The Prince Of Wales P.G.M.M.M.

THE PRINCE OF WALES P . G . M . M . M .

AFTER tbe lapse of little more than a month , the M . W . G . M . of the United Grand Lodge of England has made his second appearance in an assembly of Mark Master Masons . On the first occasion he was advanced to the Mark Degree , aud subsequently installed "Worshipful

Master of a Lodgo of Mark Master Masons . On Saturday last , he was installed M . W . G . M . of the Mark Grand Lodge , after which he was assigned and will henceforth hold a position at the head of the Past Grand Masters of the Order . We have already congratulated our Mark brethren

on their good fortune in having His Royal Highness enrolled amongst them , and the consummation of the work that was begun so auspiciously on the 30 th October last requires no further comment ; save this , perhaps , that the 8 th day of December will for the future be

regarded by all members and admirers of the Mark as probably the reddest of red letter days in the annals of its Grand Lodge . We have likewise laid stress on the fact that the Prince of Wales ' s advancement to the degree , and his acceptance of the rank of a Past Grand Master , is not

to be taken as indicative of any desire on the part of His Royal Highness to disturb the settlement effected at the Union in 1813 , and the character of Antient , Free , and Accepted Masonry as then defined by the Constitutions of United Grand Lodge . It is months since the Prince

anticipated any objection that was likely to be raised on this score , through his acceptance of the Mark Degree , by stating most emphatically that it was furthest from his thoughts to disturb the basis of English Craft Masonry , and every one is perfectly well aware that His Royal Highness has a perfect

sense of the responsibility that attaches to his statements as M . W . G . Master of the Craft Grand Lodge . It is not his habit to commit himself idly to any proposition , neither does he shrink from the responsibility which belongs to his actions . Hence every one is thoroughly persuaded that , as

it has been in the past , so it will be in the future . Heretofore there has been a line of demarcation separating Craft from Mark Masonry , and that line of demarcation will still remain . The only difference that is likel y to follow in the relations between the two bodies will

probably be that the Mark will find still greater favour in the eyes of members of Craft Masonry , but there need be no fear of any changes being introduced into the clauses of our Constitutions , which define so clearly the limits of Antient Craft Masonry . Why , indeed , shonld there be any

such fears now , since the Prince has become a Mark Mason , than there was in the days when he was installed Grand Master of the Temple , or subsequently when he permitted himself to be received into the A . and A . Rite , and had conferred upon him by the Supreme Council of that bod y the

dignity of Grand Patron ? It is true that Templar and Hi gh Grade Masonry are very mnch further removed from Craft Masonry than is the Mark , if , indeed , they can be said to have more than an imaginary connection with it . It is

likewise true that , in their case at all events , the question of amalgamating them with the Craft has never even been dreamt of , much less raised , while but little more than a quarter of a century since the question of introducing the

Mark among the degrees of Craft Masonry was very fully discussed , and even at one time looked upon with considerable favour . Bat once tho settlement of a grave Masonic question has been arrived at , there is but the very

slightest chance of its ever being disturbed , and the fear of any such disturbance ever taking place is no greater now than it has been any time since 1856 , when it was finally determined that the Mark had no place among our Craft degrees .

We have laid some stress upon the consideration of these matters , because we have heard it rumoured—whether with or without sufficient authority we cannot say—that the ceremony of Saturday last has seriously disturbed the equanimity of brethren in high places . Why they should

allow themselves to be thus affected passeth all understanding . The Prince is free to join as he is free to abstain from joining auy Masonic degree outside those which constitute Craft Masonry . It is assuredly no business even of the elect what course he adopts or what he does not adopt .

He is not a minister that he must be held in leading strings by the Elders of his flock . He is free to choose the manner of his out-going and of his in-coming . He has , no

doubt , a . will of his own , which it will be as well , perhaps , that his self-constituted critics should treat with respect . It is very certain that , in all things reasonable and just , he will follow the bent of his own inclinations without

troubling himself to summon the over-righteous to his counsels . And our advice to these over-righteous , a class of men who think the world will never come to an end if they have had no hand in arranging the crisis , our advice to them is , that they should—if possible—think less of

themselves , so that others , whose good opinion is worth having , may be led to think of them more highly . Let them try and persuade themselves that their approval of another man ' s acts , or their good offices in his behalf , are not indispensable . The world has jogged on merril y

enough without them in the' past , and we are much mistaken if it will not jog along as merrily without them in the future . Day and night , spring , summer , autumn , and winter will go on succeeding each other without their intervention . So let them form a somewhat more modest

estimate of their own importance . To be practical , let them think more of their own business and less of other people ' s ; and if , as in this instance , it should happen that

a Prince , who is Grand Master of Craft Masonry , looks favourably upon the Mark Degree , let it be just a wee bit possible for him to do so without being under the necessity of consulting them .

The following article from the Times has reference to the installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M . M . M ., and will , no doubt , be read with interest b y our friends , who must feel delighted that important Masonic events

should now and again attract to themselves expressions of opinion on the part of the public press . An interesting article also appeared in the Morning Tost . This letter shall appear in our next week ' s issue .

Saturday last will be a memorable day in the annals of Mark Masonry . The Prince of Wales who was already a Mark Mason , was then raised with : duo ceremony to the hi ghest rank which the Mark Masons have it" in their'power to confer . The position of His

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