The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-07-10
Albert Edward as a Mason.

The London correspondents of the Boston Post
writes a. follows:
The Prince OF Wales has just been indicted,
with great state ceremony and i~estivity. into the
highest Masonic dignity in the world. The Masons
are proud of having royalty as the chief adOrn-
ment of their order. and the moment that the Prince
Of Wales was initiated 1t became certain that
one day or other he would become grand master.
Happily the Prince has qualities peculiarly cited
to shine in such a place. He is genial, social. free
and easy. fond Os speaking, and able, when be
chooses, TO speak well and forcibly He is esPe-
cially happy in social addresses, and has just the
sort of breeding which shows well in a ceremonial
office like that of grand master. The English
Masons have always included among their MEM
beers many men of the highest rank and have in
yariably been presided over by a grand master
eminent in hereditary dignity. 1t has been no un-
common thing for a scion OF the royal house TO
occupy the highest seat in the order. The jolly
aud gOod-hearted Duke of York was for many years
grand master of England, and the traditions OF his
zeal for the order. and his fine manner of presid-
ing. are still current among the craft. Tie was sue
ceeded by another royal parsonage, the Duke OF
Sussex, who rivalled the fame OF his elder brother
in the enthusiasm and delight with which be full
filed the imposing duties of the office. The Queens
father, the DHke of Kent. was also a Mason, and ii
[ mistake not. was elected grand master of the
Canada Masons. Prince Albert was "A Mason, and
had he Outlived the venerable Earl of Zetland,
would undoubtedly have become grand master. L
have seen many gentlemen who have been in the
lodge with Prince Albert, and all have spoken OF
the fl eedom with which he unbent when he made
his appearance there. On the death Of the Duke
of Sussex, some thirty years ago, the Earl Of Get
land became grand master and he continued TO
be so until 1870, when, in consequence OF extreme
age and disability. be retired. Lord Zetland was
beloved and honored throughout the craft. He
was the model of a generous and hospitable Eng
Iish nobleman and be gave the greater part Of his
time and attention to the interests of masonry.
Many a time and Oft he received lodges and COM
panies of Masons at his lOrdly castle in Yorkshire,
where they were entertained with a more than
lordly muniicence. 1t was under Lord Zetland's
grand mastersbip that the famous Masonic college,
for the sons and daughters of = poor and distressed
Masons." near London. was founded, organized and
started on its useful and prosperous career aud
in this scheme. which has SO admirably succeeded
no one was more prominent or more efficient in
help than the venerable grand master. On Lord
Zetland's retirement, Earl de Gray and Ripon. who
had been for some years grand master OF Yorkshire
succeeded to bis place; but when he was converted
to the Roman Catholic faith he saw the imprOprie-
ty of remaining at the bead of an order often de-
nounced from the Vatican, and suddenly resigned.
1t was then that the Prince of Wales, who had been
initiated into Missionary by King Charles Of Sweden
on the occasion of his visit TO that country, was
chosen to the throne in tie East. Meanwhile, the
Earl of Carnarvon has been fulfilling the duties OF
the Office. 1t is probable that the prince will con-
tinue to be grand master until he succeeds 10 the
! throne.