Reviews.

REVIEWS .

oandlvnier . Mauroriselie Aufs . ifcze , Vorfcriigo unci Dichtungen . ( Grains of sand . Masonic essays , lectures and poems ) . By Bi-o . MORITZ ZILLE . For circulation amongst brethren only . 2 nd edition . ( Leipzig . -mblished by the Freimaurer Zeitung . 186 B ) . DURING the last ton yearsMasonic literature has been

, move fertile in Germany than in most other countries of Europe ; the names of its chief representatives , such as Bros . Seyclel , Findel , Heiine , Scliauberg and others have repeatedly been brought under the notice of the readers of the FRET- MASOSS' MAGAZINE . The tendency of most German . Masonic authors may be said to differ from that of English writers oftlie present day in this charac"

teristic that , whilst the latter chose more especially tbe forms and symbols of the Eoyal Art for the object of their studies , the Germans , on tho contrary , adhere more literally to the secrecy enjoined by our laws as to tho forms , and endeavour , in their labours , more thoroughly to propagate the spirit and moral principles of ° our Institution , both within the pale of the Fraternity , and

amongst the public at large . Snob works as Dr . Oliver ' s , illustrating and explaining the forms of Masonry by the spirit they symbolise , and shelving IIOAV the fundamental dogmas of Christianity are embodied in the doctrines , and represented by tho outivard forms of Masonry , would never be duly appreciated in a country in ivhich modern transcendental philosophy professes to enjoy an

existence entirely independent of the Word of God , and where the dogmaticafpart of the religion of Christ has lost its hold on the community at large . It is but natural , therefore , that whilst iii this country a large contingent of the Fraternity is supplied by the clergy , and most representative men and literary champions of Masonry belong to holordersin Germany aswell as

y , . in other Protestant parts of tho Continent the number of ecclesiastics joining the Craft is infinitely small , and tho clerical element is like the " By in the amber" in most Masonic lodges , notwithstanding the extensive patronage and protection our Institution enjoys on the part of sovereigns and other persons placed in an exalted position in life .

these facts arc sufficient to shoiv that the absence of revealed religion as a . actor and integral part of lodge labours , becomes necessarily conspicuous , also in the literary works of German Masonic authors , although many of them are in other respects distinguished by great and incontestable merits . Indeed the clearness of thought is frequently neutralised and outweighed by

compulsory metaphysical receries , - but , on the other hand , we often find a loftiness of conception , a sublimity of ideas and in the mode of expressing them , and such a thorough appreciation of the fundamental truths of our Institution , that our regret at tho deficiency of the vivifying element derived from Scripture must greatly increase in proportion . Therefore ive

hail with more than common satisfaction the appearance of a work possessed in , an unusual degree-of all the merits of ivhich ive have spoken , without failing in other respects for want of tho vital element of reli gion . Tho small volume just published by Bro . Zille is a work of this kind , and it gives us great pleasure to direct to it tho attention of our rendersespeciallof those

suffi-, y ciently conversant with the German tongue to satisfy themselves oftlie accuracy of our appreciation . Thc author has been , for some years past , editor of tho Freimaurer Zeitung , a publication imbued ivith tendencies far more conservative than its contemporary tho JJanltiilte ( edited b y Bro . Findel ) , ' althongh their general character docs not always coincide with the views that

obtain in this country . The first part of tho " grains of sand" is a collection of articles on various Masonic subjects , some of which we believe to have met in

former numbers of Bro . Zille ' s journal , and of lectures designed to be read in lodges ; the second part contains Masonic songs , hymns , and miscellaneous poetical effusions . The motto prefixed to this volume , and from which its title is derived , is very appropriately chosen . To the question " "What is Mason ' s labour ? " the author replies by these words of Schiller : —

Peschafligung die nie ermattet , Die langsam schafft , doch nie xerstort ; Die zu dem Ban der Eivigkciten Zivar Sandkorn nur an Sandkorn reicht , Doch von der grossen Schuld der Zeiten Minuten , Tage , Jahre streicht . *

The first essay originally written for the Brockhaus " Conversations-Lexicon " is . entitled " Historical Development of Freemasonry , " and gives a popular account of the history and objects of the Institution . Bro . Zille repudiates the incontestible connection betiveen the ancient mysteries and modern Masonry , and contends that nothing but a similarity ( Anlddngc ) is to be found

between the two . Another paper is devoted to the question , " Does tho Masonic Fraternity form a party ? " and tho author arrives at the following conclusion -. — The Masonic Fraternity cannot , and does not , form a party , owing to its essence and objects . Masonry is that atmosphere of the human mind , the gentle breath of ivhich surrounds all parties , and exhorts them never to divest themselves of

humanity in their contentions ; and , lastly , Masonry is tho sea that absorbs all parties as tributaries . One of the most attractive papers of this series is the one headed "St . John and Christ , " and a short passage which we translate from it will give a very fair idea of the spirit that animates the author , and is very much at variance with the nihilistic vieivs of most other German and French Masonic writers of the present day : —

Christ has really conquered the world ; -living m the midst of the ivorld , He is yet not of this world . He does not shun the society of men ; it offers no seductions to Him . He despises not the pleasures of the table ; we find Him present at weddings and feasts ; but these enjoyments , He seeks them not , He can easily dispense with them . Christ has conquered the world , for He can enjoy everything , and , at the same time , dispense with thing . Christ does not encounter the

every ivorld as a dangerous poiver ; it is liege to Him ; He uses it , or uses it not , according to the inner command of the spirit . He sojourns , in the cities of men , but also in the desert . He makes His entrance into Jerusalem with a royal train , but immediately afterwards divests Himself of His royal poiver . Ho communicates ivith the rich and the poor , even ivith publicans and sinnersand is a friend of the Samaritans and

, the heathens . He serves all and all serve Him , and thus He is King and Lord of the world . The article " Freemasonry , a Guardian of the Spirit of Eeligion , " written so far back as 18-i-S , is imbued