Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

zealous pastor , who had the good of his flock at heart ; and this was about as much as an ordinary clergyman could perform , because , in uttering his sentiments , he was expected to display great vehemence , and to evince his earnestness by toiling and sweating abundantly , This boundary was , however , often passed by those who were equal to the labour ; and Forbes , who was vigorous as well as voluble , thought nothing of preaching for five or six hours . Butin the ordinary course of naturesuch feats were rare ; and

, , , as the people were in these matters extremely eager , an ingenious contrivance was hit upon whereby their desires might be satisfied . On great occasions , several clergyman were present in the same church , in order that , when one was fatigued , he might leave the pulpit , and be succeeded by another , who , in his turn , was followed by a third ; the patience of the hearers being apparently inexhaustable . Indeedthe Scotchbthe middle of the seventeeth

, , y century , had grown accustomed to look up to the minister as if he were a god , ancl to dwell with rapture upon every word that dropt from his lips .. . . "The clergy interferred with every man ' s private concerns , ordered how he should govern his family , and often took upon themselves the personal control of his household . Their minions , the elders , were every where ; for each parish was divided into several quarters ,

and to each quarter one of these officials was allotted , in order that he might take special notice of what was done in his own district . Besides this , spies were appointed ; so that nothing could escape their supervision . Not onl y the streets , but even private houses , were searched and ransacked , to see if any one was absent from church while the minister was preaching . To him all must listenand him all must obey ,. AVithout the consent of his tribunal , no

person might engage himself , either as a domestic servant , or as a field labourer . If any one incurred the displeasure of the clergy , they did not scruple to summon his servants and force them to state whatever they knew respecting him , and whatever they had seen done in his house . To speak disrespectfully of a preacher was a grievous offence ; to differ from him was a heresy ; even to pass Mm in the streets without saluting him was punished as a crime . His very name was regarded as sacred , and not to be taken in

vain . . . . ' Z " Ihe clergy believed that they alone were privy to the counsels of the Almighty , and that , by virtue of this knowledge , they eould determine what any man's future state would be . Going still further , they claimed the power , not only of foretelling his future state , but also of controlling it ; and they did not scruple to affirm that , by their censures , they could open and shut the kingdom of heaven . As if this were not enoughthey also out that a

, gave word of theirs could hasten the moment of death , ancl by cutting off the sinner in his prime , could bring him at once before the judgment seat of God .... "Besides being ambassadors and ' angels , they " were watchmen , who spied out every danger , and whose sleepless vigilance protected the faithful . They were the joy and delight of the earth . They were musicians , singing the songs of sweetness ; nay , they were sirens

who sought to allure men from the evil path , ancl save them from perishing . They were chosen arrows , stored up in the quiver of God . They were burning lights ancl shining torches . AVithout them , darkness would prevail ; but their presence illumined the world , ancl made things clear . Hence they were called stars , which title also expressed the eminence of their office , ancl its superiority over all others . To make this still more apparentprodiies were

, g vouchsafed , and strange lights might occasionally be seen , which , hovering round the form of the minister , confirmed his supernatural mission . The profane wished to jest at these things , but they were too ^ notorious to be denied ; and there was a well-known ease , in which , at the death of a clergyman , a star was miraculously exhibited in ttie firmament , and was seen by many persons , althoush it was then midday . "

A second edition of The Insect Hunters , and oilier Poems , by Mr . Edward Newman , bears the author ' s name on the title page . The first edition was published anonymously . The following description of the genus Noctnina will show Mr . Newman ' s mode of teaching entomology in the metre of Professor Longfellow's Hiawatha . — " "Next then come the Noctnina

, Dull ancl dingy in their colours , AVith antennas mostly threadlike , Thin and tapering to the summit , But sometimes they are serrated , Slightly serrated or sawlike ; They have tubes for sucking flowers , Ancl are very fond of sucking ,

As we often see , my Laura , AVhen we spread the moisteiv'd sugar , Or the sweet and sticky treacle , On the tree trunks to attract them ;

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

Wings of moderate dimensions , AVhen the insect rests , deflected , Or else folded round the body ; Fore wings hiding all the hind wings , Which are slightly folded lengthwise , And in hue have small resemblance To the colour of the fore wings ,

Sometimes paler , sometimes darker , Often gloriously coloured , As in these superb Triphamie ; In the Nonpareil , Fraxini ; Crimson underwing , promissa ; Or the willowfeeding nupta , Common underwing or nupta , Very beautiful , but common :

All these brilliant wings are hidden By the sober-coloured fore wings When the moth by day is resting On the tree trunks or on palings . "

A subscription has been commenced for the purpose of obtaining : a portrait or bust of the late Dr . Baly , of St . Bartholomew's Hospital , ancl for presenting an engraving of such portrait or bust to each subscriber . The indefatigable Mr . John Timbs has a new book almost ready , for the press , which is to be entitled , Something for Everybody , and

a Garland for the Year : a Booh for the House and Home . Wild Flowers worth Notice is the title of a new book now in the press , by Mrs . Lankester . AA e cannot say we like the title , which rather seems to imply that some wild flowers are not " worth notice . " If so , the Creator must have made them in vain .

The Eev . Patrick Bronte , the venerable incumbent of Haworth , in Yorkshire , died at the parsonage of that village yesterday week , aged 83 years . He had published several volumes of tales and poems , but will be best known as the father of the gifted sisters , Charlotte , Anne , and Emily Jane Bronte , the real Currer , Acton , and Ellis Bell .

The Saint Louis Hospital of Paris is especially organised for diseases of the skin , and possesses , perhaps , the most complete set of medicated baths in the world . The physicians of the hospital , after repeated trials ancl approbations , have now resolved to adopt M . Mathieu ' s hydrqfere . This machine ivill surround the patient with a very fine rain for one hour , ancl only expend during the process a single gallon of water .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The " Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . TO TEE EDITOE OF THE rEEEHASONS MAGAZINE AND ItASOX'IC MHIIOH . DEAE SIS ASD BKOTHEH , —In your answers to correspondents in last week ' s number , you state that "J- B ., being nineteen years of age , and about to proceed abroad on Her

Majesty ' s service , maybe initiated under dispensation . Now ? as an old P . M ., and of some standing in the Craft , I do not hesitate to pronounce it to be perfectly true , provided he be the son of a mason , but if he be not , it is contrary both to our traditional custom and lectures , and no person whatever has the power to give such dispensation . There are certain cruestions and answers ( eleven to fifteen ,

inclusive , in theseventh section of the first lecture , Williams ' s system ) which I think will clearl y explain this . It is very desirable that all answers to correspondents should be given distinctly , aud so as not to be misunderstood , or liable to be misinterpreted , and therefore advise you to ask the opinion of those in authority , or some competent person , on any question which may be put through your publication before you venture to give an answer . Yours , VERITAS .

[ Veritas is thanked . —AVe answered according to what is the custom of England . Is Veritas aware that one half the Masons initiated in the University Lodges are so under dispensation from the Prov . G . Masters , even when they are not going abroad , ancl are not the sons of Masons . ]