Abstract: A magnetic drive mechanism and cooling system for driving a rotary pump having a magnetic rotary drive member with a recess therein. A magnetic rotary driven member is located in the recess of the drive member. A container is located between the drive member and the driven member for preventing the escape of cooling fluids circulated therein. Inlet and outlet fluid passages extend through the housing of the drive mechanism to the fluid containment area. Another fluid passage extends from the fluid containment area into the chamber of the pump. A cooling fluid is pumped through the fluid passages at a higher pressure than the pressure of the pumped fluid within the pump to prevent flow of the pumped fluid into the fluid passages and containment area of the drive mechanism to avoid contamination thereof while the cooling fluid is circulated to cool the driven member.