Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In The Seventeenth Century: Chester, 1650-1700.
And thus may well end my extracts from this curious work ; many of them have a peculiar interest , but none so much so as that in which Randle Holme distinctly states that he was " A Member of that Society called Free Masons . " Both he and his father and grandfather before him were Heralds , and men occupying the high position of sheriff and mayor of Chester ; certainl y they could neither of them have been operative masons . The wording of the
sentence is peculiar—he says : — " I cannot but Honor the Felloshi p of the Masons because of its Antiquity , and the more , as being a Member of that Society , called Free-Masons : In being conversant amongst them I have observed the use of these several Tools following , some whereof I have seen born in Coats Armour . " Herealthough he clearly draws a distinction between the " Fellowshiof
, p Masons " as builders , and the " Society called Free-Masons , at the same time he appears to wish a connection between the two * to be inferred , whether only in the similarity of name , remains yet to be discovered . That Randle Holme was not an operative Mason is clear .
Bro . Hughan , in his work , " Masonic Sketches and Reprints , "f when mentioning Harl . MS ., No . 2054 , writes : " Mr . Richard Sims informs us that the Masonic MS ., and nearly the whole of the papers in vol . 2054 , containing 25 £ leaves , is in the hand-writing of Randle Holmes [ Holme ] Herald of Chester and mostly refer to charters , orders , and constitutions of Chester companies . ' This copy of the old Oonstitutions % bears no date , but the time it was
written has been fixed , probably from the fact of the handwriting of Randle Holme being known , at about 1650 . In the same MS . § is , next in order to the Constitutions just mentioned , the following form of oath , also in the writing of Randle Holme . [| "There is seu all || words & signes of a free Mason to be revailed to y w as y" will answ : before God at the Great & terrible day of Iudgm' y " the in the heares of to
keep secret & not to revaile ^ same any pson or anj but to the M . & fellows of the said Society of free Masons so help me God , & c . " This is written on a small scrap of paper , evidently torn off the corner of a sheet . Probably it is a rough memorandum . The next leaf in the same volume is another document also written by
Randle Holme , recording the names of persons made Freemasons , with the initiation fee , as follows . ** William Wade w' - giue for to be a free Mason . 11111111 20 s . Robert Morris 1111 111 I ' 10 Willm Street Aldm ' 15 John Hughes . II 5 Sam Pikes taylor 1 8 Willm Wade
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In The Seventeenth Century: Chester, 1650-1700.
And thus may well end my extracts from this curious work ; many of them have a peculiar interest , but none so much so as that in which Randle Holme distinctly states that he was " A Member of that Society called Free Masons . " Both he and his father and grandfather before him were Heralds , and men occupying the high position of sheriff and mayor of Chester ; certainl y they could neither of them have been operative masons . The wording of the
sentence is peculiar—he says : — " I cannot but Honor the Felloshi p of the Masons because of its Antiquity , and the more , as being a Member of that Society , called Free-Masons : In being conversant amongst them I have observed the use of these several Tools following , some whereof I have seen born in Coats Armour . " Herealthough he clearly draws a distinction between the " Fellowshiof
, p Masons " as builders , and the " Society called Free-Masons , at the same time he appears to wish a connection between the two * to be inferred , whether only in the similarity of name , remains yet to be discovered . That Randle Holme was not an operative Mason is clear .
Bro . Hughan , in his work , " Masonic Sketches and Reprints , "f when mentioning Harl . MS ., No . 2054 , writes : " Mr . Richard Sims informs us that the Masonic MS ., and nearly the whole of the papers in vol . 2054 , containing 25 £ leaves , is in the hand-writing of Randle Holmes [ Holme ] Herald of Chester and mostly refer to charters , orders , and constitutions of Chester companies . ' This copy of the old Oonstitutions % bears no date , but the time it was
written has been fixed , probably from the fact of the handwriting of Randle Holme being known , at about 1650 . In the same MS . § is , next in order to the Constitutions just mentioned , the following form of oath , also in the writing of Randle Holme . [| "There is seu all || words & signes of a free Mason to be revailed to y w as y" will answ : before God at the Great & terrible day of Iudgm' y " the in the heares of to
keep secret & not to revaile ^ same any pson or anj but to the M . & fellows of the said Society of free Masons so help me God , & c . " This is written on a small scrap of paper , evidently torn off the corner of a sheet . Probably it is a rough memorandum . The next leaf in the same volume is another document also written by
Randle Holme , recording the names of persons made Freemasons , with the initiation fee , as follows . ** William Wade w' - giue for to be a free Mason . 11111111 20 s . Robert Morris 1111 111 I ' 10 Willm Street Aldm ' 15 John Hughes . II 5 Sam Pikes taylor 1 8 Willm Wade