Ancient And Accepted Rite.

He hoped it might not be thought improper to express , on behalf of the other newly-perfected Princes and himself , their great admiration of the ceremony they had gone through , and it ivould be their endeavour to attend as regularly as possible . " The Masonic Press , and its talented , just , ancl honest Editor , Bro . Henry George AVarren , " was the next toast , which was warmly and suitably acknowledged by Bro . Matthew Cooke .

After coffee the Sov . Princes retired , each one expressing his great satisfaction with the whole of the proceedings , which reflected si-eat credit on the zealous aid of Bro . Bradley and the M . W . S . "

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

EASTERN STAR LODGE ( NO . 112 ) . — This lodge held its summer festival on Wednesday , July 16 th , afc the accustomed resort , the Crown Hotel , Broxhourne . The attendance was smaller than usual , doubtless attributable to the weather , for although the morning was fairer than many , the atmosphere portended a storm , which accompanied by peals of thunder , raged heavily in the afternoon . The W . M . Bro . Horatio Grey , Bro .

E . Davis , the Treasurer , Bro . P . Edinger , the Secretary , a few members and visitors , with their ladies and daughters , were present ; and hy melody and good humour , and a determination on the part of every one to render the day agreeable , despite of the elements , made the meeting as pleasurable as any that had preceded ifc ; so that the shadows of evening stealing on the shortness of the clay , was the only subject of regret .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN EASTWOOD . On the ISth of July , died , at his residence , Eastwood , near Todmorden , aged 76 , Bro . John Eastwood , P . M . of 363 , and P . Prov . J . C . W ., East Lancashire . Our deceased brother was a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire , and was the oldest member of his lodge , having been initiated on the Oth

of January , 1811 , the lodge being then held at Haslingden , and numbered we believe 511 , afterwards 54-5 , and he con tinned a subscribing member up to his death . He was a shareholder in the Masonic Hall , lately erected at Todmorden , in the success of ivhich , during its erection he often expressed an interest , and ivas present at the consecration on the 5 th of June last , a report of which appeared in this Journal on the 11 th of the same month .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty , after leaving Scotland , will , on the 1 st of September , go on to the Continent . After two or three days with the King of tlie Belgians , Her Majesty will travel incognito as the Duchess of Lancaster , will pass some weeks at the castle of Ithcinhardtsbrnnn , near Gotha , which has been placed at her disposal by her brother-in-law , the Duke of

Saxe Coburg and Gotha . There she will be joined by the Prince of AA ales , who will afterwards visit the Crown Princess of Prussia . There are to ho no festivities ou the coming of age of His Eoyal Highness , and he will remain abroad beyond that time . IMPERIAL PATai . MENi . —On Thursday tho 21 th ult ., several bills of little importance were advanced a stage . On Friday

the Fortifications Bill ivas read a second time after some discussion , in which Lord Ellenborongh , Lord Grey , the Duke of Cambridge , Earl Bussell , and others took part . No other business of imnortanse was transacted . On Monday Lord Grey reviewed the recent proceedings of her Majesty ' s Government in China , ancl denounced the policy of hostility towards

The Week.

the Taepings . He also expressed his disapproval or the arrangement by which English officers have accepted employment under the government of Pekin . The Duke of Somerset and Lord Russell defended the policy of the Government as necessary for the protection of the treaty ports , and Lord Stratford de Rodcliffe expressed his concurrence in this view of the question . On Tuesday the royal assent was given by

Commission to a large number of public and private bills , including the Highways Bill , and one or two of the measures relating to the title to , and transfer of , land . The Fortifications Bill and the Thames Embankment Bill were read a third time and passed ; and several other measures having been advanced a stase . In the HOUSE OP C OMMONS

on Thursday 21 th ult ., Mr . A'illiers moved the second reading of the bill to enable the local authorities in the cotton manufacturing districts to meet increased demands for relief . Mr . Potter contended that the measure would prove unequal to the crisis , and strongly recommended the Government to abandon the scheme in favour of some more efficient plan .

Colonel AVilson Patten also doubted the efficiency of the Ministerial remedy , and suggested the granting of loans on security of the rates . Mr . J . B . Smith recommended the postponement of the bill , as great difference of opinion existed as to the measures whicli ought to be adopted . Lord Stanley recommended that lonns to a certain amount should be granted

before having recourse to rates in aid ; while Air . Henley supported the principle of the bill . Mr . Cobden was in favour of a loan—arguing that tho proposal of the Government , if carried out , would in all probability result in the ruin of the smaller millowners—the men who worked on borrowed capital—and the shop-keeping class . The crisis was exceptional , and ought to be treated exceplionably . He strongly condemned the

application of the labour test in tho case ot men who were doomed ; to idleness through no fault of their own , ancl appealed to the Government to empower Boards of Guardians to lend [ them money which thoy would gladly repay on tho return of more prosperous times . After some further discussion , in which Air . Lygon , Mr . Bonvcrio , Mr . Hibbeifc , tho Marquis of Hartington , and Mr . Bovill took part , Mr . A * illiers

replied , and the bill was read a second time . On Friday a discussion of some importance took place on the question of the defence of Canada . The general opinion seemed to be that in the event of an attack upon the colony by the United Stales—a contingency which Sir G . C . Lewis regarded as highly improbable—tho Canadians must defend themselves if

they place any value upon their connection with England . On Monday , Lord Palmerston stated , in reply to Mr . H . Seymour , that the Spanish authorities in Cuba , and the Portuguese authorities on the East and AVest Coasts of Africa , continued to

connive at the slave trade , notwithstanding the peremptory orders of their respective governments . Her Majesty's Government still persevered in pressing upon the Governments of Madrid and Lisbon the necessity of adopting more severe measures for the prevention of these detestable practices , and lie trusted that these representations ivould in time produce a satisfactory result . The motion for the third reading of the

Appropriation Bill was followed hy discussions on the Armstrong gun , the troubles in China , and the recent ultramontane display in Dublin . Lord Ii . Cecil , Mr . Seymour Fitzgerald , and Colonel Sykes lamented our collision with the Taepings , while Lord Palmerston somewhat warmly defended the course of the Goveriune-. it , and stated that he had received no official

information of the reported repulse of the allies . The house then proceeded to consider in Committee the Union Relief . ( Aid Bill-Air . Bcrnal Osborne suggested that a clause should be inserted