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Ernest Ii.
ERNEST II .
I GBA . ND DUKE 01- SASli C 0 BURO GOTHA . THIS illustrious prince , the brother of the consort of Queen Victoria , is probably better known to the general reader by the prominent position he
has held in European politics during the hist fifteen years and by his accomplishments in various walks of art ( of which he has til ways been an energetic and discriminating
patron ) than by his connection with the antient Craft . His serene highness nevertheless holds a very high position in the Order ; he is described officially as " Chair Master of
the Grand and Worshipful Lodge Ernest of the Compass , in the Orient of Gotha ; and as an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of the Sun in the Grand Orient of Saxony . " A sketch of the prince ' s career , from the pen of Bro . J . G . Findel , appears in a recent
number of our contemporary , Die BauMitle ; and ivhafc follows in the present article is derived from that source . The style of writing may appear perhaps somewhat inflated to English readers ; but ive must remember that the Avriter looks upon the prince from a German point of view , and with as much admiration for his hig hness ' s political career as for
his personal character ; a feeling which is shared by no inconsiderable portion of the great Gorman nation . Bro . Findel somewhat tritely remarks that life is short and art is long , and thereupon asserts that it should naturally over be acknoAvledged that it is a eircumstan ce worthy of our admiration when a man , still in tho prime of life , has already succeeded in
delineating his image on the tablets of time with such bright features that all his contemporaries contemplate it with favour and with unenvious admiration . Of the illustrious subject of our remarks , the noblest and best are agreed in opinion that he has rig htly built up his claim to be iu the noblest sense described as a " free man of good renOAvn . " Difficult as tin ' s is for every individual , it is incontestahly doubly difficult for a prince to whom Providence has confided the government of a state , but especially for a German sovereign in the
nineteenth century . We are fortunate in being able to salute with the familiar name of "brother" sci'cral enlightened princes , among them two of the powerful House of Hohenzollern , whose affiliation to our Order had been heralded , like tlie sun by the dawn , by a good reputation . To these distinguished sons of Prussia the German nation may lookup with firm confidencein the
com-, forting hopo that both will eventually fulfil their high and difficult mission so that the sentence upon them in the world's history must be glorious ; one of them has indeed already earned for himself an imperishable merit as a noble protector of our fraternity . A sovereign of a different house and country has recently joined us , who , although yet in the
prime of life , can look back upon a career of successful activity —a prince known and beloved by all Germans as tho worth y scion of a house whose present commanding and glorious position has not been achieved by the deeds of the conqueror ' s sword , by insatiate ambition , or by tortuous , astute , backsliding policy , but by tlie exercise of intellect and benevolence . This prince , whom a Lodge on conferring its honorary membership on him has justly styled "the prince among the Masons , and . the Mason among the princes , "
EltKEST II ., GBAXD DUKE Or SAXE COBUHO COTIIA .
is Ernest IT ., reigning Duke oi Saxo Coburg Gotlia . The duko was born at Coburg on the 21 st of June , 1818 ; he was most carefully educatedand his mind was
, enriched by extended travels in England , France , Belgium , Italy , and Africa , and succeeded to the government of his duchy on the 29 th of January 1844 , having already
, married on the 3 rd of May 1842 , the Duchess Alexandra , daughter of the deceased Grand Duke Leopold of Baden . Soon after his accession to the government lie put an end to
the interminable disputes with , the Diet by the decrees of December , 1846 , and occupied himself with the framing of a comprehensive constitution , suited to tlie requirements of
the ago , for both duchies . With a noble enthusiasm and the utmost self denial , he embraced in 1848 the projects of the movement directed to a
reorganization of the German Fatherland . Pie even accepted a general ' s command in the Danish-Gorman war , and under his command the victory of Eckernforclc was fought and gained on the 5 th of April , 1849 . The spirit in which he lias hitherto carried on the government of his circumscribed but happy dominions , and how warmly his patriotic sentiment still enduresare universally known . Wo see him ever
, in advance of tlie wants of his people ; watching over their interests ; struggling , striving , and sympathizing with them ; relieving and encouraging the weak through the strength and confidence Avhich his presence inspires , protecting the persecuted , and a living guarantee of tlie final triumph of the national cause .
But the province of politics is not the sole object of his solicitude ; science and the arts also participate therein , and as we have with pleasure perceived , Freemasonry has received his earnest adherence . Among the arts he has a predilection , for music which ho cultivates with the devotion and skill of a master , and wc cite as a proof his charming operas" Zayre" " C'asilda" and " Santa Chiara . "
, , , Having recognized that tho German nation possesses in Freemasonry the best means to preserve tho intellectual freedom acquired by long and hard struggles , and to prevent the return of the old darkness ; having discovered that humanity lias in it a powerful advocate of its worth and a defender of its nights against prejudices and selfishness—the duke no
longer hesitated to join our venerable brotherhood on the 30 th January , 1857 . And how earnestly this step ivas meant , he lias since given convincing proofs by his taking the Master ' s office in tlie Grand and Worshipful Lodge , Ernest of the Compass at Gotha , He gave his promise on that occasion that as long as he mig ht have before his eyes the
possibility of seeing tlie sacredness of our cause coining off triumphant out of the strife with tlie profane , he would remain at his post and joyfully strive after those ideals which all men , but particularly Freemasons , and above all , Masters of Lodges , ought to keep ever in view . German Masonic literature ( particularly . Die Bauhiilld ) , has received his approving
sanction , and is in tho enjoyment of his liberal patronage and under his protection . The German Masons gratefully acknowledge the services to the Craft and the numerous proofs of the Masonic zeal of pur princely brother . At the same time they do not forget
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ernest Ii.
ERNEST II .
I GBA . ND DUKE 01- SASli C 0 BURO GOTHA . THIS illustrious prince , the brother of the consort of Queen Victoria , is probably better known to the general reader by the prominent position he
has held in European politics during the hist fifteen years and by his accomplishments in various walks of art ( of which he has til ways been an energetic and discriminating
patron ) than by his connection with the antient Craft . His serene highness nevertheless holds a very high position in the Order ; he is described officially as " Chair Master of
the Grand and Worshipful Lodge Ernest of the Compass , in the Orient of Gotha ; and as an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of the Sun in the Grand Orient of Saxony . " A sketch of the prince ' s career , from the pen of Bro . J . G . Findel , appears in a recent
number of our contemporary , Die BauMitle ; and ivhafc follows in the present article is derived from that source . The style of writing may appear perhaps somewhat inflated to English readers ; but ive must remember that the Avriter looks upon the prince from a German point of view , and with as much admiration for his hig hness ' s political career as for
his personal character ; a feeling which is shared by no inconsiderable portion of the great Gorman nation . Bro . Findel somewhat tritely remarks that life is short and art is long , and thereupon asserts that it should naturally over be acknoAvledged that it is a eircumstan ce worthy of our admiration when a man , still in tho prime of life , has already succeeded in
delineating his image on the tablets of time with such bright features that all his contemporaries contemplate it with favour and with unenvious admiration . Of the illustrious subject of our remarks , the noblest and best are agreed in opinion that he has rig htly built up his claim to be iu the noblest sense described as a " free man of good renOAvn . " Difficult as tin ' s is for every individual , it is incontestahly doubly difficult for a prince to whom Providence has confided the government of a state , but especially for a German sovereign in the
nineteenth century . We are fortunate in being able to salute with the familiar name of "brother" sci'cral enlightened princes , among them two of the powerful House of Hohenzollern , whose affiliation to our Order had been heralded , like tlie sun by the dawn , by a good reputation . To these distinguished sons of Prussia the German nation may lookup with firm confidencein the
com-, forting hopo that both will eventually fulfil their high and difficult mission so that the sentence upon them in the world's history must be glorious ; one of them has indeed already earned for himself an imperishable merit as a noble protector of our fraternity . A sovereign of a different house and country has recently joined us , who , although yet in the
prime of life , can look back upon a career of successful activity —a prince known and beloved by all Germans as tho worth y scion of a house whose present commanding and glorious position has not been achieved by the deeds of the conqueror ' s sword , by insatiate ambition , or by tortuous , astute , backsliding policy , but by tlie exercise of intellect and benevolence . This prince , whom a Lodge on conferring its honorary membership on him has justly styled "the prince among the Masons , and . the Mason among the princes , "
EltKEST II ., GBAXD DUKE Or SAXE COBUHO COTIIA .
is Ernest IT ., reigning Duke oi Saxo Coburg Gotlia . The duko was born at Coburg on the 21 st of June , 1818 ; he was most carefully educatedand his mind was
, enriched by extended travels in England , France , Belgium , Italy , and Africa , and succeeded to the government of his duchy on the 29 th of January 1844 , having already
, married on the 3 rd of May 1842 , the Duchess Alexandra , daughter of the deceased Grand Duke Leopold of Baden . Soon after his accession to the government lie put an end to
the interminable disputes with , the Diet by the decrees of December , 1846 , and occupied himself with the framing of a comprehensive constitution , suited to tlie requirements of
the ago , for both duchies . With a noble enthusiasm and the utmost self denial , he embraced in 1848 the projects of the movement directed to a
reorganization of the German Fatherland . Pie even accepted a general ' s command in the Danish-Gorman war , and under his command the victory of Eckernforclc was fought and gained on the 5 th of April , 1849 . The spirit in which he lias hitherto carried on the government of his circumscribed but happy dominions , and how warmly his patriotic sentiment still enduresare universally known . Wo see him ever
, in advance of tlie wants of his people ; watching over their interests ; struggling , striving , and sympathizing with them ; relieving and encouraging the weak through the strength and confidence Avhich his presence inspires , protecting the persecuted , and a living guarantee of tlie final triumph of the national cause .
But the province of politics is not the sole object of his solicitude ; science and the arts also participate therein , and as we have with pleasure perceived , Freemasonry has received his earnest adherence . Among the arts he has a predilection , for music which ho cultivates with the devotion and skill of a master , and wc cite as a proof his charming operas" Zayre" " C'asilda" and " Santa Chiara . "
, , , Having recognized that tho German nation possesses in Freemasonry the best means to preserve tho intellectual freedom acquired by long and hard struggles , and to prevent the return of the old darkness ; having discovered that humanity lias in it a powerful advocate of its worth and a defender of its nights against prejudices and selfishness—the duke no
longer hesitated to join our venerable brotherhood on the 30 th January , 1857 . And how earnestly this step ivas meant , he lias since given convincing proofs by his taking the Master ' s office in tlie Grand and Worshipful Lodge , Ernest of the Compass at Gotha , He gave his promise on that occasion that as long as he mig ht have before his eyes the
possibility of seeing tlie sacredness of our cause coining off triumphant out of the strife with tlie profane , he would remain at his post and joyfully strive after those ideals which all men , but particularly Freemasons , and above all , Masters of Lodges , ought to keep ever in view . German Masonic literature ( particularly . Die Bauhiilld ) , has received his approving
sanction , and is in tho enjoyment of his liberal patronage and under his protection . The German Masons gratefully acknowledge the services to the Craft and the numerous proofs of the Masonic zeal of pur princely brother . At the same time they do not forget