Reviews Of New Books.

REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS .

Three lectures on Freemasonry , by Dr . HEXKY HOPKIXS , Prov . J . G . AV . for Wanvickshire , & c . London : li . Spencer , 26 , Great Queen Street . — ScA'en years ago our Bro . Dr . Hopkins read two essays on Freemasonry before the St . Paul ' s Lodge at Birmingham ( of AA'hich he is a Past Master ) , so much to the gratification of the Warwickshire brethren that the author Avas prevailed upon to print them . A large edition ivas disposed of at once , and Bro . Hopkins has ever since been receiving applications for copies . 'The

present work is a revised anel extended edition of the former lectures , Avhich the autlwr trusts ivill he more useful and better adapted for the cuds ivhich have been kept in view . After a careful examination of this Avork , ive feel justified in according the author our sincere thanks for an interesting pamphlet , ivhich displays considerable research , and is couched in elegant language . A great part of it is characterized by originality , a quality much to be appreciated in a ivork of this kind , and not too frequently displayed . At

the same time Ave must express our opinion that these lectures are more suitable for the consideration of Brethren assembled in Lodge than for thc perusal of the general reader—indeed there arc several passages ivhich we doubt the propriety of printing at all . Too great laxity in this respect , we are sorry to say prevails at the present time ; and many things arc thus brought before the eye of thc profane ivhich proper respect for our mysteries and for the great Masonic duty of secrecy would keep hidden from the vulgar gaze . It is no excuse to say that the uninitiated do not comprehend the allusions ; they should never have the opportunity of speculating upon or

ridiculing our sacred things , He do not wish to be understood as alluding to our Bro . Dr . Hopkins more than others—some holding a more important position in literature and the Craft—Ave merely point , to a growing evil , one to AA'hich AVC trust the attention of the Order may be seriously called . Our author divides his subject into tuo heads , and considers Freemasonry first as a moral and religious system : and afterwards examines its social duties and influences . Starting Avith the fact that Preemasonry is a universal

system applicable to good men of all creeds and climes , he asserts that in every age and race some form of religious practice has obtained ; some acknowledgment of a superintending Divine poiver—and this he takes to be an operation of Masonic principles , even though the peculiar institution be unknown . He considers that our Craft lias heen the irreans of preserving true religion , and the knoAvledge ofthe Great Architect , through long ages of darkness and ignorance . Wherever Masonry has flourished it has

cultivated the worship of the one living and true God , and the moral and intellectual improvement of the human race . Masonry itself is the original institution whence were derived all the " mysteries" of bygone ages ; ivhich , even when they degenerated into corrupt perversions of the truth , still retained some portion , although abused and prostituted to superstitious and unAvorthy purposes . With regard to other moral codes which have existed in ancient and modern times , our author obsen-es that it is the peculiar advantage of our OAVII that ivhile it comes into collision ivith no other , it may be grafted on all ; it affords abroad basis on ivhich all men , however differing in other respects may unite . He says—