Page 73 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 73

It is not stated whether any members of the Lodge took advantage of the
opportunity to be present on these historic occasions. The rites and ceremonies
then promulgated are those still employed.
11 March 1828: “The W.M. having made the usual request that, any Brother
who had aught to propose for the benefit of Masonry, should now declare it,
proceeded to open the Lodge in the Second Degree.”
10 December 1833: A letter was received “from the United Grand Lodge
requesting the attendance of the W.M. at a General Committee and Lodge
of Benevolence on the 27th Dec . and of the W.M. Wardens and P.MMs at a
r
r
Quarterly Communication. 4th of Dec . ”.
This is the first reference in the minutes to these meetings.
8 March 1836: “The Lodge was closed with solemn prayer,” the first occurrence
of this formula.
9 February 1841: “The officers having accepted the appointments and signified
their intention of performing the duties attached to them, were saluted with the
usual honors.” This was at the installation meeting.
On 9 March 1841 the following singular entry appears: “That in addition to
the Officers (who shall be fined 2/6 if not present,) the Secretary shall specially
summon three members in rotation, each of whom shall be fined in the like sum
of 2/6, if not in attendance at the hour summoned. That the amount of each
Member’s fine be added to his annual subscription, and paid with it, and when
the aggregate fines shall amount to five pounds, that sum shall be given to the
Free Masons Boys School, in the name of each subscribing Member of the Lodge
in succefsion commencing at the time of their joining the Lodge.”
A marginal note opposite this minute reads: “NB. this motion not having been
discussed at one meeting of the Lodge & confirmed at a subsequent one has not
become a By Law. JMC. 24/5/62.” Bro. J. M. Clabon had succeeded Bro. Crew
as Secretary in 1862.
None the less, on 8 June 1841 the W. Master, Treasurer, both Deacons, the
Director of Ceremonies and two Past Masters, were fined for “not attending at
the hour summoned”, a pretty good bag. Such fines continued to be exacted until
1850, but they do not seem to have reached the Boys’ Institution, the Secretary