THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

Secretary.
On the 2nd June 1869 the Earl of Zetland, G.M., informed the Grand Lodge that
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales had been received into Freemasonry by the King of
Sweden; and in September of the same year he was elected a Past Gd. Master
of England, and the Prince attended Grand Lodge in December 1869. The
number of Lodges on the Roll had increased from 723 in 1844, to 1299 in the
year 1869. Freemasons' Hall had now been separated from the tavern, and was
formally inaugurated on the 14th April 1869.
On the voluntary resignation of the Earl of Zetland as Grand Master in 1870, a
handsome testimonial was arranged and subscriptions obtained; the Earl
accepted a silver inkstand, and directed that the remainder of the contribution,
which amounted to 2,730 Pounds should form a fund for the relief of
distinguished brethren who might be in distress and to be named the "Zetland
Fund."
Earl de Grey and Ripon was now nominated to the office of Grand Master, and
was installed as such on the 14th May 1870. The Masonic career of this Grand
Master, who was made a Marquis for diplomatic services in the United States,
was not closed in a manner equally distinguished, as upon his embracing the
Roman Catholic faith he resigned his office of Grand Master 2nd September,
{528} 1874. Arthur Duke of Connaught and Leopold Duke of Albany were
initiated in 1874, the former in the "Prince of Wales Lodge," and the latter in the
"Apollo University Lodge."
The Prince of Wales having already the rank of a Past Grand Master of England,
a deputation was appointed to interview him upon the acceptance of the office
vacated by the Marquis of Ripon. At the meeting of Grand Lodge in December,
1874, it was reported that the Prince would accept the Grand Mastership, and
would appoint the Earl of Carnarvon as pro-Grand Master, and Lord
Skelmersdale as Deputy G.M. Accordingly the Prince of Wales was Installed
Grand Master, with great pomp, at the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, on
the 28th April, 1875, which was duly commemorated by a painting in oil, and an
engraved copy of the same. In May of the same year the Prince was Installed
G.Z. of the Supreme Grand Chapter. His brother Leopold Duke of Albany was
Installed Provincial Gd. Master of Oxfordshire in February 1876.
At the meeting of Grand Lodge, April, 1877, the Prince of Wales, G.M., appointed
his brothers the Dukes of Connaught and of Albany as his two Grand Wardens;
and 4,000 Pounds was voted by Grand Lodge to the Royal National Life Boat
Institution. On the 5th December in this year a Committee was appointed to
consider the action of the Grand Orient of France in reference to the abolition of
the requirement of any special religious belief from candidates for Initiation, or as
the Grand Lodge preferred to put it, the removal of the name of God from their
Constitution, and in March 1878 the Committee gave in a report denying
recognition as "true and genuine" brethren to those so Initiated.
In 1879 Brother John Hervey, whose death took place the following year,
resigned the office of Grand Secretary, and Colonel Shadwell H. Clerke was