Page 14 - The Early History of The Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. UGLE

14 The Early History - Lodge of the Nine Muses

of ‘Masonry Universal’. He was by this time a member of the Royal Lodge and later
joined the St. Alban’s Lodge (now No. 29). It was not until 1772 that the idea of
‘incorporation’ was finally dropped with the resignation of the 5th Duke of Beaufort
as Grand Master. Unfortunately, H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland withdrew his
candidature as the next Grand Master, and in his place Lord Petre, a Catholic, was
elected. This respected and amiable nobleman was also of the No. 3 Lodge set and
it cannot be said that he took any action to heal the breach between the two Grand
Lodges. Indeed, his final act as Grand Master in 1777 was to approve restrictive
rules which reduced, if they did not prevent, intercourse between Lodges and their
members under the two Grand Lodges. The rival Grand Lodge naturally retaliated
and it looked as if this most unmasonic conflict would continue. It was at this time
that the Lodge of the Nine Muses was warranted.