Page 32 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

32 An Account of the

With the renaissance the Muses became part of the literary language, especially
in connection with poetry; no eighteenth-century versifier aspiring to elegance
but followed Horace in invoking his Muse, and modish painters flattered their fair
patronesses by portraying them in the guise of Muses. Even to-day we are not without
“Terpsichorean”, performances, and the word “Euterpean” persists in the dictionaries.
There can be no better introduction to the minutes themselves than to give in
full those of the first recorded meeting; here is a transcription:

Lodge of Nine Muses
Thatched House Tavern
Friday 28. January 1814
th
Present Bro. Sir W. Rawlins R.W.M.
m
r
• • • • Mofs S.W.
• • • • Dockesy J.W.
• • • • Turner Sec.
y
• • • • Kelsey
• • • • Thornton
• • • • Hope
• • • • Harper
• • • • P. Martin
The lodge opened in the first degree
The Minutes of the last lodge read & confirmed
Andrew Mathias Esq of Bloomsbury Place Surgeon ballotted for and
unanimously elected a subscribing member.
George Tyrrell Esq Lieutenant in his Majesty’s Royal Navy was proposed to be
9
ballotted for by the R.W.M. it being a case of emergency as the candidate was
going on Service abroad which motion being seconded by the Secretary the said
George Tyrrell was unanimously elected a member of this lodge. The candidates
Andrew Mathias and George Tyrrell were introduced and initiated into the first
degree. Br Mathias paid for his initiation and annual subscription fees £10. 12
Bro . Tyrrell paid for his initiation & for his dinner £7. 1 Bro. Moss paid his
r
r
annual subscription £4. 6. 0. Thornton do. do. 4.6.0. The R.W.M. delivered an
eloquent eulogium on Masonry to the newly elected brethren This being the day

9 Tyrrell served in the West Indies and North America, 1814-15, and was “restored to the list
of subscribing members” on his return, 24 January 1816.