Ashmole, Elias

Ashmole, Elias. A celebrated English antiquary of the 17th century noted Masonically for his two diary entries of 1646 and 1682, and the fact that the earlier of these is the first record we have of the making of a Freemason in an English lodge or rather two in that instance. He was born at Lichfield, May 23, 1617, the son of a saddler, and died at London, May 18, 1692. In 1638, he became a solicitor; in 1644, was appointed commissioner of excises, and later made captain of horse and comptroller of ordnance. In 1649, he married Lady Mainwaring, some twenty years his senior, gaining thereby a position of wealth which enabled him to devote his time to study. He became interested in astrology by meeting George Wharton and William Lilly in London in 1646, but that gave way later to heraldry and antiquarian research. He held a number of royal appointments and refused the office of Garter King-at-arms in favor of Sir William Dugdale, whose daughter he married in 1668. In 1672, he published Institutions, Laws and Ceremonies of the Order of the Garter. In 1677, he presented to Oxford University his collection of curiosities which became the Ashmolean Museum. At page 303 of his Diary is the following:

”1646 Oct: 16. 4 H 30’ P.M.,
I was made a Free Mason at Warrington, in Lancashire, with Coll: Henry Mainwaring, of Karincham, in Cheshire. The names of those that were then of the Lodge, Mr. Rich Penket Warden, Mr. James Collier, Mr. Rich: Sankey, Henry Littler, John Ellam, Rich: Ellam & Hugh Brewer.”

His Diary, at page 362, states:

”March 1682
10. About 5 H P.M., I received a summons to appear at a Lodge to be held the next day, at Mason’s Hall, London.
11.--Accordingly I went & about Noone were admitted into the Fellowship of free Masons, Sr William Wilson Knight. Capt. Rich: Borthwick, Mr. Will: Woodman, Mr. Wm Grey, Mr. Samuell Taylour and Mr. William Wise.
I was the Senior Fellow among them (it being 35 years since I was admitted). There were present besides myself the Fellows after name.
Mr. Tho: Wise Mr. of the Masons Company this present yeare. Mr. Thomas Shorthose, Mr. Thomas Shadbolt, Waindsford Esqr: Mr. Nich: Young, Mr. John Shorthose, Mr. William Hamon, Mr. John Thompson, & Mr. Will: Stanton.
We all dyned at the halfe Moone Taverne in Cheapside, at a noble dinner prepaired at the charge of the new-accepted Masons.”

This lodge at the Masons’ Company was undoubtedly the accepcon or lodge appendant to the Masons’ Company of London. (See ACCEPTED; MASONS COMPANY OF LONDON.) As for the other lodge in which Ashmole was made a Freemason at Warrington in 1646, it has been ascertained that all present on that occasion were gentlemen Masons. The principal facts to be deduced from Ashmole’s statements are that there were small, little known lodges in out-of-the-way places in 17th century England, evidence of which comes to us largely by chance; that they were sometimes completely non-operative; and that well-to-do and well educated men belonged to them. It may also be said to show that Masons were no better then than they are now about keeping up their attendance at lodge. A number of unwarranted conclusions have been drawn from Ashmole’s membership in the Society, for example, it has been said to show the connection of Freemasonry with Rosicrucianism. But there is no proof that Ashmole was a Rosicrucian, although he delved into that and alchemy and all sorts of mysteries and curiosities as an antiquary naturally would do. We have no information, however, that he devoted any considerable part of his time to them or gave them any credence whatever. On the other hand, he certainly was not very much interested in or attached to Freemasonry, having attended lodge only twice in thirty-five years. So, we have a pret*nded link between two institutions, which had a very slight connection with either of them!

Macoy Collector's Note: Coil expertly utilizes Elias Ashmole’s diary to demonstrate that speculative, non-operative Freemasonry existed in England well before the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge in 1717, while simultaneously debunking exaggerated Rosicrucian claims.