Year: 1875




AT the Royal Albert Hall in Lon
don on the 2sth of April ten thousand
of the best men of England, Ireland
and Scotland met in gorgeous regalia,
and with imposing ceremonies install
led His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, heir to the crown, as Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge OF English
Free Masons. This imposing assem-
oily embraced some of the most distin-
guislled men of the United Kingdom
untitled men who had achieved dis
tinction unaided by birth, others who
enjoyed the proudest rank, with sons
of the Queen aud Princes of the Roy
al House. The installation of the pro-
spective King of the first Protestant
Power to hold the gavel OF highest
authority in the Ancient Order of Free
and Accepted Masons is at this time a
significant fact. Within our memory
this office has been filled by the Earl
of Zetland, and after him by the Earl
of Ripon and Grey. This last Grand
Master is the owner of the splendid
ruin of Fountains Abbey, in whose
pillared cloister on the occasion he
dined four thousand Royal Arch Ma
sons; it was this Earl of Grey and Ri
pom, who upon being converted to the
Roman Catholic faith, was required
by the teachings of his Church to ad-
jure Masonry as one of the heresies
not allowed by the Roman belief.
This blow was felt by the Masons OF
England, and was deeply resented by
the Masonic brethren, and the defec-
tion of this distinguished nobleman
from the established Church led to
the controversy out of which came the
celebrated pamphlet of Gladstone.
Masonry now reasserts itself by se-
curing one of Royal birth, the heir to
the throne, to be its Grand Master.
The acceptance by His Royal High
ness of this distinguished honor is re-
garded in political circles as an act
of great significance. Within the last
few years the head of the Catholic
Church and his subordinates in seve-
raj countries have shown towards
Masonry very decided antagonism;
they have seemed to regard this an
cient and secret Order as one whose
hostility they have right to fear.
The resignation of Lord RipOn at the
dictation of this Society was an un-
welcome reminder to the "craft, that
the Romon Chnreh regarded it as an
irreligous and anti-Christian organi-
zation. In many countries since the
middle ages the mysterious fellow
ship has been looked npon as the
nursery of disloyalty to Church and
State. This predjudice is passing
away, and only now liLgers where
turks the last remnant of superstition
and illiberality. To this splendid GER
emony of installment delegates came
from Scotland, Ireland and Wales;
from Norway, Sweden and Prussia.
messages of cOngratulation came from
the Grand Orients of France and Italy.
Only few days since the Grand ORR
ent of Italy opened a Masonic Temple
in Rome. So the old mystic Order
of Masonry, with its traditions which
run far back into the prehistoric age,
now comes again to the front and re-
asserts itself. In the olden time it
was the guild of mutual association
and protection; its temples" whether
in secret caves or gorgeous palaces OF
stone, were the refuge of oppressed
brothers; the lights upon its alter gave
welcome to those who loved liberty
and freedom of opinion. When su-
perstitioa and tyranny oppressed the
world Masonry performed noble
work. When in such countries as
ours there is liberty of expression,
freedom of conscience, where the law
throws its shield alike over all, Ma
sonry finds little to do save to dis
pense charity and give aid otis MEM
bers. But, if in the revolution of the
coming time there should arise any
power, civil or ecclesiastical to threat
en- the liberty of nations or the free
dom of religious opinions, or in any
way to impede the grand march of
civilization, this splendid and mys-
terious Order will be found enjoying
the most perfect organization, uum
bering in its fellowship the bravest
and best-disciplined interests of the
world-embrac in its membership
q greater number of male adults than
all the Christian churches; new and
living warriors will take the place of
its dead knights and Paladins, and
civil government-religiou freedom,
law, liberty and equal rights--wlll
find Itself in possession of an army of
invincible defenders. Masonry is not
dead; it sleeps-but it sleeps as did the
Knights-errant in the days of chival-
rous adventure, with mail and arms
and armor on. Let us hope the day
of its awakening be far distant, for
let us hope there will be no cause to
arouse the sleeping giant or invoke
the aid of its powerful arm.,o5ass