The City Of Chester And Its Masonic Significance

Paper 45/2007 Title The City of Chester and its Masonic Significance Author Bro Fred Lomax – United Kingdom Often overlooked is the signi ficance of Chester in Mas onic history, and very few know that there existed there a Masonic Lodge in the mid 1600s. I believe that is important because we know that there was a lodge nearby in Warrington where Elias Ashmole was initiated in 1646 Randle Holme, can be considered a fairly common name in Chester’s history when you consider that no less than five persons of importanc e have borne that name. All were genealogists and heraldic painters and the third, Randle Holme, 1627- 1699 was the grandson of a deputy to a Garter King of Arms. In his Academie of Armoury he makes several references to Freemasonry which may indicate a non- operative nature in the fraternity during the seventeenth century. An account of his states: A Fraternity or Society, or Brotherhood, or Company; are such in a corporation, that are of one and the same trade or occupation, who being joined toget her by oath and covenant, do follow such orders and rules, as are made, to be made for the good order, rule and support of such and every one of their occupations. These several fraterni ties are generally governed by one or two Masters and two Wardens, but most companies with us, by two Aldermen and two Stewards, the latter, being to pay and receive what concerns them And in another passage he says: I cannot but Honour the Fellowshi p of the Masons because of its Antiquity; and the more, as being a Member of that Society, called Free-Masons. In be ing conversant amongst them I have observed the use of these several tools following some whereof I have seen being born in Coats of Armour He had previously referred to several tools without making any comment about them. Holme, it would seem, had transcribed a copy of the Harleian Manuscript and this’ together with a scrap of paper, were found in his effects and written on the paper is the following: There is several words and signs of a Freemason to be revealed to you; which as you will answer before God at the Great and terrible day of judgement you keep secret and not reveal the same to any in the hearing of any person but to the Masters and fellows of the said Society of Freemasons, so help me God etc… Finally, but also significant is the fact that Cheshire was the first County in the English Constitution to have a Provincial Grand Lodge when Col. Francis Columbine was elected the first Grand Master at Chester in 1725, just eight years after the first Grand Lodge was formed. Ref: Pick & Knight; Pocket History of Freemasonry