THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

symbol of men's natural state of ignorance. But if the perfect ashlar
be,
in reference to its mode of preparation, considered as a symbol of the
social character of Freemasonry, then the rough ashlar must be
considered
as a symbol of the profane world. In this species of symbolism, the
rough
and perfect ashlars bear the same relation to each other as ignorance
does
to knowledge, death to life, and light to darkness. The rough ashlar is
the profane, the perfect ashlar is the initiate.
ASHMOLE, ELIAS. A celebrated antiquary of England, who was born in
1617.
He has written an autobiography, or rather diary of his life, which
extends to within eight years of his death. Under the date of October
16,
1646, he has made the following entry: "I was made a Free-Mason at
Warrington, in Lancashire, with Col. Henry Mainwaring, of Carticham, in
Cheshire; the names of those that were then at the lodge: Mr. Richard
Penket, warden; Mr. James Collier, Mr. Richard Sankey, Henry Littler,
John
Ellam and Hugh Brewer." Thirty-six years afterwards, under date of
March
10, 1682, he makes the following entry: "I received a summons to appear
at
a lodge to be held the next day at Masons' Hall, in London. 11.
Accordingly I went, and about noon was admitted into the fellowship of
Freemasons by Sir William Wilson, Knight, Captain Richard Borthwick,
Mr.
William Woodman, Mr. William Grey, Mr. Samuel Taylour, and Mr. William
Wise. I was the senior fellow among them (it being thirty-five years
since
I was admitted); there was present beside myself the fellows after
named:
Mr. Thomas Wise, master of the Masons' Company this year; Mr. Thomas
Shorthose, Mr. Thomas Shadbolt, ---- Waidsfford, Esq., Mr. Nicholas
Young,
Mr. John Shorthose, Mr. William Hamon, Mr. John Thompson, and Mr.
William
Stanton. We all dined at the Half-Moon Tavern, in Cheapside, at a noble
dinner prepared at the charge of the new-accepted Masons." The titles
of
some of the persons named in these two receptions confirm what is said
in
the text, that the operative was at that time being superseded by the
speculative element. It is deeply to be regretted that Ashmole did not
carry out his projected design of writing a history of Freemasonry, for
which it is said that he had collected abundant materials. His History
of
the Order of the Garter shows what we might have expected from his
treatment of the masonic institution.
ASPIRANT. One who aspires to or seeks after the truth. The title given
to
the candidate in the ancient Mysteries.