Page 67 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 67

Seventeen members were present; the subscription was five guineas, so fifteen
may have paid, though the figures do not quite fit.
Here, though it is strictly irrelevant, may be mentioned a fact which shows that
Sir William had no lack of magnanimity.
The minutes for 10 March 1835 record that a candidate proposed by Sir
William himself – a man of some position, presumably a relative as he had the
same name – and seconded by Bro. Turner, one of the oldest members, was most
uncompromisingly blackballed: only three such cases are recorded altogether, an
average of one in half a century. For the “father of the Lodge” to accept such
a rebuff, as we shall see, without resentment, shows a fine character, while the
occurrence also illustrates the independence of the Lodge
On 8 December in the same year
Sir W. Rawlins announced his intention to retire from the official duties of
Treasurer which he had fulfilled he said for a great many years. The Lodge had
kept free from all debts or engagements and he had a fund in hand which he
should be ready to deliver over to the Treasurer the Lodge might elect and to pafs
his accounts in retiring.

Bro. Joseph Arden, elected in his stead
accepted the office and felt it a high compliment to be called to succeed one who
had so faithfully served the office for so many years as Sir W. Rawlins. Bro. Crewe
J. W. moved a vote of thanks ... and after a debate in which several brethren took
part concurring in the eulogies exprefsed by the mover & seconder the motion
was carried nem. con. The W.M. [Bro. Dr Whitsed] afsured the Worthy Brother of
his hearty concurrence in the resolution, the regret he felt in losing his services
and the hope that for many a long year he would remain with the Lodge of
which he was the father.
Sir W. Rawlins in returning thanks said he entertained undiminished regard
m
for the Lodge of which he was proud of having been for so long a member & for
the individual brethren present.
He hoped for many years to come [to] be a constant attendant at their meetings,
a courageous wish in a man of eighty-three.