Reviews Of New Books.

REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS .

Bunts as a Mason . A Lecture delivered before the Lodge of Journeymen , ( No . 8 , ) Edinburgh . By WILLIAM HUNTEK , E . W . M . of that Lodge . Edinburgh : William Paterson , 74 , Princes Street . —The esteemed brother to whom we are indebted for this exceedingly interesting sketch of the career of the poet , commences his address by alluding to what he considers the shortcomings of an article which appeared some time ago in the pages of this magazine , the deficiencies of which he has endeavoured to remedy . Masonic hieshe lains

The paper in question ( one of our " Biograp " ) comp , does not fulfil the natural expectations of the reader , inasmuch as it is somewhat . wanting in the particulars of the Masonic career of Burns . The conductors of the Freemasons' Magazine , we fear , have long ago found out that it is impossible to please every body connected with the Craft ; and though their most strenuous efforts are devoted to give satisfaction to their readers , their journallike all othersmust occasionally meet with adverse criticism .

, , We must candidly acknowledge that Bro . Hunter has well performed the task of supplementing our production ; and we can recommend any brother who wishes for more details than were given by us , to refer to this Address for further information . The particulars of Kobert Burns ' s admission to , and connexion with , the brotherhood , were fully dwelt upon in _ the various speeches that were made at the late centenary , and a repetition of them would be tiresome in this lacebut Bro . Hunter ' s narrative is interspersed

p ; with philosophical and well digested remarks which are worthy of attention . He shows that the generous and noble nature [ of the poet , the warmth of his sympathy for his fellows , and his veneration for all that is good and true , were predisposing causes which combined with the circumstances in which he was placed , to make him a perfect Mason .

" Burns , above all , had a warm and abiding love to the whole brotherhood of man . He entered keenly into their woes , wants , and struggles , —no less than into their joys , amusements , and festivities . Nothing connected with humanity was indifferent to him ; but the kind sympathies of his nature were specially drawn to the poor but honest man , maintaining a hard conflict with tho world ' s ills , and needing the helping hand of his fellow mortals . Aud hence he

says' Affliction ' s sons are brothers m distress ; A brother to relieve , how exquisite the bliss . ' A man with a heart so full of love to every object around him , and with a mind elevated and refined by cultivation , and taught to look up with reverence to the Great Creator and Preserver of all , could not fail to be a good and a zealous Mason . Ho could eagerly enter into an . examination of the sublime principles of our Order , aud feel a high gratification in practising its beneficent requirements . In the would find extension of tho familcircle

Mason ' s Lodge he an y , and a noble field for the display of those kindly and fraternal feelings which the Almighty had planted in his breast , and which he had been taught to evince and to cherish at his father's fireside . He would enjoy social intercourse with the most generous and intelligent men of the district , and eugage in those rational festivities which Masonry sanctions —and which serve to knit the heart of a man more closely to his brother man . " Of the connexion of Burns with several Lodges in the country and in Edinburgh , our lecturer gives a full account , containing many interesting