Introduction

Undoubtedly the most illustrious member of the Lodge of Truth in bygone times was George Frederick Samuel Robinson, the Marquess of Ripon. He joined the Lodge in 1853 when he had been elected MP for Hudderfield. Ripon went on to have a distinguished career in politics, becoming Lord President of Council and Viceroy for India, whilst masonically he went on to be the Grand Master.

It is extremely rare, if not unique, for a Mason who joined a Lodge outside London to go on to become Grand Master. Usually Grand Masters are connected to the Royal Family and join a London Lodge. The Lodge of Truth is therefore most proud to count such a distinguished Brother amongst its Past Masters.

The paper is divided into three sections. The first section gives a brief description of the Marquess of Ripon’s family background, the second is concerned with his political career and his contribution in shaping the world as we know it today, and last but by no means least, his Masonic career.

One of the first hurdles I encountered when starting my studies was finding any references in historical textbooks to the Marquess of Ripon, especially as during his lifetime he was known by four different titles. It seems appropriate, therefore, to start by describing the various titles by which he was known.

From 1853 to 1859 he was known as Viscount Goodrich, a courtesy title which he had taken after his father had been elevated to the Earldom of Ripon. In January 1859 his father died and he became the Earl of Ripon. A few months later his uncle, the senior Earl died and the title then passed to the subject of this lecture. At this point he became the Earl de Grey and Ripon, but was referred to simply as Earl de Grey.

In 1871 as a reward for his negotiating the Washington Treaty he was given a marquessate by Gladstone and was known thereafter as the Marquess of Ripon. A marquess, coincidentally is between a duke and an earl and according to de Bretts the correct title is marquess, as opposed to marquis which is the French version.

To compound matters further, he was more commonly referred to as Lord Ripon and it is under this title he can be found in textbooks. Although one should refer to a historical subject by the correct title by which he was known at the particular time in question, I will refer to him simply as Lord Ripon to simplify matters.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Tony Denholme of the University of Tasmania, author of Ripon’s political biography, whose knowledge and understanding of the the Marquess of Ripon acted as a guide and catalyst to my work.

© Craig Johnson, May 2001