Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-22

~ rviass u Mates. son lssiasts tate Tho
A1ysserles.

~ Prince ~ waies's son Isssaset Tate tho
A1ysseriss.
LoNDoS, March I9.--The dignity
and Traditional grandeur Of Frecma-
senry was largely indicated and Illus.
sssted when. last night, in the Royal
Alpha Ledge. in the presence Of large
sompsny Of Mascss, Prince Edward,
kcir prcsumptiye TO the English throne,
was initiated by the Prince of Wales,
his father, heir apparent, Grand Master
and At the same time . working Ma
zen IN the Office OF Worshipful Master.
The lodge is private, and lis working
dates from l7e2. The bylaws Of
The Royal Alpha restrict the number oil
members to thirty-three, nearly all oil.
Asers OF past officers Of the Grand
Lodge Of England. Also the principle
That 10 visitor can be received enables
the work to be carried but in the pre-
s<nco Of lodgc-members only. Wiliiss
Rooras. near st. James. Palace, was
The mccting-place. The lodge was laid
ost in 6rst-Aoor apartment, gar
nished with fine portraits in oil OF
Past Royal Grand Masters, Wor-
shipfal Masters, and Wardens. There
were chairs in gold cmblemati-
sally decorated, and other appoint
nests in keeping. The Prince OF Wales
tesk the worshipful Masters chair,
denning above his Grand Masters clo-
ding the blue collar Of working Ma
son. the pendant being the instrument
which forms the rule and proves the
perfect man and marks him as master
Of the arts and sciences. All the Off
GERS wore the blue collars Of working
members OF the Speculative craft over
purple and gold Grand-I,odgc oihcership
pepdants in silver, the centres being
works of art in enamel, with rays
studded with diamonds.
The candidate was prepared IN an al
joipipg room for the ceremony. The
srait does not admit illiteratc persons,
and the first act required Of seeker
after Masonic knowledge is to prove
himself capable Of entering upon the
study Of the liberal arts. The Prince
was then admitted with full solcmnity
within the portals in the manner IN
which all enter the craft. As the son oil
Mason, the initiate, under the laws OF
the craft, could have appealed Tor per-
mission 10 enter the ranks before at
tanning the full age, but having waited
until man 5 estate he could declare his
freedom. lie did so, as well as his de-
sire in order TO render greater service
20 his fellow-creatures and to acquire
knowledge to enter within the ranks OF
the craft. BY the Worshipful Masters
command the Senior Warden invested
the initiate with the apron, white,
lined with satin, typical of purity and
his attention was called to the fact that
no badge more ancient was borne by
any order in the world than that OF the
yanks in which he then stood as he en-
tered az apprentice.
The ceremony was performed with all
the grace and dignity Which characterize
The Grand Master and his officers, all
skilled craftsmen. and all noblemeu or
titled persons. When the ceremony
was completed the young Prince was
seated in the place of honor, and wit
pesscd such work as is restricted to the
First Degree. The Lodge being closed
in due form after It's labors, the mem
bers adjourned TO a banquet. where
the initiate. sitting next his Worshipful
Master. according to ancient custom,
received the congratulations of his cid
ers. The young Prince showed the
deepest interest in the work, and the
affair must be of interest TO craftsmen
AL over the world.