Notes On Literature , Science And Art.

Greathead , the Centenarian Freemason , an engraving of Avhom Avas given in the Illustrated London News , of June 11 , 1870 . Bro . Greathead was born in the township and parish of High Ooniscliffe , a pretty part of the banks of the Teesfour miles from

, Darlington , and was baptized April 24 , 1770 . He was apprenticed to a joiner ; and , on the expiration of his apprenticeship , Avent to work as a journeyman at Richmond , in Yorkshire , where he soon aftei'Avards commence . l business on his own

account . He was initiated into the Lennox Lodge , December 27 , 1796 , and died December 31 , 1871 , at the age of 101 years , having been for three quarters of a century a Freemason . It is said that his family had kept an inn at Coniscliffe for three hundred years . Pity but they had also

kept a register of local events along Avith it . Mr . Ecroyd Smith ' s portrait represents Bro . Greathead in Masonic clothing , as photographed by Mr . Riley , May 4 , 1870 . I have just read , with much pleasure , Bro . Yarker ' s very able work on Speculative Freemasonry , which I regard as one of the most valuable contributions ever made

t - Masonic literature . Every member of the Craft ought to " read , mark , learn , and inwardly digest " it . It is full of curious and useful information , which will be quite new to the majority of Freemasons , —AVIIO , unfortunately , seldom pay that attention to the history of our great fraternity , which

might be reasonabl y expected from them . The book itself must be procured and studied to enable the reader to form any conception o . the mass of erudite inquiries which Bro . Yarker has instituted , and follosved up with marvellous success ; ancl as the price is onl y 3 s . 6 d ., it is within the reach of the humblest Craftsman .

We know little of the geology of Eastern Asia ; but Mr . T . W . Ktngsmill , President of the North China Branch of the Boyal Asiatic Society , has been lecturing at Shanghai on " The Border Laud of Geology ancl History , " and regards the wide-spread deposit called loess , which is so

characteristic of the surface geology of that portion of the globe , as having been formed in the same Avay as the grey ooze found in such large quantities by the Challenger , which has been altered by the dissolving action of carbonic acid at great sea depths , so as to lose most of its earthy carbonates .

As the loess has been found at an altitude of 6 , 000 feet above the present level of the sea , to admit this theory we must grant an enormous elevation of land in Eastern Asia since the Middle Tertiary period , of not less than 18 , 000 feet . Mr . Kingsmill , who believes the doctrine of the glacial epoch

has been carried much too far , considers this will account for many of the peculiarities in the geographical distribution of both animals ancl plants in China and throughout Asia generally . Mr . Robert Gillespie , in his Glasgow ,

and the Clyde , saj * s : — " About the close of the sixteenth century , Ave find the beadles ordered to have staffs for securing quietness in church ; while the women Avere prohibited from sitting on the same forms with the menaud had either to sit' laigh ' or

, bring stools with them . Even in i 750 , the citizens Avere prevented by authority from Avalking on the Lord ' s-day ; nor were any of the public lamps lighted on that evening , as nobody was expected to be out of his' OAvn house after sunset . About

1771 , the inhabitants were so strict m their attention to public and jirivate Avorship , that strangers , in passing through the streets' in the evening , and hearing innumerable psalms of praise issuing from the commonest doors , Avere apt to imagine themselves in church . '' Sir Andrew

Agnew ought to have lived in Glasgow then . In all ages there has been abuse of the blessed rest of the Sabbath ; sometimes by the grossest profanity , at others by a puritanical excess of strictness . " It is recorded , " says Peter Proletarius , " that a

poor infatuated Jew , one Saturday , in the year 1258 , fell into a cesspool at Tewkesbury , ancl would not allow himself to be drawn out on that day , because it Avas the Jewish Sabbath ; Avhereupon Richard de CleAvthen Earl of Glosterwould not allow

, , him to be drawn out on the following clay ( Sunday ) , because it was the Christian Sabbath . And so the poor Jew perished : but , alas ! Fanaticism and Superstition did not perish with him ! " Few folks ever thinkthat to the institution of the S ;

ib-, bafch , during a lifetime of " three-score years aud ten , " they oive no less than ten years rest from Avorldly cares ancl toil . Only think of a ten years' holiday I ! The lovers of ancient customs , of Avhich I freely confess myself one , will peruse