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tershire , together with a silver square and a Royal Arch jewel , his curiosity became excited to ascertain the meaning attached to these emblems , and having formed a pre-conceived opinion of the usefulness of the Order , he requested a relation to propose him as a candidate for initiation in the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , in London , and over which his Royal Highness presided . In that Lodge he was initiated in the year 1813 by Waller Rod well Wright , a barrister , a poet of some celebrity in his day , and one of the brightest ornaments of Masonry . As a means

of extending his Masonic knowledge , and the sphere of his usefulness , he afterwards joined other Lodges in the metropolis , and during his career had worked his way up from the lowest to the highest offices in the Craft . He was successively Junior and Senior Warden of the celebrated Lodge of Antiquity , which was then presided over by his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , M . W . Grand Master of the Order , who twice offered him the Mastership , but which he was compelled to decline in consequence of his absence abroad . His Royal Highness , as a mark of his appreciation of Sir Frederick ' s valuable services , appointed him

S . G . Deacon , and in 1821 S . G . Warden of England . He was for some time acting Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , and was D . M of the Lodge at the installation , of his Royal Highness the Duke of York in 1823 as W . M ., when the Lodge presented to him a splendid Masonic jewel in commemoration of his services . After the departure of Bro . R , W . Wright , who had accepted a government appointment as Assessor of a Code of Laws at Malta , the Lodge had declined in numbers , but on the chair becoming vacant by the accession to the throne of the Prince Regent , afterwards George IV ., Sir Frederick , was the means

of inducing the Duke of York to accept the Mastership , and the Lodge subsequently became one of the most flourishing Lodges in London . He subsequently served the office of Steward of the Boys and Girls' Masonic Schools , and was a life governor of these admirable charities . In 1817 he joined St . John ' s Lodge , Leicester , of which , for two successive years , he was W . M . ; and at the time of his decease he was the Father of the Lodge . He subsequently served the office of M . E . Z . of the Royal Arch Chapter attached to this Lodge , and also the Chapter of St . Augustine attached to the John of Gaunt Lodge . In the earlier part of

his connection with St . John ' s Lodge , the Brethren presented him , by the hands of Lord Howe , with a handsome cup , as a testimonial of their regard and of their appreciation of his valuable services ; and more recently , they requested him to sit for his portrait as Prov . G . M ., which was admirably executed by Scott , and now graces the lodge-room . An excellent copy—indeed , it may be termed an exact counterpart of the original—has been since painted from this picture by a lady ( an amateur ) , the wife of one of the Brethren , and by her most kindly presented to the John of Gaunt Lodge , of which Sir Frederick was also an honoured

member . We have already observed that Sir Thomas Fowke was Prov . G . M . for Leicestershire . The late Lord Rancliffe was subsequently appointed to that distinguished office , and in 1833 appointed Sir F . Fowke his D . Prov . G . M . ; which rank he continued to hold , and performed all the active duties of his own and his chief ' s offices , until the decease of his lordship in 1851 , when the M . W . G . M . spontaneously conferred this important appointment upon Sir Frederick . The

acquaintance of the two late Prov . G . Ms , commenced at a very early period of their lives . Sir Frederick ' s first public official act as Prov . G . M . was the Masonic inauguration of the statue of his Grace the Duke of Rutland , in Leicester marketplace , on the 28 th April , 1852 ; and which he had been requested to perform , by the subscribers . This event will long be remembered by the inhabitants of Leicester and the neighbourhood , the day having been observed as a general holiday , and it was estimated that upwards of 70 , 000 persons were present on the

occasion . In addition to that of Prov . G . M ., Sir Frederick held the appointments of Prov . Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masonry , and Prov . Grand Commander of Masonic Knights Templar for Leicestershire . He continued to discharge most efficiently the duties of his important offices until prevented by his declining health ; and even when unable to take an active part in person in the proceedings of the Craft , he still took the strongest interest in the prosperity of Masonry in the Province .