A Review.

Of the mission of Islam our author says that it " puts in a good appearance . ' He lays it clown that , — " The Islam of Mohammed also contained a germ which . Avhen subsequently more developed , spread its influence into Europe , ancl has been heavier on Western idolatry than its arms Avere upon the East . It began in the establishment of schools by Mohammed , and , to assist in these and his educational plans generally , he released such of his prisoners of Avar as could road and write as soon as they had taught a certain number of boys to do the sameancl if Avcro AA'illing to

; any remain and take charge of schools they AA'ere liberated at once . " Thus Mr . Lake claims for Islam the mission of civilization through the great medium of education ; he concludes , — "It has been justly remarked that Islam , by converting victorious invaders of countries Avhere it prevailed , mitigated iu some degree the evils of Mongol , Tartar , and Turkish conquests . its invasions it checked tho dark in education

On the other hand , by own ages Europe , encouraged and civilization , and pressed them to the North , very much against the Avill of the authorities , civil and ecclesiastical , Avho , in the growing freedom of mind , heard tho distant sound of the knell that tolled out the death of tyranny and opjjressiori . "

There are those , of course ,. AA'ho will laugh Mr . Lake to scorn for his honest admiration of that which is good in the system of Islam , pointing to AA'hat the practice of its votaries has but too often been . We , here ancl noiv , as Freemasons , can take no part in the war of creeds , still less in the political issues involved in the "Postscript" of Mr . Lake ' s book , but still in the interests of justice and truth Ave can but retort with the eA'er fresh " tu quoque" for where is the teacher AA-hose disciples ever

, folloAved his system in its entirety ? Where the precept eA'er implicitly followed out in practice ? Surety we , to-day , can hardly pour out the vials of wrath upon the Moslems for their forgetfulness of their master ' s injunction ^ - " Let there be no Violence in Beligion , " AA'hen Ave reflect upon the way in which Ave have but too often carried out our OAAUI Master ' s directions , enfolded in His precept— "Blessed are the Peacemakers . " It ishoweveroursto-day , to render honour where honour

, , , is clue ; to acknowledge the relative goodness of any system of which the aim and means are alike good ; ancl to take Avith . the right hand of fellowship and sympathetic assistance any human being AA'ho will conscientiously endeavour to make his rule of life the principles of our Craft— " The Fatherhood of God , and the Brotherhood of Man . " W . T .

Freemasonry.*

FREEMASONRY . *

Wegive this most kindly review of "Kenning ' s Cyclopedia" from the Pall Mall Gazette ; and shall in our next publish some remarks of the editor of the Cyclopaedia , to point out in an equally kindly spirit some slight errors into Avhich the reviewer has unavoidably fallen . "PSEEMASOISTBT is still , as it has always been , a mystery ; and , so far as the - - uninitiated are capable of forming an opinion on the subject , it seems likely to remain to the end of timePretended '

one . revelations of its signs , grips , and pass-Avords have indeed been published over and over again . But they have not as yet enabled anybody that Ave are aware of to gain unauthorized admission to a Lodge " j cist , perfect , and regular , " and therein witness the imposing ceremonies AA'hich are performed and participate in the mighty secrets which are communicated . Once , and once only , is it recorded that one from the outer world penetrated unbidden , unprepared , and unobserved