The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-10
GFrom the London Times, April Psi
FreeNss n SOnrv

The Prince OF Wales entered yesterday
on his fourth year OF office as Most Wor-
shipful Grand Master of the English Grand
I,of.oc OF Freemasons. The ceremonies OF
the occasion, which we describe in another
column. Wee, of course, most impressive.
II is by its external splendors that Free
masonry is best Known to the world outside
its ranks. It's gorgeous dresses, its myste-
rious tokens OF rank and office, ana lts dlg-
nitied method Of procedure, are well eacu-
lated to impress the mind with due reVe-
renee for those awful secrets OF the craft
which they at once veil and symbolic.
Nothing was wanting yesterday to the full
effect If the day. There was large an dis
tingushed company, including among the
guess the Crown Prince of Denmark, Grand
Master OF the Danish Freemasons. There
was profuse display Of well-kno.wn insig-
mia OF the Freemasons' order. The sun and
the moon, the compasses, the squares, and
the triangles were resplendent amid the
gold and silver and blue OF the aprons, or
shone upon the breasts Of the assembled
brethren AZ marks Of nobility ut once
the highest and the most venerable OF
anv. Freemasonry has had its dark
days, 1t has met with suspicion and
persecution from Church and State. Its
practice, even in this country, has been for
hidden by express statute. Elsewhere 1t
has been under the ban Of the Inquisition,
and its members have suffered accordingly.
It has had it's martyrs and confessors, Its
false and weak-hearted brethren, its
scbisms and discords from within, its re-
lentless enemies who have been ever
on. the watch to surprise it and
mt it down. 1t has passed safely
through all these dangers. 1t has
survived with unbroken front, guarding
| its secrets meanwhile from an intrusive
and hostile world. In this country 1t has
been its good fortune for some time past
to enjoy the favor of royalty. The cere-
| monial OF yesterday is not the hrst OF the
kind that the English world has seen.
From the days Of King Henry VI, who
passed suddenly from prosecutor to an
admitted member Of the order, the con-
nection Of the English Royal Family WITH
Freemasonry has been close and frequent
At the present day, with its sixteen nun,
dred lodges, its innumerable band OF
brothers, and with the Heir-Appafent as
its Grand Master, English Freemasonary
stands more firmly than ever. Its enemies
IL such it has, must be looked for among
the sex which is debafred forever from it
privileges. Women, 1t IS we'll known, un
thappily for themselves and for Freema
sonry. have an evil reputation for not keep
ing secrets. The great ceremonial OF yes
terday was, therefore, less perfect than
might have been made il the sex had bee
less fraii The Freemasons are, beyon
all dispute, very ancient body indeed
Their descent has been variously trace
!, down from the patriarchs OF old days
| Coloo,on Noah and dam have all bee
claimed as founders or prominent mem
hers OF the order. Probable evidence IL
all its degrees must be taken for what 1t !
; worth In. o case of this kind, where stri'
proof has now ceased to be possible. III
Il 1nisher OF the great Temple must, in q
: reason, be thought to, have been c0nYarsar
-iIwith the bull ilder's art. His Workmen,
! not himself, were certainly Masons, - sn
); as tie presumption ID that: q Smansis fr'
In the absencs oi proof 10 the contrar
II we n1ay Yenture 10 speak Of them as Ere