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Article THE PRINCE OF WALES AS GRAND MARK MASTER MASON. Page 1 of 1 Article THE PRINCE OF WALES AS GRAND MARK MASTER MASON. Page 1 of 1 Article FREEMASONRY AND THE FAIR SEX Page 1 of 2 →
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The Prince Of Wales As Grand Mark Master Mason.
THE PRINCE OF WALES AS GRAND MARK MASTER MASON .
IT has been our pleasing duty on many occasions to record the rapid progress of Mark Masonry . New Lodges have been formed , new members enrolled , and a general spirit of advancement has pervaded all that has
been attempted in connection with this particular degree of Freemasonry , and . to-day we are called npon to chronicle an event which , if it may not be termed the realisation of a Mark Master Mason ' s ambition , is at least a very near
approach thereto . The Grand Master of English Craft Masonry , H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , has consented to be put in nomination for the office of ruler of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and
Dependencies of the British Crown ; and as there is not the shadow of a doubt as to his election , that consent is virtually equivalent to his acceptance of the office . In the
course of a few months then we may expect to see His Royal Highness ruler at one time of the Craft degree , the Royal Arch , and the Mark , a combination of offices under one head which has never been known before in this
country . The ultimate outcome of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ' s presidency of the Mark Degree is difficult to foreshadow , but we may safely predict , as an early result , a very large addition to the ranks of the
Order , while we think we may anticipate a change in the relationship at present existing between the Craft , Arch , and Mark Degrees of England . Mark Masonry is not at present " officially" recognised by the Craft and Arch
authorities , although we may now say it is " virtually " so , for with the Grand Master , the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and many other high officials of Craft Masonrv in the highest ranks of the Mark Degree , it
would be unreasonable to describe it as wholly unrecognised , but at the same time there is no getting over the fact that in an official way the Craft and Royal Arch know nothing of Mark Masonry , a fact
which will be immediately brought home to the sceptic if he will present himself at the portals of Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter displaying on his breast the
emblems of the Mark degree . The ornaments of the latter are not allowed to be worn in Craft or Arch Masonry , but the question arises , will this rule be relaxed or repealed now that the Prince of Wales is at the head of the three
degrees ? The love of his Royal Highness for good order and regularity would induce us to answer in the negative ; he would hardly attempt to upset the traditions of the past in this respect ; but , on the other hand , it appears so
absurd to maintain a nominal opposition when the three sections are so intimately associated that we almost incline to the belief that some alteration may be attempted . We do not look to any radical change in the
relationship at present existing between the three degrees , although it might be a difficult task to make any alteration without upsetting the traditions of the past . " By the solemn Act of Union between the two Grand Lodges of
Free-masons of England in December , 1813 , it was ' declared and pronounced that pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , viz ., those of the Entered
Apprentice , the Fellow Craft , and the Master Mason , including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch , ' " and in face of this we may ask how is it possible for Grand Lodge to recognise the Mark degree ? A solution
The Prince Of Wales As Grand Mark Master Mason.
of the difficulty might be found by the interchange of representatives from the Grand Lodge of the one degree te the other , but whether this or any other innovation will be attempted under the united rule of our beloved Grand Master time alone will show .
Freemasonry And The Fair Sex
FREEMASONRY AND THE FAIR SEX
We re true and sincere And jnst fo the Fair , They'll trust ns on any occasion ; No mortal can more
The Ladies adore , Than a Free and an Accepted Mason . LOOKING over the many years which have passed since the song of which the above is an extract was written , we are surprised to find how much credit we
Freemasons have been able to enjoy at so small a cost . There are few of us who have not heard , either on the night of our initiation , or in honour of some newly-admitted member , the ladies referred to in the Initiate ' s song , but how manv
of us can record anything further from a Masonic point of view in favour of those who " will trust us on any occasion . " Our experience certainly tends to the belief that the trust reposed by the fair sex in Freemasons is rather taken
for granted than based on anything like actual experience . Some one in the past was good enough to assume we had the support of the ladies—for we believe at no time in our history were they ever canvassed on the subject—and
Freemasons have since lived on the reputation thus easily acquired . How long will this state of affairs continue , and how long shall we have to wait for practical demonstration of the truth of the words quoted above ?
For the sake of the ladies , as well as Freemasons themselves , we hope a change will come at no distant date . We do not mean that our fair friends will ever have reason
to doubt the sincerity of Freemasons , but we hope that ere long they will have frequent opportunities of personally testifying that " No mortal can more , the ladies adore . "
Let it not be supposed we desire that ladies should bo admitted to a participation in the Lodge work — that is an innovation far from our wish—but we do think that an occasional entertainment might be provided for
them , and that once a year , at least , they should be allowed to peep as far as possible behind the scenes at Freemasonry . There is no reason why they should not be present after one of the meetings each year , either in tho
summer or winter ; in the former case a picnic might be provided for them , and in the latter a concert or ball . If this were generally adopted , the Craft would lose nothing ,
but rather gain greater respect from the ladies , while the fair sex would be able personally to endorse the words enunciated at the head of this article .
Freemasons are very selfish in this respect—selfish in keeping to themselves all the pleasures of Freemasonry , and trying to satisfy their wives and lady friends with simple details of what they enjoy at the meetings of their Lodges .
Many of them preserve the menu of the banquet , the programme of the music , and other mementoes of the Festival , as visible proofs of the good things they have enjoyed , but
do they ever think this is equivalent to adding insult to injury ? Is it not sufficient for onr wives to know we have been on pleasure bent , without their hearing afterwards of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Prince Of Wales As Grand Mark Master Mason.
THE PRINCE OF WALES AS GRAND MARK MASTER MASON .
IT has been our pleasing duty on many occasions to record the rapid progress of Mark Masonry . New Lodges have been formed , new members enrolled , and a general spirit of advancement has pervaded all that has
been attempted in connection with this particular degree of Freemasonry , and . to-day we are called npon to chronicle an event which , if it may not be termed the realisation of a Mark Master Mason ' s ambition , is at least a very near
approach thereto . The Grand Master of English Craft Masonry , H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , has consented to be put in nomination for the office of ruler of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and
Dependencies of the British Crown ; and as there is not the shadow of a doubt as to his election , that consent is virtually equivalent to his acceptance of the office . In the
course of a few months then we may expect to see His Royal Highness ruler at one time of the Craft degree , the Royal Arch , and the Mark , a combination of offices under one head which has never been known before in this
country . The ultimate outcome of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ' s presidency of the Mark Degree is difficult to foreshadow , but we may safely predict , as an early result , a very large addition to the ranks of the
Order , while we think we may anticipate a change in the relationship at present existing between the Craft , Arch , and Mark Degrees of England . Mark Masonry is not at present " officially" recognised by the Craft and Arch
authorities , although we may now say it is " virtually " so , for with the Grand Master , the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and many other high officials of Craft Masonrv in the highest ranks of the Mark Degree , it
would be unreasonable to describe it as wholly unrecognised , but at the same time there is no getting over the fact that in an official way the Craft and Royal Arch know nothing of Mark Masonry , a fact
which will be immediately brought home to the sceptic if he will present himself at the portals of Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter displaying on his breast the
emblems of the Mark degree . The ornaments of the latter are not allowed to be worn in Craft or Arch Masonry , but the question arises , will this rule be relaxed or repealed now that the Prince of Wales is at the head of the three
degrees ? The love of his Royal Highness for good order and regularity would induce us to answer in the negative ; he would hardly attempt to upset the traditions of the past in this respect ; but , on the other hand , it appears so
absurd to maintain a nominal opposition when the three sections are so intimately associated that we almost incline to the belief that some alteration may be attempted . We do not look to any radical change in the
relationship at present existing between the three degrees , although it might be a difficult task to make any alteration without upsetting the traditions of the past . " By the solemn Act of Union between the two Grand Lodges of
Free-masons of England in December , 1813 , it was ' declared and pronounced that pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , viz ., those of the Entered
Apprentice , the Fellow Craft , and the Master Mason , including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch , ' " and in face of this we may ask how is it possible for Grand Lodge to recognise the Mark degree ? A solution
The Prince Of Wales As Grand Mark Master Mason.
of the difficulty might be found by the interchange of representatives from the Grand Lodge of the one degree te the other , but whether this or any other innovation will be attempted under the united rule of our beloved Grand Master time alone will show .
Freemasonry And The Fair Sex
FREEMASONRY AND THE FAIR SEX
We re true and sincere And jnst fo the Fair , They'll trust ns on any occasion ; No mortal can more
The Ladies adore , Than a Free and an Accepted Mason . LOOKING over the many years which have passed since the song of which the above is an extract was written , we are surprised to find how much credit we
Freemasons have been able to enjoy at so small a cost . There are few of us who have not heard , either on the night of our initiation , or in honour of some newly-admitted member , the ladies referred to in the Initiate ' s song , but how manv
of us can record anything further from a Masonic point of view in favour of those who " will trust us on any occasion . " Our experience certainly tends to the belief that the trust reposed by the fair sex in Freemasons is rather taken
for granted than based on anything like actual experience . Some one in the past was good enough to assume we had the support of the ladies—for we believe at no time in our history were they ever canvassed on the subject—and
Freemasons have since lived on the reputation thus easily acquired . How long will this state of affairs continue , and how long shall we have to wait for practical demonstration of the truth of the words quoted above ?
For the sake of the ladies , as well as Freemasons themselves , we hope a change will come at no distant date . We do not mean that our fair friends will ever have reason
to doubt the sincerity of Freemasons , but we hope that ere long they will have frequent opportunities of personally testifying that " No mortal can more , the ladies adore . "
Let it not be supposed we desire that ladies should bo admitted to a participation in the Lodge work — that is an innovation far from our wish—but we do think that an occasional entertainment might be provided for
them , and that once a year , at least , they should be allowed to peep as far as possible behind the scenes at Freemasonry . There is no reason why they should not be present after one of the meetings each year , either in tho
summer or winter ; in the former case a picnic might be provided for them , and in the latter a concert or ball . If this were generally adopted , the Craft would lose nothing ,
but rather gain greater respect from the ladies , while the fair sex would be able personally to endorse the words enunciated at the head of this article .
Freemasons are very selfish in this respect—selfish in keeping to themselves all the pleasures of Freemasonry , and trying to satisfy their wives and lady friends with simple details of what they enjoy at the meetings of their Lodges .
Many of them preserve the menu of the banquet , the programme of the music , and other mementoes of the Festival , as visible proofs of the good things they have enjoyed , but
do they ever think this is equivalent to adding insult to injury ? Is it not sufficient for onr wives to know we have been on pleasure bent , without their hearing afterwards of