Page 155 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 155

The programme of music after dinner included two items by Bro. Reid at the
piano; Beethoven’s so-called “Moonlight” sonata, chosen in commemoration of
the death of the composer on 26 March 1827, almost exactly a hundred years
before, and an “Overture to the Nine Muses” of his own composition, which
unhappily Bro. Reid does not appear to have committed to paper; at any rate
search has so far failed to find a manuscript. Very likely it was an improvisation;
Bro. Reid had a happy knack in that kind.
The Freemason for 26 March 1927 printed a full report, from which some of
the foregoing particulars are taken.
On 16 February 1937, at the Grosvenor Hotel, with Bro. Martin Jenkins,
the newly installed Master, in the chair the Lodge marked the near approach
of its 160th birthday with a banquet attended by something more than the
usual ceremony; eighteen members were present and twenty-five guests, among
whom the Lodge had the honour to welcome Bro. K. Zarine, the Latvian
Minister in London, and Bro. W. M. Wackenfelts, Secretary to the Swedish
Legation, both officers of the Grand Lodge of Sweden, whose picturesque
green regalia stood out amid the prevailing blue.

The meeting to celebrate the 175th Anniversary marked another change
for the Lodge. The Piccadilly Hotel was unable to accommodate the numbers
for this occasion and in any case, on the recommendation of the Committee,
the Lodge had voted to move to the Masonic Suite newly created at Whitehall
Court. The actual Anniversary, an Emergency meeting, was held on Tuesday 30
th
September. 1952 at Freemasons’ Hall and was attended by a worthy assemblage
of Grandees as recorded in this verbatim copy from the minutes of the meeting.
Following the austerity of the war years this was a welcome opportunity to
throw off the privations and look to an optimistic future.