Page 29 - Nov Dec 2018 MFM FINAL.indd

to be there that day and to be admitted into the Grand At home, the presence of the prince at the head of
Lodge of England’. He had already intimated that Freemasonry gave it a newfound respectability and
he intended to join lodges in England and was to be social cachet. During the prince’s 26 years as Grand
Master of four lodges and a founder and fi rst Master Master, the number of lodges almost doubled, and
of three new lodges. membership was seen as a mark of the brethren’s
standing in their local communities.
‘The presence of the prince at the head of Freemasonry
gave it a newfound respectability and social cachet’. On coming to the throne in 1901, Albert Edward
ceased active participation in Freemasonry and took
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MASON the title of Protector of the Craft, maintaining an
interest in its activities until his death in 1910.
In 1874, the Grand Master, Lord Ripon, suddenly
announced his resignation, as he had converted to
Roman Catholicism. While Ripon had no doubts as We gratefully acknowledge Free Masonry Toady for
to the compatibility of Freemasonry and his faith, permission to reprint this article:
Author: John Hamill, Publishing Director
the pope had recently issued an encyclical against Acknowledgement: Reprinted from Freemasonry Today,
Freemasonry, so Ripon felt he could not continue as Journal of the United Grand Lodge of England, No. 42 -
an active Freemason. Summer 2018.

What could have been a crisis for Grand Lodge was
quickly averted by the Deputy Grand Master, Lord
Carnarvon, who suggested that the Prince of Wales LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - NO. 42 SUMMER 2018
be approached to stand for election. With the prince Although Albert Edward, The Prince of Wales, had been
readily agreeing, the Annual Investiture was held at initiated into the Swedish Order of Freemasons in 1868), it was
the Royal Albert Hall on 28 April 1875 to enable as not until 1871 that he attended an English lodge – Jerusalem
many brethren as possible (over 7,000) to see the Lodge, No. 197 – at the centenary celebrations presided over
Prince of Wales installed as Grand Master. It was an by the Master Sir Charles Hutton Gregory, Past President of the
Institute of Civil Engineers.
f offi ce he was to be annually re-elected to until he came
e to the throne in 1901. This was reported in the Daily News of 1 March: ‘Friday, the
r The prince was an enthusiastic mason. As Grand 24 February, will be henceforth a memorable day in the annals
of Modern Freemasonry, for it marks the introduction of the Heir
e Master, he was ex offi cio First Grand Principal in to the English Crown to one of those private “Lodges”, which
e the Royal Arch. He was Grand Master of the Mark are so numerous as to form a not unimportant item in the social
g Degree 1886–1901; Grand Master of the Knights life of the country.'
Templar 1873–1901; and became 33rd Degree and ‘His Royal Highness wisely selected a Centenary Festival as
Grand Patron of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. He the occasion of his fi rst visit to a private Masonic gathering, and,
was also Grand Patron of the Grand Lodges of Ireland quite as wisely, chose a Lodge which has the reputation of picking
s and Scotland. out men of scientifi c attainment or versatile accomplishments as
its Members.’
d
l The prince also helped to bring two of his brothers, A Centenary Jewel was designed to mark the occasion when
d and his son, into the Craft. The prince was also a great the Prince was present as an Honorary Member of the Lodge,
d publicist for Freemasonry. When asked to lay the but, to the chagrin of the lodge, this did not conform to the design
r foundation stones of new buildings and other public regulations for Centenary Jewels, and it was not until 1884 that
e structures, he would usually insist that it be done these constraints were circumnavigated by designating the Jewel
as ‘Distinctive’ rather than ‘Centenary’.
r with masonic ceremonies in full view of the public.
r As Prince of Wales he undertook a number of major Following this diplomatic breakthrough, a Warrant dated 28
d overseas tours – notably to India and North America – April 1884, signed by the Prince of Wales, then Grand Master,
h and wherever he went he ensured that he had contact authorised present and future Master Masons of Jerusalem
with the local Freemasons. Lodge to wear a Distinctive Jewel to mark ‘our fi rst visit to a
Lodge under the English Constitution…’ and ‘as a further and
r If it was not possible to attend a formal meeting, the especial mark of our favour we permit and authorise the said
Jewel to be surmounted by a representation of our Royal Coronet
d prince ensured that he met groups of local brethren in Gold’.
e in a social setting, particularly in those areas where
f English lodges were meeting. As a result of his visits, Dr Jonathan Dowson,
r there was a signifi cant increase in the number of lodges Jerusalem Lodge, No. 197, London
in what were then parts of the British Empire.
Volume 94 Number 8 Montana Freemason Page 29