Enniskillen Masonic Lodges

Before her Majesty's marriage, in leap year, she courted Prince Albert, who after a little difficulty thought proper to accept her. On consulting her ministers upon the subject, they informed her that they held themselves responsible for her Majesty's acts; but as for the young man, they could not be answerable for what he might do, or might leave undone. The Queen said she wished that her Albert should be made a Freemason; but her uncle, the late M.W. Grand Master, the Duke of Sussex objected, on the ground that, as a royal husband, the Prince was bound to have no secrets whatever from the Queen. Her Majesty having urged the point in vain, as the old duke was inflexible—replied that as her husband could not be made a mason, her first son should be one.

In fact, HRH Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, did become a freemason and eventually was elected to serve as Grand Master (1874-1901). Two other sons, HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and HRH Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, also became freemasons and the former served as Grand Master for 38 years (1901 to 1939) after his elder brother assumed the throne.

1868           HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, KG, (later King Edward VII), initiated in Sweden on 21^st December.

1882           HM Queen Victoria became Chief Patroness of the Masonic Girls School.

After relating the above anecdote, the PGM proposed ‘the health of the Queen and the Prince of Wales’ and it was received with loud cheers and ‘Kentish fire’. Before the toast the ladies, who were accompanying their husbands, had returned to their places at the tables from ‘their meagre collation in the anteroom’. The evening’s proceedings were carried out without any masonic ceremonial whatever. The PGM made some additional remarks and proposed a toast to ‘the health of the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Zetland, MWGM’ which was drunk with ‘Kentish fire’ too. He then gave the toast to ‘the health of Lord Panmure, RW Dep. GM and the rest of the Grand Officers’ which was followed by another ‘Kentish fire’.