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A SWEDISH

INITIATION

With 2018 Marking the 150th Anniversary of the Initiation More likely, it would have been a question of
of Albert Edward, The Prince of Wales, into Freemasonry, protocol, as well as a wish not to have to make the
John Hamill reflects on why the ceremony happend in decision as to which lodge and which senior brother
Sweden.
should have the honour of initiating the heir to the
In late 1868, HRH Prince Albert Edward, The throne. Those problems were solved in Sweden, where
Prince of Wales, had a very busy two days while on a the ceremonies were conducted by that country’s king
private visit to Sweden, where King Charles XV was and crown prince.
Grand Master of the Swedish Order of Freemasons, a FOLLOWING PROTOCOL
progressive system of eleven degrees.
News of the event was sent to England, and it was
The eldest son of Queen Victoria and future King
Edward VII received the fi rst six degrees of the unanimously agreed that the prince should be appointed
a Past Grand Master, which resolved any protocol
Swedish Rite on 20 December. He received the problems and was in line with what had happened
remaining four degrees on 21 December, after which since 1767 to members of the royal family who joined
he was received into the eleventh and highest degree of the Craft. As a precaution, as few of the then-senior
Knight Commander of the Red Cross, which is also a members of Grand Lodge were conversant with the
civil honour, making him a Knight Commander of the Swedish degrees, a request was made to Sweden for
Order of King Charles XIII. The prince was to always English translations of the fi rst three degrees of their
wear the collarette and jewel of that dual honour with system, which was quickly answered and showed
his masonic regalia.
that they had the same basic import as the English
The question has been asked as to why the Prince equivalents.
of Wales entered Freemasonry abroad. The wits of At the Quarterly Communication held on 1 December
the day suggested it was because he was in awe of 1869, the Prince of Wales was received, proclaimed
his mother, Queen Victoria, who, they claimed, was and welcomed as Past Grand Master. In his response
not well disposed towards Freemasonry. However, this to his welcome from the Grand Master, the Earl of
does not square with the fact that she was royal patron Zetland, the prince said that he felt it ‘a deep honour
of the then-three national masonic charities.
Page 28 Montana Freemason November December 2018