‘The Ashmole anniversary’

     
Attention Freemasons, wherever dispersed:

Three hundred and seventy years ago today, renowned scholar, antiquarian, and public official Elias Ashmole was reportedly initiated into Freemasonry in England, so raise a glass and drink to the memory of our famous predecessor.

According to his notes:

Elias Ashmole (1617-92)

Oct. 16, 1646 at 4:30 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.”

Vivat!