a series of " Programmes of a new system of Tours between Bristol and the Land's End . " Every point of interest is noticed , and full particulars are given of the various modes of conveyance , by rail , steamer , coach , or private vehicle . There are also several illustrations , accompanied by descriptions , of certain of the principal towns in the district .

Experimental Spiritism ^ The Medium ' s Book , or Guide for Mediums and for Evocations . By ALLAN KARDEC . Translated from the 84 th French edition , by ANNA BLACKWELL . London : Triibner . 1876 . THIS is a book for Spiritualists , or at least for people who are not indisposed to believe in Spiritualism . The statements made , and the theories advanced in it are of so extraordinary a character that the

incredulous reader would probably bo only the more confirmed in bis incredulity by ifcs perusal . Yet the author has evidently written in good faith , and the views he enunciates , it cannot be clonb ^ d , ho himself implicitly believed . Many of the chapters are more '"•losely argued , particularly the first two , entitled respectively ' •. Spirits Exist ? " and " The Marvellous and tho Supernatural . " t . u in tho

latter chapters that the sceptic will find his greatest ; diffi > -aiy . When he is asked to believe that Louis IX ., iu a disembodied condign , is the patron saint of the Kardec Association of Spiritualists , that tho souls of living persons can be evoked ancl bullied , that Judas Iscariot and Chateaubriand , Jean Jacques Rousseau and Sainfc Augustine , the four Evangelists and . Napoleon Buonaparte , are in constant communication

with a group of Parisian spiritualists , reading them gentle lectures and rhapsodising on religions topics , ifc is impossible to resist the conviction that his scepticism will rather be strengthened than destroyed , or even weakened . To spiritualists however tho work can hardly fail to be deeply interesting . The author is a lucid and eloquent writer , and his eloquence and clearness of diction have been reproduced by Miss Blackwell in the translation .

CLUB HOUSE PtAviirG CABDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , 14 s per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen packs . If by post X \ i per pack extra , Oarda for Piquet , Bezicuco , Ecarte , & c , Mogul Quality lod per pack , 8 a per dozen packs . —London ; W , W , Morgan , 67 Barbican , E , 0 ,