Page 133 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 133

The writer’s opinion, for what it is worth, is that this is in all likelihood Bro.
Harper’s jewel. It has the same grey base and plum-blue background as the Cipriani
jewels, excepting the Master’s, and is very much what a painter to the trade might
have produced, working at second hand after an imperfect recollection of the
original. When the authentic jewel was recovered the substitute would no longer
be needed, and it may have been laid on one side and eventually lost or stolen.
But this is pure conjecture, and the minutes throw no light on the subject beyond
showing that formerly the jewels were not guarded so jealously as they are now.
Others were equally careless; a striking jewel, certainly of Thomas Harper’s make,
was rescued a few years ago from a pawnshop in Hong Kong.
Bro. Thomas Harper did a considerable business in Masonic jewels and
adjuncts. A number of his jewels, with a curious painted apron bearing his mark,
may be seen in the Museum at Freemasons’ Hall, and the original warrant of the
Lodge is his work, as the words “Tho. Harper, script.” at the foot testify.
The Lodge possesses one more such Officer’s jewel. We read in the minutes
for 12 September 1902: “Bro. Trevor Galsworthy stated that he desired to present
to the Lodge a painting on enamel representing ‘Mercury’ of the size of the
Lodge Jewels and to have it mounted to correspond with the Lodge Jewels.” Bro.
Galsworthy’s handsome gift was accepted “with grateful thanks”.
This jewel, in general treatment like the Master’s, is worn by the Director of
Ceremonies. It is inscribed on the back “Presented to the Lodge of the Nine
Muses 9th December 1902 by Bro. F. Trevor Galsworthy, P.M. of No 165” (the
Lodge of Honour and Generosity, founded in 1767). 49
Another of the jewels beside the Master’s has been in danger.
On 23 January 1818 it was “reported that Bro G.M. Brighty had sent in his
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resignation ... and that the said Bro . be requested to return the Jr Warden’s Jewel
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lent him to attend the Grand Lodge.” And on 5 June 1827 “The Grand Secretary
reminded the Lodge that the Junior Warden’s Jewel was in the pofsefsion of Brother
Gautier. Ordered that He be requested to return it.” Bro. Harper undertook to
write to him on the subject. On 17 July “The Grand Secretary reported that, the
Junior Warden’s Jewel had been returned (having been delivered in Paris to his
Brother by Mr Gautier).”

49 The Jewel depicts Mercury, messenger to the gods, holding a staff with serpents wrapped
about it and was the emblem used by a Deacon in the ‘Antient’ Lodges.