Page 152 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

152 An Account of the

The Festival was held on 8 May 1877, at Long’s Hotel, Bond Street, where the
Lodge was then established; eighteen members were present and nineteen visitors,
and Bro. Webb read the notes on the history of the Lodge to which reference has
been made before.
Nothing more is recorded about the rejoicings; not even the menu of the
banquet has come down to us.
On 11 May 1897 the Lodge held high festival in “Commemoration of the
Diamond Jubilee of the Queen.” A copy of the elaborate programme of this is
fortunately preserved among the archives. The cover is adorned with a reproduction
of Cipriani’s familiar design of Apollo surrounded by the Nine Muses, all gracefully
reclining on clouds, with a little Eros, a trifle de trop, floating at their feet. This has
been used by the Lodge on other festal occasions. On the back is a plan of the tables
in the “Marble Salon” of the Grand Hotel.
Within is a “Programme of Instrumental Music to be performed by Gastrell’s
Blue Hungarian Band. Director Carl Olivère.” It consists of eighteen items, the
composers ranging from Sydney Jones to Brahms. This is followed by a “Programme
of Vocal Music Under the Direction of Bro. Henry Prenton, assisted by Bro. Sidney
Barnby, Bro. Arthur Court, and Bro. Edouard Delevanti.” The words of all the items
are printed in full, beginning with “Grace, from the Laudi Spirituali, A.D. 1545”,
and ending with “Phillis dyes her tresses black”.
There are eleven vocal items making, with the eighteen of the Blue Hungarians,
twenty-nine in all; evidently the Lodge made a night of it.
Members ancient enough to recall the 1880s will remember the furore created
by the Blue Hungarian Band, with their smart uniform and intoxicating strings.
The original band had many imitators.
At the Lodge meeting before this musical orgy “The Secretary reported that
... Bro. Courage had expressed his wish to pay for the Blue Hungarian Band and
the Vocal Brethren who would attend. Resolved. That the Lodge while cheerfully
allowing Bro. Courage to gratify this wish hereby tenders to him its best thanks for
his generous conduct.” A hilarious spirit had clearly set in even before the banquet.
Twenty-two members and twenty-five visitors were present. The principal guest
was R.W. Bro. Sir John Monckton, P.G.W.