Royalty And The Craft.

ROYALTY AND THE CRAFT .

THE present month , young though it is , has given ample evidence of the continued and thoroughly genuine interest evinced hy the Eoyal Family in Masonic matters , and the events of the past few days

will for ever remain in the annals of the Order a living testimony that the sentiments of loyalty expressed by the members of the Craft towards the Sovereign are reciprocated by the family of the Sovereign towards the Craft . The Duke of Connancht has had the rank

* j ~ of Past Grand Mark Master conferred upon him , on the recommendation of his illustrious brother the heir-apparent , and later has been installed as Provincial Grand Mark Master of Sussex . The Prince of Wales himself has been re-elected Grand Master

of the Craft and Mark Degrees , and , accompanied by his beloved wife and daughters , has completed the good work he commenced four years back on behalf of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , when , as chairman at the Centenary Festival of that Charity ,

he had the pleasure of announcing the largest total of subscriptions ever received at a charity dinner . The events of the week at the Girls' School at Battersea Eise are fully recorded elsewhere in our present issue , but we cannot allow the opportunity to slip by without expressing a few words of thanks and approval towards the Grand Master for the part he

has taken in the provision and inauguration of the new Hall at the Girls' School , which , by the gracious consent of the Princess is in future to be known as the Alexandra . There are some who will , no doubt , regret that the original title of " Centenary " has not been adhered to , but when we remember that it is to

the Prince of Wales and his personal presidency at the Festival the Craft owes the new building , any regrets on this point will be removed , besides which it will no doubt be possible to again re-christen the Hall as the " Alexandra Centenary , " should any real necessity arise for so doing .

That the Grand Mastership of the Prince of Wales is no mere empty occupation of a title is manifest from the repeated efforts he makes to render himself and his office popular with his followers . Bearing in mind his many and varied duties , it is quite fair to say that his Eoyal Hiehness

devotes as much of his time to Freemasonry as to anything of a similar character with which he is connected ^ and not only so , but he secures such an enthusiastic co-operation from other members of the Eoyal Family as to convince the world that thev are

thoroughly alive to the advantages of the Order , and personally desirous of promoting its welfare and advancement . Is it any wonder then that Freemasonry flourishes in our midst , or that it is able to extend year by year the good work in which it is engaged , diffusing light and instruction among its members , and sympathy and aid to those who , by association with the Craft , have a claim on its

Royalty And The Craft.

benevolence , either for themselves , their widows , or their orphans ? We [ feel we are but re-echoing the sentiments of the Craft when we express particular pleasure at the attendance of the Princess of Wales and her daughters to assist in the work of the week . Their

presence proves , far better than any words could do , how thoroughly they endorse the action of the Grand Master in his work on behalf of Freemasonry , and show us that among the heads of the empire there is no fear of sedition or conspiracy such as is accredited to the Masonic Order by its detractors .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE ceremony of inaugurating the Centenary Hall and new school buildings at the Institution at Battersea Eise , S . W ., was performed on Thursday n / ftftrnnnn . under most favourablfl find finsTn ' mnns » w £ ¦¦

_ W— — J _ " - ¦« -- — v » w circumstances . H . E . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . Grand Master accompanied by H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , and the Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales , entered the building a few minutes before 4 o'clock , and they were received by a

numerous gathering of the patrons and patronesses of the Institution . Among those present being the Earl of Lathom Deputy Grand Master , Senior Trustee , and Chairman of the day ; Sir Francis Burdett , the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress , Bros . Sheriff Augustus Harris , Sheriff Farmer , the

iliari ol iJiuston , Sir Jt'oiydore cle iteyser , H . B . Marshall , Edward Terry , W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Lord Brooke , Colonel E . Malet de Carteret , Viscount Dungarvan , Sir G . Elliot , M . P ., Lord Harlech , Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , M . P ., Colonel Starkie , Sir Eeginald Hanson , Sir J . B . Monckton , Lady Monckton , the Eev . H . A . Pickard , J . C . Parkinson ,

H . Smith , the Eev . C . J . Martyn , J . S . Eastes , Dr . Jabez Hogg , Bishop Barry , Colonel Shadwell Clerke , and many distinguished members of the Craft . The band of the Grenadier Guards , under the direction of Lieutenant Dan Godfrey , accompanied the children of the school in two verses of the National Anthem . The Royal ' party having taken their seats on a dais ,

which was tastefully decorated with palms and choice flowers , their Eoyal Highnesses the Princess of Wales and the Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales were each presented with a magnificent bouquet ; after which the children , again accompanied by the band , sang the well known hymn , " Oh ! worship the King all glorious above . "

The Earl of Lathom addressed the Prince of Wales . He reminded his Eoyal Highness that on the occasion of the Centenary Festival of the Institution , which was held under his presidency , at the Eoyal Albert Hall , on Thursday , the 7 th of June 1888 , in the presence of his Majesty the King of