14th October.
Ove of the widespread results of the death of Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, is that which has affected British Freemasonry. Her son, now King Edward VII, had been Most Worshipful Grand Master of the craft since 1875. He had seen an increase in the number of lodges under his jurisdiction from 1,418 to 2,371, a total of 953, scattered all over the habitable globe wherever a sufficient number of members of the English Constitution could be got together to hold meetings. But it was known at once that his accession to the crown would necessarily bring about his resignation of the Grand Mastership, and this not only of the Craft as represented by Blue Masonry but also of the junior branch of Mark Masonry, of which he was also the head, The only separate Mark Lodge working in Shanghai under the English Constitution is the " Orient," No. 482, and at its recent meeting some interesting correspondence was read bearing upon the change in the Grand Mastership. We shall not be divulging any Masonic secrets if we touch upon. such points in this correspondence as may be interesting to other masons and to the public generally.
On the death of Her Majesty a "Loyal and Dutiful Address" was drawn up and sent to His Majesty the King, "offering the respectful sympathy of this Grand Lodge and the members of the Mark Degree on the death of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, and further presenting the respectful and sincere congratulations of this Grand Lodge to His Majesty on his accession to the Throne."
This in due time brought the following reply, under date 8th February, 1901: "Dear Lord Euston:—I have submitted your letter to the King. He is very sorry, but he is afraid he must now resign the office of Grand Master of Freemasons of the Mark Degree. He will, however, if it is so wished, be happy to become the Patron of the Degree.
Yours sincerely,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.