Literature. Reviews.

that respect and authority to ivhich they were so justly entitled , and which they so long maintained . " The principal points in the history of the illustrious Order of tho Temple are then dwelt upon , ' down to its suppression b y Philippe Le Bel of France , at the instigation or at least with the connivance of Pope Clement the Fifth . At that time the Templars were ruled by the venerable Jacques de Molay , whose fair fame

ancl the honour and virtues of the brotherhood over whom he presided , are defended by our author at somewhat unnecessary length . Thc readers of history in our time need hardly to be told that tho greatest crimes of the jKnights of the Temple ivere their wealth and influence , which were viewed with envious jealousy by the soverei gns of Europe . As for the atrocious crimes attributed to the brethrenthe source whence those charges arose

, ivas so infamous , that had thc " principles of common sense or simple justice been allowed to carry any weight against an already foregone conclusion , the monarchs of England and France would never have lifted a hand against either the revenues or thc persons of the illustrious De Molay and his ill-used followers . Bro . Laurie has however thought it needful to go into details upon the subject , and especiall y with regard to the strictures of the Abbe

Barruel , who with an effrontery only equalled by his gross ignorance , has heaped upon the Order of Freemasons the most absurd and unfounded charges . Barruel ancl his book against Freemasonry are alike forgotten now , except when a student like Bro . Laurie rakes up the lucubrations of the old priest from the congenial dust heap upon which they have so long reclined . But since our author attaches so much importance to the aspersions of this feeble slanderer , we will introduce his sentiments in his own words !—

In order to form an impartial judgment respecting any sentence whicli has been passed without proper evidence , either against " individual ., or associations , it is necessary to be acquainted with the motives and character of the accusers , and with the benefits whicli might accrue to them and the judges by the punishment or liberation of the accused . . In the case before ns the latter had been disgraced and imprisoned by tlie former . Sordid and private motives actuated their chief prosecutor anclj udand rival Orderswhich had been in

ge , many , languishing obscurity and indigence , propagated with assiduit y slanderous accusations , iu the Hope ot shanug m those ample possessions and that public favour which bad been acquired by the superior abilities cf the Templars . To all ranks ot men , indeed , tbe veneration which their name inspired was an object of envy . Their revenues were calculated to create uneasiness in a covetous mind , and the remarkable regularity of their conduct was no small incitement to detraction . Such were the motives and prospects <> t then-jud and

ges accusers . Let us attend now to the accusations winch were broug ht against them , and we shall find that these could scarcely come under the cognizance of law , as their pretended crimes were committed against themselves and not against society . Did they perpetrate niurdei- upon any of their fellow c _ t _ w . ni .. This ivas never aid to then- charge . Did they purloin any man ' s treasures ? Of theft tfiey were never accused . Did they instigate to rebellion tha subjects of government lot des

ay , or p truction against the person of any king ? Older such a character they were never known till Barruel called them gaiters and regicides : because , forsooth , it was his opinion that their lessors , the lu'eemasons of France , were accessory to the murder of i , Z , 7 ° ™ S - Wu * then were their crimes ? It was said that they vhii-l , tl , i ' -u ' n f m I A " yet riU in 3 tanec wils " «•«• Educed in ess f , t I- ' " t " - , U ' lmd < 1 k'iPI «« u * A , Mid in which tho tender" *

thfm . mwT' . P : ^ , , horrible „ u - " ^ " P'ey weve BM to hlV 0 committed the most S ! ; l- ; '" I And >' et no "dividual produced a specific a cu ed o s , b ° ?! d com , b ™ hy indubitable proof . . They were Sr ^ L ^^* ^™^ of Christ ; and yet they had Shed tbeir cri ™ . d ™ . ' " r ° ^ . f - 0 t' deC ( ls like t ^ e one mav con-£ Z te ^ mdual to have been guilty ; but to believe that a 3 ! t , !" \ " SISti ' ? thonamdg of members , could be S , ^ i " ^ r a de S ^ e of faith to which the most iiecuuou , . wui scarcely attain .

i i ' Af f JP "'aS tai'en h thc a 8 ' I ) c Mo % "ivisinom-aci co d I 6 * 1 ' 1 ' 6 " t 0 ! C 0 ! lfess themselves guilty-of heretical « mnt for ' wi - TV ° ? ld kniS'ht ' s <*^ tal -we can only and ernW ™ firmities of age and the overwhelming anxiety oftheS V Yludl he , ras P ' Jcefl V the critical circumstances S , ° , ™ . ' , * ° sooner was the ill-jud ged mandate issued , than . '"?! "pentcd and recalled : and to ib ,. bono ,,,. ...- + i . i . „;„ i * . ....

„ _ S f ?; w ^' itpted lts ^ commendation . As for Dc Molay SS ? ! < ; j lt 01 lc ^ the only error in his spotless S ' £ ? « e lulal SCilflold he "ttered the memorable words rfi ™ W ' l lo , ilSSC ' , nW 0 d n »* iti . c . c before whom he and his wfiS ^ TeJ ^ t ^ * ° " * * » ° ™ " my litV n ^ oi ™ H " ¦ " •!"" tun , il , le ' >> ; l ! ld " > the . hat moments of

men , in the J . ic-c of heaven ,-uU . wth . , „ d ironies * to . my

eternal shame and confusion , that I have committed the greatest of crimes ; but it has been only in acknowledging those that have been charged with so much virulence upon an Order which truth obliges me to pronounce innocent . I made tho first declaration they required of me only to suspend the excessive tortures of the ruck , and mollify those that made me endure them . I am sensible ivhat torments they prepare for those that have courage to revoke such a confession ; but the horrible sight which they present to my eyes is not capable of makingme confirm one lie by another . On a condition so infamous as that I freely renounce life , which is already but too odious to me , for what would it avail me to prolong a few miserable days when I must owe them only to the blackest of calumnies . '"

Among the other follies of which Barruel was guilty , con- spicuous was his assertion that the Templars in their time ol trial divulged the secrets of the Craft , in the vain hope of conciliating-their stern judges ; and to give a semblance of truth to his story , he has invented ( or borrowed from those who have invented ) a most absurd collection of rites and oaths , which he avers to "have been submitted to by the members of the Order . have been

Such ridiculous assertions with regard to Freemasonry current long before and also since , the time of _ M . Barruel , and with the same result—the derision of the uninitiated ; nor do we believe that these absurd fictions with regard to the Craft have ever deterred one single individual from seeking its privileges- ^ - the weakest listener will think it strange that accounts of these mysteries so greatland are so entirelwithout corroboration ;

vary y , y the acute rcasouer will ponder thc value of evidence tendered hy one who'b y the very act confesses himself a perjurer ancl an impostor . Upon this head Bro . Laurie remarks : — ' ¦ 'If ever the secrets of Freemasonry were betrayed , they must have been betrayed by men who were completely destitute of religions principle , who paid no respect to those ties whieh unite the members of civil as well as secret associations ; who , in short , neither feared God

nor regarded man . Suppose , then , that a person pretending to be a Freemason offered . to communicate cither to an individual or to the public the rites and ceremonies of his Order . What degree of credit should men of probity attach to the information which they mig ht in tins way receivc ? A person addresses them under the character of a perjurer , offering to violate thc most solemn engagements , and to divulge mysteries which have been concealed for ages . He may g ive them accurate information , or he may not . If the secrets which he offers to betray have been hitherto unknown , there is no possible method of ascertaining the

truth of his deposition , and it is rather to be suspected that he will dupe his heavers by a fictitious narrative than trample upon an engagement guarded bv the most awful sanctions . He might indeed confirm by an oath the truth of his asseveration , but as he must have violated an oath equally solemn , no man of sense will give him the slig htest credit . But granting that he reallv divulges the rig hts and ceremonies of Freemasonry , it is either clear that ho has not understood their true import , at least that they havo made impression his mind ; and it is

or no upon almost certain , therefore , that from ignorance or misapprehension of their meaning , lie will exhibit under au aspect calculated to excite ridicule , that which , if properly explained , would command respect . If , then , it be so difficult for the uninitiated to discover those secrets , and still more so to ascertain their si gnification if they should discover them , what must we think of those who open their ears to every slanderous tale against Freemasons , which unprincip led individuals may

impose upon their credulity ?" The remaining portion of this part of Bro . Laurie ' s work is devoted to a comparison between the institutions of Freemasonry ; and chivalry , and an examination of their numerous points off resemblance , and even of identity . The way in which the author . - traces the adoption of Masonic observances by the Knights-. Templar is novel to us . He refers to the fact ofthe existence of ;

Masonic fraternities in Syria , which have flourished for many ages , and were doubtless in full vigour at the time of the foundation of the Templar order in Palestine ; he thinks it likely that the first determination to a Masonic tendency originated through the Christian knig hts becoming affiliated to these Eastern Lodges ; and in support of this opinion Bro . Laurie quotes Adler ( Dc Driisis Montis IJbano ) , who expressly declares his conviction to the same effect .

We had intended to have concluded our notice of this interesting volume in our present number ; but our remarks hare ran to so great a length , that we must defer what more wc have to sny until next week .

_ S r OTl ! . S OK LITKEATUBE . SCIENCE , AND ART . 'I'm- ; Inreriiesx Courier publishes , a . ) from " a literary friend who may be relied upon , " the following : — "There are stories going the round , to the effect that Lord Maca-ulay ' s MS & of the next two volumes of his history are illegible . Tho fact is that the fifth volume is quite finished and right . It abounds in interest , chiefly of tho Queen Anne of

period , and of the contest" respecting the . pi-ivib'K ^ fj the Lord ; and .