The Election Of Master And Officers For The Ensuing Year.

confidence being conferred on them by their respective constituencies to determine zealously , " to act and abide by the ancient usages and established customs of the Order . " We are confident that if these injunctions are

strictly adhered to the ancient Order in which we are enrolled , will be substantially benefited , and thus be the means of extending those blessings which it has conferred on mankind .

New Masonic Toast — " Bro. The Prince Of Wales."

NEW MASONIC TOAST — " BRO . THE PRINCE OF WALES . "

The Prince of Wales is now attached to the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland . In some lodges formerly " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family " was given as an ordinary toast . Then came the time when the Prince was admitted as a Mason in Sweden

Some lodges cheerfully hailed the new brother , and gave the toast of " Bro . H . E . H . the Prince of Wales " with Masonic honours in his accustomed place after the Queen . There were few who did that , for they wanted to know what the " authorities "

could say . and it was dimly asserted that " the authorities" held that the Prince was not a Mason , because he had given the authorities the slip ; also that he was not a Mason , because he had taken three degrees in the same night , as his royal

grandfather and relatives hacl done before him , and as he would have done in Scotland ; further , that he was not a Mason because he was initiated in

Sweden , and that Sweden is a schismatic country , destitute of Craft Masonry ; and lastly , that as the high degrees are prohibited in England , or at all events ought to be , and as the Prince had taken very high degrees in Sweden , he was no Mason

at all . It was also believed on good foundation that if the Prince wanted to get into Grand Lodge , or somebody wanted to get him in , that it would be quite impossible , as he would have on the insiguia of some of his high degrees , which are uu-Masonic , and that he would be turned out

forthwith . How " the authorities " might have settled the matter is not clear , for very likely the matter was not left to the authorities at all , but settled by the gentlemanly instinct of the M . W . G . M ., the Earl

of Zetland himself . While various authorities were considering into what hole or corner lodges the Prince could be bottled up and entrapped , under the temptation that he was making himself

popular with the brethren at large , the Earl addressed the Prince with a cordial welcome , and was responded to in the same spirit . It then began to be allowed by " the authorities , " —as they could not help themselves , —that the Prince was

some kind of a Masou after all ; not quite the right sort , it may be , but that his offences have been condoned , and that " the authorities " have , for the sake of Masonic unity , and not to be too hard upon him , let him into the bosom of the true Craft .

Still the salutations of Bro . the Prince of Wales at Masonic banquets were few and far between . The " authorities " had not made up their minds how to deal with him , though the brethren had . The brethren generally believed it was the wish

of the Earl of Zetland to place the Prince in the position of M . W . G . M ., as his royal relatives had been , the Earl continuing to rule the Craft , and give the benefit of his friendly aid and counsel as Pro . Grand Master .

How this was arranged , and how far the Earl was allowed his own way may not perhaps be known . The Prince was made a Pro . Grand Master after a fashion ; the M . W . G . M . was not present in the Grand Lodge and we do not know what would have been his Lordship's expressions on the occasion . At all events the Prince is made

a Past Grand Master , whatever that may be , and now it remains , when " the authorities " allow it , that we should do honour to him . This appears a very simple affair to simpleminded men ; the Queen and the Craft , and after the

Queen her heir , Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ; a very zealous presiding officer may give the health of our brother ' s wife and of the Royal Lewises , Prince Albert Victor and the other infant Princes of Wales , thus : " P . G . M . the Prince of Wales and the

Princess of Wales , " for instance . An ardent patron of the Boys' and Girl ' s Schools may innocently refer to the prospect of a royal visit when Prince Albert Victor may mingle with Masons' orphan boys , and the Princesses with the orphan girls . This is a simple way of managing , but is it right ? Had we not better wait for the authorities ?

There is much to be said , for although it is quite true the Prince is a Prince and Prince of Wales , does he not lose his rank as such by becoming a P . G . M ., and ought he not to be treated as such ? Besides what is the good of being a Past Grand Officer , a P . G . S . B . or a P . G . A . D . C . or other high functionary , without having the