Page 165 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 165

paying the usual fees.” Bro. Twynam was a civil engineer.
[12 February 1844] Upon a Motion duly made and seconded it was Resolved
“That the By Law which declares that a Candidate who shall have been ballotted for
and elected at one meeting, must be Initiated at the following or some subsequent
meeting, be upon this occasion suspended and that Mr Kearsey be now Initiated.”
... Brother Propert having completed the Initiation in a manner that gave great
satisfaction to the Lodge and it is hoped duly imprefsed the Initiate, quitted the chair.

This is a good example of the methods of a century ago.
Bro. Propert, W.M. 1839 and 1840, was then Treasurer; Bro. Kearsey became
W.M. in 1847 and 1848, and again in 1850 and was Treasurer from 1858 to 1862.
Under 13 February 1849 is the following testimonial to Bro. Kearsey;
Resolved. “That the warmest and most fraternally affectionate thanks of this
Lodge be presented to Br Francis Kearsey Esq P.M. for the great interest he
manifested and the high talent he evinced during the two years he was Master of
the Lodge and for the liberal hospitality and truly Brotherly regard he shewed to
everyone of its Members.”
11 February 1840. “Read a letter respecting a Portrait of B Hope late Sec. of
y
the Girls School.” No action is minuted.
14 May 1844. Sir John Hansler, Kt., was ballotted for and elected for initiation,
but unhappily never presented himself. He was an interesting man, F.R.S. and
F.S.A., and is said to have been the first knight made by Queen Victoria.
This was a heavy evening – an initiation, a passing, and a twofold raising: our
forerunners were certainly not afraid of work.
11 November 1845. “Read a letter from the Secretary of the Girls School
soliciting subscriptions towards a portrait of the Matron.” The Secretary of the
Girls School was Bro. Francis Crew, then also Secretary of the Nine Muses. £3.
10s. was there and then collected in small sums of five and ten shillings.
Bro. Maurice Beachcroft, the present Secretary of the Royal Institution for
Girls, has kindly supplied from the minutes of the Institution some particulars
concerning this remarkable old lady, and in October 1938 he presented the
Lodge with a fine photograph of the portrait described below.