Literature.

felt , but for the dictates of religion , or the natural recoil of the mind from the idea of dissolution , there have been times when they would have been willing to throw away life , as a child does a broken toy . I am sure I know one who has often felt so . In a letter to his daughter-in-law , Sir Walter says of Mathews , the comedian ; "It is very odd—he is often subject to fits of melancholy . " A disposition to melancholy ( says Mr . Harrison ) is bno means

y , as might first be imagined , necessarily indicated by a staid and grave deportment . In a large proportion of instances , it is even coupled with an exuberance of spirits , which would seem to promise a perpetual sunshine of cheerfulness . The mind , however , which is alive to joy , is also , and perhaps equally , alive to sorrow ; and often passes by quick transition from the one to the other . Lord Byron , in his Corsair , touches upon this peculiarity of mind : —

Strange though it seem , yet with extremest grief ! t Is linked a mirth , —it doth not bring relief . The playfulness of sorrow ne ' er beguiles , And smiles in bitterness , —but still it smiles . Dr . Currie describes Burns , notwithstanding the gaiety -of his writings , as constitutionally a melancholy man , and subject "to those depressions of mind , which are perhaps not wholly separable from the sensibility of geniusbut which in him rose to an

un-, common degree . " . . . . " Such a disposition is far from being at variance with social enjoyments . Those who have studied the affinities of mind , know that a melancholy of this description after a while seeks relief in the endearments of society , and that it has no distant connection with the flow of cheerfulness , or even the extravagance of mirth . " The work is wound up with an omnium gatlicrum under

the head of " Adversaria "—a collection of ghost stories ; and finally a short digest of M . Octave Delepierre ' s Histoire Litteraire des Fous . The vrhole book is replete with interest , we may say , in conclusion , and Avorthy the high character which Messrs . Kent have been so fortunate as to enjoy for other recent volumes published under their auspices .

The Morality of Freemasonry compared ¦ with that of Christianity . A Sermon preached before the Concord Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Christ Church , Byculla , Bombay . By the Rev . jBro . J . J . FAHNUAM , S . AV . and Chaplain of Concord Lodge . Bombay : 1861 . The last Indian mail has brought us , together Avith its usual budget of news , this very excellent Masonic sermon ; and

though there is no lack of able and earnest divines in the ranks of our Order , who from time to time are found able and Avilling to lend their aid to inspire and adorn our fraternal gatherings —Ave have seldom met with a discourse more admirably adapted for the purpose . It is argumentative , moderate hi tone , and above all , not too long . The author takes for his text the following celebrated passage : —

Finally , brethren , whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things are honest , whatsoever things are just , whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are lovely , whatsoever things are of good report ; if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise , think on these things . —Philippians , iv . 8 . After an introductory panegyric upon the Sacred Volume of inspiration , he proceeds to consider the sentence , clause by clause . " AVhatsoever things are true , " gives him scope

for an eloquent passage upon the cardinal virtue of truth , telling , but not hackneyed . The ivords , "Whatsoever things are honest , " are thus explained : — The translation of the original , by the word "honest , " does not give full force to the passage , because honesty , in the usual acceptation of the term , may be regarded as included in the next mentioned virtue , —justice , so that the Apostle appears to repeat

himself ; but this apparent tautology arises from the fact that the old meaning of the word honest has become almost obsolete : the word was formerly used to signify grave , decorous . You will probably call to mind instances in which this use of the word still lingers in our language , as when we speak , of au honest woman , without intending in any way to refer to the justice and fairness of her dealing . AA ' e find the term used in this sense in several parts of the New Testamentas when the deacons were appointedthe disciles were

, , p directed to "look out seven men of honest report , " the meaning being , doubtless , men of respectable character . Again , St . Paul exhorts the Corinthians , " that ye do no evil , not that we should appear approved , but that ye should do that which is honest , though we be as reprobates , " where the term honest is evidently used in the sense I have indicated , and means grave and irreproachable . Our translators have translated-the same word which is here rendered

honest by the word grave in the only other places where it occurs : "Likewise must the deacons be grave , " " so must their wives be grave ; " "the aged men must be grave . " AVhile the noun substantive corresponding with the adjective here used is rendered in one place honesty : " that ye may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty ; " and in two other places gravity : "having his children in subjection with all gravity ; " and again , "in doctrine showing uncorruptness , gravity , sincerity . " We may ,

therefore , take the passage to mean , whatsoever things are venerable or reverend are to be attended to ; respect is to be shown to all the customs and usages of society so far as they are not evil ; age and rank should be held in proper esteem ; and in all things we should so conduct ourselves as not to bring reproach either on ourselves or our profession . Not only evil itself should be eschewed , but whatever , having the appearance of evil , would bring reproach on our good name , must be avoided .

Justice and purity are then dwelt upon , ivith "Whatsoever things are lovely ; and whatsoever things are of good report ; " due emphasis being laid upon each head , and ample justice done to the faithful explanation of the Apostle ' s exhortation . Our author traces the resemblance , or rather the identity , of the morals taught by Masonry and Christianity ; ho insists that they are the sameand ever must be

, so , because built on the same foundation , and drawn from the same source . As the Church is said to be one and indivisible ; so Masonry is one ; all Masons are as stones of one building , some , indeed , "rough ashlars , " but _ all parts of one great temple . After comparing the initiation into Masonry Avith the admission into the Church by baptism ,, our reverend brother continues : —

It is true that Christians may be found who are very far from carrying out the principles of their holy religion in their lives ; and so , too , there are Masons who are such only in name ; and the shortcomings of both have been urged against the systems which they represent . But such reason is not in either case just . If men are ' ¦ found who did not act up to the profession , it is no argument against the profession ; nay , the very fact that either a Jlason or a Christian , whose conduct is not good , is regarded as inconsistent , shows that Christianity , as areligion , and that Masonry as a system of morals , are alike good in themselves .

In conclusion , Bro . Farnharn points out that morality ( even Masonic morality ) , per sc , is inferior to Christianity : indeed , the latter exceeds the former as the whole exceeds a part . Tho discourse is Avonnd up with some excellent practical observations applying the argument , denouncing hypocrisy on the one hand , and carelessness , or looseness of life , on the other .

An Address delivered at ihe Town Hall , Harieich , before the W . M . , Officers , § fe ., of Lodge "Star in tlie East" ( " No . 935 ) . By the liev . Bro . G . E . CAEWITHEN , Prov . G . Chaplain of Essex , & c . Ipswich : Dorling . An excellent practical address , without perhaps any great claim to novelty in the treatment of its subject—tho great

principles of Freemasonry—but bringing the duties of a Mason earnestly before the audience to Avhom it was delivered . Our V . AV . Bro . runs through the standard arguments in favour of the Order in an agreeable and eloquent strain . He particularly dwells upon " confidence" as a peculiar characteristic of the Craft , and quotes an anecdote we do not remember to haA"e seen before ; nor does he give

us his authority for it . Here it is : — And whilst , brethren , our thoughts dwell upon the scroll of fame , and we cast a glance on those Masons , celebrated in tho annals of History , one can hardly refrain from pausing at the name of Cromwell ! and calling to mind his significant message to the Governor of Newcastle , when he was hemmed in by the Scots at Dunbar ; and when , writing for immediate assistance , he said ,

" Send me men in whom I can trust—MASOXS ! " How pregnant with meaning were these few words ! "The Bev . Brother thinks it needful to defend the Order from the reproach of unworthy members ; and replies to the sneers of the profane at considerable length with good taste and not Avithout spirit . The following is a very fair hit : — Whlet us askshould Masonry what no other earthl

y , , escape y system has been ever free from ? Even the followers of Him , who was all perfect knew no such immunity ; for we read in that A ' olume ( which is never closed in a Mason's Ledge ) " that the sect of the Nazarenes was everywhere spoken against , " not from any evil reports concerning them , V ; t because the multitude icnorantly