Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au

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I was the Senior Fellow among them ( it being 35 years since I
was admitted). There were p’sent beside myselfe the fellowes
after named.
Mr. Tho: Wise Mr of the Masons Company this p’sent yeare. Mr
Thomas Shorthose, Mr William Hamon, Mr John Thompson and
Mr Will: Stanton.
Diligent enquiries over many years by many historians and researchers
have failed to produce any written evidence of Ashmole’s
Masonic activity in the 35 years between his initiation and
the summons to appear in London. Nothing has been found!
Wee all dyned at the Halfe Moone Tavern in Cheapside, at a
Noble Dinner prepaired at the charge of the New-accepted Masons.”
The entries I have quoted above are from printed versions reproduced
from the original hand-written diaries and to some extent a
comparison of the original hand written entries to those subsequently
printed, reveal marked differences even to the extent of
changing the meaning completely. The original entries are available
for assiduous students, but because of the nature of the
handwriting and “ye olde English’ they are difficult to follow. I refer
you to AQC Transactions Volume 78 (1965) and Volume 25
(1912) for detailed information on this subject.
Elias Ashmole
I find it somewhat strange that this man who obviously had the
habit of recording on a daily basis his various activities and actions
did not attend lodge for 35 years? At least not according to
the recorded entries in his diary. Obviously attendance at lodge
was a sufficiently important event to him causing him to make a
note in his diary, even to the extent of including the names of his
fellow brethren. It certainly appears as though a gap of 35 years
in Masonic activity occurred in his life. I find this very odd.
It is known that he was a friend of some important men of the day
such as Francis Bacon and Sir Robert Moray ( both prominent
Free masons) and it is more than likely that he was involved in
the clandestine discussions and planning from which the Royal
Society emerged. Both Ashmole and Bacon were definitely
prominent members of The Royal Society an organisation which
is commonly accepted as having been established by Freemasons.
The Ashmolean Museum