Page 9 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

An Account of the Lodge of the Nine Muses 9

of authorities has been avoided as unsuited to the character of the book, but the
reader may be assured that the endeavour has been made to check all statements
so far as the ordinarily accessible sources of information extend; beyond that the
writer makes no profession to have in general carried his investigations.
A friend who read the work in manuscript complained that eating, drinking
and other diversions were dwelt on to the neglect of the true objects of the
Lodge. If this is really the case Masons will not be misled. The writer of the
history of a Masonic Lodge is in much the same position as a man required to
describe the activities of a business house while debarred from mentioning most
of what takes place in board-room and offices.
The compiler is deeply indebted for help and information to the ungrudging
co-operation of many more persons than can be named here; acknowledgements
will be found in text or notes; but this introduction cannot end without due thanks
to the staff of the Grand Lodge Library, more particularly to W. Bro. FREDERICK
A. M. TAYLOR, the Assistant Librarian, whose patience and courtesy have
proved as inexhaustible as his knowledge; to the History Sub-Committee of the
Lodge; and to our indefatigable Brother SECRETARY, without whose aid and
sympathy this little work could never have been completed or even attempted.