Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

METROPOLITAN . GLOBE LODGE ( NO . 23 ) . —This Lodge held its summer banquet at the Star ancl Garter , Richmond , on Thursday , the IDth inst ., under tbe presidency of Bro . Collings , AV . M . ; Hill , S . W . ; Clements , J . W . ; AVilliam AVatson , P . AI . and Steward ; ancl Hewlett , Treas . The visitor on this occasion was Bro . Morton , of the Royal York ( No . 7 ) . There were ei ghteen members present , ancl the dinner , which was of the best kind , was done ample justice to . The Brethren assembled broke up at an early hour , much delighted with the pleasant day they had spent .

SOUTH SHIELDS . MASONIC EXCURSION . — -The AV . AI . and AVardens , of St . Hildr ' s Lodge ( No . 292 ) , availing themselves of the kindness of Bro . Jas . Manat , who in the most handsome manner , placed at tbeir disposeal the fine and new steamer Blue Jacket , an excursion to the historical village of AVarkwortb was decided upon ( under the management of the AV . AL , AVardens , and other Brethren , who were elected a

committee ) for AVednesday July Uth . The steamer left South Shields , and passed over Tynemoutb Bar , at 7 o'clock in the morning , and after a fine passage of two hours and a half arrived safely at Amble ., "Not- far from bonce , stands Coquet Islcy Surrounded by the sea . " where every attention was paid to the safe landing of the Brethren ancl their friends b y Bro . Heppleivhite , Harbour Master , at Amble , to whose courtesy and kindness , the committee ivere much indebted . The party ' shortly arrived at AVaklhani , where she

" lifts her lofty towers , And overlooks the se . i ; Those towers , alas ! now stand forlorn AVith noisome weeds o ' erspread , AVhere feasted lords and courtly dames ; And where the poor were fed . " The party here proceeded to the picturesque ruins , and partook of a pic-nic dinnerwhich was evidentlrelished after the sea

, y voyage , the band , accompanying the party , playing at intervals . After having enjoyed a dance on the green the party betook themselves down the deep romantic i-alley to the Hermitage where once upon a time " Musing on man ' s weak hapless state , The lonely hermit lay . "

and having examined the various apartments and relics , the party returned to the "Sun Inn" to partake of tea , which being concluded " the festive dance , and the joyous song " commenced , Bro . H . Hedley , acting as M . C . The Ball was led off'by the lady of the immediate P . AL ofthe Lodge ( Bro . Oliver ) and Bro . J . AL Buckland S . AV . ; and ivas kept up with much spirit until 1 o ' clock , when the Blue Jacket steamed gallantly away amid the cheers of those on board , and the counter cheers of those on shore—arriving again at Shields

about 11 o ' clock . The harmony of the day's proceedings were much enhanced by tbe vocal abilities of Messrs . Oliver , Stockdale , Buckland , Preston , Daekuray , and Fox ; ancl altogether the party had to congratulate themselves upon a most successful clay ' s pleasure . Amongst the company present were the AV . AL , AVardens , P . ' Ms . Oliver ancl family , Ridley ancl family , Hewison ancl family , Tulloch and family , and about 50 other brethren , with their relatives and and friends , numbering altogether about 120 .

MORTALITY OE THE STEEL -WORKEKS OE SHEFFIELD . —The position of Sheffield is singularly bad in the scale of comparative sickness undergone by the working-classes , as ascertained by the managers of Friendly Societies ; and yet there is no note taken of the fact that the lives out of ivhich this sickness is computed aro little more than half the ordinary length . In comparing the sick weeks in tbe life of a rural labourer ancl a Sheffield artizan , we

ought to note , not only that the one has 52 weeks of illness to 95 of the other , but that ' the rural labourer's term may extend to 60 years , while the Sheffield man's ends at 40 , or even 30 . Even without this , ancl supposing that all have an equal right to talk of their life "from twenty to sixty years of age , " what a preponderance of sickness there is in Sheffield ! In town life generally in England the proportion of sick weeks in those years is somewhat under 55 .

In city life it is under 66 weeks ; whereas in Sheffield it is just upon 95 . No other town , ancl no city on the list before me , comes near it , even Leeds being under 63 , and Rochdale under 57 ; and the illfavored and unpopular Stockport , the worst after Sheffield , under 85 . AVe shall know move about all these matters after the approaching Census : but we now perceive plainly enough that there is an enormous sacrifice of life in the commonest processes of manufacture , which a little more knowledge may enable us to obviate entirely , and which a better morality would at ' this day inateriall y check . —Aliss ALutTiNEAir , iu . Once a Week .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty and family have , during the week , been staying at her marine residence at Osborne , and has taken an opportunity of visiting the Arctic vessel , Fox . On Tuesday last her Royal Highness the Princess Royal , the Princess Frederic William , was happily delivered of a daughter . Her Royal Highness and the royal infant are doing well .

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —In tbe HOL ~ SE OE LOJEDS on Thursday , the 19 th instant , the Earl of Derby called attention to the mode of conducting the business of tbe country , ancl , adverting to the small number of bills which , after six months' toil , bad been passed , urged the necessity of improving the system , which , be observed , was more at fault than the Legislature itself . He could not himself venture to suggest a remedy unless , perhaps , that it would be judicious to regard the prorogation as an adjournmentso that

mea-, sures mig ht be resumed in a succeeding session at the same stage at which they were left off in the preceding session . At all events the subject ivas one that might be fairly referred to a select committee , ' ancl he begged to propose a motion to that effect . Earl Granville , whilst admitting the existence of the evil , confessed that lie was unable to suggest a remedy . It was desirable , perhaps , that inquiry should be made , but he thought the best way of

accomplishing that object would be by the appointment of a joint committee of the two bouses . After some discussion the motion was withdrawn . Several bills were forwarded a stage . On Friday several minor bills advanced a stage , and one of the London and South-AVesteru Railway Company for an extension to Kingston , had a narrow escape , the third reading being only carried by 33 to 32 . On Monday , in reply to tbe Marquis of

Breadalbane , Earl de Grey said that her Majesty intended to review tbe volunteer corps of Scotland on the 7 th of August . On Tuesday the bouse went into committee on the Census ( England and Ireland ) Bills . The Earl of Ellenborough moved the omission from the Irish Bill of tbe clause requiring the statement of religious profession . A similar clause had been struck out of the English bill . After -some discussion , the amendment was

withdrawn , and both bills passed through committee . Other bills advanced a stage . The H OUSE OE COMMONS on Thursday went into committee on tbe Landlord and Tenant ( Ireland ) Bill ; after which the best ancl most promising bill of the session —• the Bankruptcy ancl Insolvency Bill—was withdrawn , owing to the opposition to some of its details , rendering its chance of getting into the House of Lords in time for the present session almost hopeless . Sir George Cornewall Lewis announced that , regard

being had to the period of the session ancl the state of public business , it was not his intention to proceed with the bill for the reform of the Corporation of London . After some discussion , the house went into committee of supply , when , the remaining two votes on the navy estimates were agreed to . The votes were £ 12 , 000 for the new system of retiring allowances , and £ 33 , 000 for the pay of seamen on special service in China . On Friday , one of the principal clauses in the Savings' Banks and Friendly Societies

Bill having been negatived , it was withdrawn . In reply to a question , Lord John Russell replied that he hacl no information that British troops had been placed on board French ships with a view to their being employed in Syria . The French Government vras , however , in communication with the great powers , and , he believed , the Porte also , for the purpose of considering whether a convention miht not be arranged for assisting to put down the

g authors of the massacres in Syria . The matter was still under the consideration of her Majesty ' s Government ancl that of France , and he did not believe there ivas auy intention on the part of the latter to act alone . On Monday , Lorcl Palmerston brought forward the subject of tbe National Defences , which will require a sum of £ 9 , 000 , 000 , of which only £ 20 , 00 , 000 will be required during the present and this it is proposed to raise by terminable annuities .

year , On Tuesday in reply to Mr . Griffith , Lord John Russell said be hacl received a telegram from the British Minister at Naples to the effect that the King ( of Naples ) had ordered Messina and other places in the possession of bis troops in Sicily to be evacuated . Tbe Minister of Sardinia in London had also informed him that the Neapolitan Envoy at Turin bad hacl an interview with Count Cavour , ancl that afterwards the King of Sardinia sent an

aide-decamp to Garibaldi , in Sicily , but what the nature of the communication was he could not state . Sir John Pakington moved au address to her Alajesty , praying that she would issue a Royal Commission to consider the present system of promotion and retirement in the Royal Navy , and the present pay and position of the several classes of ' naval officers , and to report what changes therein were desirable , with a view to the increased efficiency of her Majesty ' s Naval Service . The motion was negatived by 89 to 56 . On tho motion of Sir Charles Wood , leave was given to bring in a bill to