The age-herald., 1901-01-28
His Majesty's Long and Popular
 Masonic Reign
BROTHER WILL SUCCEED HIM
Prince of Wales Has Been at the Head ot the Grand Lodge for More Than Quarter
 of Century
BY TUBAL CAIN.

Washington, D. C., January 26.-(Special.) His Majesty King Edward VII. has been most worshipful grand master of Masons in England since 1874, having been elected by the Grand Lodge to succeed Earl de Grey and Ripon when the latter receded from Freemasonry to join the Catholic Church.
 Albert Edward as the Prince of Wales, was initiated an entered apprentice in 186S and manifested deep interest in the Ma sonic institution from the start; when he accepted the grand mastershp the craft throughout the realm rejoiced. This royal head of the fraternity was installed in AL bert Hall on the 18th of April, 1S75 with impressive ceremoines, and from that day until he ascended the throne His Royal Highness was the ruler of the Grand Lodge in fact as well as in name. His has been the longest Masonic reign in the history of the Grand Lodge.
 But the question arises, will His Majesty retain the office of grand master, now that he is the sovereign of Great Britain? The probability is he will not The English, as everyone knows, are governed by precedent and there is not only no precedent for the King holding the grand mastership, but on
 
 past who filled the position relinquished it before he reached the throne This was the case of George ", great uncle to the pres ent King. George, as Prince of Wales, was elected grand master in 179O, and served un- til 1913, two years after he became regent and seven years before he became King.
 The Election.
 The Grand Lodge elects the grand mas- ter annually, on the first Wednesday in March, and it Is likely-almost certain, I would say-that at the next grand commun- ication His Majesty will decline a re-elec- tion. The Kings son. the Duke of York, now the Duke of Cornwall is not a Ma son. If he were the grand mastership would naturally be offered to him But His Majes- tvs brother, the Duke of Connaught Is an active and highly esteemed member of the institution, and will be, think unanimous ly chosen grand master when the vacancy occurs The Duke of Connaught has been for several ~-ars pro gineial grand ister f=H Sussex and district sraaa master for fl1la 1p giving up the grand east Ed #Hza vo4I5 be elected graad patron of the society. .1af honorert titIe having been accepted 5f the larhented Qpeeg vic oria carly in her reign.
 In addition to his n-ins at the head of lie Grand Lodge, His Majesty is grand master of the Grand Mark Lodge, the Mark degree not being attached to the Grand Chapter, as it is in the United States but organized in a separate body; he is grand superintendent of the Royal Arch grand master of the Temple C<night Templar) and an honorary thirty-third of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
 I used to imagine that the Prince of Wales was only Masonic figurehead, and that he gave the Grand Lodge only little attention except on public occasions. But I was altogether wrong,
 The Real Facts.
 It was my privilege a few years ago to visit London and accept Masonic hospitali- ty. Carrying a Scottish Rite brief with the signature of the late Albert Pike, known and revered by Masonic dignitaries the world over, I was honored by an invitation to dine with the officers of the Grand Lodge, extended through the courtesy of the late Col. Gerard Noel Money, thirty third degree, distinguished retired officer of the army, member of the royal body guard and a close personal friend of the royal family. I was also entertained by Charles Fitzgerald Matter, grand secre- tary of the Grand Mark Lodge, and a mem- Der of the Prince of Wales Masonic cab inet. called the board of council. was very intimate, too, with the Earl of Huston, heir to the Duke of Grafton, who suc- ceeded that grand old nobleman, the Earl of Lathom, Lord Chamberlain to the Queen, as pro grand master, and with the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, the Earl of Kin tore, and other distinguished Masons of the peerage, and from these brethren learned much of the inner workings of the office of grand master and the Grand Lodge sys- tenn in general. The Grand Lodge elects only two officers-grand master and grand treasurer. All the others are appointed by the grand master. In the Grand Lodge there are thirty-four grand officers, not in cluding the twenty-four grand stewards; in the Grand Mark Lodge there fifty three, and in the Grand Chapter between