Reviews Of New Books.

" It is stated of Socrates , that though mean in dress , and of a unlovely exterior . ' bis countenance soon gained upon the ej'e from its moral and intellectual ivorth and in it , even above all the worth of mere intellect , were the marks of victory over passions ; of a restless and evil nature bent to holiness aud good : of vicious propensities subdued and brought forth into virtue ; marks and signs of a greater victory than hero or demi-god could proclaim . ' If rightly appreciated and understoodand if allowed to hold its legitimate over the passionsfeelingsand

, sway , , affections , such ought to be the influence of freemasonry , which should stamp its impression on the countenance of its votaries , being ivell calculated to produce results as marvellous , in counteracting the perverse dispositions of mankind , in developing all tho higher faculties of heart and soul , and in enablm" us to pass through this life

' veiled In virtue ' s adamantine eloquence , 'Gainst scorn , and death , and pain , thus trebly mailed , And blending , in the smiles of that defence , The serpent and the dove , wisdom and innocence . '

" While , hoAvever , our ritual and our observances enjoin upon us the practice of every moral , social , civil , domestic and public virtue , they remind us in the several degrees , of every other requirement Avhich is necessary , not only for the cultivation and training of the heart and the affections , hut for our temporal ivel ] -bein ' - > - and happiness—in the recommendation to industry , to the acquirement of a knowledge of the arts and sciences , to the devotion of ourselves to such pursuits as may enable us to become at once respectable in our rank of lifeuseful to mankind

, and an ornament to . the fraternity of ivhich we arc members ; and as a climax to the whole , prepare us by contemplation for the closing hour of our existence that when ive shall be summoned from this sublunary abode , we may ascend to ' the Grand Lodge above , ivhere the world ' s Great Architect lives and reikis for eA-er . " °

Bro . Hopkins earnestly and eloquentl y urges upon the Brethren the duty of active 2 > articipation in the rites of the Craft ; he truly says that the passiveness with ivhich many are content to remain mere spectators is incompatible Avith a due observance of the VOAVS which they have taken upon them , and in process of time makes the repetition of such forms irksome induces Brethren to prefer calling off for refreshment to caUin »* on for labour , and graduall y leads them to absent themselves from the ceremonie- * warning Brethren

In younger , especiall y , against falling into this slouch of apathy , he strongly recommends Lod ges of Instruction ; correctly observing that it is impossible to arrive at the real meaning of what they ivituess in the Lodge , Avithout the aid of the lectures and illustrations . These latter from press of business and other less satisfactory causes , are seldom -riven m the regular Lodges ; every young Mason should therefore enrol himself in a Lodge of Instruction . We do not entirel y agree with the author ' s remarks Brethren to several Lod

upon belonging ges at the same time , a practice which he reprehends as injudicious and " not tending to harmony " If a Ill-other has leisure and means , and taste for Masonic society ( which every In-other ought to have ) , we cannot see what objection there can be to his heloiunng to twenty Lodges instead of onl y one or two ; indeed ive cannot but think it an advantage to those Brethren of a Lod ge Avhose Alasonic opportunities are limitedthat they should their number

, possess among a lirother Avhose frequent attendance at other meetings of the Craft enables nm to point out any possible improvement in the mode of workino- or any httle anachronism or incorrectness which may have crept in , and ivhich otherwise might have continued unnoticed for years , or altoo-ether The Alark degree , ivhich is now attracting so much attention in the Craft and which is being revived in so many different provinces , is considered at --oure