stances two-thirds of the whole number; and this proportion seems to be constantly increasing. We repeat, that this fact strengthens the objection instead of diminishing its force. But to state the objection. Secret Societies draw a line of distinction between their members and other Students, which is unpleasant and humiliating to the latter. They establish a sort of aristocracy in the College world. They usually include nearly all the young men of our Colleges who are possessed of wealth, personal graces or remarkable talents. From all intimate connection with these, he who belongs to no fraternity is entirely debarred. He may see among them, those in whom he discovers some congeniality to himself, and whom he would like to make friends; but between him and them there is a barrier which he cannot pass. No one, who has not experienced it, knows how unpleasant it is to go through College, and be surrounded by Secret Societies without belonging to any. Especially is it unpleasant in the early part of one's course. He sees the members of each fraternity constantly together, locked arm-in-arm as they promenade the College walks, or go to and from their daily meals. As he sits in his room on some quiet evening, he hears their cheerful voices joining in festive song, as they return from one of their social gatherings. Little things like these tend to render him dissatisfied with his own lot, and to make him feel more forcibly his own lack of society and of friends. A sense of loneliness often comes over him, and though this may show a weakness in him, it is nothing more than the weakness of human nature. True there are others in the same category with himself, from whom he can select his companions, and with whom he can make common cause. But of these, many are the mere sycophants of Secret Society men, while few if any are recognized as social equals by the latter. They are generally the poor, the uncultivated, the unpolished Students of the College, and though many of them conceal glowing virtues both of heart and mind beneath a rough exterior, yet they are treated with coolness and indifference by their fellows, and often with ridicule and contempt.

We have heard it said that if Secret Societies did not exist,

the social relations of Students would still be the same as they are; that their respective members would associate together naturally and of their own accord. This, if true, overthrows our objection, but we cannot perceive its truth. As previously remarked, there are in almost every fraternity persons of incongenial dispositions and habits, who would not mingle together unless bound to do so by an oath. And further, we believe that many who would be friends are prevented by the lines of distinction which are drawn by Secret Societies. Without such societies, Students would be perfectly free to form whatever associations they wished; with them they are not free to do this. It is certainly reasonable to suppose that in the former case their associations would be materially different from what they are in the latter. And at all events the open mark of distinction between the members of Secret Societies and those who are not members, which now exists, would be entirely blotted out.

Thus far we have viewed Secret Societies as to their effects upon Students taken individually, let us now consider briefly their effects upon Students taken collectively, i. e., upon the College classes and literary societies.

And first as to their effects upon the College classes. It is a principle of human nature that when a number of individuals are associated together in the pursuit of a common object and for the attainment of a common end, they become linked together by the chain of sympathy, and often become united in the closest friendship. Thus it is with a College class. Their daily intercourse in the recitation-room tends to create among them a fraternal feeling, and this feeling outlives the short period of College existence and forms in after life a pleasing remembrancer of the past. Now this feeling would be much stronger than it is if Secret Societies did not exist. They interfere with its growth and development, nay almost destroy it, by interposing other and stronger bonds of association.

But it may be urged here, that they more than counterbalance this evil effect by binding together the different classes, and thus placing the lower classes more on a level with the up

per. To this we answer, that they only bind together portions of the different classes, and that it were far preferable to this to have the whole of each separate class united in friendly and fraternal feeling.

Secret Societies have an important bearing upon elections; but as this is similar to their bearing upon the elections of the literary societies, and as the latter excite more interest and occur more frequently than the former, we shall defer the consideration of this branch of our subject, until we come to speak of it as it relates to the literary societies.

As to the effects of Secret Societies upon the literary societies of a College, we observe, in the first place, that they disturb the social relations of the members of the latter. Every one will readily acknowledge, that an association formed for mutual improvement will be much more likely to attain its object, if those who compose it are animated with a friendly spirit toward each other than if they are divided by petty dissensions. Secret Societies create divisions in a literary society; they destroy its unity, and thus throw a stumbling block in the way of its success.

In the second place, they detract from the interest and the importance of the exercises of a literary society. This is a matter of fact so well known by every Student, that it hardly needs comment. At every College in the land where literary societies do not prosper, the cause invariably to be assigned is the influence of Secret Societies. This is easily explained. One who belongs to two societies cannot feel the same interest in either, that he would if he belonged to one alone. Nor is he likely to feel an equal interest in both. His Secret Society is apt to claim far more of his zeal and affection than his literary society, for the reason that it is smaller and more select, and affords more enjoyment. We acknowledge that there are many and honorable exceptions, but we maintain that the tendency is as we have stated.

In the third place, Secret Societies promote intrigue in the elections of literary societies. Intrigue in the various elections which are held in the College world is one of the most fruitful sources of bitterness and ill-feeling among Students. And it

has a very injurious effect upon the characters of many of them, cultivating as it does those traits which belong to the demagogue and the petty politician. This intrigue is mainly the result of Secret Societies. All the members of the same fraternity who belong to the same literary society, constitute a standing clique. True they are not banded together as such, but such they are to all practical purposes. Whenever one of their number is a candidate for any office, they all feel in duty bound to support him, notwithstanding he may have a competitor of far superior qualifications. And it is frequently the case that Secret Societies operate together, and divide the honors and spoils between them, ignoring altogether those who are without their ranks. On the other hand, the latter class often form combinations to defeat the former, and act with equal unfairness. Such a state of things is productive of the most evil consequences. The officers of the literary societies are chosen as partizans and not as men qualified for their places, and the peace and harmony of the societies are constantly subject to the most violent shocks.

We have thus endeavored to state, in as concise a manner as possible, what we conceive to be the most prominent evils resulting from Secret Societies. The subject is one fraught with the deepest interest, and it will admit of a much ampler discussion; but we leave this task to others whose experience and observation embrace a wider field. If our remarks shall be the means of leading to such discussion, our object will have been accomplished.

ARTICLE V.-WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

In the streets of busy London, where ten thousand noises strike the ear-ten thousand people jostle you on the side-walk! And is there no escape from this din; no place where events shall be less prominent, and the human mind and its deductions more conspicuous; no place where the weary spirit can find rest?

"If this same were a church-yard, where we stood,

I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts."

Come we will seek a very palladium of rest-we will visit Westminster Abbey, where you may think, that when

"The bells do chime, 'tis angels' music."

Venerable and massive pile! Before thy walls arose-long ages ago-Pagans offered incense to Apollo there. And on the very spot, in mythical story, monks found the extinguished tapers and the chrism of St. Peter. But when nobles felled their ancestral oaks, and kings decimated their possessions, was it a mere vague admiration of miracles, that moved the universal heart? No. The spiritual nature of man craved an edifice for the ceremonies of religion, that should aim at the expression of ideas of beauty and grandeur-something that should contribute to his joy-something that should serve as a representative of his hopes and beliefs. Westminster has accomplished this design.

Reverently treading, and with awe stealing o'er us, we are in the Abbey-out of the world.

Hither countless multitudes have come to bend the loyal knee amid the gorgeous pageants of the coronation-ceremony. On that chair have sat the pitiless, the gentle, the crafty, the irreligious, and the pious. From that throne have gone forth fires to burn heretics, treacheries to shame mankind, great principles to honor their defenders, conquests Pizarro-like in rapidity and magnitude, and edicts pregnant with blessings.

Oh! the mutability of glory! 'Tis but a few steps upward to that throne-a few steps downward to the Regal mau