Page 9 - Centennial Sketch of the History of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 1877 UGLE

Lodge of the Nine Muses 1777-1877 9

itself in that brotherly love which is, according to language familiar to us all, “the
foundation and cope-stone, the cement and glory, of this ancient fraternity”.
The earliest document we possess relating to the history of the Lodge is its
3
Charter of Constitution, the text of which I thought it would be interesting to
the Brethren to refer to, and I have therefore given it in the Appendix to this
narrative. It is couched in the time-honoured phraseology of the Craft, and contains
the seven following names: John Hull, Esq., Raphael Franco, Esq., Richard Barker,
Esq., Robert Biggin, Esq., Abraham Teixeira, Esq., Isaac sequeira, Esq., M.D., and
Bartholomew Ruspini. The document also refers, without mentioning names, to
“several other Brethren”.
Among the seven Brethren who, according to rule, petitioned for the constitution
of the Lodge, we recognise with especial pleasure the name of the Chevalier
Bartholomew Ruspini, so honourably known to us, and likely to be known to
4
many generations to come, as originator of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls
— the oldest of our Masonic Institutions ~ which, since its establishment in 1788,
has been the means of conferring incalculable benefit upon hundreds of the orphan
children of members of the Craft. Mr Ruspini occupied the post of Dentist to
His Majesty King George IV., and he used the influence which he possessed as a
professional man, enjoying a considerable popularity in the upper circles of society,
for the furtherance of his benevolent ideas. His connection with the foundation
of this Lodge preserves the tradition of readiness in philanthropic endeavours, and
should serve to stimulate us in the manifestation of that true feeling of fraternal
compassion which has ever been regarded as one of the characteristic virtues of
the Freemason.
It is a matter for much regret that the books containing the Minutes of the
Lodge for several years from the date of its constitution are not to be found; it is
possible they are no longer in existence. We have, however, some compensation for
this loss, although not of course an entirely satisfactory one, in a brief account of the
history of the Lodge, published in the Freemasons’ Magazine of February, 1796. In
5
Appendix III. this record is quoted in full. From this account, and the list of names
of Brethren given, it is plain that the Lodge was very honourably connected, in the
persons of some of its leading members, with Art, that it had an honourable social

3 The Charter of Constitution.
4 The Chevalier B. Ruspini, one of the first members.
5 sources of information on the history of the Lodge.