Summary Of News For July.

their Arctic explorations . The " collection has been made the subject of a lecture in which the various expeditions to the Polar regions are most vividly described and the hardships and sufferings of the gallant voyagers descanted upon in a manner which wins the sympathy and applause of the audience . A passing tribute is paid to the memory of Lieutenant Bellot , and a hope is expressed that notwithstanding the strong presumptive evidence as to the loss of Sir John Franklin and his companionsproofs may yet come to light that some of the party are still in existence .

, The various topics touched upon in the course of the lecture are necessarily of great public interest , and on the whole the entertainment is one of the most attractive with which the energetic manager of the Institution has yet favoured the sight-seeing world .

Obituary.

OBITUARY .

BR . JOHN EYLES WHITE . —A Somersetshire paper thus speaks of this lamented Br ., who died on the 3 rd May : —We sit down with a sad heart to pen a tribute , brief and feeble , hut affectionate and sincere , to the memory of John Eyles White , a man whom Taunton loved , and can ill spare . After many years of useful , upright , and honourable life , possessed of universal esteem , confidence and regard , having recently filled the highest municipal offices in his native town , in the prime of life , in the full vigour of his intellect , he has been removed from among his

fellow-townsmen ; and every one of- them feels , especially the poor man , that he has lost a friend . Twenty-five years ago , a frightful accident had disabled him , and its consequences affected him during all the remainder of his life with lameness , and with severe and almost unceasing suffering , and ultimately caused his death , in the 60 th year of his age . On public occasions , whether of business , or politics , or festivity , this was the character in which he delighted to claim the attention of his hearers ; and his hearty , manly tone , his genial spirit , and his straight-forward , honest style , were well

seconded by the fine old-English face and figure which we shall see no more . Even in the hottest fire of election strife , who does not recollect the eager call for him , the pleased cheer which welcomed his rising , the tact and spirit of his address , the kindlyattention which not only his friends but his political opponents ( enemies he had not ) yielded him ? His party lament , him , his friends deplore him ; but , we repeat what we deem to be his highest , eulogy , to the poor , especially of his own street and neighbourhood , his loss is irreparable . We understand that the Masonic bod y , of which Mr . White was for many years an active and much-valued member , and in which he filled very high offices , were on the point of presenting to him some

testimonial of the estimation in which throughout England "Br . Eyles White , Provincial Grand Treasurer , & c , & c , " was held by the Craft , when , as in another recent case , the purpose was frustrated by the unexpected decease of its object . We trust , however , that the intention may yet be carried out in some other form , which , by permanently testifying of his character and of the regrets which follow him , may help to minister , in future years to the consolation of those who now deplore his loss . BR . SAMUEL ORAM . —It is with sincere regret that we have to announce the death

of this worthy Br ., which took place at his house , in Castle-street , Holborn , on the 30 th June last . Br . Oram , who was in the 42 nd year of his age , was initiated in the Mount Moria Lodge ( No . 40 ) , on the 25 th . April , 1854 . He subsequently passed through the various offices , and served the office of Master in the year 1854 . Br . Oram was also a Master of the Royal Arch . B « . LAURUNCE THOMPSON . —On the 9 ih of June last , died Br . Laurence Thompson , in the 82 nd year of his age , P . l . G . D . By his death the Craft has lost an active and

zealous member . He joined the Lodge of Antiquity ( acting by immemorial constitution ) about the year 1811 , and was , - \ t the period of his death , the oldest subscribing member . He had served the office of Grand Steward as a member of the Lodge of Felicity , and also the Stewardship of the Girls' and Boys' Institutions . He was a member of the Lodge of Reconciliation , and , by order of the Grand Master , delivered annually the Prestonian Lecture , in the Lodge of Antiquity . Br . Thompson held office for many years in the . Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire . He was also a member , at the time of his death , of the Somerset House Lodge and the Shakespeai Lodge , and other Lodges ,