History Of The "Prince Of Wales Lodge."

H . E . H . appointed Robert Gray as his Deputy Master in 1874 and 1875 , who was invested as J . G . D . in 1875 , We must remark here that it should be remembered that these Deputy Masters , or W . M's ., have generally served as W . M . of one or more lodges before assuming the

chair of the Prince of Wales Lodge , there being no limit to the number of lodges a brother may join and subscribe to , and it is usual for long service , in younger or less distinguished lodges , to be the sine qua non for admission , even as a joining member in

the old and especially select lodges of London , membership of such proving a reward for the attention to Masonic studies and labours on behalf of our charities , the Mastership or Deputy Mastership being the crowning appreciative act of the Lodge , when members have particularly signalized themselves in the ceremonies and duties of the Craft .

On January 20 th , 1791 , General William Augustus Bowles , chief of the Creek Nation , Avas elected an honorary member of the Lodge . It seems he was one of the leaders of the Creek Indians , and commanded the Creeks when they assisted the British at Pensacolain 1780 . After a

, roving life , subsequently , he visited England in 1790-1 , and on his return to to America , he became commander-inchief of the tribe . He ended his . days , hoAvever , in prison , having been captured by the Spaniards . In the Calendar for

1793 , we find that this noted American Avas then acting as Provincial Grand Master of the Creek , Cherokee , Chickasaw , and ChoctaAv Nations , on behalf of the Grand Lodge of England . General Sir John Doyle , Bart ., G . C . B .,

who was D . M . in 1822-4 , was an enthusiastic Mason and Provincial Grand Master of Guernsey , Jersey , etc ., and one of the founders of a lodge in those islands . He served with distinction throughout the " American War , " and afterwards on the

Continent under H . R . H . the Duke of York , and in Egypt , not escaping , however , without severe wound 3 , " though covered Avith glory . " George Corry , who joined in 1797 , Avas J . G . W . of the G . L . in 1795 , and on-February 21 st , 1800 , the Lodge received as a member General Paoli , the celebrated- Corsican Patriot . The Earl of WigtoAvn ' joined on July 16 th ( 1800 ) , at

Avhich meeting H . E . H . the Duke of Sussex was present , and the latter joined at the following meeting , iu accordance Avith the By-Law , Avhich provided that any brother must visit the Lodge once prior to his election as a member . A similar rule prevailed as to the candidates for

initiation , but Ave presume the latter must have referred simply to an introduction to the members in the aute-room . The visitation , however , was compulsory , and the minutes in some cases actually record such instances . It is a good practical common

sense law , Avbich requires the attendance of a member of the Fraternity at the Lodge as a visiter , prior to his being proposed as a joining member , for it enables the brethren to judge of his character , appearanceetc ., for themselves .

, The Lodge elected the Earl of Mountnorris , a joining member on June 19 th , 1800 . His Lordship Avas Provincial Grand Master for Huntingdonshire . The office of Prov . Grand Master in Great

Britain aud Ireland is somewhat on a par Avith that of a District Deputy Grand Master in the United States , only that the former appoints a series of officers in his Province , aud within his jurisdiction has nearly all the privileges of aM . W . G . M . The office ranks immediately after D . G . M .

Edward David Batson , who joined at the next meeting , was S . G . W . of England during the same year . Waller Rodwell Wright , elected as a joining member during- the same evening , was one of the most zealous Freemasons of about three

quarters of a century ago , and was especially distinguished as one of the most prominent members of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , subsequently presided over by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex . He Avas also Provincial Grand Master of the Ionian Islesand the Grand Chapter

, of England voted J 300 for the purchase of plate in testimony of his worth , prior to his leaving England . During the Mastership of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , a valedictory address Avas voted to Bro . Waller Eodwell WrightAvho had been

, the Avorking Master of the Lodge for some years , in Avhich the folloAving passage occurs : " We know not where to look for your equal in the united character of a poet and a Mason . " This was on March 18 th , 1814 , and was doubtless presented