Royalty And Freemasonry.

from Hie London Irish Rifle Volunteers , of which the Dake of Connaught is Honorary Colonel . His Royal Highness was designated aa first Master of tho Lodge , bat on account of his absence in India , hia installation at tlie consecration was impossible , and Major Carrell was

installed in his stead , and performed the duties of Master of the Lodge . He concluded a very successful year on Tuesday by , firsfc of all , initiating into the Order Mr . John Hnbert Griffin , L . R . C . P . L ., V . M . S ., Surgeon , London Irish Rifle ? , and subsequently performing two installations .

A special dispensation had been obtained from the Princo of Wales , for holding tho meeting on a day not fixed by the warrant of the Lodge , ifc having been fonnd impossible to have it on the usual day . His Royal Highness the Dnke of Connaught , K . G ., K . T ., Past Grand Master ,

District Grand Master of Bombay , Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , Past Grand Warden , was at fche last regular meeting unanimously re-elected Master of tho Lodge , | and , having signified his intention to bo present to be installed , a large number of Grand and

Past Grand Officers were invited to meet him , and attended . Among theso were Bros . Sir John B . Monckton Past Grand Warden , Augustus Harris Grand Treasurer , Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary , Sir Polydore de Keyser , Peter de Lande Long , Robert Berridge , R . Clay Sudlow ,

George Cooper , C . Martin , F . R . W . Hedges , C . F . Matier , J . H . Matthews , and E . Letchworth , and among other brethren were Henry Sutton , Captain Ward , E . M . Money , General Ford , and W . Lake Past Provincial Grand Registrar Cornwall . The Duke of Connaught entered the

Lodge , escorted by the Grand Officers , headed by Bro . C . F . Matier , who acted as Director of Ceremonies . Shortl y after his entry his Royal Highness , who wore tho clothing of a Past Grand Master , was duly obligated and installed as Master of tho Lodge by Major Carrell , and ho was then

saluted according to ancient custom . His Royal Hi ghness appointed Colonel James Ward as Deputy Worshi pful Master , and Major Carrell , assisted by the Grand Secretary , afterwards installed Colonel Ward in his position . A Past Master's jewel was presented to the Duko of Connaught ,

for which he expressed his thanks . The Officers appointed for the year were Major C . W . Carrell I . P . M ., Surgeon-Major Bigg Senior Warden , Major R . L . S . Badham Jnnior Warden , Major W . R . Inglis Treasurer , Surgeon Bateman Secretary , W . B . Billinghurst Senior Deacon , E . M . Money

Junior Deacon , Colonel Rowland Roberts Inner Guard , Captain Ward Director of Ceremonies , and Charles Patrick Pasfc Master No . 1227 Tyler . Colonel Ward presented Major Carrell with a Pasfc Master ' s jewel , and Major Carrell , after thanking the Lodge for the gift , said that he

had received letters of apology for nofc being present from the Dnke of Clarence and Avondale , the Earl of Lathom , Lord Euston , and tho Marquis of Hertford . The Lodge was then closed , and a superb banquet followed , afc the Freemasons' Tavern , bnt the Duke of Connaught , having another engagement , was unable to preside .

The meeting at York , on the same day , was a large and representative one . The brethren assembled in the Eboracum Masonio Hall , St . Saviourgate , York , the special object of the meeting being the presentation of a founder ' s jewel by fche brethren of the Albert Victor Lodge , No . 2328 ,

to His Royal Highness Albert Victor Christian Edward , Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G . Bro . T . B . Whytehead W . M . and Grand Sword Bearer England , opened the Lodge , after which His Royal Highness was introduced by Bro . W . T . Orde-Powletfc Deputy Provincial Grand Master

of the North and East Ridings , and Bro . the Very Rev . the Dean of York , P . G . Chaplain . His Royal Highness was received with the usual Masonic honours , after which Bro . Whytehead rose and said , the Albert Victor Lodge was honoured that day by the presence of a brother of the

most distinguished rank , one of its Founders , and after whom the Lodgo itself was named . When the formation of the Lodge was proposed . His Royal Highness signed the petition to the Grand Master , and gave his permission that tho Lodge should be called after his name , as well as

accepting honorary membership . He was , therefore , one of the founders of the Lodge , tbe formation of which was a desire to constitute a perennial Masonic memorial of the prolonged residence in York—that mother city of Freemasonry , as they now had it throughout tho world—of the eldest son of their beloved Grand Master

of English Freemasons , the Heir Presumptive to tho throne of England , and one who , they anticipated , might some day occupy the position in Freemasonry now htld

Royalty And Freemasonry.

by his august father . That meeting wonld be an historic event in the annals of Masonry , for ifc had been but seldom , until of late years , that members of the reigning family had honoured York Masons by their presence . Their traditions told them—and their mosfc orthodox

historians inclined to the belief that the legend was based npon truth—thafc the Royal Athelstan held a General Assembly of the Craft there in 926 . From that period until 1841 , when tho Duke of Sussex presided over a Grand Lodgo held in the Mansion House of York , no

member of the ruling House had visited them Masonically . In 1883 their present Grand Master held his Grand Lodge in York , and laid the foundation-stone of the Institute ; and two years ago their Royal brother who waa with them that day graced their first provincial

educational festival by his presence . That day he was with them as a member of the Albert Victor Lodge , aud they received him with that loyalty and affection which all true Masons cherished towards the family of which he was so prominent and distinguished a member . Referring to the

principal object of the meeting , Bro . Whytehead remarked that ifc had been designed by their beloved and honoured brother tho Dean of York , and explained that it consisted of the arms of the Dnke , suspended from a bar , bearing the title of the Lodgo , by a network of gold , embracing

twenty-five whito roses , emblematic of , tho twenty-five members now forming the Albert Victor Lodge , who thus desired to express their loyalty and fraternal affection for His Royal Highness . On tho back of the jewel was a Latin inscription , ihe English version of which

was"To onr illustrious brother and founder , Albert Victor Christian Edward , Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., Prov . G . Master of Berks , & c . & G . & C , the 25 brethren of the Lodgo , Yovkshiremen , grateful and loyal , present this offering , 2 ? fch January , A . D . 1891 . —A . L ., 5891 . "

Bro . Whytehead then attached the jewel to the Prince ' i coat , over the left breast , concluding by expressing the sincere wish and prayer of every brother present that the Great Architect might grant him good health , length of days , and great happiness . His Royal Highness in reply

said : Worshipfnl Master and Brethren , I have to return you the warmest thanks for the great honour done me in presenting , through your Master , this beautiful jewel I now bear . Ifc is the greatest pleasure possible to be present today , and take part in joining the Lodge , which was formed

through the good will of those about me , and which was named after me . Tlie greatest thanks are due to the Dean of York for the clever design of the jewel . I shall value ifc very much indeed , and I again thank you all for the honour you havo dono me . The Lodgo was then called off , aud the proceedings terminated .

Degree Of Past Master.

DEGREE OF PAST MASTER .

npHIS degree has never hold a very high rank in the _ L Masonic system . It deserves no special commendation for what it is in text and ceremony , nor can it justify its claim for respect by reason of its long continued use and general recognition . Chase in hia Digest says , " The

Past Master ' s degreo is not older than the last part of the last century . " Thomas Smith Webb bad a good deal to do with shaping the degree as Ave now have it in the usual form of presentation . Before his time there had been

some sort of a private ceremony connected with , or preparatory to , the induction of a brother into the Master ' s chair , and what Webb did was to make a degree out of the forms and practices which had come into use in some

localities , if not generally . He formulated the Past Master ' s degree and made it a part of tbe Capitular system of Freemasonry , as it exists in America . Ifc is not needed there . It is of doubtful utility either in the Lodge or

the Chapter . As a modern writer has said , " The Pasfc Master ' s degree seems a propos of nothing before it or thafc comes after . Where seriously conferred it has but little

interest—generally it has been mnch abused and becomes a nuisance to an earnest Companion seeking in all ceremonies the high symbolism of the Craft . "

Masonry is intended for intelligent and thoughtful men . It would be well , therefore , to prune the system of all excrescences . We need not fear the cry of innovation when such work of elimination is being done—work thafc is mosfc essential for fche removal of frivolous and useless