Royalty And Freemasony.

present stationed with his regiment at Aldershot , was entertained by the Mark Lodge at the Imperial Hotel , of tbat town , and on that occasion was formally proposed proposed as a joining member of the Aldershot Military Mark

Master Masons Lodge , No . 54 . The brethren having assembled in Lodge , and the opening formalities having been observed , the Provincial Grand Master the Right

Worshipful Brother George Raymond Portal , P . G . M . M . M . of England , H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , and the Grand Officers were received by the brethren and saluted . The W . M . Brother Harrison then proceeded to advance the

candidates , of whom there were eight , viz . —Bros . T . H

Gowers , G . Richardson , C . Standing , T . Godfrey , S . Frost , J . Frost , W . Phillips , and H . Sumner , Brother Stone P . M . Grand Steward completing the . ceremony . Prince Albert Victor was then proposed as a joining member by

Brother Stone , seconded by fche W . M . The brethren subsequently retired to the banquetting hall , the chair being taken by Brother Portal , who was supported on his right and left by Princo Albert Victor and Brother W . Harrison

W . M ., fche Hon . Captain Greville ( Equerry ) , R M ., A . M . Broadley P . D . G . M . M . of the Mediterranean , F . Binckes Grand Secretary , Augustus Harris , Richard Eve , & c , & c . The Chairman , in proposing success to Mark Masonry

and the health of Her Majesty fche Queen , observed that he was sure there was no assembly in England that owed more to Her Majesty than the honoured Society of Freemasons , because she had done so much in the direction of

one of their main objects—Charity . The toast was most loyally received . Next the Chairman proposed the health of the Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ** . In doing so he felt he must be allowed to

say , even in the presence of Prince Albert Victor , that there was no single person in England to whom Masonry owed so much as to the Prince of Wales . Ifc would be remembered how the Prince came forward in a serious crisis

to take the throne of their great Order , when , by the loss of Lord Ripon , the Craft found itself in a most unpleasant and awkward position , and if the Prince of Wales had not been equal to the occasion , and placed his services

at the disposal of the Order , they would have doubtless suffered much , consequently they would see that the Prince of Wales deserved their hearty good will for fche course he took during that most awkward time .

They would remember that Prince Leopold was the first member of the Royal Family who ever became a Mark Mason , and for this and other reasons they had to thank the Royal family . They therefore welcomed most heartily the

illustrious prince who sat on his right hand , and the best wish they could give him was that he would follow iu the steps of his father . The toast was loyally received .

Prince Albert Victor , in responding , said he must thank them most sincerely , for his own part , for the very kind way in which his health had been drunk , and for the equally kind way in which the toast had been proposed by

the Provincial Grand Master . It gave him great pleasure to be present that evening to witness such an exceedingly interesting ceremony , and see so many candidates advanced , and , as he was made a Mark Mason some

time ago , he had still greater pleasure in being present that night , because it was the second Mark Lodge of which he had been made a member . He might also say that the Grand Master of England would be very grateful for the

kind way in which the toast of his health had been received that night , and which , he believed , was always received in the same way throughout their august Order . He should certainly acquaint him of the fact , because he always

took such an active interest in Masonry . One thing he ( the speaker ) had noticed was , that the more interest one took in Masonry the more interesting it became . He thanked them on behalf of his father for the mannner in which the toast had been received . Bro . Eve gave the nexfc toast , the health of the Pro

Grand Master , the Past Grand Masters , and the Grand

Officers present and past . The Grand Master had so many duties to perform thafc ifc was necessary in the interests of Masonry he should be assisted by brethren of distinction and ability . His ( Bro . Eve ' s ) task was the

pleasant one of proposing that the health of these brethren be honoured in a bumper . Their worthy Pro Grand Master was a great acquisition to the Craft , while Canon Portal had come down from the throne of Freemasonry to preside over their Province . He spoke of him as one of

the Past Grand Masters of Mark Masonry in England ; he

Royalty And Freemasony.

was sure there was no one who displayed more zeal , more interest , and more ability , and none who had done more for their great Order than Canon Portal . Bro . Broadley responded ; he alluded to the eloquent

but flattering terms in which Bro . Eve had spoken of himself and other brethren . It gave him great pleasure to be there that night to see the ceremonies worked in the impressive and excellent manner they had been . Four years

ago he was engaged in Mark Masonry under very different circumstances—that was in Egypt—and Bro . Eve was taking part in the same work . It was pleasant to him to think of the establishment of that interesting

Mark Lodgo under the shadow of the Pyramids , which to-day was in so flourishing a condition . He would not refer to the work of the Masonic Lodges of the Mediterranean , but he would hasten to tell them how pleased he

was with the conduct of their own Lodge—how admirable was the manner in which the Deacons discharged their duties . He could assure them when he saw them performing those duties there was something in their style which

told of military discipline , and there was a great amount of dramatic power also put into it which rendered it very impressive . It had an enormous effect upon them in the

Mediterranean . He congratulated the W . M . upon the way in which the Lodge was ordered , and he was sure H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor was pleased with what he had seen that night .

On Bro . Binckes , as senior P . M . of the Aldershot ; Military Murk Lodge , devolved a duty , which he undertook with a great amount of pleasure , at the same time with a great amount of diffidence , because he did not feel qualified to

do justice to the toast . He thought he could have got through it if it had not been for the crushing eulogy of Bro . Eve , who had mentioned his name in terms of exaggerated friendship , which were embarrassing when he

came to speak of himself . However , he was well fortified , inasmuch as the subject of the toast would be sufficient to ensure from them hearty approval and enthusiastic response . It was the toast of their excellent , able , genial ,

and zealous brother , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Province . He thought he could safely say that it was the first time he had the opportunity of proposing the toast . He would ask Brother Portal

to call to mind the condition of Mark Masonry some time ago when he worked in association with the speaker . He was asking him to bear in mind the position of Mark Masonry at that day , and he thought he would say that

ancient as they were they little contemplated living to see Mark Masonry reach the flourishing position which ifc held at the present moment . In all Masonic history they would fail to find any Masonic organisation that in 30 years had

achieved the position which tho Mark Grand Lodge had established for itself by the hard work of those who had borne the responsible offices . No oue had done more for

them than the distinguished brother who now sat in the chair as their Provincial Grand Master . He was one who in an eminent degree united within himself those essential features of the Brotherhood — suaviter in modo and

fortiter in re ; always kind when the opportunity offered ; and when the necessity arose , not only able , but ready and willing to rule . In conclusion , Brother

Binckes hoped H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor would not regret his visit there that evening , where he had the opportunity of seeing the honour which was so legitimately due to their Prov . Grand Master Canon Portal .

Bro . Portal , in response said he could not sufficiently thank Bro . Binckes for the very kind way in which the toasfc had been proposed . Ifc was a great pleasure to him

to be there that night in the capacity of Provincial Grand Master ; he was glad to see the excellent work done in the Lodge , because he thought it did them credit . Amongst other toasts proposed were the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and Officers , the Worshipful Master , the

Visitors , responded to by Bro . Augustus Harris , and the Mark Benevolent Fund .

Freemasonry Requires Masterbuilding.

FREEMASONRY REQUIRES MASTERBUILDING .

EREEMASONRY is an ancient and respectable Institution , embracing among its members men of every rank and condition in life ; of every nation and clime , and of every religion which acknowledges the