THE FREEMASONS AND THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5420, 10 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FREEMASONS AND THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

(From the Home Ncws t June 20.)

On June 5 the summer meeting of tho United Grand Lodge of England was held at the Freemasons’ Tavern, under the presidency of Lord Carnarvon, the Pro-Grand Master. The attendance of the rulers iu the craft,wps very large, a notice of motion having been pla-rcd upon the paper by the Most Wor?lup£nl the Grand Master in relation to the attempt upon tho life of the German Kmporor, the protector of Prussian Freemasons. Lord Honniker and Sir W. Harcourfc Johnstone, M.P., were the wardens, and .there were many brothers present. Lord Carnarvon, iu referring to the notice of motion, reminded the brethren that last month all iu Ragland were startled .and shocked at hearing of an attempt upon the life of the German Emperor ; and upon that news he placed the notice of motion before Grand Lodge, that Grand Lodge should agree in a vote of congratulation to his Imperial Majesty ou his happy aud providential escape from that attack. But on Jane 3, to their great sorrow, they heard that another attempt bad beau made, and with far graver results, for as the Emperor was driving in the streets of the capital, reposing the utmost confidence iu the loyalty of his people, he was wounded by the murderous hand of an assassin, and that, too, at a time when his Majesty’s life was most especially valuable in the councils of Europe. The crime, unhappily, was not the first of its kind which men of this generation had witnessed : but, generally, thebullefcordaggcr of the assassin had been turned aside by Providence. All would fervently pray that in this case no serious disaster would follow this outrage. His Imperial Majesty’s venerable age, his great public services to his country, his anxiety for the welfare of his people, his love for German unity, o! which he was the distinct embodiment, ought to have pleaded for him, and have saved him from the fate of having attempts made upon his life. All feeling in Germany was absorbed la a common horror and indignation at this crime, and this feeling simply reflected the feeling in Europe, and, not the least, the feeling experienced among all classes ,in this country. It was not tho habit o! the English Freemasons in lodge to mingle in the political concerns of tho day, bat this subject was one which was raised above the ordinary political level, and there was this special : reason why Grand Lodge could express its sentiments upon this occasion. His Imperial Majesty, unlike some other Sovereigns, had never been 'afraid of Freemasonry, but had i lentified himself with it, had the affections of the craft iu Germany, and was the head of the Prussian Freemasons at this time. Lord Carnarvon added, amid loud cheers, that, feeling perfectly sure of the hearty acquiescence of Grand Lodge, he should alter bis motion to.oxpress the abhorrence of tho English Grand Lodge at the foul attempts which had been made upon the life of his Imperial Majesty the German Emperor and protector of the Prussian Freemasons, and the hope that the Great Architect of the Universe would be pleased to spare a life so valuable ia the councils of Europe. Brother John Fawcett, Provincial Grand Master of Durham, seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamitiou. The Pro-Grand Master then announced, amid loud cheers, that his Royal Highue-s the Grand Master would have the record of this vote placed before him for signature, and that it would then be transmitted to the Emperor.