Weekly Summary.

"We understand that at a Special Meeting of the Supreme Grand Council of England , assisted by the brethren of the 32 ° , 31 ° , and 80 ° , and the Illustrious Knights of the 32 ° , 31 ° , and 30 ° , held on the 14 th inst ., at Golden-square , the V . W . Bro . Lord Skelmersdale D . G . M . of England and Major

General Brownrigg P . G . M . Surrey , were respectively exalted to the hig h degree of the K . H . Bro . the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , who was also to have been exalted , was unavoidably absent , owing to the circumstance of the

train that conveyed his Lordship breaking down . I he ceremonies were impressively worked by General Clarke , Chancellor of the Order , assisted by Bro . Major Shad well Clerke . Bro . Willing , the organist , contributed to the solemnity by his admirable performance on the organ .

The Seamen ' s Hospital , Greenwich , is greatly in need of funds . Since the removal of the institution from the " Dreadnought" to the Infirmary of Greenwich Hospital the expenses have greatly increased . There being more accommodation on shore than there was afloat , many more

patients are relieved , and £ 6 , 000 are required to pay the current expenses of each year . The total annual expenditure is upwards of £ 9 , 500 , while the only reliable income derivable from investments is £ 3 , 500 , thus the Hospital is dependent upon voluntary charity to the extent of £ 6 , 000

per annum . In 1874 , there was a deficiency in the income , to meet the expenditure , of £ 2 , 000 . We learn that last year 2 , 058 seamen were admitted to the institution , these men were from the various ports of the United Kingdom . It cannot , we think , be too widely known that the Hospital

at Greenwich is the only institution of the kind in the country for the exclusive benefit of seamen . We confidently appeal to our readers on behalf of this great charity , and we are sure that ( they will not hold their hands , but will give liberally .

H . R . H the Duke of Connaught will be raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in the Princo of Wales ' s Lodge , No . 259 , on the 22 nd inst ., and H . R . H . Prince Leopold will be raised in the Apollo University Lodge ,

No . 257 , Oxford , on the 17 th inst ., thus showing the interest they feel in our Order . It is to be hoped that the Royal Brothers will be present at the Installation of the M . W . Grand Master .

A warrant having been granted for a new Chapter , entitled the Priory , No . 1 , 000 , it will be consecrated on Wednesday , the i ^ lst inst ., and Bro . Robert AVentworth Little , P . G . S . Middlesex , has consented to consecrate the Chapter and instal tho principals , at Southend .

Not a few people will hasten to throw cold water , to Use a common metaphor , on Captain Boy ton ' s life-saving apparatus , because he failed to complete the passage between Dover and Boulogne in the manner prescribed . But this is almost as sensible a proceeding as it would

have been to have sprinkled a cup of water on Captain Boyton when he Avas busy paddling his way across the Channel . The fact that he fell short by some miles of reaching the French coast , in no wise detracts from the merits of his apparatus , which has been proved already many

times , and is acknowledged to be a complete success . We may even say it strengthens the high opinion alread y formed of his invention . He did not actually cross , because the weather and other circumstances were unfavourable . But he stayed in the water for fifteen hours , with only such an

amount of inconvenience and fatigue to himself as an hour s rest enabled him to surmount . The experiment showed incontestably that Captain Boyton could progress by the aid of his sail and paddle , or without using either , in a somewhat tempestuous sea . He affirmed afterwards that

darkness was on the point of setting in , and most unwillingly . He was received with enthusiasm at Boulogne , whence ho has since returned , with a determination to make another attempt to accomplish the journey . Yet we hope h . e will not lay too great a stress oa this particular experi .

he could have gone on for another ten or twelve hours , and from the various accounts we have soon there appeal's no reason to question his opinion . But the advice of those aboard the accompanying steamer was—wisely -we thinkadopted by the bold voyagenr , though with the greatest

reluctance •the representatives of the press , who were present to watch his progress , bearing willing testimony that he yielded to the advice of those in charge of him only when

Weekly Summary.

ment , as the worth of the invention has been already demonstrated over and over again .

We are informed that a bust , in Parian marble , of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , as M . W . G . M ., will be ready for publication by the 28 th instant , the day fixed for the Installation . There is every reason to believe that the bust , which will be about 24 inches high , and will form a

handsome ornament for the drawing-room or boudoir , will give the utmost satisfaction to those of the Craft who may desire to possess some souvenir of this interesting ceremonial . The price will be two guineas , and the profits will be shared among the three great Masonic Charities .

Bro . John Sweasey jun . announces his annual benefit for Wednesday , the 21 st instant , at the Royal Music Hall , Holborn , when , in addition to the talented company , all the principal artistes in London Avill appear .

It is with deep regret we announce the death , at the early age of 36 , of Bro . W . Seekings . Bro . Seekings was initiated in the Strawberry Hill Lodge , No . 946 .

The Lord Warden Hotel , Dover , has been taken by Bro . W . Swainston , lately a Common Councilman of the City of London . During the many years Bro . Swainston held the latter office he earned for himself the esteem of his colleagues . He was proprietor for many years of the

Bucks' Tavern in the Old Jewry , and here in company with Bros . Ex-under Sheriff Beard P . M . 101 and J . Emmens P . G . P . he was associated with a charitable society for

providing coals for the poor . Doubtless the well-known activity and business habits of Bro . Swainston will be looked upon as a good augury of success in his new and important undertaking .

Any who have a vacant place in their album of Masonic worthies cannot do better than fill the vacancy with a copy of a recently-published carte de visito photograph of our respected Grand Secretary , Bro . John Hervey . Bro .

Hervey is represented as wearing his numerous jewels aud the insignia of office , and the likeness has been admirably taken . The publisher is Mr . T . P . Avery , 24 and 26 Ladbrooke Grove , nearly opposite the Notting Hill Station of the Metropolitan District Railway .

Obituary.

Obituary .

Iroui tbo Stalybridge Reporter wo learn tho mournful tidings of tho death of Brother T . H . Fleming , who died at Warrington , where , sinco he left Stalybridge , about twelve mouths since , he had been carrying on business as a bootmaker . Brother Fleming was a most energetic Mason , and was a P . M . of tho Royal Edward Lodge , which holds its meetings at the Commercial Inn , Melbourne-street , Stalybridge .

It is only a few weeks since it was our painful duty to announce in these pages the death of brother the late Luke Evans , surgeon , of Stalybridge . Our respected brother the Iter . Thomas Floyd , who preached the funeral sermon on that melancholy occasion , oxpressed a wish that when he was called hence he might be spared a lingering illness . Those who heard this remark little thought how soon they

would have to deplore the loss of the man to whom all then listened with snch rapt attention . On Sunday , the 28 th March , Bro . Floyd preached in his church , and on the following day he complained of being unwell . Dr . Sntcliffe was called in , and it was found he was suffering from inflammation of the bowels , but nothing of a serious nature was apprehended until Sunday morning , d-th Aprilwhen it

, was found that the inflammation had extended to the brain . Leeches and blisters , and other medical remedies were applied , bnt without avail , and great anxiety was felt at Mr . Floyd ' s condition during the morning . The auxiety was increased in tho afternoon , when he was observed to be rapidly sinking . Human efforts could not avert the sad event , and he died . As a Freemason Bro . Floyd was admired

and respected as being one of the foremost to help a brother to meet the reverses of fortune . He was always ready to throw a plank "to a sinking comrade , " aud uuuiy members of the Craft have reason to thank him for holding situations which they have secured through his letters of recommendation . He was made a member of the Menu Lodge , No . 32-1 , held at the Wellington Hotel , Caroline-street , on the

luth ot October 1852 , aud at that time his name was iS ' o 13 on the books . When he died he was No . 3 , so that he was one of the oldest members of a Lodge into which he welcomed his friend , the Rev . Mr . JlacDonna , the Hector of Cheadle , in the year 1859 , when Bro Joseph Grayson , joiner , was the Worshipful Master . He was also a member of tiie Royal Arch Chapter , aud Chaplain of his Lodge for many years .

Brother John btorrs , the present W . JI . of the Moira Lodge , issued a circular , iuviting the brethren to join iu the funeral procession , which took place on Friday , 9 th April , when about 80 members of the Moira , the Fortitude , Prince Alfred , Royal Edward , Stamford and Warring , ton , and other Lodges of Freemasons attended , to pay a last tribute to the memory of their departed brother ,