Page 44 - Amo Amass A-muse is some of the fruit of a lifetimes love of Freemasonry - the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235

44 Amo Amass A-Muse - Lodge of the Nine Muses

reply in a most courteous and diplomatic manner. At the following meeting, this reply was
read and resulted in a decision to expunge the record of the incident in the minutes and
add Savage’s name to the list of members; the Secretary, who was none other than Bonnor,
was instructed to write and inform him accordingly.
All now seemed to be at peace. But at the next meeting of the Lodge of Antiquity,
Savage discovered that Bonnor had been the moving spirit that had opposed him and he
upbraided him in no uncertain terms for ingratitude for past kindnesses. For this he was
persuaded to apologise.
Unfortunately, this row came to the ears of the Duke of Sussex who, despite previous
apologies, decided to adjudicate in person and made poor Savage apologise again in a
most degrading manner. Bonnor was at this time a favourite of the Duke and he also
tried to implicate Sir William in the quarrel. This was too much and Bonnor was ordered
to apologise to Sir William because he was “the Right Worshipful Master of that most
distinguished Lodge of the Nine Muses.”
At the next meeting of the Lodge of Promulgation, the previous minutes concerning
Savage were not confirmed and the expunging of the original record of the incident was
put back in the minutes. It seems that the Duke must have taken a hand in reversing that
decision. Charles Bonnor resigned from our Lodge and became Acting Master, under the
Duke of Sussex in the Lodge of Antiquity but he was eventually found a mischief maker
and expelled in 1814. He was black balled when he applied for Exaltation in the Chapter
of St. James and again later when he applied to join it. This is not surprising because both
Savage and Sir William were most respected members of long standing of that Chapter.
Savage’s death is recorded and lamented in our earliest minute book extant. He was our
Treasurer for many years.
Let us shed a tear of sympathy for the failings of brethren, and note that in the long
run justice was done.

P.J.D. January 1978