Page 9 - The Early History of The Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. UGLE

FOUNDATIONS AND NOTABLE CHARACTERISTICS

HE LODGE FIRST MET at the fashionable ‘Thatched House Tavern’ in
St. James’s Street in the West End of London on 14th January, 1777, but its
TWarrant from the Premier Grand Lodge is dated 25th March that year. In
minute letters at the foot of the Warrant are the words “Tho. Harper, script.” This was
indeed the Thomas Harper who was to become the Deputy Grand Master of the
‘Antients’ as well as Secretary of the Lodge of the Nine Muses.
The founding Right Worshipful Master was John Hull. He had been Junior Grand
Warden in 1775 and was for many years a leading member of the Hall Committee.
In 1780, he commanded the detachment of Volunteers which protected the first
Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street during the Gordon Riots. The founding
Senior and Junior Wardens were Raphael Franco Esq., and Richard Barker Esq.
respectively. The latter was a surgeon, an amateur artist and, in 1798, became the
3
Provincial Grand Master for Rutland. It is believed that he was the father of Henry
Aston Barker, Esq., a famous painter of panoramas, who was initiated in the Lodge of
the Nine Muses on 9th May, 1801.
However, it was undoubtedly the Chevalier Ruspini who promoted the Lodge
and became its leading light for 26 years up to 1803. Together with his rich and artistic
friends, he founded the Lodge. It was an immediate success, meeting regularly at least
once a month.
The name, “The Nine Muses”, may well have been derived from a visit that John
Hull made to the Lodge of Alfred, at Oxford University on 4th May, 1775, whilst
leading a Grand Lodge deputation. At this meeting, a Brother Karsakoff of the Lodge
of the Nine Muses, St. Petersberg, Russia, was a visitor. Perhaps Hull and Ruspini
liked the name and decided to use it for the Lodge that they were about to found. 4
The formation of a Lodge in which the members vied with each other in
5, 6
charitable pursuits and in the design and provision of beautiful jewels and furniture
7, 8 has to be seen against a background of a time when society was inclined to be
coarse and jovial. The founders and early members practised, either as professionals
or amateurs, at least three of the Liberal Arts, namely those of Dancing, Music and
the Fine Arts. Indeed Ruspini himself and the Rev. Dr. Dodd were accomplished

3 It is curious to note that besides R. Barker, the 1st Lord RanclifFe and Hippolyto da Costa were
all members of the Lodge of the Nine Muses and Provincial Grand Masters for Rutland.
4 AQC. 22. “Two old Oxford Lodges.” E. L. Hawkins.
5 Jewels. “Account of the Nine Muses.” p. 216. op. cit.
6 AQC. 55. “Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent 1769-85. “p. 135. by S. Pope.
7 Candlesticks. “Masonic Record Apr. 1972. Burying the Hatchet.” by P. J. Dawson.
8 Candlesticks. “The Grand Stewards and Red Apron Lodges.” p. 372-373. by A. F. Calvert. 1917.