Page 10 - Centennial Sketch of the History of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 1877 UGLE

10 Lodge of the Nine Muses 1777-1877

status, and a worthy reputation. several of the members, it will be noticed, were of
Italian birth, and it is noteworthy in the history of the Lodge that Brethren who
have been prominent and zealous in it have generally managed to attract to it men
of spirit and of associations resembling their own. Different nationalities, as well as
different phases of social, professional, and intellectual life, have thus been reflected
in our Masonic circle.
6
That Giovanni Batista Cipriani, who designed and painted the principal jewels
of the Lodge, was no mean artist, these exquisite evidences of his skill remain to
show. He was one of the original members of the Royal Academy, and was presented
with a silver cup by that body in return for the design for their Diploma, which he
furnished. He died much esteemed, Dec. 14, 1785, and was buried at Chelsea. He
employed himself chiefly in drawing designs, of which Bartolozzi engraved a great
number. Francesco Bartolozzi was on of the most accomplished and celebrated of
the designers and engravers of his time. His works are still greatly valued, and his
name finds distinguished mention in every complete account of his branch of art.
He spent many years in England, and was also a member of the Royal Academy.
He left this country at the invitation of the King of Portugal, and is believed to
have died in Lisbon in 1815 or 1819. It is an agreeable reminiscence of the early
days of our Lodge, ~ Bro. Cipriani and Bro. Bartolozzi, after co-operating in the
same field of Art during the day, adjourning to Masonic labour and refreshment,
and feeling that although foreigners they were perfectly at home among cordial
English Brethren. And surely Bro. Cipriani has left behind him enduring evidence
of the grateful influence of these gatherings upon him, in the beautiful jewels we
wear.
It is with feelings of a very different kind that we must look back to Dr. William
7
Dodd’s connection with this Lodge. That notorious clergyman’s association with
us must have been of the briefest kind. Indeed, as he was expelled from Freemasonry
before the date of the warrant of constitution (25th March, 1777), and appears
simply to have been present at the preliminary meeting in the preceding January,
it is not strictly accurate to call him a member of the Lodge. As, however, his name
has been handed down to us in this connection, we should perhaps take notice of
it. He was, as is well known, hanged at Tyburn in the summer of the year in which

6 Brethren of the Lodge and the Fine Arts: Cipriani and Bartolozzi.
7 Dr. Dodd’s connection with the Lodge.