PRINCE A MASON.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1919, Page 8

PRINCE A MASON.

INITIATION CONDUCTED BY DtJKE OF CONNAUGHT. London, May 4. With elaborate ceremony the Prince of Wales was initiated into the craft of Freemasonary at a special "emergency" meeting of" the Household Brigade Lodge of Freemasons, held at Prince's Hotel, Piccadilly. There was a large' and distinguished attendance, including Prince Arthur of Connaught. When the Lodge opened the ceremony of initiation was conducted by the Duke pf Connaught, assisted by Lord Ampthill, pro-Grand Master^, In thanking th« Lodge for the honor conferred upon him, His Royal Highness complied with the traditions of the Household Brigade Lodge' by compressing his,speech in the.five words, "Worshipful Master, I thank you." In-thus entering the Tanks of Masonry the Prince of Wales fulfilled a wish expressed when he was at Oxford. It would undoubtedly have reached accomplishment earlier but for the war, and now the fulfilment of His Royal Highness's intention has given the greatest satisfaction to all members of the craft The initiation ceremony was followed by the uSual dinner.

The initiation of the Prince of Wales is the continuation of the close connection between the reigning house of Great Britain and Ireland and Freemasonry which has existed now for nearly 200 years. Masonic tradition has it that king Athelstan granted a Charter to Freemasons in AD. 926, that Edward 111. revised the Constitutions in 1358, and that Henry "VI. and William 111. were both initiates of the Order. In 1737 Freemasonry leaves tradition and enters the realm of history, and, since the initiation of Frederick, Prince of Wales, father of George 111., in that year, every heir-apparent with two exceptions, and nearly every Prince of the Blood Eoyal, has been a member of the Craft. It is exactly 51 years since the grandfather of the Prince of Wales, King Edward VH„ was initiated, and 45 years since the Duke of Connaught became a faember of the Order' The keen interest taken by Kir* Edward VII. in the Order is still the subject of pleasing reminiscences and conversation whenever Masons of his period foregather. He was elected Grand Master in 1874. and enjoyed a most prosperous and popular rule until his accession to the Throne, when he" was succeeded in the rule of the Craft by the present Grand Master, the Duke of Connaught. The late Duke of Clarence was initiated in 1885, and two years later was appointed active Senior Grand Warden of England, becoming Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire in 1890.

Although King Georsro V. did not follow in his father's footsteps and be-' :como a member of the Order, he. on his accession to the Throne in 1910, immediately signified his wish to become ■Patron of both the Boyal Masonic Institution for Boys and the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls. Prince Ari thur of Connaught was initiated in 1911 in the Royal Alpha Lodge, No. 16, which dates back to 1722, and is not infrequently referred to as the "Grand Master's Private Lodge," owing to the fact ' that its few initiates are always of disI tinguished rank, and the Grand .Secretary of England is always the Secretary of "the Lodgo. This was the Lodge chosen by the late Duke of Clarence for his initiation. The Household Brigade Lodge was founded in 1«96. Its founders wem officials and others personally connected ■with the Royal Household. All its members are of distinguished rank, and it is one of the few Lodges in wind the office of Master is held permanently by the Duke of Connaught—the Deputy Master, who is appointed > annually, exercising his functions in his absence. It was in this Lodee that. Prince Arthui ' of Connaught went through nisJnjiia,-