Eminent Masons At Home.

Portraits of the King and Queen of Denmark , drawings by the Princess Louise , sketches by the artists who accompanied the Prince on his various expeditions , decorate the walls . The progress through India is commemorated by splendid trophies of arms , by many objects of art , goblets of iron inlaid with silver ,

and " Kooftgau " steel inlaid with gold . Trophies of the chase in India , tigers' tusks and skins , abound , and the wide extent of the Prince of Wales's sporting excursions in almost every quarter of the globe , is indicated in drawings of shooting parties in the snows of Russia and in the jungles of Jaypore . There is also a

collection of arms from the field of Gravelotte , the hoof of Eclipse , the famous racer , side by side with priceless gifts

of Emperors , Egyptian relics , and Hindoo antiquities .

Thus , throughout the house arc scattered the charming things collected by its owner . At certain seasons of the

year a short holidaysnatched from the offices of his important position—is enjoyed by the Prince and his family

at their country seat . He casts off his Royal garb , and assumes that of an ordinary country gentleman , and heart

and soul he goes to work among his tenantry and servants . The people down in the village want a

readingroom , and Mr . Beck , the agent of the Royal estate , is consulted in the matter , and the

reading-room is built . All the churches on the estate have been restored , and are kept in perfect repair . Schools

have been erected for the children , cottages for the labourers , reading-rooms for the villagers , and a

hospital for the aged . His Royal Highness devotes more time to the interests of the Craft than most people imagine . He dearly loves an argument on its many abstruse point , with some congenial spirit worthy of his steel , and often on his little tours of inspection ,

when cattle arc trotted out and examined , farms surveyed , or crops overhauled , he will drift into Masonic matters apparently without an effort . He remembers his early experiences of Masonry with much pleasure : his initiation by the late King of Sweden in 186 9 ; his courtesy installation as Past Grand Master of England ; Patron of Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1871 by his Grace the Duke of Lcinster , K . G ., Grand Master ,

From a photograph ly the London Stereoscopic Company . Limited II . K . II . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G .

who presented him with the collar , apron , and jewel of the dignified position . The latter has the following engraved on the reverse : — " Presented by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland to His Royal Highness Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , Earl of Dublin , Knight of St . Patrick ,

& c , as Patron of their ancient order . 1871 . " On Friday , January 26 , in the following year , the Marquis of Ripon , M . W . G . M . of England , summoned a Grand Lodge of Emergency for the purpose of adopting an address to Her Majesty upon the happy recovery of His Royal

Highness from the terrible illness which so nearly proved fatal . Then comes his re - election to the chair of the Royal Alpha

Lodge , and his inauguration as Commander of the Encampment of Faith and Fidelity at Freemasons' Hall the

first week in June of the same year . But not till three years after , in April , 1 S 75 , was he installed , by the unanimous vote of Grand

Lodge , into that high office that completed the road of progression . Shall wc ever forget that magnificent

spectacle of 8 , 000 Masons —all men of degree' in the Craft , apparelled in their gorgeous insignia of office—receiving their new Grand Master with

all the honour it is possible for Masons lo give ? Or the cheers that followed the declaration of Sir Albert

Woods—who still holds the important position in Grand Lodge that he did then — " Be it known that the Most

High , Most Puissant , Most Illustrious Prince Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , Duke of Saxony , Duke of Cornwall and Rothsay , Earl

of Chester , Carrick , and Dublin ; Baron of Renfrew , and Lord of the Isles , Great Steward of Scotland , Knight of the Garter , Knight of St . Patrick , Knight of the Thistle , Grand Commander of the Bath , Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India , Knight of the Elephant of Denmark , Knight of the Golden Fleece , has

been elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of Freemasonry in England , whom the great Architect of the Universe long preserve . " Or the feelings that rose in every breast as His Royal Highness took his seat on the throne presented by the old Duke of Sussex , and surrounded by the highest dignitaries of Freemasonry ? Year after year , since this memorable event ,