Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
His Royal Highness, The Grand Master, At Sandringham.
His Royal Highness , the Grand Master , at Sandringham .
Sandringham Hall , three miles from Wolferton station , the Norfolk home of the Prince , is a picturesquel y gabled mansion of red brick , surrounded by an estate containing something over 8 , 000 acres , consisting in about equal parts of ' mixed soil ; of grass , marsh , and arable ; and of a kind best suited to game coverts . Beautiful lawns sweep away from
the house , of that firm glossy verdure which the Americans have been told that they cannot hope to attain , for the present , as it takes many centuries of cultivation to produce . The grounds are arranged so as to prove—with many streams and quiet lakes—delightfully cool and refreshing to the eye , nor
are there wanting the stables and kennels , the dairies , and other out-buildings , signs of outdoor life and activity . The estate was purchased for his son by the late Prince Consort , on the recommendation of Lord Pahnerston , in 1862 . The cost was ^ 220 , 000 , and in the following year the Prince
of Wales took up the duties of ownership . The ancient house was pulled down and rebuilt , and over the entrance on the east front may be found a tablet recording the fact that " this house was built by Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , and Alexandra , his wife , in the year of Our Lord , 1870 . "
From the vestibule is the saloon in which the guests are received . Its walls are covered with pictures , the ceiling is of carved oak , and very valuable works of art are distributed throughout the apartment . On the right is the library ,
controlled by the private secretary to the Princess . After that is the Equerry's room , and beyond that an apartment specially furnished with mementoes of the historical visit to India , amongst which are numerous fittings and knicknacks from the cabins of the Scrap is . Off the staircase-corridor lie the reception-suite and morning-room of the Prince .
Then come the drawing-rooms , with their panelled mirrors , their line painted ceilings , and some beautiful statuary . Then the dining-room , with its lovely tapestry—a present from the late King of Spain—Royal portraits , Landseer ' s " Mare and Foal" and a portrait painting of the host in the uniform of the 10 th Hussars . Here collect the visitors for the earl y
breakfast , and luncheon , which is also served here , is sometimes graced by the Princess and the young members of the house . In the billiard room and private den of the Prince is a magnificent collection of arms belonging to the Royal sportsman . To this room , which lies at the end of the
corridor , beyond the dining-room , when the Princess and ladies have retired for the night , the guests follow the Prince , unless the bowling-alley asserts superior attractions , a game in which the Princess and many of her friends display no little interest . From the bowling-alley , the apartment which contains the Prince ' s batteries is gained , and there , in their
costl y simplicity , are arrayed the chefs-d \ ruvre in rifle and smoothbore of Purdey , Grant , and foreign interpolations of royal , imperial , or princely gifts .
Reminiscent of India there are many trophies and objects of art , goblets of iron inlaid with silver and " Kooftgau " steel , inlaid with gold . There are many collections of arms , amongst them one from the field of Gravelotte , and you will find the hoof of " Eclipse , " the famous racer , side by side with priceless gifts of Emperors , Egyptian relics , and Hind
antiquities . His Royal Highness devotes more time to the interests of the Craft than most people imagine . He remembers his early experiences of Masonry with much pleasure ; his initiation by the late king of Sweden in 186 9 ; his courtsev
installation as Past Grand Master of England ; Patron of Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1871 by his Grace the Duke of Leinster , K . G . Grand Master , who presented him with a collar , apron and jewel of that dignified position . On Friday , January 26 th , in the following year , the Marquis of Ripon , Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , summoned a Grand Lodge of Emergency for the purpose of
adopting an address to Her Majesty upon the happy recovery of His Royal Highness from the terrible illness which so nearly proved fatal . Then comes his re-election to the chair of the Royal Alpha Lodge , and his inauguration as Commander of the Encampment of Faith and Fidelity at Freemasons ' Tavern , the first week in June of the same year .
It was on the 28 th April , 18 75 , that at the Royal Albert Hall , in the presence of a gathering of Masons , over 8 , 000 in number , constituting an occasion unique in the annals of Masonry that the Prince of Wales , K . G ., was invested and placed on the throne of United Grand Lodge , amidst the
thunderous applause of those assembled . Of the impetus given to the Craft , to quote Bro . Abbott , by the election of the Prince of Wales as supreme ruler of constitutional Freemasonry it is unnecessary to say anything ; the reader can judge of this for himself by comparing the Grand Lodge Calendar for the present year with that issued for 1875 .
As for the part taken by His Royal Highness in administering the Craft , and his endeavours to sustain and promote its welfare , it is well known that the Prince of Wales discharges all his duties towards our Order most conscientiously , and is always willing , when his engagements permit , to bear his part in our special or ordinary functions .
It would be impossible within the limits of a brief sketch —if it could be compassed in a moderate sized volume—to allude to all of these special and memorable occasions , but it is not outside the scope of this brief record to allude to the noteworthy meeting of Grand Lodge , which was held on the 15 th March , 1882 . It was held for the purpose of presenting
an address of congratulation to Her Majesty the Queen on on her escape from the hands of an assassin who , but a short time previously , had attempted her life . On this occasion , not only did the Prince preside in person , but he had likewise the pleasure of being supported in the two Wardens' chairs by his brothers , the Duke of Conuaught and
the late Duke of Albany . This is the only Masonic function of importance at which the three Royal brothers were present together , and it ma } - well be imagined that this fact very appreciably enhanced the feelings of loyalty and enthusiasm which under any circumstances , were certain to be evoked at
a meeting held for such a purpose . On the 10 th May the address was presented by his Royal Highness the Alost Worship ful Grand Master , at the head af a small deputation of Grand Officers , all wearing their full Masonic clothing , who waited upon Her Majesty for the purpose at Buckingham Palace .
On the 17 th March , 1885 , the Prince had the pleasure of initiating his elder son , the late Prince Albert Victor , subsequently Duke of Clarence and Avondale , the ceremony being performed by His Royal Highness , in the Royal Alpha Lodge , No . 16 , in the presence of a small gathering of the
members of the Lodge—mostly Grand or Past Grand Officers—while on the 22 nd June , 1886 , he personally attended at the Roval Pavilion , Brighton , and installed his brother , the Duke of Conuaught , as Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , in succession to the late Bro . Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart . A few
days later he was himself installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Mark Master Masons , the meeting , which was held at Freemasons' Tavern being more numerously attended than any previously held in connection with the Mark Degree . The five-and-twenty years during which his Royal Highness
has been at the head of our Order have synchronised with its ever increasing and exceptional prosperity and progress throughout the empire . To the strength of character and the dignity which the Prince brings to bear on all his work , there is added an equability of temperament and a rare courtesy .
May the time be far distant when he shall cease to be the Grand Master of Freemasonry in England—" whom the great Architect of the Universe long preserve . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
His Royal Highness, The Grand Master, At Sandringham.
His Royal Highness , the Grand Master , at Sandringham .
Sandringham Hall , three miles from Wolferton station , the Norfolk home of the Prince , is a picturesquel y gabled mansion of red brick , surrounded by an estate containing something over 8 , 000 acres , consisting in about equal parts of ' mixed soil ; of grass , marsh , and arable ; and of a kind best suited to game coverts . Beautiful lawns sweep away from
the house , of that firm glossy verdure which the Americans have been told that they cannot hope to attain , for the present , as it takes many centuries of cultivation to produce . The grounds are arranged so as to prove—with many streams and quiet lakes—delightfully cool and refreshing to the eye , nor
are there wanting the stables and kennels , the dairies , and other out-buildings , signs of outdoor life and activity . The estate was purchased for his son by the late Prince Consort , on the recommendation of Lord Pahnerston , in 1862 . The cost was ^ 220 , 000 , and in the following year the Prince
of Wales took up the duties of ownership . The ancient house was pulled down and rebuilt , and over the entrance on the east front may be found a tablet recording the fact that " this house was built by Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , and Alexandra , his wife , in the year of Our Lord , 1870 . "
From the vestibule is the saloon in which the guests are received . Its walls are covered with pictures , the ceiling is of carved oak , and very valuable works of art are distributed throughout the apartment . On the right is the library ,
controlled by the private secretary to the Princess . After that is the Equerry's room , and beyond that an apartment specially furnished with mementoes of the historical visit to India , amongst which are numerous fittings and knicknacks from the cabins of the Scrap is . Off the staircase-corridor lie the reception-suite and morning-room of the Prince .
Then come the drawing-rooms , with their panelled mirrors , their line painted ceilings , and some beautiful statuary . Then the dining-room , with its lovely tapestry—a present from the late King of Spain—Royal portraits , Landseer ' s " Mare and Foal" and a portrait painting of the host in the uniform of the 10 th Hussars . Here collect the visitors for the earl y
breakfast , and luncheon , which is also served here , is sometimes graced by the Princess and the young members of the house . In the billiard room and private den of the Prince is a magnificent collection of arms belonging to the Royal sportsman . To this room , which lies at the end of the
corridor , beyond the dining-room , when the Princess and ladies have retired for the night , the guests follow the Prince , unless the bowling-alley asserts superior attractions , a game in which the Princess and many of her friends display no little interest . From the bowling-alley , the apartment which contains the Prince ' s batteries is gained , and there , in their
costl y simplicity , are arrayed the chefs-d \ ruvre in rifle and smoothbore of Purdey , Grant , and foreign interpolations of royal , imperial , or princely gifts .
Reminiscent of India there are many trophies and objects of art , goblets of iron inlaid with silver and " Kooftgau " steel , inlaid with gold . There are many collections of arms , amongst them one from the field of Gravelotte , and you will find the hoof of " Eclipse , " the famous racer , side by side with priceless gifts of Emperors , Egyptian relics , and Hind
antiquities . His Royal Highness devotes more time to the interests of the Craft than most people imagine . He remembers his early experiences of Masonry with much pleasure ; his initiation by the late king of Sweden in 186 9 ; his courtsev
installation as Past Grand Master of England ; Patron of Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1871 by his Grace the Duke of Leinster , K . G . Grand Master , who presented him with a collar , apron and jewel of that dignified position . On Friday , January 26 th , in the following year , the Marquis of Ripon , Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , summoned a Grand Lodge of Emergency for the purpose of
adopting an address to Her Majesty upon the happy recovery of His Royal Highness from the terrible illness which so nearly proved fatal . Then comes his re-election to the chair of the Royal Alpha Lodge , and his inauguration as Commander of the Encampment of Faith and Fidelity at Freemasons ' Tavern , the first week in June of the same year .
It was on the 28 th April , 18 75 , that at the Royal Albert Hall , in the presence of a gathering of Masons , over 8 , 000 in number , constituting an occasion unique in the annals of Masonry that the Prince of Wales , K . G ., was invested and placed on the throne of United Grand Lodge , amidst the
thunderous applause of those assembled . Of the impetus given to the Craft , to quote Bro . Abbott , by the election of the Prince of Wales as supreme ruler of constitutional Freemasonry it is unnecessary to say anything ; the reader can judge of this for himself by comparing the Grand Lodge Calendar for the present year with that issued for 1875 .
As for the part taken by His Royal Highness in administering the Craft , and his endeavours to sustain and promote its welfare , it is well known that the Prince of Wales discharges all his duties towards our Order most conscientiously , and is always willing , when his engagements permit , to bear his part in our special or ordinary functions .
It would be impossible within the limits of a brief sketch —if it could be compassed in a moderate sized volume—to allude to all of these special and memorable occasions , but it is not outside the scope of this brief record to allude to the noteworthy meeting of Grand Lodge , which was held on the 15 th March , 1882 . It was held for the purpose of presenting
an address of congratulation to Her Majesty the Queen on on her escape from the hands of an assassin who , but a short time previously , had attempted her life . On this occasion , not only did the Prince preside in person , but he had likewise the pleasure of being supported in the two Wardens' chairs by his brothers , the Duke of Conuaught and
the late Duke of Albany . This is the only Masonic function of importance at which the three Royal brothers were present together , and it ma } - well be imagined that this fact very appreciably enhanced the feelings of loyalty and enthusiasm which under any circumstances , were certain to be evoked at
a meeting held for such a purpose . On the 10 th May the address was presented by his Royal Highness the Alost Worship ful Grand Master , at the head af a small deputation of Grand Officers , all wearing their full Masonic clothing , who waited upon Her Majesty for the purpose at Buckingham Palace .
On the 17 th March , 1885 , the Prince had the pleasure of initiating his elder son , the late Prince Albert Victor , subsequently Duke of Clarence and Avondale , the ceremony being performed by His Royal Highness , in the Royal Alpha Lodge , No . 16 , in the presence of a small gathering of the
members of the Lodge—mostly Grand or Past Grand Officers—while on the 22 nd June , 1886 , he personally attended at the Roval Pavilion , Brighton , and installed his brother , the Duke of Conuaught , as Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , in succession to the late Bro . Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart . A few
days later he was himself installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Mark Master Masons , the meeting , which was held at Freemasons' Tavern being more numerously attended than any previously held in connection with the Mark Degree . The five-and-twenty years during which his Royal Highness
has been at the head of our Order have synchronised with its ever increasing and exceptional prosperity and progress throughout the empire . To the strength of character and the dignity which the Prince brings to bear on all his work , there is added an equability of temperament and a rare courtesy .
May the time be far distant when he shall cease to be the Grand Master of Freemasonry in England—" whom the great Architect of the Universe long preserve . "