Page 117 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 117

on the same evening And when this lodge was not permitted to have the use of its
r
own furniture upon a pretence that the Bro . Ruspini had made a present of it to the Prince
of Wales’s lodge! !
That as to the remaining part of the said second resolution whereby the brethren of
the Prince of Wales’s lodge exprefs their “indignation” as to the acts done by this lodge
in dealing with their own property, they are perfectly indifferent to the “indignation” so
exprefsed nor do they hold themselves accountable to the Prince of Wales’s lodge,
for the removal of their own property from one place to another. That this lodge can only
consider such exprefsions of indignation (for a cause so inadequate) as the effect of
a momentary irritation, originating in an imperfect view of the case, and therefore
this lodge in that spirit of Charity and good will so peculiarly the attributes of the
Masonic Institution returns hearty good wishes for the prosperity of the Prince of
Wales’s lodge and success to the Brethren thereof in all their lawful undertakings.
That a copy of these Resolutions signed by the Secretary be transmitted to the
Prince of Wales’s lodge.
The resolution that these resolutions stand part of the minutes was carried
unanimously.
“An Eulogium on Masonry” from the R.W.M. very fittingly followed. No more
was heard of the matter, and after a time it was forgotten, for in 1825 Bro. J. L Gautier,
of the Prince of Wales’s Lodge, joined the Nine Muses, and Bros. Sir William Rawlins
and Crofton Uniacke, of the Nine Muses, joined the Prince of Wales’s. 43
But what exactly took place at the rape of the candlesticks can only be guessed;
and through the courtesy of the present Secretary of the Prince of Wales’s Lodge
we learn that the minutes of that Lodge throw no further light on this strange
and obscure episode.
In 1870 the then Secretary, Bro. Clabon, had the Candlesticks “restored” at his
own expense, and received the thanks of the Lodge.
The minutes hold many references to the furniture; the following items, given
in order of date, may be not without interest:
[23 March 1816] It was moved ... and ... seconded that a box with 3 keys one
for the Master & one each for the Treasurer and Secretary be provided for the due

43 This was reconciled at a meeting of the Prince of Wales Lodge No. 259 on 25th January
1972 when the appropriate correspondence was read by Cristopher Oldham and William
Dawson, the respective W.Ms., and an agreement made that at those meetings that were
not on the same evening, the PoW Lodge shall be permitted to use the candlesticks when
meeting at the same venue.