Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-24
MASONIC SpLENDORS.

The dignity and traditional grandeur o.
Freemasonry was largely vindicated and il
lustrated when, on Wednesday night, in the
Royal Alpha Lodge, in London, in the pres
ence of large company of Masons, Prince
Edward, heir presumptve to the English
throne, was initiated by the Prince of Wales
his father, heir apparent, Grand Master, and
at the same time working Mason in the
Office of Worshipful Master. The lodge is
private, and its working dates from 1922.
The bylaws of the Royal Alpha restrict the
number of members to thirty-three, nearly
all officers or past-officers of the Grand
Lodge of England. Also the principle that
no visitor can be received enables the work
to be carried but in the presence Of lodge
members only. Williss Rooms, near ST.
James Palace was the meeting place. The
lodge was laid out in frst-foor apartment,
garnished with fine portraits in oil of Past
Royal Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters,
and Wardens. There were chairs in gold
automatically decorated, and other ap-
poiutments in keeping. The Prince of
Wales took the Worshipful Masters chair,
donning above his Grand Masters clothing
the blue collar of working Mason, the
pendent being the instrument which forms
the rule and proves the perfect man and
marks him as a master of the arts and
sciences All the officers wore the blue
collars of working members of the Specula-
tive craft over purple and gold Grand
Lodge officership pendants in silver, the
centres being works of art in enamel, with
rays studded with diamonds.
The candidate was prepared in an nd
Joining room for the ceremony. The craft
does not admit iliterate persons, and the
first act. required of a 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
solemnity within the portals in the manner
in which all enter the craft. AS the son of
a Mason, the initiate, under the laws Of the
craft, could have appealed for permission
to enter the ranks before attaining the full
age but having waited until mans estate
he could declare his freedom. He did so,
as well as his desire in order to render
greater service to his fellow creatures and
to acquire knowledge to enter within the
ranks of the craft By the Worshipful Mas
ter's command the Senior Warden invested
the initiate with the apron, white, lined
with satin, typical of purity; and his atten-
ton was called to the fact that no badge
more ancient was borne by any order in
the world than that of the ranks in which
he then stood as he entered as apprentice.
The ceremony was performed with all the
grace and dignity which characterize the
Grand Master and his officers, all skilled
craftsmen, and all noblemcn or titled per-
sons When the ceremony was completed
the young Prince was seated in the place of
honor and witnessed such work as is re.
stricted TO the First Degree. The Lodge
being closed in due form after its labors,
the members adjourned to a banquet, where
the initiate, sitting next his Worshipful
Master, according to ancient custom, re-
ceived the congratulations of his elders.
The young Prince showed the deepest in
terest in the work, and the affair must be
of interest to craftsmen all over the world.