The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-09
ny la MaRquIsE DE FoNTENoY.

Bf LA bARRUISE DE FONTENOf.
l~ QUALITY is affiliated with Free
IL masonry in most of the Pro-
LIN testant countries OF Europe, In
Great Britain. the Grand Mas
| tershlp is vested In the Duke OF Con-
naught, who succeeded in that office
his elder brother, King Edward. when
the latter ascended the throne. In
Sweden. in Norway, in Denmark, the
Kings and the princes OF their house.
are all Masons. and so too arc the TWO
Netherlands. In these Protestant
countries of monarchical Europe. as
also here in republican America, Free.
masonry is essentially non-poiltical
and philanthropic. Moreover, II re.
| vercs the Almighty as the Grand
Architect of tho Universe. In the Latin
countries of the Old World, on the
| contrary, Frecmasonry is political on
the most advanced lines, and frankly
athestic, the philanthropic features
being conspicuous by their absence.
Owing 10 these differences, the Ma.
sons OF Germany, OF Scandinavia, Of
Great britain and of the United
States nave always held aloof from
those of the Latin countries. In fact,
| the Masons of the English-speakin
countries. of Germany and of Scandl.
navia have been forbidden TO hold any
intercourse with lodges that denied
the existence of the Grand Architect
of the Universe and VINO had banish-
4 ed ms name from .lUCIl lludl.
! ResentinE this ostracism. the French
! lodges have been for some time past
endeavoriuG by every means in their
power to effect an understanding with
their brethren abroad and in the sum,
! lodges of Germany actually decreed
! the re -establishment OF intercourse
with the Grand Orient of France. The
! French and Italian Masons were a lit
tie too quick in their eSulthtlon, for
| a,sy1f11 rtvNn
Iroyalty became alarmed at the pros
pect of the conversion of German
Freemasonrv from a philauthropic into
an atheistic, political, revolutionary
among the various German lodges, and
within the last few weeks the decree
for the restoration OF intercourse with
| French and Italian Masons has been
rescinded by an overwhelming vote
and the breach is now wider than ever.
As the French lodges openly boosted
that the restoration of intercourse with
! the German lodges would be followed
! almost Immediately by the renewal OF
relations with American and English
Frecmasons, the action of Germany IN
tho matter is worthy of note.
Sir Ernest Shnck1etoD.
So much misrepresentation exists with
Iregard to the exact official status OF
Ernest Shackleton, the English Antarc-
tic explorer. who is now in this country.
| that it may be we'll to explain that he
is not only lieutenant of tho Royal
| Naval Reserve, but also. like Lord
| Brasscy, one of the brethren of Trinity
| House. to which he was elected last
summer, on his return from the South
| Magnetic Pole. a the instance OF the
, Prince Of Wales, who is the Master or
| Trinity. This membership OF Trinity
in the capacity of pro thcr' invests
privileges. really superior. indeed, TO
| those of a captain OF the Royal Navy,
and entitled him to wear uniform
which is almost Identical with that OF
gold epauletted blue coat, gold laced
| trousers. with naval sword and
| chapeau; the distinguishing mark con,
sisting In the red gold laced cntls ana
collar In one word. sir Erhest ha !.
through his brotherhood Of Trinity
| House attained high ofiictal stand
| ing a1oat which he did not 1revious-
| ~ possess. 49,,
Trinity is an institution about which
the general puh,,ict; espsc,a,,S -, hut hut
It's name is familiar to every seafar.
/, ing man 1T is one of the Oldest OF
those departments OF the British gov
ernment which are virtually lndepena,,
Of the crown. and which manage their
finances without the interference or
supervision of parliament, In the same sam
way that the Royal College OF Her-
Existence by means Of charging heavy
l'fees for the registration of titles. for
the grant of armorlal bearings, for
genealogical researches, and for the
management of State functions. so
| has Trinity House been allowed for
several centuries to raise large reve-
nues by levying pilotage and light
house dues on all vessels entering
British ports. In return for this, Trim
Its foundation, to maintain and erect,
lighthouses. to place huoys. and TO
Sfurnish, efficient pilots in all British