Dr. Elias

 

Elias

(Omnia in Unum)

Victor. Arturo. Cabello. Reyes.

Born: 23 May 1617, in Lichfield, Staffordshire. England.

Died: South Lambeth (London), 18 or 19 May 1692.

''What we foretell is not in vain because of the Rosie Crosse we are Brothers: We have the Word Mason and the second Vision of future things, we make a correct prediction''

(Henri Adamson of Perth, Edinburgh, 1638)

One of the most enigmatic and controversial members within the Florida Order has been Dr. Elias Ashmole.

From a young age he studied at Lichfield at the grammar school specializing in law in London (1633-8).

His interests are varied and extensive and from an early age he leaned towards esotericism-occultism-alchemical-hermetic.

For more than a decade he rigorously studied alchemy and its main sources.

He delves into the research of heraldry, numismatics, history, genealogies and especially the Ancient Orders of Chivalry.

He was a prestigious antiquarian and creator of the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford.

His valuable collection was donated to Oxford in 1675.

''He wrote a great history of the Order of the Garter, stage-managed its Rites which of often involved foreign potentates, and served as authority on all matters of Tradition and precedence.'' (1)

At the age of 16 (1633), he managed to finish his studies in music (1638), later continuing his legal career in London.

His father was an artisan and soldier. He established his legal practice by 1638.

But retired at the age of 25, dedicating himself and devoting himself entirely to study and alchemy.

He studied at Oxford as an associate member of the prestigious Brasenose College (1645).

By 1646 he was collector-''collect de excise'' entrusted by Charles I as 'Appointed Commissioner', receiver and registrar of Excised of Worcester. (2)

It is important to point out his second marriage with the rich and older woman = (14 or 20 years more), Lady Mainwaring (1649).

He was the fourth husband of Lady Mainwaring.

He (Elias) had been widowed in 1641.

Let us remember that he was loyal to Charles I as Procurator of London, and even fought on the side of Charles I, during the civil war of 1640.

Later, for his honesty and fidelity to the cause of Charles II, in 1660 he was appointed Winsor Herald and Registrar and Treasurer between (1668-1671).

As a Founding Member of the English Royal Society, he contributed to the elaboration of its heraldic symbols=Rerum Cognoscere Causas and his sentence of Virgil: felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas= ''Happy is he who can learn-know the Causes of Things.''

(Robert Moray - initiated 5 years earlier) was its first President)

Alongside them, the Freemasons of the Royal Society of London who were the scholars Sir Robert Moray, Inigo Jones and Isaac Newton (recent evidence), together with the architect Christopher Wren -architect of St. Paul's Cathedral in London-, study Templar alchemy, the tradition of the orders of chivalry and the rich tradition of the Medieval Guilds. (3)

Newton's interests in Solomonic Temple Naometry are unique for the formal study of the existence and universality of certain archetypes of a geometric-mathematical and alchemical nature.

The same as Simon Studion with Templar-Solomonic Naometry.

Oxford awarded Elias Ashmole his doctorate in 1669.

A serious, cultured and erudite astrologer, a collector of plants, ancient documents, rocks and minerals and not simple curiosities.

From early in his life, he dedicated himself to collecting objects, ancient coins, alchemical artifacts, manuscripts and archaeological objects.

For a long time, he stood out as an antiquarian and collector of manuscripts and ancient documents; his catalogue of Oxford University Manuscripts being famous.

His rigorous and technical knowledge of astrology motivates him to always maintain and act according to the precise study of astrological schedules to make sound decisions.

''... since every decision he took was governed by hoaray astrology.''

(J. Godwin)

Founding Member of the Royal Society of London and collector of antiques=Antiquary.

A follower of the Wisdom of Pistis Sophia and Perennis Philosophy.

Copied by hand, before publication, a copy of the translation of the Fama and Confessio in which is attached a very enthusiastic letter on the Brothers of the ROSE+CROSS (in Latin).

The Flowery Master Ashmole was fraternally linked to many of the most famous Rosicrucian occultists and esotericists, alchemists and Freemasons.

His fraternal-spiritual relationship with the wise astrologer William Lilly and the brilliant Master Dr. Robert Fludd, who according to treatise writers and scholars lived in Coleman Street, next to the Mason Hall in London, was recognized.

An admirer of the traditional line of Dr. Michael Maier and Dr. Robert Fludd, Ashmole comments that Dr. Michael Maier visited England to learn English and be able to read Norton's Ordinall; whose Hermetic-Alchemical-Kabbalistic concept is nourished by correspondences of the Macrocosm = (Celestial Man) between analogies of the Microcosm = (Earthly Man), enriched by the Paracelsian wisdom of the Naturphilosophie.

That ancient and cultured alchemical-hermetic Masonry, the maximum exposition of an Alchemical Art, whose power resides in the Sacred Fire and the elaboration of Metallic and constructive Science of the Cosmos; reflected in the Microcosm of the Masonic Temple prefiguring astrological influences of the Great Temple of the Cosmos=Macrocosm.

Although he was an Anglican, his interest in alchemy and astrology motivated him to publish the famous Fasciculus Chemicus (1650).

His work The Way to Bliss (1658) is unique.

He had unusual knowledge of botanist, anatomical and all kinds of plants or "opium poppies".

The alchemical Tradition in the Masters of the Flower is a concept of analogy, since everything that happens in the universe has a direct relationship with what happened in the Athanor or personal Furnace.

Similar to the in-house lab.

(Zózimo de Panópolis, Tratado de Los Hornos)

The Path of the Flowery Masters is the SOLAR Path, since the Chrysopeia=Transmutation of a metal into Gold is the Path of internal personal solarization.

"All things come from the same SEED, and, in their Origin, all of them have been procreated by the same MOTHER."

(Basilio Valentín)

The erudite researcher of Hermes R. P. Festugière rightly said,

''Alchemy is a Path of LIFE, which supposes a Work of Inner Perfection.''

Elias Ashmole, for his mastery of the sacred field of alchemy was known as: Mercuriophilus Anglicus.

He also mastered the field of anatomy and the studies of Hermes.

He takes the symbol of Mercury as personal and considers himself a link in the Golden Chain, faithfully following the Flowery Master William Blackhouse.

The disputed relationship between Freemasonry and Rosicrucian's has in Elias Ashmole, its most precious connecting link.

Since he was initiated on October 16, 1646, in an operative Lodge - being a Rosicrucian - already in the process of resuming the transmission of spiritual lines of the geometrical-Euclidean constructive wisdom.

His in-depth study of the Order of the Garter motivated him to publish a singular work of seminal documentary research: The Institutions, Laws, and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 1672 dedicated to King Charles II.

According to his diary (1645-1649), it begins at ''4:30 in the afternoon'' on October 16, 1646.

"I have been made a Freemason in Warrington, Lancashire, with Colonel Henry Mainwaring, of Karichan, Cheshire."

Master Ashmole belonged to the Church of England and the enigmatic Colonel Maiwaring was a Puritan.

To Ashmole, similar to Master Flowery Dee, the Christ is: "Our Heavenly ArcheMaster".

''The Mystical meanings of the ROSE as a Symbol are to be looked for in th kabalistic commentaries on Canticles''= (The Rose of Sharon=Christ)

(Albert Pike, Morals and Dogmas)

It is important to emphasize that constant and followed relations between Masons and Rosicrucian's are maintained, since aristocratic and cultured families knew of those millenary currents that permeate the initiatory life and enrich the tradition of SOPHIA Perennial.

Let us remember that Elias Ashmole, was Procurator of London and is initiated with certain "privileges", "while in prison" in Warrington.

(J.Ridley)

We mention the Sankey family, the Mainwarings and others. "The case of the Lodge which Elias Ashmole visited in 1682 is especially interesting.

He was in the London Masons Company, but he was different from it.

Although it received non-operatives such as Ashmole, not all members of the company were members of the Lodge, which thus appears as a kind of inner circle in the Operative society." (4)

In relation to the Lodge of initiation, it is worth mentioning that operative Freemasonry in essence never ceases to be speculative and members present were cultured or scholars and scholars of high spirituality of the times, interweaving complementary threads Kabbalistic and Hermetic doctrines of ancestral currents.

New research in Masonic history indicates continuity of spiritual speculation from cathedral-building guilds and thanks to the wisdom maintained by builder monks.

(Regulation of 1268 in the Building Orders of France)

The sharp separation between "operative Masons" and their "replacement" by "speculative Masons" is not correct, since true Freemasonry, not the pompous, belated, ignorant and fragile Grand Lodges, is nourished and nourished like the PELICAN of the occult and "underground" tradition of Gildes and fraternities of stone carvers or specialized bodies of worker operators.

The true ancestors of the Freemasons were humble manual laborers, whose tools and stones, ... They were more than that.

It is not until 1757 that the speculative is accepted as such in the lodge archives. For the lodges (Copus, oeuvre, Banhutte) were during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries already mature communities in Euclidean geometric speculation using their iconography and symbology in the same hard stone of the Temple.

The Architect is all a–Magister Lapidum = Master of the Stone.

There is conscious alchemy in the elaboration of the sacred stone of ancient cathedrals and medieval churches since before the Grand Lodges. (5)

Even before 1630 Freemasonry in Scotland was underway.

As well as Germany and France.

Present at his initiation are James Collier, Henry Littler, Rich Sanchey, Hugh Brewer and Richard Penkett's, who is mentioned as the ceremony's Warden, among others, no less important.

He swears and takes obligations on – not the Bible – but Sloane Manuscript No. 3438.

Later he distinguished himself as Master of Ceremonies of the English Monarchy.

''Five years later, the English Hermetic philosopher was iniciated in or near Warrington. It is quite possible that the Lodge (which had one statutory skilled freemason) was convened at Sankey Manor, the home of the Sankey family. Richard Sankey was present at Ashmole's initiation, and it is highly likely that his son Edward wrote the traditional account of the History and Charges of Freemasons to be read on the day. A precious Manuscript, bearing Edward Sankey's name and dated October 1646 still survives.''

(Tobias Churton)

One of his most extraordinary works is Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.

(1652, British Library)

It is subtitled: "Several poetic pieces by our famous English philosophers, who have written about the Hermetic Mysteries in their own ancient Language."

I only present his Prologue in summary and synthesis.

His first copy of Theatrum Chimicum Britannicum (1652) was sold to Philip Herbert (5th Earl of Pembroke) and was engraver by the scholar Robert Vaughan.

He had already published Fasciculus Chemicus by 1650.

And it is where he makes direct reference to the healing power of the Rosicrucian alchemist.

''Our English Philosophers generally (like Prophet's) have received little honor... except in covertly administering their Medicine to a few sick, and Healing Them... Thus did I.O. (one of the first foure Followers of the Frates R. C.) in curing the young Earle of Norfolke of the Leproise [a tale lifted straight out of FAMA)''. (6)

Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, art, philosophy and spirituality merge.

Texts and manuscripts studied by Ashmole (1617-1692) are gathered.

He managed to add 209 Texts in Four Volumes and including a 5 volume in 1622.

And another, the VI-6 Volume in 1661.

We can say that a substantial part of the alchemical textual work such as the works of Ripley (XVI) = The Compound of Alchymia is known thanks to Ashmole's Theatrum.

Like Norton's seminal work, the valuable and unique Ordinall of Alchemy. (7)

Therefore, here is the presentation of the Cosmos in the form of an Oven and erudite substantiality immersed in Ripley's Ordinal (1477).

On the other hand, Ashmole had already studied and copied a well-known stupendous work; The Toyson d'or and he dedicates to his Master of The Golden Flower, Don William Blackhouse or Swallowfield Backhouse.

(#8)

Here is its title: The Golden Fleece; the Flower of Treasures, in which he treats succinctly and methodically of the Philosophers' Stone, its excellent effects and admirable virtues. (9)

The reintegration of man after the fall points to the return to the ROSE, the initiatory state and path of inner perfection.

Every alchemical process is immersed in the ritual of seeking Light through the process of high kabbalist alchemical theurgic and Total harmony between Science and Wisdom = GNOSIS.

''The triple strand of 'Magia', Cabala, and Achymia' runs through the Rosicrucian Manifestos, typifying their inclusion of alchemy with Hermetic-Cabalist tradition''. (10)

Our Universe is Ebb and Flow of solar energies that we must learn to capture like Good Oil and Sky Dew.

As for the adepts, we are looking for the Path of the Philosopher's Stone and the Path of the Rose.

Ancient and ancient thorny path from dusty antipodes of Ancient Wisdom of Sons of Hermes-Thoth-Mercury.

Direct way to... /\/\/\ Mystery Temple of the Rose.

So Mote it be.

Dr. Elias Ashmole, Rosicrucian-Alchemist-Mason and Son of Hermes

Victor. Arturo. Cabello. Reyes.

Bibliography:

1. Joscelyn Godwin, The Golden Thread, p.109.

2. His Autobiographical and Historical Notes, His Correspondence, and Other Contemporary Sources Relating to His Life and Works, 5 Vols.

3. Hamill and Gilbert, Freemasonry: A Celebration of The Craft and: Rogers: ARS QUATOUR CORONATI, The Lodge of Elias Ashmole; AQC, LXV, p.38.

4. Ezmond Mazet, Freemasonry and Esotericism p.341.

5. David Stevenson, The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland century-1590-1710.

6. Prologomena, sigs A 2 recto and verso.

7. British Library, Add. Ms. 10,302, fol. 33 in verse.

8. Christopher McIntosh, The History and Mythology of an Occult Order, p.p.67-68.

9. Bodleian Library, Oxford, Ms. Ashmole 1395.

10. Frances Yates, The Rosicrucian Enlightenment, p.247-261.